Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor in Virginia E.W. Jackson has expressed concern over the potential for individuals who practice yoga and meditation to become possessed by Satan.

E.W. Jackson, no stranger to making controversial statements, had this to say about the Satanic dangers of yogic meditation in his book Ten Commandments to an Extraordinary Life: Making Your Dreams Come True:

“The purpose of such meditation is to empty oneself … [Satan] is happy to invade the empty vacuum of your soul and possess it. That is why people serve Satan without ever knowing it … Beware of systems of spirituality which tell you to empty yourself. You will end up filled will something you probably do not want.”

Jackson explains:

“[M]ost people are dead spirits. As such they have the nature of Satan … Your spirit was made for attachment. It is either attached to God or to Satan, but it is not neutral.”

An outspoken conservative bishop-turned-politician, Republican candidate E.W. Jackson has become known for his highly controversial statements. In the past it has been reported that Jackson asserted that President Barack Obama has a “Muslim perspective.”

Referring to gay rights, Jackson has called them “icky.” The GOP candidate has also generated substantial controversy following statements that compared Planned Parenthood to the Klu Klux Klan, claiming that Planned Parenthood was a greater danger to black families in the US than the KKK.

Though Jackson has come under heavy criticism in the wake of such controversial comments, he has stated why he refuses to retract any of his statements:

“I don’t have anything to rephrase or apologize for. I would just say, people should not paint me as one-dimensional. I have a whole lot of concerns.”

As for now, it remains to be seen if E.W. Jackson, Republican candidate for Lt. Governor in Virginia, will be able to weather the controversy of his conservative rhetoric through November.

[Image via ShutterStock]

Virginia Republican E.W. Jackson Says Yoga May Lead To Satanic Possession is a post from: The Inquisitr

Suffolk, VA – Here in America, pulling down your pants and showing your butt to a school bus full of young children is generally frowned upon. But that, nor common sense, didn’t stop 34-year-old Lisa Grant from doing it.

Grant will be catching up on some sleep behind bars for the next few months after the Virginia mom mooned a school bus full of 45 children, Fox News reports.

She was actually aiming for the bus driver.

Grant admits that she had a very nasty tiff with the bus driver who had sent a note home explaining that Grant’s son was a bit unruly on the bus lately. A school spokesperson called the note a “warning.”

But Grant wasn’t going to take the warning lying down — or standing up, as it turns out. She is accused of showing her derriere in the school bus’ general direction last November, though she denies that she mooned the driver.

Presumably, there are 45 witnesses who said otherwise.

“I did not moon the bus. I did not flash,” she said. “I take full responsibility for my actions, for my disorderly conduct, for my arguing with her. I take full responsibility for that, but she also deserves the same thing I got.”

According to the Associated Press, Grant was convicted this week of disorderly conduct and sentenced to six months in jail, with five months of her sentence suspended. She worked out a deal to serve her time on the weekends.

She did not elaborate on why the bus driver deserved the same thing she got.

Check out video of the “mom moons school bus” story below (includes footage of the original incident):

Mom Moons School Bus, Courts Don’t Find It Humorous [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Are you a fan of President Obama? Would you like to get your hands on some Obama paraphernalia, even if you have to “circumvent” the law, so to speak? Well whatever you do, stay away from his teleprompters. Someone just got seven years in prison for stealing one.

Eric Brown of Richmond, Virginia, confessed to stealing one of President Obama’s teleprompters, as well as a truckload full of other White House press stuff.

This constitutes “theft of government property” which is worse than theft of private property, but it was Brown’s “nightmarishly long” record that likely saddled him with a seven year prison sentence. He has a history of drug use, and was a suspect in about a dozen other truck thefts, according to court documents.

Court officials didn’t mince words regarding Mr. Brown, either.

“If I had to sum up Mr. Brown’s character, it would be that he’s a thief,” said U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney said at the sentencing Thursday.

Brown stole the White House communications van which contained the teleprompter back in October 2011.

Probably the worst part for Brown is that he didn’t even realize whose van he had stolen until he started unloading it. Despite the presidential seals on the truck, Brown only realized what he had done when he found the teleprompter, sound system, and press office equipment, said prosecutor Laura Taylor.

“The theft of government property is a serious offense,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Roderick Young. “It’s all the more serious when the property belongs to the White House Communications Agency.”

Young did admit that seven years is a long time for Obama’s teleprompter thief.

“No it’s not,” replied U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney.

Don’t steal Obama’s teleprompters.

[Image via: Will White, Wikimedia Commons]

Obama Teleprompter Thief Gets Seven Years is a post from: The Inquisitr

Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli has asked a court to revisit its decision to throw out the state’s sodomy law as unconstitutional, a move his Democratic opponent called “divisive” and “ideological” Wednesday.

A representative from Cuccinelli’s office filed a petition with the 4th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia back on March 26. The Washington Blade reports that a three-panel judge ruled against a section of Virginia’s “Crimes Against Nature” statute earlier that month. The statute outlawed sodomy between consenting adults, gay or straight, which the court ruled unconstitutional based on the Supreme Court decision in Lawrence v. Texas.

The 2003 case was a landmark decision that struck down a sodomy law in Texas and, by extension, thirteen other states. The decision made same-sex sexual activity legal in every state, and legalized a form of mixed-sex activity that many heterosexual couples enjoy. The decision overturned a prior decision made in the 1986 case Bowers v. Hardwick, which did not find a right to sexual privacy.

Talking Points Memo reports that the Virginia case in question involved a man who solicited oral sex from a minor. Cuccinelli’s office asserts that the Supreme Court decision does not apply to cases involving minors. The majority opinion given by the 4th Circuit Court state that a new law outlawing sodomy between an adult and a minor would likely be constitutional, but that begs the question: Why would such a law be necessary? Sexual conduct between adults and minors is already taboo.

Virginia’s attorney general is also the Republican nominee for governor, and his opponent’s campaign did not hesitate to jump into the issue.

“This is just another example of Ken Cuccinelli ignoring the economy and instead focusing on his divisive ideological agenda,” a Terry McAuliffe spokesman told Talking Points Memo.

Cuccinelli has developed quite the conservative reputation for himself. He sued the federal government against the federal health care law and opposed the federal government’s lawsuit against Arizona’s controversial “Show Me Your Papers” immigration reform. He urged Virginia colleges and universities not to include sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression in anti-discrimination policies.

The election between Cuccinelli and McAuliffe will take place on November 5.

[Image by Gage Skidmore [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons]

Ken Cuccinelli Insists Sodomy Should Be Outlawed is a post from: The Inquisitr

Hampton, VA – Happy April Fool’s Day! A Waffle House employee decided to celebrate with a prank robbery call to police, but, in the end, the joke was on her when she was taken away in cuffs by less-than-amused cops.

Waffle House employee Susan Alexandria Tinker allegedly phoned local police before 6 am on Monday morning, claiming that the Hampton chain was robbed five minutes earlier, said Hampton Police Division Corporal Mary Shackelford.

