A woman from Quebec, Canada, managed to run over herself three times with her own car in a bizarre accident.

Trois-Rivieres, Quebec police have confirmed that the newspaper delivery woman was working her regular shift and delivering her round of papers earlier this week when the incident occurred.

This saw her jumping in and out of her car, as she frequently dropped off editions of Le Nouvelliste on subscribers doorsteps.

However, her usual gentle work schedule soon turned into a nightmare, when she parked her car outside a house. As she got out of the vehicle her transmission ended up being in “reverse” instead of “park.”

She was then hit by the automobile’s open door as it moved backwards, and it also ran over one of her legs which in turn knocked her down to the ground.

The woman then pulled herself up from the floor and was able to catch up with her runaway car. She then leaned inside her car tried to shift the gears, which would have brought the car to a halt. However, as she felt her way around the car and fumbled to try and change the transmission she was struck by the frame of the vehicle. This knocked her down to the ground again and she was run over for a second time.

Not to be deterred the woman then regained her composure and headed back to the car, but her third attempt only produced the same results.

As she lay on the ground in great distress, she then repeatedly cried out for help at 4.a.m. Residents of the area heard her wails and then rushed from their homes in oder to help her, and she was able to limp home with their assistance.

The car, which continued to move around at an increasing speed, was finally stopped by Trois-Rivieres police. The woman was taken to hospital where she was treated for serious injuries to her leg.

[Image via supergenijalac/Shutterstock]

Woman Run Over Three Times By Her Own Car is a post from: The Inquisitr

Apple has released a new 60-second ad in which the tech giant departs from its typical glossy approach for reaching out to customers.

In the new online commercial Apple touts the fact that Apple iPhone users listen to more mobile music than any other smartphone manufacturer.

While Apple iPhone commercials in the past have focused on brightly lit shots with upbeat music, the new commercial is a departure from that format.

In the new ad an almost sober musical number is heard playing over visuals that are grainy and gritty.

The commercial focuses on a group of people who are practicing their dance moves, study, and in one case getting out of the shower.

Apple recently announced that more than 25 billion songs have now been sold via the iTunes music store. While Apple claims its customers listen to more music than Android, Windows Phone, and other mobile customers, it doesn’t explain where it gets those numbers.

While it’s true that Apple has a larger song file sales base other devices are big winners among Spotify, Pandora, Google Play All Access Music, and other applications.

Regardless of Apple’s mobile music claims the commercial is worth a look:

Not exactly the type of technology pushing ad we are use to seeing in the mobile space, then again there was nothing super revolutionary about the Apple iPhone 5′s technology offerings.

With a rumored Apple iRadio product on the way there is a very good chance that Apple was simply trying to push users towards heavier music play ahead of the iPhone 5S or iPhone 6.

Do you have an iPhone 5? Do you listen to more music on your iPhone device than your non-Apple using friends?

Apple’s Newest Ad Is Departure From The Norm, Features Gritty Style, Focus On Music is a post from: The Inquisitr

A second jewellery theft has struck the Cannes Film Festival, only days after thieves stole pieces by Swiss jewellers Chopard from the Novotel hotel.

A necklace which was worth in excess of $2.5 million vanished after a celebrity party on Tuesday evening at a five-star hotel in Cap d’Antibes, a resort town near the cinematic extravaganza.

The Swiss jeweller De Grisogono designed the piece, and the theft managed to occur despite the instalment of 80 security guards as part of “large security measures” to avoid such an occurrence.

The party was held at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc on Tuesday evening, which was organised to celebrate De Grisogono’s 20th anniversary, and saw the likes of Ornella Muti and Sharon Stone attend.

In the past De Grisogono has loaned its product to various celebrities which has included Cameron Diaz and Paris Hilton. The company released a statement, noting, “It is actually the first time it has happened in our 20-year history.”

Last Friday, robbers broke into a room owned by a Chopard employee at Novotel Hotel in central Cannes before taking $1million of jewellery. Apparently they took the safe off the wall and carried it away at around 5 a.m.

Chopard acts as an official sponsor to the festival and often lends its jewels to various movie stars in attendance at the event. In the past they have even redesigned the festival’s Palme d’Or award in 1997.

The Cannes Film Festival will run until May 26th, after starting on May 16th, and the likes of Julianne Moore, Cindy Crawford and Carla Delevigne have been seen in Chopard jewels so far at the event.

This is the fourth high stakes robbery in France since February, after a group of thieves stole $3million of jewels from Paris, less than 24 hours after robbers took $50million worth of jewellery from a Brussels Airport.

[Image via Anneka/Shuttershock]

Second Jewellery Theft Hits Cannes Film Festival is a post from: The Inquisitr

A bridge collapse this evening over the Skagit River in Northwest Washington caused cars and people to plummet into the water below, but the extent of the damage is not yet known.

The Washington State Patrol confirmed that the Interstate 5 bridge collapse, over the Skagit River in Mount Vernon, sent both cars and people into the water below — but it was unclear if anyone was injured in the incident.

Local site KomoNews.com reports:

“Both the northbound and southbound portions of the bridge dropped into the river sometime before 7 p.m., according to Washington State Patrol trooper Mark Francis … Francis said several cars were on the bridge when it collapsed, and some are now in the water.”

Before tonight’s bridge collapse, the Interstate 5 bridge was one of several deemed by the Washington State Department Of Transportation to be a “structurally deficient bridge.”

It is not currently known whether the people trapped in cars after the Washington state bridge collapse have been located and removed from submerged vehicles.

Former Reuters social media manager Matthew Keys tweeted:

Skagit Bridge “functionally obsolete” in 2010, meaning bridge design was outdated but bridge itself was not structurally deficient.

— Matthew Keys (@MatthewKeysLive) May 24, 2013

Shortly after the Mount Vernon bridge collapse, images of the damage began to show up on Twitter:

Another photo of the collapsed bridge in Washington State via @kxly4news. twitter.com/kxly4news/stat…

— Andrew Kaczynski (@BuzzFeedAndrew) May 24, 2013

Photo of collapsed bridge. @gina_svh : North end of I-5 bridge over #Skagit River collapsed twitter.com/Gina_SVH/statu… via @matthewkeyslive #YA

— YourAnonLive (@YourAnonLive) May 24, 2013

#BREAKING! PHOTO OUT OF Wash! I-5 BRIDGE COLLAPSED WITH PEOPLE IN CARS TRAPPED IN THE WATER. twitpic.com/csqkht via @40ozterrorist #YAL

— YourAnonLive (@YourAnonLive) May 24, 2013

No official updates have yet been disclosed about the scope of injury or casualty following the Washington bridge collapse.

Skagit River Bridge Collapse Sends Cars, People Into Water is a post from: The Inquisitr

Tens of thousands of formosan termites swarmed New Orleans on Wednesday night, leading many people to believe that the apocalypse had struck the city.

The termites were attracted to bright and well-lit devices, which included car headlights, homes, and streetlights. The insects were expected to hit at the beginning of May, but it has been an unusually cold few weeks and they only made their first appearance on Wednesday night.

The Formosan termites were introduced to the United States of America from the Far East during World War Two, when they were brought over in crates and various wood products. New Orleans normally sees the creatures appear along Lake Pontchartrain and at the naval shipyard in Algiers.

These huge swarms gather and stay in the area because they are only able to fly 300 yards in search of a mate. The pair then drop to the floor and burrow a nest if they are successful, but most of them are unable to find a mate and proper shelter.

These colonies normally consist of around five million insects, and it takes around five years to reach a size where the colony can create a version of the termite with wings to restart the flying cycle.

Of course, this wasn’t the  first faux apocalypse to hit the globe over the last 12 months. The Mayan Apocalypse was supposed to hit earth on December 21 but never materialised, and joined a long list of failed apocalypses.

In 1997, Chuck Shramek stated that an alien UFO was following the comet Hale-Bopp as it passed by Earth. Shramek stated that you could only enter the alien ship, which wasn’t designed to kill us but save us from the impending end of the world, if you killed yourself first. Unfortunately for them the apocalypse didn’t follow.

Were you in New Orleans when the termites hit?

Termites Swarm New Orleans, People Think It’s The Apocalypse is a post from: The Inquisitr

As Sears continues to consolidate its retail locations in an effort to become a more lean and profitable business the company is faced with left over square footage in the tens of millions. So what will the company do with that space? According to the company it will repurpose the closed stores, turning them into data centers, disaster relief hubs, and more.

The company has begun to close its less profitable Sears and Kmart locations and now it looks as if big data, wireless carriers, and other industry players could benefit from new leasable locations.

The move could benefit millions of nearby workers. According to reports seventy percent of US citizens live within 10 miles of a Sears or Kmart location.

Sears Holdings’ Ubiquity Critical Environments Chief Operating Officer Sean Farney says of the decision:

“It’s an amazing real estate portfolio. The goal is not to sell off properties. It’s to reposition the assets of this iconic brand. The big idea is that you have a technology platform laid atop a retail footprint, creating the possibility for a product with a very different look to it.”

Sears is already repurposing some of its closed and soon-to-close locations including a 127,000 square foot location on the south side of Chicago. That location will close in June and then be converted into a data center. Sears already has one client committed to using the new Sears data center facility. According to Farney:

“It’s a building that’s lit very well, from both a fiber and power perspective. It’s going to be great data center building.”

Once retrofitted the Chicago data center will be able to run off 5 MW of power.

So why would companies be willing to take advantage of Sears data and other center locations? According to the company’s CEO:

“There are compelling reasons why this is a great model. The customer has evolved to the point where they want a sexier location, where they can have access to a Starbucks and other retail, because it’s possible they may be there for weeks or months. Sears and Kmart stores are located in just such retail locations in major malls.”

Taking a multi-step approach to rental space Ubiquity will rent rooftops at approved locations to cellular tower providers and broadcast hardware companies. As stated 70 percent of all Americans live within 10 miles of a Sears or Kmart location which means hundreds of millions of cell phone and broadcast users could benefit from the company’s focus on multiple uses for the platform.

Sears Repurposing Closed Stores, Turning Them into Data Centers, Cell Towers, And More is a post from: The Inquisitr

A South Florida man unknowingly butt dialed 911 while discussing a murder plot.

The call ultimately led to the arrest of 24-year-old Scott Simon. The man is accused of shooting 33-year-old Nicholas Walker while he was driving on Interstate 95.

The Associated Press reports that Simon and Walker got into an argument at an area Waffle House prior to the shooting. Dispatchers overhead the 24-year-old saying that he was going to follow Nicholas home and kill him.

Walker was reportedly shot several minutes after the accidental call was placed to 911. While authorities have since arrested Simon and charged him with first-degree murder, it’s currently believed that he did not pull the trigger. Sadly, Walker died at the scene.

The Broward Sheriff’s Office told the Miami Herald on Wednesday that this situation was highly unusual. It isn’t everyday that officers hear suspects plotting a murder after unwittingly calling 911.

“This is a first for me. Criminals say crazy things all the time, but I’ve never seen anyone call a recorded line,” spokeswoman Dani Moschella told the publication. “He had no idea he called 911. He basically told on himself.”

Police are still looking for two other suspects in the fatal shooting. Authorities believe that one individual is responsible for killing Nicholas Walker. The other suspect was seen with the shooter in a black 2012 Buick GS during the same morning.