Police took the call seriously, responded immediately, and launched a full-scale investigation into the April Fool’s robbery. They interviewed employees while a K-9 unit explored the restaurant and parking lot. Investigators even canvased the neighborhood for suspects.

Finally, police reviewed surveillance footage from Tinker’s shift and uncovered evidence that the 20-year-old had placed the original 911 call in jest as an April Fool’s Day prank. Police didn’t take the joke so well and arrested Tinker on the spot, charging her with one misdemeanor count of falsely summoning police.

“We take this very, very seriously,” said Shackelford. “Sometimes we’ll get incidents where kids are playing around on the phone, but usually it’s nothing of this caliber,” she added.

Prank phone calls to 911 never usually end well for the caller. In late March, a 12-year-old boy was arrested for making a prank phone call to police about an apparent school shooting.

In New Prague, Minnesota, both the middle school and the high school were put under lock down early in the morning after authorities received a phone call about an apparent shooter on the loose.

Police were able to quickly determine that there wasn’t a shooter on either campus, but the threat rattled and affected nearly 900 students.

“We have to take (these threats) seriously, every one of them … We have to treat them as a real incident, as we did on this, because we just don’t know,” said the district’s superintendent.

Do you think that the Waffle House employee’s April Fool’s Day prank call to 911 was innocent fun, or were police right to charge her?

Waffle House Employee Makes April Fool’s 911 Call, Gets Arrested is a post from: The Inquisitr

Support for marriage equality has swept across the country in recent years, with more Americans supporting the issue than opposing it. Now more politicians are following suit. This week two Democratic senators from swing-states have joined the tides of those throwing their support behind same-sex marriage. What’s more? They both used social media to make their announcements.

Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill (pictured above) chose Tumblr to get her message out. In a Tumblr post entitled “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. I Corinthians 13,” McCaskill put forth her argument for marriage equality.

“I have come to the conclusion that our government should not limit the right to marry based on who you love,” McCaskill said in her Tumblr post. “While churches should never be required to conduct marriages outside of their religious beliefs, neither should the government tell people who they have a right to marry.”

McCaskill said that it became difficult for her to look gay and lesbian friends, colleagues, and staff in the eyes without confronting this “uncomfortable inequality.” She argued that supporting gay marriage is the right thing to do in a country founded on the principals of liberty and equality.

Virginia Senator Mark Warner’s remarks were less profound.

“I support marriage equality because it is the fair and right thing to do,” the former governor (pictured below) said in a Facebook status. “Like many Virginians and Americans, my views on gay marriage have evolved, and this is the inevitable extension of my efforts to promote equality and opportunity for everyone.”

Warner proceeded to tout his record on the issue. He noted that he was the first Virginia governor to extent anti-discimination protects to LGBT workers, supported an end to the military’s ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy, and supports the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act.

These announcements came a day before today’s Supreme Court hearing on California’s Proposition 8, a state constitutional amendment that only allowed the state to recognize marriages between a man and a woman. If the Supreme Court rules Proposition 8 to be unconstitutional, the ruling would also invalidate similar laws across the country.

“Good people disagree with me,” McCaskill said in her Tumblr post regarding marriage equality. “On the other hand, my children have a hard time understanding why this is even controversial. I think history will agree with my children.”

Marriage Equality Gains Support From Two Swing-State Democrats Via Social Media is a post from: The Inquisitr

Officials were hoping that “gallon smashing” wouldn’t go viral, but now that it has, they’re not being shy about catching people in the act and pressing hard charges against them.

A couple of Virginia teens are currently facing criminal charges for “gallon smashing,” a viral prank made popular by teenagers on the Internet. Participants in the prank go into a grocery or convenience store and throw gallons of milk into the air, pretending to hurt themselves while falling to the ground and acting injured.

Two brothers and their cousin of Fall Church are being brought up on misdemeanor charges for destruction of property and disorderly conduct. Police say they’ve been investigating the “gallon smashing” prank phenomenon for over a month, and have continued even after the original prank video was taken down from YouTube.

In a lot of the “gallon smashing” videos, other customers or staff come to the aid of the pranking teens after they “fall” to the ground, and teens play along by struggling to get up, faking injuries, and pretending that they can’t stand up straight.

The original video caused a viral firestorm in February when it was picked up on YouTube. The video was titled “Gallon Smashing Prank,” and inspired dozens of teens to go out and record themselves replicating the act.

The Virginia teens aren’t the first to face charges related to “gallon smashing.” Authorities in other communities have been keeping a close watch on the phenomenon.

The original video got over three million views in just three days. The teens charged say that they never meant to hurt anyone, and are genuinely sorry for what they did.

Here’s a clip round-up of “gallon smashing.” You’ll get the idea.

‘Gallon Smashing’ Teens Face Criminal Charges For Viral Prank [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

It might be Big Ten expansion time again. It wasn’t all that long ago that the Big Ten unofficially became the Big 14. New rumors are swirling that the conference is making another push to become a 16 team conference.

16 teams has long been the “magic” number that many of the BCS conferences are looking to attain. The Big Ten took a couple of steps towards that magic number when they signed up Rutgers and Maryland in November of last year.

Both of those teams will officially become a part of the conference in July of 2014. Reports have started to surface that show that the Big Ten might not be done trying to raid the ACC for teams.

Jeff Erman 247Sports recently tweeted Virginia, Georgia Tech and North Carolina are all being courted to one degree or another by Big Ten commissioner Jim Delaney.

Erman said that North Carolina has already gotten an official offer while Virginia and Georgia Tech are still in the initial stages.

Big 10 talk buzzing again. #UVA being mentioned often as likely to join. Georgia Tech still in the mix. #UNC, the big domino, has an offer.

— Jeff Ermann (@insidemdsports) February 19, 2013

The Sporting News points out that Erman was the one who correctly broke the story that Maryland was moving to the Big Ten but that there appears to be some push-back on this particular story.

According to another tweet, this time by USA Today’s Dan Wolken, North Carolina officials are claiming that a move is not imminent. This does not mean that they don’t have an offer.

Never say never, I guess, but after talking with UNC officials tonight the idea they have anything going on with the B1G seems far-fetched

— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) February 20, 2013

That also doesn’t mean that Georgia Tech and Virginia aren’t on the wish list for the conference.

There were reports back in November that Delaney wanted to get the conference to 16 in one fell swoop. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that he’s continuing that work.

Will Big Ten Expansion occur again so soon? Who would you like to see come out of the ACC?

Big Ten Expansion: North Carolina Reportedly Has Offer To Move From ACC is a post from: The Inquisitr

As proof that the law is taking illegal file-sharing very seriously, Jeramiah Perkins was handed the longest prison sentence ever given in a United States file-sharing case … five years.

According to CNET, Perkins, a 40-year-old man from Portsmouth, Virginia, is said to have been the head of a group that went to theaters, camcorded the movies, recorded the audio, synched the files, and then distributed the product on the Internet. The group, known as IMAGiNE, became one of the most prolific piracy release groups in the world between 2009 and 2011.