In an effort to find the other people responsible for the murder, surveillance footage of the argument at the Waffle House restaurant has been made available to the public. The video can be viewed at the Miami Herald website.

Criminals often summon police to the scene of a crime by accidentally butt dialing 911. In March, a Colorado man was arrested after his friend unknowingly called police during a drug deal. According to KGW, the suspects were soon located in a back alley and placed under arrest.

What do you think about the man who butt dialed 911 while discussing a murder plot?

[Image via Shutterstock]

Florida Man Butt Dials 911 While Discussing Murder Plot is a post from: The Inquisitr

A youth swim coach has been sentenced to prison for sexually abusing a girl over a four-year period in the 1980s.

Richard J. Curl was once a prominent coach with USA Swimming and known as one of the nation’s top swim coaches. He built up a well-known swimming club in the Washington area and coached many prominent swimmers, including Olympic champion Tom Dolan.

But the 63-year-old coach saw his world crash down after pleading guilty last year to abusing the girl, who was 13 at the time the abuse started. Curl was banned for life from USA Swimming and apologized for abusing the girl.

“Every day of my life has been spent thinking and feeling awful about my behavior,” he told the girl before a courtroom packed with her supporters.

Though victims of sexual abuse are typically not named, the victim in this case, Kelley Davies Currin, has made her case public. She has called for an investigation into USA Swimming, saying the “predator coach” was protected even though many people knew of her abuse.

Curl was accused of manipulating Currin, telling her he loved her and they would eventually marry. Currin said the abuse led to a downward spiral of alcohol abuse and an eating disorder.

“I loved, trusted and cherished him as much as a young girl’s heart and mind could,” she said.

Eventually her family learned about the abuse and confronted Curl, but accepted a financial settlement to keep the allegations private. Currin would later say she regretted the decision.

The swim coach was sentenced to seven years in prison. He could have faced up to 15 years, but his defense argued that he had reformed.

In a statement released last year, when Richard Curl surrendered to police, the coach’s lawyers said he was a “good man.”

“Rick Curl is a good man. He is a devoted father and husband. Over the last 30 years, he has successfully coached hundreds of young men and women, many of whom have achieved successful collegiate and professional swimming careers. When the allegations were made public, many of the swimmers and their families reached out to us to offer their support and to reiterate that Rick was an excellent coach, a good person, and a man that provided them and their children with strong moral leadership. We look forward to having Mr. Curl’s positions made clear in the coming weeks.”

The swim coach was actually sentenced to 15 years, but Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Marielsa Bernard suspended all but seven years.

Youth Swim Coach Sentenced To Prison For Sexually Abusing Girl is a post from: The Inquisitr

Texts and photos from Trayvon Martin show a young man troubled with drugs and fighting, ultimately leading to him being kicked out of his mother’s house.

The digital messages and photos were released by the defense for George Zimmerman, who fatally shot Martin last year after mistaking him for a burglar. Zimmerman has claimed that Martin attacked him, forcing the self-appointed neighborhood watch leader to shoot Martin in self-defense.

The Trayvon Martin texts and photos came from the 17-year-old’s cell phone. They show texts with a friend about fighting, smoking pot, and troubles at school that led to Martin being kicked out of his mother’s house.

Other photos show Martin extending his middle finger and blowing smoke to the camera.

Attorneys for the Martin family say the pictures are not relevant to the trial, and just an attempt to sway the potential jury pool against the murdered young man.

“Is the defense trying to prove Trayvon deserved to be killed by George Zimmerman because (of) the way he looked?” they said. “If so, this stereotypical and closed-minded thinking is the same mindset that caused George Zimmerman to get out of his car and pursue Trayvon, an unarmed kid who he didn’t know.”

But the defense says the texts and photos from Trayvon Martin belie the image that he was a helpless victim of George Zimmerman.

“If they had suggested that Trayvon is nonviolent and that George is the aggressor, I think that makes evidence of the fighting he has been involved with in the past relevant,” said attorney Mark O’Mara.

O’Mara has made another motion to strike down a key piece of the prosecution’s case. He said that audio experts are using bad science to determine the voices heard on a 911 call during the shooting death. The tape reportedly shows Martin screaming for help, though Zimmerman’s defense team has argued that it is actually George who is shouting for help.

O’Mara wants Zimmerman’s 911 recording thrown out.

Zimmerman has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder. The trial starts next month.

A judge has still not decided if the Trayvon Martin texts and photos can be used in the trial. A hearing in being held next week that will decide if the defense can introduce it during trial.

[Trayvon Martin's parents photo by David Shankbone via Wikimedia Commons]

Trayvon Martin Texts, Photos Show Struggles With Drugs, Fighting is a post from: The Inquisitr

A disagreement over who should have won American Idol ended with a stabbing.

Authorities explained that 48-year-old Karen Elaine Harrelson and 57-year-old Gregory Stambaugh were intoxicated when they started arguing about the singing competition.

According to The Associated Press, the couple had conflicting opinions about who should have won American Idol. Reports suggest that Harrelson and Stambaugh were arguing over Candice Glover or Kree Harrison when the disagreement took a very violent turn.

At some point during the heated exchange, one of the them grabbed a knife from the kitchen and stabbed the other. The York Dispatch reports that the stabbing victim then took the weapon and attacked the other. It’s currently unclear who initiated the attack.

When officers arrived on the scene, both Stambaugh and Harrelson were quick to point the finger of blame at each other. Apparently they couldn’t come to an agreement about who started the fight either.

Gregory claims Elaine went upstairs to the kitchen, found a knife, and returned to the basement. After stabbing him in the forearm, she left the room. He chased after her and a brief struggle for the weapon ensued.

However, Elaine says was in the kitchen when Gregory suddenly attacked her with another knife. When she was knocked onto the floor, Elaine said she stabbed Gregory in self defense.

Although their stories may differ, both parties were both arrested on two counts of simple assault and one count of aggravated assault. Harrelson and Stambaugh were both booked at the York County Prison. Authorities retrieved two knives and several bottles of alcohol from the home.

According to CBS 21, Elaine Harrelson’s bail was set at $30,000. Gregory Stambaugh, however, will have to find $70,000 for bail. It’s currently unknown if either party has legal representation.

What do you think about the couple who stabbed one another after arguing about the American Idol finale?

[Image via Shutterstock]

Fight Over ‘American Idol’ Finale Ends In Stabbing is a post from: The Inquisitr

Valery Giscard d’Estaing, the former French President, has revealed that he was once attacked by a panda after he dared himself to enter the animal’s cage.

The incident occurred at the Vincennes Zoo in Paris, and he decided to enter the cage in order to test his “presidential courage.” He was at the establishment because his daughter was there on work experience, and the pandas had been a gift to his predecessor, Georges Pompidou, from China.

d’Estaing, who was in office between 1974 – 1981, was speaking in Blois at an event.

d’Estaing stated, “They came to extract me from its claws but imagine what would have been said had the animal knocked me to the ground.” It is thought that the panda leapt on him and staff then had to free him from the animal’s claws.

Iain Valentine, director of giant pandas at the zoo, told the BBC news that he’d had a lucky escape, stating, ”Although they are vegetarian bears, obviously at the end of the day pandas are still very powerful and muscular bears with teeth and claws to match.”

He then added, “Although not particularly aggressive by nature, pandas do have this potential and are very territorial animals. You can go in with young animals under the age of two years; however, after this age we really would not recommend it and certainly our keepers are never in the same area as our giant pandas.”

In March, the National Zoo artificially inseminated a giant panda after he mate was described as a “clueless breeder with flawed technique.”

David Wildt, who was leading the process, remarked, “We are hopeful that our breeding efforts will be successful this year, and we’re encouraged by all the behaviors and hormonal data we’ve seen so far. We have an extremely small window of opportunity to perform the procedures, which is why we monitor behavior and hormones so closely.”

How would you get a panda off your back?

Former French President Attacked By Panda is a post from: The Inquisitr

Things are looking worse and worse for the Justice Department, Attorney General Eric Holder, and even the Obama administration. The reason? A warrant that allowed the DOJ to search Fox News reporter James Rosen’s personal email.

A warrant that was signed off on by Mr. Holder himself.

NBC News‘ Michael Isikoff reported Thursday that Holder actually OK’d the controversial search himself. The report puts a face to the greatest violation of press freedom by a government body in recent memory. That face belongs to Eric Holder.

The warrant named Rosen as a “con-conspirator” in a leak investigation, with the implication that the DOJ was on the verge of criminalizing journalism. The same warrant approved the tracking of Rosen’s movements as well as his communications with his State Department source.

The DOJ said that they never intended to press charges on Rosen, but the warrant is chilling nonetheless. While the AG is required to approve requests to search journalists’ materials, emails are not up for search.

Holder has played coy about his involvement in the Rosen scandal (as well as the Associated Press scandal, the investigation of which he infamously recused himself from), saying that he’s not sure how many times he has authorized the search of journalists’ records.

Fox News chief Roger Ailes personally responded to the revelation in a staff memo.

“We reject the government’s efforts to criminalize the pursuit of investigative journalism and falsely characterize a Fox News reporter to a Federal judge as a “co-conspirator” in a crime,” Ailes wrote.

“I know how concerned you are because so many of you have asked me: why should the government make me afraid to use a work phone or email account to gather news or even call a friend or family member? Well, they shouldn’t have done it.”

Most journalists and media outlets are actually flocking to the defense of Fox News, as well. Left, right or somewhere in between, many have voiced their support for James Rosen and have condemned the Obama administration … if not for instigating the scandals, for standing by and allowing them to happen.

Dear many of our commenters: this is one time when you should be siding with Fox News huff.to/10IM6mT

— HuffPost Media (@HuffPostMedia) May 20, 2013

My experience dealing with @jamesrosenfnc was unpleasant and contentious. And I fully support him against this unwarranted act by DOJ

— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) May 20, 2013

.@marklandler on leaks: “The question is, who sets the tone? It’s difficult for the WH to argue #POTUS is merely a bystander in the process”

— Andrea Mitchell (@mitchellreports) May 20, 2013

What do you think of Eric Holder’s role in the Fox News / James Rosen scandal? Is it time for him to resign?

Eric Holder Personally Approved Fox News Email Warrant is a post from: The Inquisitr

Lee Rigby has been named as the solider that was killed in an attack on London on Wednesday.

Rigby was a drummer of the 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, and hailed from Manchester. He leaves behind a two-year-old son.

Rigby was attacked on Wednesday in Woolwich, by two suspects who were then shot by police and arrested on conspiracy to murder. These individuals were know to the security services, and one of them is believed to be Michael Adebolajo, an Islamist protestor. The other individual who was arrested is believed to be a woman, and they are both aged 29.

Rigby’s family released a statement on Thursday, stating, “Lee was lovely. He would do anything for anybody, he always looked after his sisters and always protected them. He took a ‘big brother’ role with everyone. All he wanted to do from when he was a little boy, was be in the Army.”

The added, ” He wanted to live life and enjoy himself. His family meant everything to him. He was a loving son, husband, father, brother, and uncle, and a friend to many.”

The Ministry of Defence also commented on Rigby’s death, noting, “An extremely popular and witty soldier, Drummer Rigby was a larger than life personality within the Corps of Drums and was well known, liked and respected across the Second Fusiliers. He was a passionate and life-long Manchester United fan.”

The two people responsible for this death are currently in two separate London hospitals with non-life threatening injuries, and video footage has now emerged on the Internet of the moment that the duo were shot by police.

Barack Obama commented on the attacks, stating that the United States of America “stands resolute with the United Kingdom, our ally and friend, against violent extremism and terror.”

What are your thoughts on the terrorist attack that struck London?

Lee Rigby Named As London Terrorist Attack Victim is a post from: The Inquisitr

Dallas, TX — A father who drowned his two young sons was sentenced to death Thursday.

Last week, a Dallas County jury took less than 10 minutes to find Naim Rasool Muhammad guilty of capital murder in the deaths of 3-year-old Elijah and 5-year-old Naim. That same jury took three and a half hours to sentence Muhammad to death.

The 34-year-old said he killed his young sons because their mother had started dating someone new, and he felt he was losing his chance to be a father.

In 2011, Muhammad abducted his sons and their mother, Kametra Sampson, on what would have been Naim’s first day of kindergarten. Muhammad forced them into his vehicle with a brick, but Sampson was able to jump out at an intersection and asked a nearby constable for help.  Before the police were able to get to him, Muhammad told his sons to pretend they were swimming in a creek and held them under water until they drowned. Muhammad’s mother, Naimah, directed police to the creek where her grandsons had been killed.

Muhammad had also attempted to abduct his youngest child, a 1-year-old, from another location earlier that day.

Muhammad confessed to the murders in a taped interview that was played in court on May 14. The next day, the jury convicted Muhammad of capital murder.

“I don’t have to recall the facts of the case because, although it was not filled with blood or gore, it was a horror unimagined,” prosecutor Sherre Sweet said. “It was the ultimate textbook family violence power and control play — ‘If I can’t get you to do what I want you to do through violence, I will go to your very heartstrings.’”

Naim Rasool Muhammad has a history of violence and a criminal record spanning two decades. Sampson said he frequently beat her, and the family was being monitored by Child Protective Services officials since early 2011. CPS received a referral of family violence, but wouldn’t say who made the referral. Officials did say, however, that the three children and Sampson were living in a shelter at the time.

“I apologize for bringing any pain and hurt on anybody for the actions that I have caused to you all,” Muhammad said after his sentencing.

Dallas Dad Who Drowned Sons Gets Death Penalty is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Boy Scouts voted today to allow openly gay youths into the organization.

According to USA Today, 1,400 voting members of the Boy Scouts national council voted today at an a meeting in Texas. More than 60% of the voting members approved the proposal to lift the ban on gay scouts. Starting January 1, 2014, the organization will allow gay youths to participate in scouting for the first time in its history.

The Boy Scouts said today that they would allow openly gay youths to join the organization but the group stopped short of supporting the LGBT lifestyle. Instead, the Boy Scouts said that being gay was an “unresolved societal issue.”

The scouts issued a statement saying: “The Boy Scouts of America will not sacrifice its mission, or the youth served by the movement, by allowing the organization to be consumed by a single, divisive, and unresolved societal issue … While people have different opinions about this policy, we can all agree that kids are better off when they are in Scouting. Going forward, our Scouting family will continue to focus on reaching and serving youth in order to help them grow into good, strong citizens.”

The vote comes after months of controversy surrounding the Boy Scouts 22-year-old policy that bans gay scouts. Several Eagle Scouts turned in their badges in protests, corporations pulled sponsorships, and musicians canceled performances for the group saying that they would not support a group that discriminated against gays.

This is a big step forward for the Boy Scouts but many gay rights advocates say that the new policy still isn’t enough. One major criticism of the group is that the Boy Scouts still doesn’t allow gay adults to participate in its organization.

John Aravosis at the American Blog writes: “Let gay troops join, but once the troops grow up they all become pedophiles and have to be banned again lest they rape all the young Boy Scouts in their midst. How progressive of them.”

What do you think of the Boy Scouts decision to allow gay youths participate in scouting?

Boy Scouts Vote To Lift Gay Ban, Will Allow Openly Gay Youths To Beome Members is a post from: The Inquisitr

President Obama gave a speech on national security Thursday that was interrupted three times by a Code Pink protester who shouted about drones and detainees in Cuba.

Obama had to pause three separate times to talk over the protester, and appeared agitated each time she interrupted his closing remarks at the National Defense University.

“I’m about to address it ma’am, but you’ve got to let me speak,” Obama shouted back at the protester. “Why don’t you sit down and let me tell you exactly what I’d do.”

Though the woman was unidentified at the time of the speech, the antiwar group Code Pink has taken credit for the speech interruption. Founder Medea Benjamin was said to be the woman at the event.

Benjamin shouted, “86 were cleared already. Release them today!” in reference to detainees in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Code Pink frequently interrupts high-profile political events or speeches with vocal protests against out foreign policy or national security.

Although annoyed, Obama did say that he was willing to cut Benjamin “some slack, because it’s worth being passionate about.”

After another interruption, he continued:

“The voice of that woman is worth paying attention to. Obviously I do not agree with much of what she said. And obviously she wasn’t listening to me and much of what I said. But these are tough issues, and the suggestion that we can gloss over them is wrong.”

How do you think President Obama handled the Code Pink activist? Was she right to interrupt him? Watch the video below and leave us your thoughts:

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Obama Speech Interrupted By Code Pink Activist [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Lois Lerner, the federal government official seemingly at the center of the IRS scandal, has been placed on administrative leave.

Lerner — who told the news media when the scandal broke that she wasn’t good at math despite working for Internal Revenue Service — was in charge of the office that improperly subjected tax-exempt status applications from Tea Party and other politically conservative groups to heavy scrutiny and intrusive questioning. On May 10, in response to a planted question at a tax conference, she publicly apologized for profiling Tea Party groups. An Inspector General audit (which was not an investigation per se) has concluded that the targeting was inappropriate and the result of ineffective management.

Yesterday, while insisting she did nothing wrong, Lerner invoked her Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination and refused to testify before the House Oversight Committee which is investigating the wrongful Tea Party targeting.

Based on the legal theory that her opening statement waived the constitutional protections, Chairman Darrell Issa plans to recall Lerner before the committee. In addition to Capitol Hill investigations, the FBI has launched a criminal probe of IRS misconduct in relation to how the Tea Party applications were handled or mishandled in the run-up to the 2012 presidential elections.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have called for Lerner’s termination for withholding information from Congress, but given civil service and union protections, it is very difficult to fire a federal government employee under most circumstances. Administrative leave is roughly equivalent to a paid suspension.

Lerner reportedly sent this email to her staff: “Due to the events of recent days, I am on administrative leave starting today. An announcement will be made shortly informing you who will be acting while I am on administrative leave. I know all of you will continue to support [Exempt Office's] mission during these difficult times … I thank you for all your hard work and dedication,” adding, “The work you do is important.”

Lois Lerner is on administrative leave with pay, or as we used to call it back in the day, vacation.

— Andy Levy (@andylevy) May 23, 2013

Grassley says his “understanding” is new acting IRS commish asked for Lerner resignation +she refused. Put on administrative leave instead.

— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) May 23, 2013

The IRS has already found someone else to run the office at least on an interim basis: “Ken Corbin will be the acting director of the agency’s exempt organizations division. Corbin is currently deputy director of submission processing in the wage and investment division.”

IRS Official Lois Lerner Put On Administrative Leave is a post from: The Inquisitr

Charles Ramsey isn’t going to have to worry about food for awhile. The man responsible for rescuing three kidnap victims in Cleveland earlier this year has already been given “free burgers for life” from local restaurants and now McDonald’s has offered the local hero free food for the next year.

Ramsey became an internet star after he gave an amusing an emotional interview after the three women were brought to safety. Ramsey said that he was eating “his McDonald’s” when he heard a woman shouting from his neighbor’s house.

The clip went viral and McDonald’s issued a statement saying that they would “be in touch” with Ramsey in the next few weeks. Well, the restaurant has finally decided on a way to reward the man for his heroic deed.

Charles Ramsey will be able to eat whatever he wants at McDonald’s for the next year.

A McDonald’s spokesman told the LA Times: “We can confirm that the local owner-operators of the McDonald’s restaurants in Mr. Ramsey’s neighborhood have connected with him and offered complimentary McDonald’s food for the next year … We followed up directly and privately with Mr. Ramsey regarding recognition of his actions … Out of respect for the survivors of this harrowing ordeal and the ongoing investigation, we have not shared publicly details of our outreach.”

Shortly after the Cleveland kidnap victims were brought to safety Anderson Cooper asked Ramsey if he knew anything about the cash reward for information leading to the women’s rescue. Ramsey said that he didn’t want the reward and that they should give the money to the victims.

Ramsey may not want any cash reward but he’s probably happy to get some free burgers.

McDonald’s Rewards Charles Ramsey With Free Food For A Year is a post from: The Inquisitr

Abercrombie & Fitch has apologized yet again in an effort to draw some of the “cool kids” back to their stores.

The brand has seen their popularity plummet in recent weeks after Business Insider re-printed quotes from CEO Mike Jeffries given in a 2006 Salon interview.

Jeffries had said that the store and its products were aimed at skinny, attractive “cool kids,” instead of the “not-so-cool kids,” and that their business model is “absolutely” exclusionary.

“Candidly, we go after the cool kids. We go after the attractive all-American kid with a great attitude and a lot of friends. A lot of people don’t belong [in our clothes], and they can’t belong. Are we exclusionary? Absolutely.”

The resurfaced remarks have practically burned Abercrombie & Fitch to the ground, with nearly everyone from A-list celebrities on down eviscerating the company’s exclusionary business model and Jeffries’ cruel candor.

Jeffries offered an apology, writing that he is upset that his ”choice of words was interpreted in a manner that has caused offense,” but the apology was mocked for being disingenuous.

The company (sans Jeffries) met with teen activists Wednesday who called on Abercrombie & Fitch to embrace a more inclusive model on the back of a Change.org petition which has attracted over 70,000 signatures.

After the meet, Abercrombie & Fitch apologized and offered the following statement:

“We look forward to continuing this dialogue and taking concrete steps to demonstrate our commitment to anti-bullying in addition to our ongoing support of diversity and inclusion. We want to reiterate that we sincerely regret and apologize for any offense caused by comments we have made in the past which are contrary to these values.”

Jeffries’ absence from the meet is worth noting, as well. It seems like most of the criticism was pointed at him, and the company by association.

What do you think of Abercrombie & Fitch’s apology? Will you shop there again if they change?

Abercrombie & Fitch Apologizes Yet Again is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Wolf Blitzer interview with the Oklahoma tornado survivor that went viral has prompted a conspiracy theory or semi-conspiracy theory from Glenn Beck that the whole thing was a set up.

On Tuesday, CNN’s Blitzer was interviewing survivors of the devastating EF-5 tornado that struck Oklahoma. Standing in front of the destruction in Moore, Blitzer inexplicably asked survivor Rebecca Vitsmun, who was holding her 19-month-old son, if she had thanked the Lord for surviving the twister.