IMAGiNE’s indictment read:

“The conspirators informally identified themselves as the IMAGiNE Group and sought, among other things, to be the premier group to first release to the Internet copies of new motion pictures only showing in movie theaters. It was further a part of the conspiracy to use computer software to digitally refine and to edit the video and audio portions of a motion picture and to combine or synchronize the two components into audiovisual movie files.”

One of IMAGiNE’s goals was to make movies available before the public release of the DVDs.

IMAGiNE rented servers in France, Canada, and the U.S. and hosted several Web sites, such as “unleashthe.net.” The Web sites included member profiles, a torrent tracker, discussion forums, a message board, news, and rules.

The group received money through donations and payments from the people downloading the copyrighted works.

U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen passed the five-year sentence onto Perkins on January 3.

According to Tom’s Guide, five other members of Perkins’ group were also found guilty and have consequently been handed prison sentences for being involved in IMAGiNE.

Co-defendant Gregory Cherwonik received 40 months in prison and Sean Lovelady was given 23 months. Willie Lambert is another member of the group that received a 30-month sentence.

The fifth defendant is set to be sentenced in March.

Leader Of IMAGiNE Sentenced To Five Years In Prison is a post from: The Inquisitr

“Gay cure therapy” is a highly controversial topic that often pops up most in religious circles. One Virginia church has their own unique way of “curing” homosexual urges, though it seems to have a bit more in common with Equus than Jesus.

The Cowboy Church of Virginia, led by chief pastor Raymond Bell, practices something called “Equine Assisted Psychotherapy,” which they say can cure many ills and addictions, including homosexuality.

The details of the practice aren’t incredibly clear, even on the church’s page explaining the therapy. It kind of seems like this “horse psychotherapy” assumes that interacting with horses will cause gay men to abandon their stereotypically feminine interests in favor of cool masculine things that typify the iconic American hero: The cowboy.

No word on whether or not the folks at the Cowboy Church of Virginia have ever even heard of the film Brokeback Mountain.

GayStarNews reached out to Raymond Bell to get more clarity on the practice. He told them:

“EAP can help any person who is living the homosexual lifestyle or involved in it in anyway. The first common misconception is that homosexuality is genetic, or hereditary, or as some say ‘born this way.’ Homosexuality is actually a type of addiction. It is not ‘curable’ as a disease because it is a ‘choice driven’ by the person.”

Thanks to the ambiguity of “Equine Assisted Psychotherapy,” some outlets reporting on the subject are taking expected liberties with this story. Wonkette deadpans that EAP “requires the work of licensed professional heterosexual romance therapy horses, and the men of God who offer them up for gay men to jerk them off or whatever, I don’t understand how Jesus therapy works.”

Neither do we.

What do you think of controversial gay cure therapies?

Pastor Develops Strange, Ambiguous ‘Horse Therapy’ To Cure Homosexuality is a post from: The Inquisitr

Arlington, VA – Though it may horrify, it should not surprise that some kids ask for guns on Christmas. The Merrifield Garden Center Santa Claus has decided, in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings, to flat-out deny any request for guns, real or otherwise, he hears from the hundreds of children he sees each day.

The 82-year-old Merrifield Santa is one of the more famous mall Santas in the US. He has served as Merrifield’s Santa Claus for over 30 years, and according to the AnnandalePatch, hosts press conferences and accepts toy donations that go to the Catholic Diocese of Arlington in addition to his duties of perusing child wish-lists and taking pictures.

The Catholic Herald reports that the Merrifield Santa is also different from many mall Santas because he includes a Christian-friendly message in his personification of St. Nick.

But this year, Merrifield’s Santa is drawing a very visible line in the sand on a political issue that has been boiling over in recent weeks. When he hears requests for water guns, Nerf guns, or even real guns, he is flat-out denying the request, reports The Washington Post.

“You might get a gun from your father or your mother or grandfather, but you won’t get one from me,” he tells kids. “Guns were put on this earth to take the life of a bird, an animal or a person. Guns were designed to make people cry, to make people die. Now, take a candy and a holy card.”

Though the Merrifield Santa’s perspective isn’t popular with some parents, it’s hard to fault a man who regularly interacts with hundreds of charming and innocent children year after year: Children like the 20 cut down and killed in Newtown, Connecticut last week.

That connection is too apparent in the mind of this Santa.

“Those first-graders,” he says, recalling the Sandy Hook shooting, “you just look at them, and you think: ‘How? How could anybody, how could anybody shoot them?’ ”

What do you think? Should more mall Santas follow this one’s example and turn down requests for guns?

Mall Santa Lectures Kids Who Ask For Guns: ‘You Won’t Get One From Me’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

Sterling, VA – A Wells Fargo was robbed by a man apparently wearing a Mitt Romney mask. The same bank was hit by “Hillary Clinton” two years ago.

NBC News reports that a man wearing a Mitt Romney mask and a Florida State sweatshirt entered the Sterling Wells Fargo Thursday, wielding a gun. Strangely, the man went teller-to-teller, clearing out all five drawers at the counter. Authorities went to the Party City behind the bank to see if anyone had purchased a Mitt Romney mask the day before.

In 2010, the branch was robbed by an individual wearing a Hillary Clinton mask. At that time, the building was a Wachovia branch, not a Wells Fargo, reports the Loudoun Times.

Barack Obama and Mitt Romney mask sales spiked in 2012 heading into Halloween.

“Any time there’s an election year, we load up on them,” Renee O’Brien, manager of a Screamers Costumes, told The Detroit News. “You see a little bit of a spike in those during an election year,” she said.

“I would say people who are very passionate about politics typically buy a mask to support their candidates,” said Lisa Barr, the company’s senior director of marketing. “It’s really in the fun and the spirit of Halloween. It’s something we have fun with. The poll’s not based on anything scientific.”

Still, Barr’s analysis rang somewhat true. If people really do buy masks to support candidates they favor, it showed in the sales. Obama masks led with 63 percent versus Romney masks selling at 37 percent. I don’t need to tell you who won the 2012 election.

Man In Mitt Romney Mask Robs Virginia Bank, Gets His 47% Back is a post from: The Inquisitr

MedCottages, or “Granny Pods” are being marketed as a convenient alternative for adult children struggling to find living arrangements for their elderly parents. The 12-by-14-feet dwellings are designed to fit into any standard-size backyard.

The price tag for a Granny Pod is reportedly far less expensive than placing aging parents into an assisted living community. The MedCottage is being manufactured by a Virginia company for $80,000, according to the Daily Mail. If the customer wants the dwelling installed, the price jumps to $125,000. While the “pop-up” homes are attractive and a cost-saver for suburban residents, the sticker price is higher than the cost of a full-sized home in a rural area.

If loving adult children want to keep their senior citizen parents nearby and make sure they are cared for properly, the Granny Pods could be a satisfactory alternative. Rural residents, who often live in areas without zoning laws, could probably build a similar structure themselves for a fraction of the advertised cost of a MedCottage.

N2Care, a Blacksburg company, did not skimp on any of the bells and whistles necessary to aid aging parents. Reverend Kenneth J. Dupin started the company, according to the Washington Post. The Granny Pods include a “virtual companion” that relays health-related messages to occupants, and plays movies, music, and games as well. A message to remind the occupants that it is time to take their medication is one of the most popular and reassuring features for the adult children interested in offering the best care possible for their aging parents.

The MedCottages also boast a video monitoring system that focuses on the floor to allow for occupant privacy but would alert caregivers if anyone fell. A pressurized ventilation system helps keep airborne pathogens at bay. A lift attached to a built-in tact in the ceiling helps move the occupant from the bed to the bathroom to avoid both falls and the need to lift by caregivers. Knee-level lighting which lines the walls helps to prevent tripping over objects on the floor.

MedCottages Offer Housing Alternative For Aging Parents is a post from: The Inquisitr

Virginia Beach, VA – Flying a Confederate flag is still quite controversial in this day and age, and supporters of the Old South routinely receive criticism for their adherence to the image. One man took his allegiance way over the line by waving a gun at some elementary school kids who voiced their own displeasure at a Confederate flag emblazoned on his vehicle, and he’s currently sitting in jail for it.

An 18-year-old man is facing charges after police say he pointed a gun at two elementary school students on Monday, reports PilotOnline. Joshua P. Dalton of Virginia Beach flies a Confederate flag on the back of his blue pickup and had apparently overheard some disparaging remarks about it from some elementary school kids.

Shortly before 3 pm, a school bus was unloading kids when two students told the driver that someone had pointed a gun at them. The driver then returned the students to Pembroke Elementary before notifying school officials and law enforcement authorities, reports MSN.

A subsequent investigation was launched, and it was determined that a dispute had indeed broken out between Dalton and a couple of students at a bus stop. The students made remarks about the rebel flag on the back of his truck, and he brandished a firearm. It is unknown whether or not Dalton said anything to the students or if he simply waved a gun at them and drove away. Needless to say, the students got a good scare.

Police officers tracked Dalton down and arrested him. He is charged with two misdemeanor counts of brandishing a firearm, one for each student he threatened. He was released on bond, and no injuries were reported.

Man Pulls Gun On Elementary School Students Who Mocked His Confederate Flag is a post from: The Inquisitr

The best thing we got out of the Republican National Convention was the massive outpouring of hilarious “empty chair” memes, based on Clint Eastwood’s one-on-one with an absentee President Obama. A northwest Austin resident has taken Obama’s empty chair to the extreme, and made a highly incendiary statement along the way by lynching iton his front lawn.

The photo, posted by Burnt Orange Report, shows an empty folding chair hanging from a tree by a rope, a clear and dark twist on the Obama “empty chair” internet phenomenon. BOR calls it a “racially motivated act of violence against the President,” and we’re inclined to agree, especially after hearing what the Republican who lynched the chair had to say about the display:

“I don’t really give a damn whether it disturbs you or not. You can take [your concerns] and go straight to hell and take Obama with you. I don’t give a sh*t. If you don’t like it, don’t come down my street,” said Bud Johnson, the homeowner in question.

His display has since been altered to include an American flag.

Interestingly, this isn’t even the first time Obama’s empty chair has been lynched in recent days. Political blog Blue Virginia posted a photo of a similar display taken near the KORUS festival at Bull Run Park over the weekend. The Virginia lynching is less subtle, depicting a chair strung up in a tree bearing a sign that reads “Nobama.”

Now we’re not going to make any grandiose and judgmental statements about the entire Republican party, but the provocative displays suggesting that a sitting president be hanged aren’t borderline racist, they are full on racist. I’d give you my blessing to remove any Obama empty chair lynching displays you come across down south, but you’re better off ignoring them. I don’t want you getting shot at on my account.

Obama’s Empty Chair Lynched In Texas is a post from: The Inquisitr

Roanoke, VA – A Radford University student bullied for his sexuality has a fixed and tricked out car after turning it over to a body shop that made the repairs and modifications free of charge.

Jordan Addison, a student at Radford, has had his car vandalized four times (once at his home, three times on campus) between March and May of this year, reports WDBJ-TV. “The first time there were some homophobic slurs keyed into the side of it,” says Addison, “Then the second time I had dye [sic] keyed into it.” Addison believes that he was the target of bullying due to the fact that he is a homosexual. Though Addison tried to cover up the vandalism to his car, nothing worked. “The lowest estimate I got just to fix the damage to the doors was like $2,500 and for a college student that’s a lot of money,” says Addison.

Then, a few Roanoke businesses heard about what happened and chipped in to foot the bill, reports MyFox8.

“Once I saw the vandalism that was done to it, I said, ‘That’s uncalled for. We’re gonna fix your car. That’s the least we can do,’” said Richard Henegar Jr. with Quality Auto Paint and Body’s. Henegar’s body shop not only fixed the damage to Addison’s car, they also added about $10,000 worth of extras, including a sophisticated sound system.

The cost of the extra additions was covered by donations from ten local businesses, reports MSN. “We can’t afford to do this ourselves,” says Henegar, “We might have all the good intentions in the world but I can’t finance something like this ourselves.”

Addison was incredibly pleased with his pimped-out ride. “It looks great,” Addison said. “It hasn’t looked that great the entire time I’ve had it.”

Here’s the video of Addison’s reaction to his restored and improved car.

Auto Shop Fixes And Tricks Out Gay Student’s Vandalized Car For Free is a post from: The Inquisitr

UPDATE 6:30 p.m. – Floyd Corkins had been volunteering at the DC Center for the LGBT Community for the past six months, the Associated Press reports.

UPDATE4:56 p.m. – The FRC shooting suspect has been identified as Floyd Corkins of Herndon, Virginia, NBC News reports. The alleged shooter was carrying a backpack with Chick-fil-A related items.

The FBI responded to what the agency terms a “domestic terror attack” at the Family Research Council’s headquarters in Washington D.C. A security guard at the conservative agency thwarted the apparent violent intentions of the gunman who entered the building posing as an intern, according to Fox News. The Family Research Council security guard, Leo Johnson, was shot in the arm before he wrestled the gunman to the ground. The FBI now has the unnamed armed suspect in custody.

Family Research Council staffers are heralding Leo Johnson as a hero and credit him with saving the lives of everyone in the building. During a press conference after the shooting, both the FBI and D.C. Police stated Johnson “saved the day” and did a “phenomenal” job, going above and beyond in duties when taking down the gunman.

The gunman, a 28-year-old man from Virginia, reportedly entered the lobby of the agency’s Washington D.C. headquarters before noon today and stated his disagreement with the policy positions of the conservative group. The FBI is not releasing specific details about the suspect’s statements. Once the security guard asked the man to leave, the suspect opened fire. The guard did not lose consciousness after getting shot in the arm and is reportedly in stable condition at a local hospital.