There’s a short pause, and Vitsmun replied “I’m actually an atheist,” with an awkward laugh.

Blitzer stumbled, offering a pat on the back and a weird “you made the right call,” before Vitsmun very diplomatically responded: “We are here, and you know, I don’t blame anybody for thanking the Lord.”

The embarassing interview sparked a huge social media debate over whether it was appropriate for Blitzer to have asked such a question in the first place.

TV/radio commentator Glenn Beck chimed in with his analysis of what he deemed the bizarre exchange which may be actually less a conspiracy theory than a reflection of mainstream media culture.

Said Beck: “I really like Wolf Blitzer and I think he’s a really good man. But I’ve done radio and television long enough to know that question was peculiar in the way it was stated, even for Wolf, who I think is a religious man. It just wasn’t natural; it seemed forced…”

Beck continued with his theory of what was actually behind the Wolf Blitzer interview: “It’s not as nefarious perhaps as you might think … I think he was fed some information about the guest he had on beforehand — that’s what producers do — given some questions that he should ask … some producer who is sympathetic to the atheist plight or just doesn’t like Christians or whatever it is, who thought it was important to point out that in the middle of heartland in America, where most people are God-fearing, there are atheists there too.”

Added Beck about the Blitzer interview: “It doesn’t have to be nefarious. We are not fighting against flesh and bone.  We are fighting the forces of spiritual darkness, and it doesn’t matter what people’s intent are, but I will tell you that that was there for a reason.”

Regardless of whether you agree that any forces of spiritual darkness are involved, do you think CNN was engaging in some form of inappropriate religious profiling in the way the Wolf Blitzer atheist interview was orchestrated?

Glenn Beck: Wolf Blitzer Atheist Interview Was Planned By Anti-Christian Producer [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

James Holmes bought online ammo just weeks before the Aurora shooting. Unsealed documents reveal that FexEx recorded a delivery from BulkAmmo.com,to Holmes’ residence on June 28, 2012. Holmes is accused of a mass shooting on July 20 inside an Aurora, Colorado movie theater.

The 25-year-old man allegedly burst into a crowded theater, wearing “combat gear.” He released a canister of tear gas into the packed theater and opened fire. Within minutes, more than 70 people were injured and 12 were dead.

As reported by LA Times, Holmes surrendered himself to police upon their arrival. Authorities report finding ammunition, weapons, and spent shells around the building and in Holmes’ vehicle.

The criminal trial has experienced numerous delays, the latest related the to the question of Holmes’ sanity. Prosecutors argue that evidence, including Holmes’ buying online ammo, proves that the attack was carefully planned and executed.

As reported by The New York Times, Holmes and his lawyers appeared in court again today. The judge initially entered a not-guilty plea on Holmes’ behalf. However, he and his attorneys have requested that the plea be changed to not-guilty, by reason of insanity.

If the insanity plea is accepted by the judge, it will require specific mental health evaluations, which were the topic of today’s hearing.

The prosecution is confident in their case, as they have collected over 40,000 pages of evidence, including Holmes’ online ammo purchase. They also report locating over 3,000 potential witnesses.

The trial is expected to last well into next year, as the actual trial is not scheduled to begin until February 2014. While Holmes’ reported actions may seem literally insane, proving that in a court of law is not easy.

As reported by State.CO.US, to plead insanity, in the state of Colorado, the defendant must lack knowledge of the difference between right and wrong. Additionally, they must lack a “culpable mental state.”

Prosecutors argue that Holmes displayed a culpable mental state, as the massacre was planned for at least several weeks. Evidence of Holmes’ online ammo purchase may help the prosecution make that point.

James Holmes: Online Ammo Purchased Weeks Before Aurora Shooting is a post from: The Inquisitr

Authorities in Utah say a teenage boy has been arrested in the deaths of his two younger brothers, ages 4 and 10, at their family home about 30 miles north of Salt Lake City.

According to ABC4 News, the 15-year-old boy, from the community of West Point, was taken into custody a day after the bodies of his brothers were found dead with what appeared to be “penetrating knife wounds.”

Police say the two boys had been left with their older brother Wednesday night while their mother took her other children to a dance recital. When she returned from the event, she found her 4-year-old dead on the floor and immediately called 911.

Sheriff’s deputies who responded to the scene found the body of the 10-year-old boy in the home and launched a search in and around West Point for the 15-year-old.

Police records show he was found about 11:35 pm walking along a street some five miles away from his home.

Davis County Sherrif Todd Richardson said he was in “good” condition, but he was taken to the hospital to be treated for undisclosed minor injuries before being questioned by detectives.

“As result of the emerging details, the 15-year-old juvenile has officially been taken into custody,” said Richardson. “We had enough probable cause to arrest him on suspicion of homicide.”

The names of the victims and that of the boy arrested were being withheld by authorities because of their age.

The boys’ father is in the military and was recently deployed to another state, officials said.

Fox13 notes, because the boy in custody is 15, he cannot be automatically charged as an adult.

If prosecutors elect to charge him as an adult, they will have to go to juvenile court to certify him as an adult under the Serious Youth Offender Act.

More on the West Point tragedy in the video below:

15-Year-Old Utah Boy Arrested In Deaths Of His Two Brothers, Ages 4 And 10 [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Veteran KMOV St. Louis anchor/reporter Larry Conners was fired yesterday amidst a growing controversy about a Facebook posting about his troubles with the IRS.

On May 14, Conners commented on social media about an April 2012 incident in which he posed tough questions to a visibly annoyed President Obama.

Given the revelations about IRS targeting of Tea Party and other groups for heavy scrutiny, Conners took to Facebook with the following: “I don’t accept ‘conspiracy theories,’ but I do know that almost immediately after the interview, the IRS started hammering me. At the time, I dismissed the ‘co-incidence,’ but now, I have concerns … after revelations about the IRS targeting various groups and their members …” In the same posting, Conners admitted that he had no proof that he was targeted.

Larry Conners, 66, has been reporting on television in St. Louis since 1976, mostly with KMOV.

The Facebook posting attracted a lot of attention, and Conners seemed to be backpedaling in comments delivered on the air the following day:

“As you may have heard, I commented on my Facebook page yesterday that there might be a connection between my interview in April 2012 with President Obama and pressure I believed I received recently from the Internal Revenue Service. First I need to state that those were my personal views, not those of KMOV-TV.  Second to be fair,  I should disclose that my issues with the IRS preceded that interview by several years. As a journalist I understand the importance of keeping personal matters separate from my professional work; sometimes you have to do that to retain your independence as a news man. Those lines might have been unintentionally crossed yesterday by my post.”

That was apparently Conners’ last on-air appearance with KMOV however.

Moreover, the mea culpa apparently was insufficient to satisfy management who fired Conners yesterday. In a statement, the general manager said in part, “Larry’s departure has nothing to do with the particular position he took, but it does have to do with our belief that his actions made it impossible for him to report for KMOV on certain political matters going forward without at least an appearance of bias.”

After he was ousted, Conners claimed in various news accounts that he read the follow-up statement (embedded above) under duress to some degree.  As far as his tax issues that pre-dated the Obama interview, Conners explained that he was on a monthly payment plan with the IRS over some disputed deductions and that the plan was canceled after his interaction with the president.

In another interview, Conners also alluded to some health issues that he encountered this spring and that he allegedly was not reinstated to his 10 pm anchor slot when he went back work. The fired news anchor, who has retained an attorney, could possibly be laying the groundwork for a Family and Medical Leave Act and/or age discrimination claim.

Conners’ new Twitter profile describes himself as “50 years in broadcasting / Texan, Marine, gun owner, pilot, Harley Rider, poker player and these views are my 1st Amendment Rights.”

Do you think Larry Conners should have been sent packing after commenting about the IRS on Facebook?

St. Louis Reporter Larry Conners Fired After Facebook Post About IRS Harassment is a post from: The Inquisitr

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says “shame on us” if the voters of New York City elect disgraced former Congressman Anthony Weiner as their next mayor.

In an interview on Wednesday, the governor ripped his fellow Democrat, saying that he has a right to run but voters shouldn’t give him another chance at public office.

The conversation took place between Cuomo and Stephen A. Rogers, chairman of Syracuse Media Group:

Cuomo: “It’s basically democracy. Those are grownups (in the Assembly) who are picking, who pick their leader.”

Rogers: “So if Anthony Weiner wants to run for mayor, he can run for mayor.”

Cuomo: “He runs? He runs.”

Rogers: “And if we elect him?”

Cuomo: “Shame on us.”

Wiener resigned his position in 2011 after it was revealed that he was sending lewd pictures of himself by text to women.

Other politicians are down on Weiner’s chances. Congressman Charlie Rangel said he doesn’t see much of a chance for the disgraced former representative.

“Only in America can we do these type of things,” Rangel (D-N.Y.) told MSNBC’s Chris Jansing, when asked whether he supported the disgraced congressman, “Sanford did it in [South] Carolina, and then, there goes Anthony Weiner.”

Governor Cuomo: ‘Shame On Us’ If Anthony Weiner Elected NYC Mayor is a post from: The Inquisitr

A West Bend, Wisconsin, couple was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the death of a 3-year-old girl Wednesday.

Justin Streicher pleaded no contest to neglecting a child, causing death, in February. Seven other drug-related charges were also considered at his sentencing but ultimately dismissed. The 25-year-old was found guilty. The 3-year-old’s mother, 26-year-old Leann Leszynski, made the same plea agreement in January and was also sentenced to 15 years. Both were ordered to serve 10 years of extended supervision upon their release from prison.

Haley Kluwe died May 1, 2012 from a streptococcus infection that had spread throughout her body after days of neglect. Neither Streicher nor Leszynski sought emergency medical attention for the girl after discovering her body. They called Streicher’s mother and asked her to take the two other children — Haley’s twin sister and an older sister — out of the apartment.

Streicher and Leszynski left Haley’s body in the apartment and went to buy cigarettes. Shortly afterward, Leszynski told  her physician she wouldn’t be able to make an appointment and attempted to get a prescription filled. When she was told the prescription couldn’t be called in, she admitted that her daughter was dead, that she “must have stopped breathing or something,” and the doctor’s office alerted the police. Authorities found heroin, oxycodone, marijuana, and cocaine in the apartment during a search. They also found Haley’s bruised body.

The criminal complaint indicates that Leszynski told police that a clock fell on Haley, and a detective said the girl had significant brusiing on the left side of her face. Haley also had “blunt head and neck injuries,” according to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s report. One witness even told police that he saw Streicher “blow marijuana into the mouth of Haley and tell her to inhale” to make her go to sleep.

A Change.org petition was started in order to get justice for Haley Kluwe. Supporters were asking that Justin Streicher and Leann Leszynski get the maximum penalty for her death. The petition gained 1,330 supporters but is now closed.

Do you think 15 years is a long enough sentence?

Wisconsin Couple Sentenced To 15 Years For Child’s Death By Neglect is a post from: The Inquisitr

Authorities in California have arrested a man that they say placed more than 100 calls to the police department in just one month.

According to KWKT, 56-year-old Jimmy Shao of Sacramento was taken into custody late Monday night on charges of falsely reporting emergencies and making harassing 911 calls.

Shao, a divorced father, allegedly dialed 911 more over 100 times in May, potentially tying up resources needed by other citizens.