A joint task force comprised of the FBI, ATF, and the DC police are now investigating the Family Research Council shooting. The agency formed in 1983 and is currently under the guidance of Tony Perkins. According to the mission statement published on the Family Research Council website, the organization seeks to champion marriage and family as the foundation of civilization. The council was named as a “hate group” by the Southern Poverty Law Center based upon the group’s views on gay marriage and the ability of gay men and women to serve openly in the military, the Washington Post reports. The Family Research Council is located in the Chinatown area of Washington D.C. — just blocks from the White House.

Updates on the Family Research Council shooting will be published as they become available.

FBI Investigating Domestic Terror Attack At Family Research Council, Gunman In Custody is a post from: The Inquisitr

A new Gallup study reviewed each state in America to determine the best and worst places to live in the next five years. Unfortunately for West Virginia residents, the state singer John Denver sang about so lovingly about, wound up at the bottom of the 50 state list. Utah could become a bit more crowded due to winning the top spot on the best state to live in America list by Gallup, the Daily Mail reports.

The state survey was based upon 13 distinct factors including clean water, work environment, economy, obesity rates, job prospects, number of trips to the doctor/dentist, and safe places to exercise. The number of smokers in each state was also included in the Gallup poll factors used to determine the best place to live in America.

The top 10 states to live as noted by the Gallup poll include Utah, South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Virginia, Maryland, and Hawaii. The 10 worst states to live according to the recent study include West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Nevada, Delaware, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Arkansas. The South ranked poorly on quality of life issues because more smokers and obese people reportedly reside in the region, according to the Gallup poll.

Salt Lake City is noted as the best place to live in the United States. The Gallup best and worst states in America poll was conducted from January 2011 through June 2012. Gallup pollsters interviewed approximately half a million Americans to determine the best and worst places to live in the United States. The clean living reputation of Utah is noted as one of the primary reasons the state made it to the top of the best places to live list; the vast Mormon population is credited with aiding in the state’s health rate and reputation, according to the Daily Mail.

New Study Reveals Best And Worst States To Live In America is a post from: The Inquisitr

Paul Ryan is officially the Mitt Romney vice-presidential pick. Word began leaking Friday night after Tim Pawlenty left a Romney campaign meeting that the second name on the Republican presidential ticket was fiscal hawk Paul Ryan. Boxes carried into campaign headquarters rumored to contain new Romney posters and signs were kept under wraps until the candidate’s pending Saturday morning press conference in Virginia. The slogan on the new campaign posters allegedly reads, “America’s Comeback Team.”

The time of guessing on possible Romney running mates has come to an end. The last time a presidential hopeful chose a vice-presidential candidate from the House of Representatives was the ground-breaking choice of Geraldine Ferraro in 1984. Although speculation about Marco Rubio, Rob Portman and Chris Christie as possible Romney vice-presidential candidates ran high last night when the media learned of the planned VP announcement, Fox News is now reporting Paul Ryan was tapped on August 3, and the decision was kept under wraps by Romney until today. The Paul Ryan VP Twitter account was activated this morning and had more than 7,000 followers in the first five minutes.

“In America we promise equal opportunity not equal outcome,” Vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan stated during his speech in Virginia with Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. “We won’t duck the tough issues. We will lead. We will take responsibility for our actions, we won’t blame others. We will preserve Medicare.”

Paul Ryan Facts

US Representative Paul Ryan, 42, represents the First Congressional District in Wisconsin. Ryan is the Chair of the House Budget Committee. The Romney vice-presidential running mate also serves on the House Ways and Means Committee.

Ryan released the “Roadmap for America’s Future” federal tax code reform proposal in 2010. The tax reform plan was designed to address ways to eliminate federal debt while preserving entitlement programs for future generations of Americans.

The GOP vice-presidential candidate was born in Janesville, Wisconsin. Paul Ryan is the youngest of four children born to stay-at-home-mom Betty and attorney father, Paul Ryan Sr., according to the Mitt Romney campaign website. Ryan is known as an avid outdoorsman and is a member of the Janesville Bowman club. Ryan enjoys hunting, fishing and “noodling” catfish.

In 2000 Ryan married Janna Little of Oklahoma. The couple tied the knot at one of the representative’s “favorite fishing spots” – Big St. Germain Lake in Wisconsin. Paul and Janna Ryan live in his hometown of Janesville with their three children, Sam, Liza and Charlie. The Ryan family attends St. John Vianney Catholic Church.

Ryan’s reading list for his staff and interns may score the Romney-Ryan ticket some points with Libertarians and Independent voters. The Daily Caller notes Ryan is a “big fan” of philosopher Ayn Rand. Although he does not subscribe to Rand’s atheist philosophy, he allegedly enjoyed Atlas Shrugged, so much he wants his staff to become familiar with the book as well.

Paul Ryan graduated from Joseph A. Craig High School and earned degrees in political science and economics from Miami University in Ohio. In college Ryan worked for Oscar Mayer, his duties included occasionally driving the “Weinermobile,” the Daily Caller notes. While working at Oscar Mayer Ryan helped introduced a new line of products called Lunchables to area grocery stores. The VP candidate also worked as a marketing consultant for the family construction business his great-grandfather started in 1884.

Before running for Congress Ryan was an aide to Senator Sam Brownback, Senator Robert Kasten Jr. and was a speechwriter for Education Secretary William Bennett.

Paul Ryan earned a paycheck working as a fitness trainer in Washington and still leads a group of US Congressional Representatives in a P90X workout routine when Congress is in session. Ryan also moonlighted on Capitol Hill as a waiter at the Tortilla Coast restaurant.

GOP VP candidate Paul Ryan enjoys listening to Led Zeppelin and Rage Against the Machine, Fox News notes.

Paul Ryan Is Romney’s VP Pick – Ryan Personal History And Career Highlights is a post from: The Inquisitr

A newly released video of a bus bullying incident last year shows just how depraved and brutal bullying has become.

The 40-minute video shows 10-year-old Cequan Haskins and the abuse he suffered in May of 2011 at the hands of two 15-year-old bullies on the bus with him. The incident in the video took place in Appomattox County, Virginia, according to Global Grind. In the disturbing video, the bullies call Haskins (who is a special needs student) names, make sexual and racial slurs, and hold a burning cigarette lighter up against his skin. Haskins screams and begs the bullies to stop, but it only eggs them on.

The bus appears to be nearly empty, leaving some to wonder why the bus driver didn’t intervene. Well, she did. “Ugh, anything to get him quiet! I’ve got to drive this bus,” she said. According to the Huffington Post, she was acquitted of any child abuse charges relating to the case.

So why is the video only being released now? The mother of the bullied boy, Roxanne Haskins, decided to release the video at a press conference on Friday, July 20, 2012, explaining: “I wanted parents to be aware, that when I speak out, I’m speaking out for all kids. But unfortunately, this did happen to my child, and I want parents to be aware of what’s going on in the school system,” she said.

“My son, he was a special needs child and he didn’t deserve this. He was entitled to a safe transportation just like any other child in the Appomattox County Public School System.”

Roxanne added that Cequan has been left with emotional scars after the bullying, has undergone hours of therapy, and suffers from post-traumatic stress. Both bullies were found guilty of assault and battery and disorderly conduct last year, according to NY Daily.

Roxanne Haskins is currently engaged in a civil case against the Appomattox County School Board. A trial date has not yet been set.

Here’s a local affiliate news report regarding the bus bullying incident, including clips of Cequan’s abuse.

Bus Bullies Torture 10-Year-Old Special Needs Child With Cigarette Lighter [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

An excessively kind and trusting man lent out his BMW to a down-on-their-luck couple on the condition they bring it back the next day. Guess what? They didn’t.

The 46-year-old Burke, Virginia man was at a Hooter’s restaurant in Fairfax City when a couple came in saying that their car had broken down on their way to a wedding, reports Newser. The man was deeply moved by the couple’s tale, and allowed them to borrow his car – a cushy 2000 BMW 740iL – so that they could make the wedding on time. One condition: they had to return the vehicle the very next day to the same Hooter’s restaurant and leave the keys with an employee. Apparently, the man is a regular there, and everyone knows him quite well.

The couple left, only to return a bit later to ask how to open the gas tank. The man kindly showed them how, and off they went again. And that was the last time he would see his car.

He came back the next day to ask about his car, but unsurprisingly, it hadn’t been returned. He checked other Hooter’s restaurants in the area and waited eight whole days before reporting the case to Fairfax police, notes the Washington Post.

The saddest part is he didn’t even bother to clear out his car before turning it over to the con-artists. In addition to being out a sweet ride, he’s missing a laptop computer, some DVDs, clothing, and the real kicker – an engagement ring.

The suspects remain at large, but they have been described as a white male with brown hair, average build and average height, and a white woman with brown hair, average build and average height. That only narrows it down to one in 40 million. Great odds.

There are no words. I was trying to think of a snarky way to wrap up this article as I was writing it, but I got nothing. Leave me your best jokes/puns about this story in the comments below!

Pay It Forward Fail: Man Lends Out BMW To Strangers, Never Sees It Again is a post from: The Inquisitr

Yesterday, Secretary of Agriculture and former Iowa Govenor Tom Vilsack (D), and former rep Tom Perriello (D-Va), began their tour of rural Virginia.

The mission? To sell President Obama to Virginia voters.

A tough sell four years ago in 2008, when the Democrat swing in Martinsville and Montgomery county ended 40 years of Republican-only voting across Virginia. The question on everyone’s mind is, can Obama achieve a similar or better result now in 2012?

Thoughts undoubtedly not far from Vilsack’s mind when spoke at Virginia Tech on Tuesday. Telling attendees,

“We’ve had three of the best years in the history of the country in terms of agricultural exports, we obviously want to continue that. We’ve seen record farm income, we want to continue that. We’ve seen unemployment go down in rural areas at a very fast rate, we want to continue that.”

Asked by a journalist whether he thought President Obama could reconnect with people in Southwest Virginia, Vilsack replied,

“I think again it has to do with the fact that this president can talk about an unemployment rate that’s going in the right direction in rural areas including in the Commonwealth of Virginia.”

The tour will include Martinsville, Rustburg, Lovingston, Chatham and Raphine – ending on Saturday a meet in Blacksburg with local Obama supporters and former Virginia first lady Anne Holton – wife of former governor Tim Kaine (D), who is running for U.S senate against George Allen) – for the opening of the campaign’s 17th office.

One of those not impressed with President Obama’s rural record is Curt Cashour, Virginia’s communications director for Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney.

“In the last three and a half years, President Obama has held a lot of fundraisers, and he’s visited with a lot of celebrities, but he’s lost touch with what Virginia’s families are going through” Cashour said.

“From the job-killing regulations President Obama has hit Virginia’s coal producers and job creators with, to the huge spike in energy costs that has occurred on his watch, it’s clear that Virginians are suffering under President Obama’s failed liberal policies.”

Secretary Vilsack will be hoping Cashour’s words do not reflect a prevailing mood in Virginia. It’s well known that Vilsack believes Romney does not have a coherent plan for America’s rural constituency or its needs. Voters will decide who they trust in November.

Until then, the wooing continues.

Vilsack Targets Tough Sell Rural Virginia For Obama is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Virginia General Assembly did not want to elect its first openly gay judge so Circuit Court judges in Richmond handled the task for them. Circuit judges chose the prosecutor to serve temporarily until the General Assembly reconvenes, their decision comes just one month after the legislative body voted against electing Tracy Thorne-Begland to the district court judge position.

In learning of his appointment state Senate Democrat A. Donald McEachin told the Washington Post

“I applaud the circuit court judges for recognizing Mr. Thorne-Begland’s skill, qualifications and competency and putting aside bigotry, prejudice and false excuses.

Richard Morris, a Republican in the state sent a letter to his colleagues in which he specifically spoke out against the judge’s decision, noting:

“My initial opposition to Mr. Thorne-Begland had nothing to do with his sexual orientation.”

Morris says he believed the judge broke the law after a two decade old TV appearance surfaced in which Thorne-Begland, then a Navy pilot came out as gay, despite the existence of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell however Morris believed he was in uniform at the time he came out of the closet. The newly elected judge however was not in uniform. After coming out the judge was honorably discharged from his post.

It turns out that at least one Republican is against the judges appointment specifically because he is gay, Delegate Robert G. Marshall said the judges appointment would cloud his judgement since the Virginia constitution clearly states that marriage is between only a man and a women.

The Circuit Court judges were allowed to fill the seat after the General Assembly failed to nominate the openly gay judge after approving scores of other appointments in May.

Virginia Appoints First Openly Gay Judge Amid Controversy is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Walmart robber should have quit while he was behind.

After trying—and failing—to rob a Northern Virginia Walmart, a New York man was critically injured when his own getaway car ran him over. The 24-year-old, whose name was withheld, first tried to steal blue jeans and earbuds, but employees snatched the merchandise before he could get away with it, The Huffington Post reported.

The employees called police, and as the man drove off in his 1994 Ford F150 to escape the muffler became dislodged. He drove behind a nearby store and got out, requesting that his passenger move the truck forward—right over the would-be robber.

The robber got back into the car and tried to drive, but had to stop a short time later and called rescue personnel, the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office reported. He had to be airlifted away from the scene with serious injuries.

The man is now at Inova Fairfax Hospital, where he was listed in serious condition. Both he and the car’s driver had been staying in Virginia for construction work, and were part of a crew renovating a local hospital.

The robber could have taken lessons from another Walmart thief, a Houston man who snatched $200 from Girl Scouts selling cookies there. The girls gave chase as the robber tried to hit them with his car, and they landed several blows on the robber’s accomplice in the passenger seat.

For as bad as the Virginia robber had it, at least he won’t face any jail time. Walmart declined to press charges.

His friend didn’t have it so easy, Huffington Post reported. He’s been charged with reckless driving.