Police say 60 of the 911 calls he made went to the Sacramento Police dispatcher.

“It can be very frustrating for a dispatcher. For us, 911 is that lifeline. It’s our number one priority,” said Jena Swafford, 911 dispatch supervisor for the city.

“He was told to stop making those calls and to use non-emergency lines and he refused to do so,” said Officer Michele Gigante with Sacramento Police.

When asked the reason for his obsessive 911 calling, Shao claimed the US government is using a satellite to beam signals into his body, and this causes severe pain.

“My brain, I can feel it starting. I’m blasted by the signals, every couple of minutes,” Jimmy Shao told CBS Sacramento. “I yell and I scream, ‘Stop it, I don’t need this,’ but they never listen.”

“911 is only place where I can reach for public help to rescue me from the satellite control,” he added.

The authorities believe Shao is delusional and needs psychiatric care.

Shao, for his part, says he was cleared by the psychiatrist his ex-wife took him to see.

Unfortunately, her comments on the matter have yet to be recorded.

“When he talks about the government controlling him and stirring his intestines, that’s not reality-based. That’s delusional, paranoid in nature,” Sacramento County mental health services psychiatrist Joseph Sisson said to Fox40.

Fox40 reports Shao has dialed 911 at least more times since bailing out of jail.

He told the news station that he plans to continue calling “until Congress starts an investigation.”

California Man Arrested For Calling 911 Over 100 Times In Past Month [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

President Obama’s prom photos from 1979 have been released. The previously unreleased pictures feature President Barack Obama, at the age of 17, dressed up and ready to for his senior prom.

One of Obama’s high school friends, Kelli Allman, provided the pictures to Time Magazine for a special feature. Obama’s date for the evening, Megan Hughes, and Allman’s date Greg Orme, also appear in the pictures.

The friends seem to be having a great time, sipping champagne before they head out for the evening. Obama wore a white jacket, navy blue shirt and pants, and a light blue tie. All four teens have big smiles and are wearing Hawaiian leis around their necks.

As reported by People.com, Allman explains that Obama spent a lot of time studying. When he was not doing school work, he was usually hanging out with his friends or playing basketball.

Obama’s prom photos clearly show that the teens were ready to celebrate the end of their senior year. Allman describes their evening together as a typical prom night, including dinner, dancing, and great times with good friends.

As reported by Time, the photos provided by Allman include a copy of a message that Obama wrote in Allman’s yearbook. It states, in part:

“You are extremely sweet and foxy … You really deserve better than clowns like us; you even laugh at my jokes … Good luck in everything you do and stay happy.”

Obama signed the message “Barry Obama.”

The pictures offer a candid glimpse into Obama’s life before he became President of the United States. At age 17, Obama certainly felt the stress of his impending graduation, and starting college. However, it is refreshing to see see him completely relaxed without the stress of running a nation on his shoulders.

Barack Obama’s prom photos are available in this week’s issue of Time Magazine.

[Image via Wikimedia]

Obama Prom Photos From 1979 Released is a post from: The Inquisitr

Two donkeys suspected in a mauling death are still awaiting news of their fate. The donkeys are accused of causing the death of a Hungarian man.

Retired firefighter Sandor Horvat,was riding his motorcycle in Magyarszecsod, Hungary when he was approached by two donkeys. Hungarian police suspect that the donkeys proceeded to grab the man and drag him over 160 feet from his bike.

As reported by the ABC News the two donkeys are suspected of stomping and biting the 65-year-old man until he died. Authorities are still trying to gather details about the incident.

An autopsy was performed to determine the exact cause of death. However, the results have not been released to the public.

The two donkeys suspected of mauling Horvath were isolated and will be observed for any further aggressive behavior.

In 2012 a donkey was accused of a mauling death in Texas. Mayor William “Bill” Bohlke, of Hollywood Park, Texas, was kicked and bitten by a donkey. The attack was especially brutal, and was blamed for Bohlke’s death.

As reported by MySanAntonio.com, Bohlke’s truck was running, and the door was still open when they discovered his body close to 150 feet away.

Donkeys can be very tame and docile. However, male donkeys that have not been castrated, can become very aggressive, often without warning. As reported by PawNation.com, intact male donkeys should never be kept as pets, “at some moment in their life they will think with their hormones and not with their brain.”

Intact male donkeys, or jacks, can become aggressive toward other animals and humans. If kept intact, jacks should be held far away from female donkeys. They should always to be kept in an enclosure with tall and strong fencing. Only those with experience handling the volatile animals should attempt to interact with them.

It is unknown whether the two donkeys suspected in the mauling death were castrated. However, judging from their aggressive behavior, they were likely intact. Authorities determined that the donkey responsible for the Texas mayor’s death was not castrated.

[Image via Flickr]

Donkeys Suspected In Mauling Death is a post from: The Inquisitr

Best bus driver. Ever.

April Fools On A Bus [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

An 80-year-old man scaled Everest, becoming the oldest person to ever reach the peak. Yuichiro Miura climbed the mountain with the assistance of his son. This is the third time Miura has climbed over 29,000 feet to the summit.

Miura climbed Everest the first time when he was 70, and again when he was 75. His dream was to reach the top of the mountain once again, at the age of 80.

As reported by CNN, Miura advises, “if you have a dream, never give up. Dreams come true.” It was not easy for Miura, but he made his dream come true this morning.

The fact that the 80-year-old scaled Everest is even more astonishing considering several recent setbacks with his health. Two years ago, Miura was in an accident that left him with a broken hip. Four months ago Miura had surgery on his heart, to correct an irregular heart rhythm.

Despite the past medical concerns, Miura relates that he is “healthy and strong.” Miura felt confident that his son, who is a doctor, could help if he had any issues during the journey.

As reported by ESPN, Miura became famous in 1970 when he skied down Everest‘s South Col. A film documenting the feat, The Man Who Skied Down Everest, won an Oscar in 1975.

At 80 years old, Miura scaled Everest, making him the oldest to ever reach the peak. However, his record may be broken as early as next week. Min Bahadur Sherchan, age 81, is preparing to climb next week. Sherchan reports that he has experienced issues with his digestion recently, but still plans to “take up the challenge.”

As reported by SnowBrains.com, more than 2,000 climbers have reached Everest’s summit. More than 4,000 have attempted the climb.

Over 235 people have died while hiking either up or down Everest, the tallest mountain in the world. There are an estimated 120 bodies that remain on the mountain.

The youngest person to reach the peak of Everest was 13. Miura is now the oldest.

The 80-year-old scaled Everest, making his dream come true and becoming the oldest to ever reach the top. He will begin his descent this afternoon.

80-Year-Old Man Scales Everest is a post from: The Inquisitr

A business in Oklahoma is accused of taking advantage of victims of Monday’s tornado by jacking up the price of a case of water to $40.

The business is one of many being investigated by the Oklahoma Attorney General for price-gouging in the wake of the tornado that ripped through Moore, a suburb of Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt told ABC News that investigators begun aggressively searching for instances of fraud just hours after the tornado struck. The investigators are citing what is known as the Emergency Price Stabilization Act, which was actually passed after a tornado passed through Moore in 1999.

That tornado was the strongest ever recorded and led to a law that prohibits price increases of more than 10 percent within a month of a disaster.

“This is something we were putting in place and starting in motion as soon as we knew the threat existed,” Pruitt said. “We’re going to places where we think potential harm could occur.”

His team is fielding tips from citizens and others in the area with the hopes that publicizing the efforts will deter others from gouging prices in the wake of the tornado.

Cleanup and recovery efforts are still going on in Moore, days after the tornado struck. The death toll stands at 24, though officials said it could still rise if other victims are found.

Meteorologists said the tornado may have been the worst ever. Though it does not rank as the biggest circumference, wind speed, or duration of all time, its combination of these factors could make the Oklahoma tornado the strongest ever. A meteorologist for the local news station KFOR called it “the worst tornado in the history of the world.”

The store charging $40 for a case of bottled water wasn’t the only case investigators have found, Pruitt said. His team is also looking into a hotel allegedly overcharging for rooms.

Oklahoma Tornado Price Gouging: Business Accused Of Charging $40 For Case Of Bottled Water is a post from: The Inquisitr

The ghetto tours in New York City have been stopped after outraged complaints from residents in the Bronx.

According to the ABC, a group called Real Bronx Tours has been taking tourists from Manhattan to the South Bronx to show people what it was like to live in the “ghetto.”

Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and City Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito sent a letter to Michael Myers, the owner of Real Bronx Tours, urging him to stop the ghetto tours.

The letter reads: “We strongly urge you to stop profiting off of a tour that misrepresents the Bronx as a haven for poverty and crime, while mocking everything from our landmarks to the less fortunate members of our community who are availing themselves of food assistance programs.”

Real Bronx Tours issued a statement this week saying that it would be stopping all tours to the area.

The tour promised to keep its clients, mostly European tourists, at a “safe distance” from the Bronx residents. The $45 tour took tourists past food pantry lines and housing projects as tour guides explained that the Bronx was “notorious for drugs, gangs, crime and murders” in the 1980s.

Bronx residents aren’t upset that there are tours coming through the area but they didn’t appreciate the scope of the ghetto tours. Elena Martinez, an anthropologist and Bronx resident, gives people walking tours through the neighborhood, showcasing theaters, dance clubs and other musical landmarks.

Martinez told  Yahoo News: “Many young Europeans come here as a pilgrimage … This was the incubator for hip-hop, salsa, jazz, Afro-Cuban music, R&B. (The Bronx) has an incredible, majestic music culture.”

Martinez, along with several other Bronx residents, are starting a campaign calling “The Bronx Rising” to counter the Ghetto Tours.

Ghetto Tours Stopped In NYC After Complaints is a post from: The Inquisitr

Donald Trump lied on the stand in the case of an 87-year-old woman who has accused Donald Trump of cheating her in a skyscraper condo deal. According to attorney Shelly Kulwin, the Apprentice star lied on the witness stand in order to protect his own interests.

In his closing statements, for which Trump was not present, Kulwin told a group of Chicago jurors: ”The thought of my grandma being in the same room with that guy. Yuck!”

The judge told jurors to disregard that statement and then Kulwin said it was Donald Trump’s love of money that caused him to lie: ”It’s like his family, those dollars.”

Trumps defense attorney Stephen Novack described Jacqueline Goldberg as a detail-oriented investor who knew that Trump could cancel the profit-sharing option at any time.

According to Goldberg, Trump convinced her to buy two condo’s at $1 million a piece in Trump International Hotel & Tower. Trump promised her a share of the building profits if she agreed. Trump later simply changed his mind and cut her out of the deal.

“It’s called a bait and switch,” Kulwin told jurors. “Here’s the bait. Here’s the switch.”

In defending his client Novack told jurors: ”She knows the drill. Nobody put a gun to her head (to sign).”

Trump later said he didn’t rip off Goldberg by turning on his agreement, instead he claims “she’s just trying to cheat me.”

After Trump’s statement Kulwin told jurors that Trumps only took the witness stand ”to lie, evade and spout infomercials.”

Kulwin then highlighted Donald Trump’s dishonesty by noting that he never takes business meeting notes:

“People who don’t want to be found out don’t write things down. They’re not stupid,” he said. “And Donald Trump may be a lot of things, but he’s not stupid.”