Walmart Thief Fails At Robbery, Then Hit By His Own Car is a post from: The Inquisitr

James Hetfield, lead singer of the legendary heavy metal band Metallica, released a public service video calling for anyone with information on a man wanted in the death of a Virginia Tech student.

Hetfield’s public service announcement is part of a new publicity blitz from the FBI and Virginia law enforcement agencies to help try and identify and catch the man who authorities believe murdered 20-year-old Morgan Harrington in late 2009 after a Metallica concert.

The following January after Harrington was reported missing, the FBI reports, her remains were discovered in a remote field roughly 10 miles away from where the concert was held.

“Remember, any information — no matter how small you might think it is — could be that crucial piece investigators need to help solve the case,” Hetfield said in the video, which was posted on YouTube.

Gil Harrington, Morgan’s mother, told the Associated Press that she hopes that the publicity from Hetfield’s video and the efforts of law enforcement agencies will help lead to an arrest.

“Our big motivation now is to catch this man and help save the next girl because he is a predator at the top of his game,” Harrington said.

A $100,000 reward is being offered by the Jefferson Area Crime Stoppers for information leading to an arrest, and an additional $50,000 is being offered by Metallica.

You can watch the public service from Metallica’s James Hetfield, along with a newly released composite sketch of the suspect, directly below.

Metallica Helps FBI In Trying To Catch Killer is a post from: The Inquisitr

Back before the internet, schoolkids were entranced by stories and mysteries like that of the Lost Colony’s fate- one of the larger spots of American history intrigue in elementary and grade school.

Back when we learned about the mysterious Lost Colony’s fate (the one at Roanoke), it was kind of presented as a question we’d unlikely learn the answer to- at least not for many years. Roanoke was one of the first American colonies settled, supported by Sir Walter Raleigh back in the late 1500′s.

However, when the colony was revisited after a three-year absence, all 90 men, 17 women and 11 children in the colony had disappeared without a trace. No one knew what happened to the residents of what came to be known as the “Lost Colony,” and the sole clue left behind was the somewhat cryptic message “Croatoan” carved into a post at the settlement.

But as science develops, so too does the possibility that we can get a far better idea of the Lost Colony’s fate. In the past, we’d settled for believing that the original Roanoke settlers had a) gone off shagging Indians, b) gotten killed by Indians or c) been consumed in some massive supernatural event; but now researchers believe they have a bead on where the colonists got off to in the three years between when they were last seen alive and their colony was found abandoned on what is now Hatteras Island.

A map of settler John White’s that belongs to the British Museum has yielded new clues previously hidden behind spots on the document and only visible in a light box. James Horn is an expert on the Lost Colony, and he explains:

“We believe that this evidence provides conclusive proof that they moved westward up the Albemarle Sound to the confluence of the Chowan and Roanoke rivers… Their intention was to create a settlement. And this is what we believe we are looking at with this symbol — their clear intention, marked on the map …”

In a joint statement, researchers in America and Britain announced:

“First Colony Foundation researchers believe that it could mark, literally and symbolically, ‘the way to Jamestown.’ As such, it is a unique discovery of the first importance.”

There are eventual plans to excavate the area in that may hold the key to the Lost Colony’s fate, but the area lies under a golf course and residential area, so it is not likely to happen immediately.

Lost Colony’s Fate May Be Discovered After Researchers Reveal New Clues is a post from: The Inquisitr

A day after a Navy fighter jet crashed into a Virginia Beach apartment complex, rescue workers on Saturday continued their work to locate three residents that have still been unaccounted for, according to a report by CNN.

Virginia Beach Fire Department Battalion Chief Tim Riley told reporters that while there were no initial reports of fatalities, there are still three residents that are unaccounted for.

Rescue workers said late Friday that they had completed a 95 percent search around the Navy jet crash site, and that if there’s anyone still left in the apartment complex, “chances of survivability would be low.”

While no one has been reported missing following the Navy jet crash on Friday, rescue workers, using a checklist of occupants in the buildings, were able to account for all occupants except for three.

According to reports, the Navy jet was dumping loads of fuel before the two pilots ejected before crashing into a Virginia Beach apartment complex, destroying a portion of the building. It wasn’t clear if the fuel dumping was part of a training exercise, or the result of a malfunction.

The Associated Press reports that, according to Bruce Nedelka, the Virginia Beach EMS division chief, witnesses spotted the Navy jet dumping fuel just before the crash, and small amounts of fuel was found on buildings and vehicles around the crash site.

The Associated Press reports:

“The plane not having as much fuel on board “mitigated what could have been an absolute massive, massive fireball and fire,” Nedelka said. “With all of that jet fuel dumped, it was much less than what it could have been.”

Navy Jet Crash: 3 Still Unaccounted For, Rescue Workers Say is a post from: The Inquisitr

Physicians at the University of Maryland Medical Center called a press conference today to discuss the world’s first comprehensive face transplant.

Richard Norris, 37, received the complete face transplant, which included upper and lower jaw bones, teeth, a portion of the tongue and soft tissue from the hairline to the neck. The surgery took more than 36 hours and began on March 17th.

Norris, of Hillsville, Va., had been injured in a gun accident and had lost his lips and mouth. He also had undergone many surgeries before the transplant.

Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez, associate professor of surgery at Maryland’s School of Medicine and chief of plastic, reconstructive and maxillofacial surgery at Maryland Shock Trauma Center, who led the transplant with more than 150 doctors, nurses and hospital staff assisting had this to say is his statement,

“A full composite maxillo-facial transplant also includes subcutaneous tissue and muscles and the nerves that innovate or move those muscles, which gives your face expression, provide sensation and also the bony structure that goes along the face – so it’s all the way through,”

Rodriguez said of when he met with Norris,

“He was living behind a mask, living as a recluse. He did his shopping at night. He went through rigorous psychological testing, and he will continue to be followed for many years to make sure he’s fully integrated into society.”

Rodriguez said Norris was recovering better than he expected, and was already using a mirror to shave, moving his tongue. He is on a clear-liquid diet.

Rodriguez said what made this transplant different from the 23 face transplants that preceded it were that it included the donor’s teeth and tongue and soft tissue ranging from the hairline to the clavicle.

Virginia Man Gets First Comprehensive Face Transplant is a post from: The Inquisitr

A controversial abortion-related bill requiring a woman to view the images from an ultrasound before consenting to a pregnancy termination has been signed by Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, and will go into effect in the state on July 1st.

McDonnell restated his support for the bill Wednesday, but critics have vocally opposed the measure and debate over the practice has been rife on a national level as more states consider adopting the measure. McDonnell said Wednesday that mandated ultrasounds will “can help the mother make a fully informed decision” as to whether to have an abortion.

Critics of the bill, however, cite unnecessary cost, invasion of privacy and overzealous government intervention in implementation of the bill, but McDonnell said in a statement yesterday that the measure doesn’t interfere with a woman’s right to choose an abortion. He explains:

“This bill does not legally alter a woman’s ability to make a choice regarding her pregnancy. It does, however, put Virginia in line with 23 other states that have some type of requirement that a woman be offered a view of an ultrasound before an abortion can be performed.”