Kulwin is seeking $6 million in damages on behalf of his client.

Anyone feel like doing business with Donald Trump?

Donald Trump Lied On The Stand, Attorney Claims is a post from: The Inquisitr

A family of six seemed to have their fair share of worry when both a daughter and her dad were diagnosed with brain cancer — an aggressive form in the case of the child — but it got worse when their property management company decided the Lilly family’s house was not tidy enough and evicted them.

In Oregon, mom Melissa Weiser-Lilly has been coping with daughter Alyssa’s cancer battle for more than four years. And after remission, the girl and her family learned the cancer had returned in a far more aggressive form.

If that wasn’t enough with which to contend, the Lillys also discovered Alyssa’s dad Jeremy had brain cancer. In a video made about the family’s struggles, they discuss the concurrent diagnoses and illnesses, as well as Alyssa’s (nicknamed “Aly”) tumors, one of which she calls “peanut.”

Melissa says, breaking down in tears:

“They said that a reoccurring ‘peanut’ is most likely fatal … And the best thing they could do – the best thing they could do is hit her with chemo and hope for the best.”

Jeremy adds of his cancer struggle:

“It’s about the size of a quarter on the left hemisphere of my brain – really close to the speech center. So in the next couple months we decided to go in and do surgery.”

Much of the community was sensitive to the Lilly family’s plight — but not Portland’s C&R Real Estate Services, the management company that claims their home is “too messy” and says the family damaged the premises.

Melissa Lilly says she took a day off from working, being a mother and nursemaid to her ailing daughter and husband to attend to the home, repairing damage and cleaning until the house was “perfect.”

Melissa says:

“I didn’t sleep like a full night’s sleep, I didn’t even take care of the family. I just kind of ignored everybody and everything making sure everything was perfect.”

But the efforts left C&R Real Estate Services unmoved — they evicted the family of six, who now have ten days to find a home and nowhere to go.

Neighbor Lisa Mann said: “We need to have a heart at some point and cut this family some slack.”

The real estate management company that evicted the cancer-stricken family of six declined comment.

Family Of Six, Two With Brain Cancer, Evicted For ‘Untidy’ Apartment is a post from: The Inquisitr

As we continue to count the number of lives lost in the Oklahoma Tornado, it’s easy to forget that humans were not the only ones to suffer at the hands of such devastation. Thousands of animals also lost their homes and in some cases their owners.

With all of the devastation the Oklahoma Tornado has caused, the team at the ASPCA has teamed up with partner shelter Central Oklahoma Humane Society (OK Humane) to provide relief for lost and orphaned pets.

According to the ASPCA:

“We’ll continue to offer our assistance as needed and will keep you updated as the long road to recovery begins for Moore and its neighbors.”

If you have lost a pet in the rea you can visit OK Humane or check for your lost cat or dog via www.okclostpets.com. That second destination was setup specifically to assist pet owners following the Oklahoma tornado disaster.

As the ASPCA continues to witness an increase number of pet related tragedies in bad weather the agency is reminding pet parents to take certain precautions. Here are the steps you should take to prepare your animals for evacuation or emergency cover:

• Have a Plan. Your “all-family” plan should include how you will transport your animals in an evacuation, possible routes you will take and your destination/sheltering options.
• Build a Kit. Don’t forget a photo of your pet, medical records, vaccination records, and any special food or prescriptions.
• Stay Informed. Keep an eye on the weather, learn which shelters house both people and pets, and monitor possible road closures.
• Vaccinate and Microchip. If you’re ever required to shelter your pets, you’ll want them protected against disease. Microchipping your pets can be their ticket home.

Have you taken additional steps to ensure that your pets are safe during a tornado or other natural disasters?

Animals Suffer Following Oklahoma Tornado: ASPCA Offers Tips For How You Can Help is a post from: The Inquisitr

Charles Ramsey will have access to free burgers for life after he put his waiting Big Mac on hold to rescue three women and a child held for years in a Cleveland home by his neighbor Ariel Castro, it has been revealed.

And it’s not just one place giving Charles Ramsey free burgers for life — a few Cleveland eateries have stepped up to ensure the hero (who told Anderson Cooper immediately after that any reward money he earned should go to the kidnapping victims) never has to pay for a meal in their restaurants again.

Free burgers for life seems a fitting tribute for the man who seems to think that he was just doing what any person should do when faced with a potentially violent madman who enslaved three women (at least one for a decade) and kidnapped the daughter of a friend.

The free burgers for life tribute for Ramsey came initially from the owner of the restaurant in which Ramsey was working at the time of the dramatic Cleveland rescue. Chris Hodges created the tasty-looking Ramsey Burger, which he describes as an “8-ounce burger of Certified Angus Beef, with a secret sauce.”

Since, a local news source reports, far more restaurants in Northeast Ohio stepped forward with similar offers, and Cleveland.com names them:

“AMP 150 at the Marriott Cleveland Airport; Washington Place Bistro and Inn in Little Italy; Fahrenheit restaurant in Tremont; Market Garden Brewery, Bier Markt, Bar Cento and Nano Brew in Ohio City; Welshfield Inn in Troy Township; Hodges and Pura Vida in downtown Cleveland; 87 West at Crocker Park in Westlake; Orchard House restaurant in Brunswick; Flour restaurant in Moreland Hills, and the Allegheny Grille in Foxburg, Pennsylvania, have joined in the offer.”

Scott Kuhn of Driftwood Restaurant Group is Hodges’ partner, and he said of the free burger tributes to the Big Mac munching Charles Ramsey:

“We want to honor our local hero with local food … He stopped his meal midway through to help those women. We’re now making sure he has other opportunities to go out and fully enjoy his burger.”

Kuhn came up with the “Chuck Card,” made just for Ramsey, good for the duration of his life and at least a free burger per trip.

Kuhn adds: ”I’m sure some places will give him more — maybe add fries and a soft drink — but that will be up to them.”

Do you think the least Cleveland can do is free burgers for life for Charles Ramsey’s heroics?

Free Burgers For Life For Charles Ramsey, Cleveland Kidnap Rescuer is a post from: The Inquisitr

J.J. Watt is perhaps the best role model in the NFL. When fans with special needs and special circumstances come calling he shows up. First there was the six-year-old fan who he “married” after her tearful YouTube please, then there was the 12-year-old cancer patient. This week J.J. Watt responded to a Facebook campaign that went viral.

The Facebook message was posted by Eran Melnik, a nurse who cares for a young man named Itzy Cagen.

In his post Melnik explains that Cagen has been a quadriplegic ever since being struck by a hit-and-run driver when he was just a toddler. Over the years Melnik has become one of Watt’s biggest fans.

In his post Melnik writes:

“During the season, every morning I would wake him up and he would announce ‘J. J. SWATT!!!’ Just thought you would like to know that he is out there and would love to meet you if at all possible. We understand that you are busy, but who knows?”

The post was quickly shared by thousands of people after comedian Jenny Johnson tweeted a link to Melnik’s post to her hundreds of thousands of followers.

After hearing nothing and nearly giving up hope the following simple message was posted by J.J. Watt at 3:34 p.m. on May 13:

“We will make this happen.”

Here’s the full post from the Facebook campaign:

On Monday J.J. Watt and Cagen spent the day together and eventually Melnik posted the following Facebook follow-up:

“Thank you so much JJ Watt for taking the time out of your busy schedule to make Itzy extremely happy!!”

Danny Cagen also tweeted a thank-you on behalf of his brother:

“@dannycagen: Thank you @jjwatt for taking time to make my brother’s day! twitter.com/dannycagen/sta…” <- it was my pleasure. Hope he enjoyed it!

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) May 21, 2013

Are you impressed with J.J. Watts continued acts of kindness?

NFL Star J.J. Watt Meets With Quadriplegic Fan After Facebook Campaign Goes Viral is a post from: The Inquisitr

The mayor of town in the UK recently rammed his car into the front doors of a grocery store.

St. Edmundsbury, UK Mayor Terry Buckle accidentally drove his car through the main entrance of a Tesco Express on Tuesday afternoon. The 73-year-old man somehow managed to miss the customers who were near the front of the store at the time of the incident.

According to the International Business Times, no injuries were reported at the scene of the accident. However, Buckle was taken to an area hospital for treatment. His family said he was “all right” following the accident.

“He’s home now. He’s fine, and he had an X-ray on his neck, and he’s just a bit sore. He’s gone to bed with some tablets,” the mayor’s wife told the East Anglian Daily Times.

It’s believed that Mayor Buckle, a former bus-driving instructor, may have caused his car to lurch forward as he attempted to secure a parking space near the front of the location. The automatic doors reportedly opened as the car made its way into the store.

“We’ll be working as quickly as possible to get the front of the store repaired and back to normal. We wish the driver a speedy recovery and are relieved that none of our other customers or colleagues were hut during this incident,” a spokesperson for Tesco explained.

Although the mayor caused a bit of damage when he rammed his car into the store, the location is still open for business while repairs are being made.

“Someone has done it before, but that time it was in the middle of the night so there wasn’t any risk to anyone,” the individual explained.

Although it was probably a very scary scenario, at least no one was injured when the St. Edmundsbury mayor accidentally rammed his car into the front of the grocery store.

[Image via JuliusKielaitis / Shutterstock.com]

Mayor Accidentally Rams Car Into Grocery Store [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Michelle Obama is believed to be planning an extended summer vacation with her daughters.

The First Family are reportedly returning to Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts in what would be their fourth stay on the island, previously vacationing there in 2009, 2010, and 2011.

Mrs. Obama, Malia, and Sasha will be reportedly be joined for some weekends and for two weeks at the end of August by President Barack Obama.

During the 2012 presidential election, the Obamas’ did not take their usual trip to the vineyard in order to set a tone of relative austerity.

According to a report in the Boston Globe, the family is considering renting a summer home in the Farm Neck area of the Vineyard.

The president is a keen golfer and has enjoyed sessions at the Farm Neck Golf Club in the past.

For their previous vacations the Obamas’ rented out the Blue Heron Farm in West Tisbury, on Tisbury Great Pond.

The luxury estate is set in 28-acres and includes two residential properties, a boathouse, tennis and basketball courts, a 150-year-old barn, various gardens, and an apple orchard.

It’s likely the family would have returned to Blue Heron Farm this year. But it was sold to the British architect Norman Foster for $21.9 million in December 2011 and is no longer being rented out.

As yet, there has been no official White House comment on the First Family’s holiday plans. In of itself that’s not terribly unusual while details and security arrangements are made.

Situated to the south of Cape Cod, the Kennedy family also has a holiday home on the vineyard in Hyannis Port.

Something of a bolt-hole for the urbane and those wishing to escape the more frenetic partying that goes on in the Hamptons, other homeowners in the area included CBS television host David Letterman, film director Spike Lee, cult folk singer James Taylor and ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer.

Michelle Obama May Take Extended Summer Vacation With Daughters is a post from: The Inquisitr

Several female cadets were secretly filmed by an Army sergeant at West Point.

Officials said on Wednesday that Sergeant 1st Class Michael McClendon has been charged with dereliction of duty, mistreatment, entering a women’s bathroom without notice, and taking and possessing inappropriate videos and photos of at least a dozen women.

According to The Associated Press, McClendon was relieved of his duties back in 2012. He was ordered to stay away from cadets while an investigation was launched. However, it took nearly a year before formal charges were filed against the Army sergeant due to the nature of the case.

Army vice chief of staff Geneneral John Campbell said in a statement:

“The Army is committed to ensuring the safety and welfare of our Cadets at the Military Academy at West Point – as well as all soldiers throughout our Army. Once notified of the violation, a full investigation was launched, followed by swift action to correct the problem. Our cadets must be confident that issues such as these are handled quickly and decisively, and that our system will hold those responsible accountable.”

Reuters reports that McClendon was in possession of video of female cadets he had secretly filmed during his time at West Point. Army officials explained that the footage has been recovered and the victims alerted to the situation. Their names are being withheld to protect their identities.

McClendon was assigned to West Point in 2009. His position at the academy effectively put him in charge of training and mentoring around 121 cadets. He has since been transferred to Fort Drum in New York while the investigation is underway. He is reportedly still on active military duty.

Sexual misconduct in the military is a growing concern. A recent Pentagon report suggests that 26,000 women were the victims of sexual assault in 2012 alone.

What do you think should happen to the Army sergeant who secretly filmed female cadets at West Point?

[Image via spirit of america / Shutterstock.com]

Female Cadets Secretly Filmed At West Point is a post from: The Inquisitr

A London attack on a British soldier Wednesday could have been part of a bigger terror event — except for the courage of a hero mom and Cub scout leader who stepped forward to stop the tragedy. An iconic photo of unarmed Ingrid Loyau-Kennett confronting one of the cleaver-wielding terrorists stunned the world.

You can see one of many tweets containing the image down below as well as a tiny sampling of the many messages saluting the British woman’s heroism.

Just moments after the self-proclaimed terrorists had attempted to behead the soldier, 48-year-old Ingrid Loyau-Kennett stepped forward. She was riding by on the number 53 bus, and she actually jumped off to try to rescue the man.

Loyau-Kennett told The Telegraph:

“Being a cub leader I have my first aid so when I saw this guy on the floor I thought it was an accident then I saw the guy was dead and I could not feel any pulse.”

One of the London attackers, armed with multiple tools, tried to stop her.

She had another opportunity to run away but instead, “I thought I had better start talking to him before he starts attacking somebody else. I thought these people usually have a message so I said ‘what do you want?’”

That’s right. She engaged the two men in conversation and calmed them by encouraging them to spout off like movie villain bad guys while they waited for the armed response from London police — which reportedly took a shocking 20 minutes.

In an extended interview with The Guardian, Loyau-Kennett provided a detailed description of what the attackers told her as she tried to calm them while they waited for police:

“He said it was a war and if the police were coming, he was going to kill them. I asked him if that was a reasonable thing to do but it was clear that he really wanted to do that…

I went to speak to the other man who was quieter and more shy. I asked him if he wanted to give me what he was holding in his hand, which was a knife but I didn’t want to say that … I kept talking to him to keep him occupied.”

Eventually, she saw her bus being moved and knew that the police were coming, which gave her time to back away without alarming the two attackers. The two Woolwich attackers were captured after an exchange of gunfire which injured both men.

Loyau-Kennett played down her role in stopping the men from attacking more people by adding: “I am just happy that I managed to do something that might have prevented more trouble.”

UK Scouting issued this statement:

“We are very proud of Scout volunteer Ingrid Loyau-Kennett for her calm and measured actions in very difficult circumstances. We are looking to make an award of bravery to her in the fullness of time to recognise her actions.”

Bravest person in the world. Cub scout leader Ingrid Loyau-Kennett confronts the London jihadi soa.li/0aocBAe twitter.com/TarekFatah/sta…

— Tarek Fatah (@TarekFatah) May 22, 2013

Astonishing bravery. Cub leader Ingrid Loyau-Kennett asked one of the killers: “Would you like to give me what you have in your hands?”

— Jim Pickard (@PickardJE) May 23, 2013

Is there a badge? MT@ukscouting: Cub Scout Leader Ingrid Loyau-Kennett made a positive community contribution confronting a terrorist

— Chris Deerin (@chrisdeerin) May 23, 2013

#woolwich Ingrid Loyau-Kennett to be out new prime minister! She’s got more balls than all of them put together!

— Debbie the Eagle (@debznfoz) May 22, 2013

Ingrid Loyau-Kennett represents amazing courage in the face of the cowardly London attacks.

[bloody knife photo by Fer Gregory via Shutterstock]

London Attack: Hero Mom Confronts, Calms Cleaver-Wielding Woolwich Attackers is a post from: The Inquisitr

Moore, OK — A woman endured active labor during the killer tornado that struck Moore, Oklahoma on Monday afternoon. Shayla Taylor, 25, was on the upper floor of the local hospital when the tornado first touched down.

She recalled how the floor shook “like an earthquake” and the ceiling tiles and insulation started falling down around her while she huddled with four nurses around her, suffering from painful labor contractions.

Taylor was nine centimeters dilated and almost ready to push when nurses had to give her a shot to slow labor. But while her husband, Jerome, and the couple’s four-year-old son waited out the tornado in the hospital cafeteria, Shayla was too far along to be moved.

So the four nurses helped shelter her through the storm on the second floor of the acute medical center. She couldn’t recall hearing the same loud roaring sound others heard as the category EF-5 tornado ripped through Moore, Oklahoma, leaving devastation in its wake.

Instead, what stood out the most to Shayla Taylor, amid her intense contractions, was the sheer silence of the twister’s eye. And then it was over. Taylor recalled, ”All of a sudden I could see daylight and the wall was gone. I look out and I see I-35 and part of the Warren theater.”

Taylor was quickly reunited with Jerome and their son, Shaiden. With the help of hospital workers, the woman in labor was carried through the destroyed medical center to an ambulance, which took her to another hospital in the Norman Regional Health System.

After three more hours of labor, where doctors determined she would need a cesarean section, Taylor delivered Braeden Immanuel, a healthy eight-pound, three-ounce boy. Taylor explained, “His middle name means, ‘God is with us.’ The name had been picked out for months. Now I know why.”

And the woman who endured labor through the Moore tornado, along with the rest of her family, is grateful she made it through the storm to deliver he baby boy.

[Image via Ks0stm]

Woman Endures Labor During Moore, Oklahoma Tornado is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Connecticut state Senate passed a bill on Tuesday that would require foods containing genetically modified organisms to be labeled.

The Senate approved the bill on a 35-1 vote. It will likely re-energize the movement to label GMO foods across the country. The measure has strong grassroots backing.

While the GMO labeling bill flew through the Senate, it will probably have a harder time passing in the House of Representatives. House Speaker Brendan Sharkley explained:

“I’m concerned about our state going out on its own on this and the potential economic disadvantage that could cause. I would like to see us be part of a compact with some other states, which would hopefully include one of the bigger states such as New York.”

The Connecticut measure would require three nearby states to pass similar bills by July 2015 in order to go into effect. However, with more than a dozen GMO labeling bills pending in states across the country, it would likely become reality.

In an interview near the House podium on Wednesday, Sharkey stated that his majority caucus met behind closed doors to discuss the measure. He explained, “The caucus confirmed my own sense that obviously we want to do something.”

Despite the murky future of the GMO labeling bill, supporters considered the Senate’s approval a win for their cause. Senate Republican leader John McKinney explained during a press conference before the vote:

“We’re not banning anything, we’re not restricting anything, we’re not taxing anything. We’re just letting moms and dads know what’s in the food [they're] buying for their young kids … That’s not a lot to ask.”

But for the bioscience industry, it is. The industry says that GMOs are safe and has vowed to fight any labeling law. Paul Pescatello, a board member of Connecticut United for Research Excellence, stated:

“There’s a lot of emotion that’s surrounding this bill right now. There’s a lot of science out there about GMO foods and GMO crops, and people should look at the science, they should read the science, they should understand the science and then … make a decision.”

Pescatello added that requiring labels on GMO products could raise constitutional issues regarding free speech. He added, “There’s an implication that there’s something wrong with GMO foods, that there’s sort of a scarlet letter attached to it.”

Do you think GMO foods and products should be labeled?

[Image via ShutterStock]

Connecticut Senate Passes GMO Labeling Bill is a post from: The Inquisitr

Tesla Motors paid off its $465 million federal loan nine years before it had to. In a revelation sure to make any loan holder jealous, the electric car maker surprised the Obama administration by paying off the loan, which was made by the Energy Department in 2010.

The announcement by Tesla will likely boost both the electric car industry and the administration, whose clean-energy loan programs, including the loan given to Tesla, were scrutinized after the collapse of Solyndra, a solar panel maker.

The car company used money it raised in the markets last week to pay off its debt to the government. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz stated of the incident:

“Today’s repayment is the latest indication that the Energy Department’s portfolio of more than 30 loans is delivering big results for the American economy while costing far less than anticipated.”

After the $465 million loan was repaid, Tesla co-founder and leader Elon Musk commented, “I hope we did you proud.” He also thanked the Energy Department, Congress, and taxpayers for the loan.

Tesla’s stock has been on the rise after two major announcements so far this year. The first announcement came from Motortrend magazine, which named the Tesla Model S its 2013 Car of the Year. The award was a milestone, as it was the first top award given to a completely electric car.

The second announcement was made by Consumer Reports, which this month gave the Model S sedan a 99 out of 100 rating, the highest grade it has ever given a vehicle. Even before the awards were given, electric car enthusiasts rushed to buy the Tesla Model S, which combines an eco-friendly option with all the style of a top-level sports car.

Tesla was famously called a “loser” company by Republican politicians Mitt Romney and Sarah Palin. It is likely, given the company’s early loan repayment, that the two are reconsidering their assessment, given the electric car maker’s success.

What do you think is next for Tesla after repaying its $465 million early?

[Image via Tesla Motors Inc.]

Tesla Motors’ $465 Million Federal Loan Gets Repaid Nine Years Early is a post from: The Inquisitr

Charles Ramsey gets free burgers for the rest of his life.

That is the reward a group of more than a dozen restaurants decided to give the hero credited with freeing three women in Cleveland who had been held hostage for more than a decade.

Ramsey was a neighbor of the accused kidnapper and was eating a Big Mac when one of the three women being held escaped. In a now-famous television interview, Ramsey said he put down the McDonalds and came to the aid of the kidnapped women —  Amanda Berry and her daughter, along with Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight.

“I heard screaming. I’m eating my McDonald’s,” Ramsey told ABC News’ Cleveland affiliate WEWS. “I come outside. I see this girl going nuts trying to get out of the house. I go on the porch and she says, ‘Help me get out. I’ve been here a long time.’ ”

To reward the Cleveland hero, the restaurants are giving Ramsey free burgers for life. It’s quite a list — he can to any of a number of places from brew pubs to bistros to regular old burger joints. The participating restaurants stretch from Cleveland and across northeastern Ohio all the way to Pennsylvania.

Ramsey’s interview got McDonalds to take notice. After the company received a barrage of tweets asking the fast food chain to reach out to Charles Ramsey,@McDonaldsCorp tweeted:  “We salute the courage of Ohio kidnap victims & respect their privacy. Way to go Charles Ramsey- we’ll be in touch.”

Ramsey already had one burger tribute. Hodges restaurant, where he works as a dishwasher, created the Ramsey Burger in honor of him. It’s modeled after the Big Mac.

That inspired a business partner of Hodges owner to come up with a bigger tribute. Scott Kuhn, owner of Driftwood Restaurant Group, wanted his restaurants to participate in the free burgers for life offer.

“We want to honor our local hero with local food,” said Kuhn, who owns four participating restaurants. “He stopped his meal midway through to help those women. We’re now making sure he has other opportunities to go out and fully enjoy his burger.”

To cash in on the free burgers for life, Ramsey has a single-edition “Chuck Card.” All he has to do is flash it at one of the participating restaurants and the burger is free.

Charles Ramsey Gets Free Burgers For Life After Cleveland Rescue is a post from: The Inquisitr

The jury in Jodi Arias’ case is deadlocked on whether the convicted murderer deserves life in prison or should be sentenced to death for her crime.

The jury has already found her guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Travis Alexander. They have also decided that her crime showed enough cruelty and violence to warrant the death penalty.

However, the jury told the presiding judge on Wednesday, the second day of deliberations, that it cannot reach a unanimous sentencing verdict.

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Sherry Stephens directed the jury to continue their deliberations and reach a consensus on Arias’ fate. The jury later adjourned for the day without reaching that consensus. They will resume deliberations on Thursday.

Jodi Arias has been convicted of killing Alexander, whose body was discovered at his home near Phoenix, Arizona in June 2008. He had been stabbed 27 times, shot in the forehead, and his throat was slit from ear to ear.

The resulting trial featured graphic testimony and photographs about the killing, as well as about Jodi Arias’ relationship with Alexander. Arias claimed her relationship with Travis Alexander was abusive and that she killed him in self-defense. However, the jury disagreed.

Should Jodi Arias’ jury continue to be at an impasse over her sentencing, it is likely a new jury would be called. Under Arizona law, a hung jury in the death penalty phase of a trial requires the selection of a new jury. That could add months onto the trial, as the new jury would have to hear reasons for and against Arias being given the death penalty.

If the second jury cannot come to a unanimous decision, the judge would then either sentence Jodi Arias to life in prison or to be eligible for parole after 25 years. Forer Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley explained of the hung jury possibility:

“If that happens, this jury would be dismissed and a second jury would be impaneled, and you’d literally have to go through the whole case again.”

Even if the deadlocked jury remains so, Jodi Arias’ conviction will still stand.

Jodi Arias Jury Deadlocked On Death Sentence is a post from: The Inquisitr

Two students were bitten by a fox at a Georgia elementary school on Wednesday.

Animal control officials were summoned to Rocky Plains Elementary School after the animal attack two 6-year-old boys who were outside during recess. A teacher reportedly kicked the fox in order to get it off the students. Around 50 children were also on the playground at the time.

According to The Associated Press, the students were initially treated by the school nurse. They were later transported to Newton County Medical Center by their parents.

Newton County Animal Control director Teri Key-Hooson believes the fox was sick at the time of the attack. Since they haven’t been able to locate the animal, the two students who were bitten by the fox will be treated for rabies as a precaution.

The Rockdale Citizen reports that the fox likely attacked the children without any sort of provocation. Key-Hooson urged people in the area to stay way from wild animals that may stray into the neighborhood.

“This time of year, wild animals are raising their young and you will see them on the periphery of the woods at any time of the day. If you see them coming away from their normal habitat and not startling if you open a door or make a noise, something is not right,” she explained.

Newton County School System public relations director Sherri Davis-Viniard said all outdoor activities were canceled as a result of the attack. She added that counselors at the school spoke to several of the little children who were frightened by the fox.

“Newton County School Resource Officer will be on scene to help with dismissal in the event the fox returns,” Davis-Viniard added. It’s currently unknown how the fox managed to find its way onto the playground.

What do you think about the two students who were bitten by a fox in Georgia? Have you ever had a close encounter with a wild animal?

[Image via Shutterstock]

Two Students Bitten By Fox At Georgia School is a post from: The Inquisitr

Erica Nigrelli, a Texas high school teacher, was 36 weeks pregnant when her heart stopped beating, causing her to collapse inside a co-worker’s classroom at Elkins High School.

That’s when the school nurse, her assistant, and the school’s athletic trainer sprang into action and began to administer CPR. The trio of lifesavers also used a defibrillator to jumpstart Nigrelli’s heart.

“I wasn’t scared … I knew what I had to do and my team was incredible,” said school nurse Jennifer Longoria.

Trainer June Tomlin added that she “got the scissors and cut off [Nigrelli's] shirt.”

Assistant Maxine Reeves said Nigrelli’s husband Nathan was “freaking out” (understandably so), saying, “Save my wife, save my wife.”

Their efforts managed to keep Nigrelli alive long enough for paramedics to arrive, but baby Elayna would need to be taken immediately via emergency C-section.

When doctors made the call to proceed, Nigrelli’s heart was still not beating, resulting in the postmortem delivery.

“There were two lives hanging in the balance the whole time,” said Nathan Nigrelli, who in one day went from being a husband and expecting father to almost losing wife and daughter.

Despite the stress levels, Nathan did manage to call 911. “My wife is having a seizure,” he said in comments reported by KHOU. “She’s on the floor … Oh my God! She’s pregnant and she’s foaming. Unresponsive.”

According to Click2Houston, which first reported on the story, Erica was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in which the heart muscle thickens. Erica Nigrelli later explained, “Nine times out of 10 most people die from the initial collapse … It was literally a ticking time bomb.”

The child is now three months old and weighs nine pounds. Doctors expect her to be taken off oxygen as soon as next week.

Missouri City, Texas, the town where Elkins is located, honored Longoria, Tomlin, and Reeves, at a city council meeting on Monday night.

“Thankful is not a strong enough word for what they’ve done for us,” Erica said. Here’s baby Elayna:

It wasn’t clear what technique was used to bring Erica Nigrelli back from death, but, earlier this month, an Australian man who suffered cardiac arrest was resuscitated thanks to a method using both a mechanical CPR machine performing chest compressions and a portable heart-lung machine keeping oxygen and blood flowing within the body. The man was technically dead 40 minutes before life was restored.

Do you think what happened to Erica Nigrelli was modern tech, modern miracle, or a little of both?

[Image via Facebook]

Erica Nigrelli Dies Before Giving Birth, Comes Back To Life is a post from: The Inquisitr

US drone strikes have killed 4 Americans since 2009, according to a letter to Congress from Attorney General Eric Holder. The four Americans were killed in the course of the government’s attacks on terrorists.

Holder sent the letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) along with leaders of both parties in both houses of Congress. In it, the Attorney General wrote:

“Since 2009, the United States, in the conduct of U.S. counterterrorism operations against al-Qaeda and its associated forces outside of areas of active hostilities, has specifically targeted and killed on U.S. citizen.”

That man was Anwar al-Aulaqi. However, Holder went on to explain:

“The United States is further aware of three other U.S. citizens who have been killed in such U.S. counterterrorism operations over that same time period: Samir Khan, ‘Abd al-Rahman Anwar al-Aulaki and Jude Mohammed. These individuals were not specifically targeted by the United States.”

While their deaths were reported in the media, it was the first time the US admitted to killing the men in counterterror strikes. The announcement caused an uproar from many, who have said that the four Americans killed by US drone strikes should have received due process, rather than simply an execution.

Abd al-Rahman was Anwar al-Aulaqi’s 16-year-old son. He was killed in Pakistan about two weeks after his father died in a targeted attack in Yemen. Al-Aulaqi was allegedly plotting attacks against the United States.

Khan was responsible for producing Inspire, an English-language magazine for al Qaeda’s affiliate in the Arabian Peninsula. The magazine included bomb-making instructions. He was killed alongside Anwar in Yemen.

Meanwhile, Mohammed, who was once on the FBI’s Most Wanted list, was indicted in July 2009 as part of a terror ring based in North Carolina. He was charged with plotting to murder, kidnap, or maim persons overseas, along with providing material support to terrorists. But he was never arrested.

The Justice Department did not say when or where Mohammed was killed. The announcement that 4 Americans were killed by US drone strikes comes just one day before President Obama is scheduled to deliver long-promised remarks at National Defense University. He is expected to talk in length about the policy and legal rationale for drone strikes and other actions against al Qaeda and its affiliates.

[Image via U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Christopher Elmini]

US Drone Strikes Killed 4 Americans Since 2009 is a post from: The Inquisitr

TGI Fridays locations in New Jersey have been accused of selling cheap booze as premium liquor.

State authorities busted 29 bars and restaurants in a sting dubbed “Operation Swill.” These establishments reportedly filled empty bottles of premium liquor with less expensive brands. These fake products were then sold to customers.

Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control said these restaurants, including several TGI Fridays locations, were attempting to increase their profits by selling the cheaper products at higher prices. According to The Star-Leger, the investigation into the bogus booze was launched after authorities received numerous complaints from customers.

Investigators managed to pinpoint the culprits through the use confidential informants and undercover detectives. New technology reported aided authorities in their quest to bust the perpetrators. The investigation took over a year to complete.

Authorities have yet to reveal which premium liquor brands were being faked by these restaurants. However, officials stated that inventories and records were confiscated during the sting.

Thirteen TGI Fridays locations were included in recent bust. The Associated Press reports that the company was working with the New Jersey franchisee accused to passing off cheap booze as premium liquor. A spokesperson for the restaurant described the allegations as “serious.”

“We have one of the most extensive bar and beverage programs in the industry, which sets a very high standard in the quality and service of our beverages,” TGI Fridays said in a statement.

The restaurants in New Jersey are owned and operated by The Briad Group. The company reportedly owns around 70 locations across seven states. Although several news organizations have reached out for comment, reps for The Briad Group have yet to comment on the situation.

Here’s a complete list of the restaurants accused of selling fake liquor.

Railroad Café, East Rutherford
The Brick House, Wyckoff
Sunset Tavern, Burlington
Graziano’s Ristorante, Chesilhurst
Villari’s Lakeside, Gloucester Township
Yesterday’s, Marmora
TGI Fridays, West Orange
Italian Affair, Glassboro
Bell’s Tavern, Lambertville
TGI Fridays, East Windsor
Brunswick Grove, East Brunswick
TGI Fridays, Old Bridge
TGI Fridays, North Brunswick
TGI Fridays, Piscataway
TGI Fridays, Freehold
TGI Fridays, Marlboro
TGI Fridays, Hazlet
Murray’s, Dover
TGI Fridays, East Hanover
Sona Thirteen, Morristown
Blackthorn Restaurant, Parsippany
Ruby Tuesday, Bridgewater
TGI Fridays, Linden
Café 34, Matawan
Applebee’s, Kearny
Cucina Calandara, Fairfield
TGI Fridays, Hamilton
TGI Fridays, Springfield
TGI Fridays, Clifton

What do you think about TGI Fridays getting busted for selling fake liquor to customers in New Jersey?

[Image via Shutterstock]

TGI Fridays Accused Of Selling Fake Premium Liquor In New Jersey is a post from: The Inquisitr