McDonnell added:

“I believe that we become a more compassionate society when we enact reasonable legislation to protect innocent human life.”

Former Virginia governor Tim Kaine blasted the bill in a statement, saying mandated ultrasounds are a distraction from issues that affect Virginians every day, as well as a poor reflection on the state’s priorities:

“I continue to believe this legislation is bad for Virginia’s image, bad for Virginia’s businesses and bad for Virginia’s women… Deviations into the social debates of the past not only distract from those challenges, but they actually hurt our reputation as a world-class place to do business.”

Kaine said lawmakers should shift focus to initiatives that “create jobs, grow our economy, educate our workforce and tackle our deficit.”

Virginia Ultrasound Bill Signed by Gov. McDonnell, to Go Into Effect July 1st is a post from: The Inquisitr

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has won the primaries in Virginia, Vermont and Massachusetts. This will be enought o keep his momentum going in the Republican Presidential Primary despite a few setbacks this week.

Yet again Romney’s wealth came into the contest in a negative way this week. Romney’s wife Ann made a comment where she said,

“We can be poor in spirit, and I don’t even consider myself wealthy, which is an interesting thing.”

One of the biggest arguments against a Romney candidacy is that he is completely out of touch with mainstream American voters and that will hurt him considerably in a contest with President Obama.

Some other examples of Romney’s gaffes include:

He told a reporter after his win in Florida that his campaign wasn’t concerned about the very poor because after all, they have a safety net.

When talking about how much money he had made on speaking fees he told a crowd “not that much”. In this case not that much turned out to be almost half a million dollars.

When asked in Michigan what type of car his wife drives he responded by saying “She drives a couple of Cadillacs”.

When pressed to release his tax returns (which he only did under pressure) it turns out he has significant holdings in offshore accounts.

When speaking about insurance companies he said “I like being able to fire people who provide services to me.”

At a trip to the Daytona 500 race Romney talked about a few friends he has who are team owners.

When asked by a reporter last week if his wealth was hurting his campaign he simply responded by saying “Yes”.

Do you think that Mitt Romney is too out of touch and incompetent to be President?

Mitt Romney Wins Virginia, Massachusetts and Vermont is a post from: The Inquisitr

The U.S. Senate race is heating up as November approaches and it looks as if Virginia voters are in for quite the cat fight. That’s because the race was originally made up of former Virginia governors George Allen (R) and Tim Kaine (D) until Hank the Cat decided to mix it up.

Going by the name Hank the 9-year-old street cat claims no ties to politics as usual and the Springfield resident has already lauched a Web site, a Facebook page, Twitter handle, and campaign advertisement.

Hank’s main platform is simple, he wants to create jobs, we assume for humans and perhaps some homeless cats.

Hank describes himself as a “a proud Independent” with “real world experience, a unique point of view, and limitless energy.”

If you’re willing to help out the Hank for Senate campaign they need volunteers to “harp on Hank” by going door-to-door, making phone calls and working at polling places on election day. You heard that right, Hank’s campaign has all the inner workings of a real human campaign.

Getting a hold of Hank however isn’t easy as he’s not currently offering any press comments, although I’d assume his typical response would be a veiled political answer to the tune of “meow.”

If Hank the Cat is elected to office we hear one of his first orders will be enacting mandatory cat naps for all state employees.

Do you think Hank the Cat is Virginia’s best choice for replacing the Senate seat vacated by Sen. James Wedd (D)?

Hank The Cat Running For Virginia Senate Seat is a post from: The Inquisitr

In news that can only make Michelle Obama happy as a clam, Mars Inc., the maker of such delightful confections as Twix, M&Ms, and the Snickers candy bar, is going to halt all production on chocolate snacks exceeding a 250 calorie ceiling by the end of next year, according to a spokeswoman for the company on Wednesday.

Mars Inc., based out of McClean, Virginia, has said that the effort is a part of an ongoing quest to improve both the nutritional value of their products as well as the responsible sale thereof. Company pokeswoman Marlene Machut said the plan to stop shipping any chocolate product over the 250 calorie limit by the end of 2013 was part of Mars’ “broad-based commitment to health and nutrition.”

What does Mars’ new diet mean for us small-time folk? The new calorie limit means that you won’t be able to purchase a guilty 540-calorie king-size candy bar next time your sweet tooth calls for it. By 2014, king-size snacking goes kaput, thanks to what Mars says is a broader push for responsible snacking.

This initiative has been on the books since at least 2007 when the company announced that it would stop buying advertising space if more than a quarter of the projected audience was likely to be under 12 years old. Mars has also said that it’s going to cut sodium out of its products by 25% before 2015.

So stock up on those king-sized candies now, dear reader! This is still America! (Until 2013 anyway).

Are you going to miss the king-sized candy bar?

Mars Slims Down: No More King Size Candy Bars is a post from: The Inquisitr

ASHBURN, Virginia – Staring down 10 loses for the second consecutive season, Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan admitted today that whipping the ailing team back into shape is a much tougher task than he had originally thought.

Since taking charge of the Redskins in Jan. 2010, Shanahan has been working non-stop to tighten the roster passed to him by Jim Zorn. A mere 12 of the 53 current team members have seen life beyond the bench since his arrival. Still, the Redskins notoriously boast four straight last-place finishes, which is a first in the NFC East’s 42-year history.

In the wake of the 33-26 home loss to the Vikings, dropping the Redskins 5-10, Shanahan lamented:

“We had less depth than I thought. We were a little bit older at a few different positions. I thought we might keep those players a little longer than we did.”

Agreeing with Shanahan, nose tackle Barry Cofield talked about the Redskins’ defense:

“It’s depressing. The way we got trampled, it’s the worst defense we played all year. When teams run the ball like that, it hurts me personally. It’s very disappointing, especially coming off of last week where we played well.”

Cofield continued:

“We got a lot to think about for next week. We got a lot to think about for the offseason. Hopefully guys use it as a driving force.”

Shanahan is optimistic about the future, with most of his new-found hope now riding on a new front seven on defense, and fresh running backs Roy Helu and Evan Royster, who combined for four 100-yard games the past five weeks.

“I see a big difference from two years ago,” said Shanahan, “We have a much younger football team. We have a lot more depth at a lot of different positions. I feel good about the type of players that we do have. I feel good about the direction we’re heading.”

Only time will tell.

Do you share Shanahan’s optimistic outlook about the future of the Redskins?

Mike Shanahan Admits Difficulties Raising Washington Redskins is a post from: The Inquisitr

27 years ago Thomas Haynesworth was arrested, tried and placed in prison for the rape of several Virginia women and now 27 years later he has been exonerated and his name has been cleared.

Haynesworth spent his days in prison learning auto mechanics, welding and masonry but his main goal was to clear his innocent name, a goal that came to fruition this week when DNA evidence cleared Haynesworth of three rapes he was convicted of dating back to 1984.

Thomas was initially identified while walking to a local market one afternooon at which time the then 18-year-old man was arrested.

While DNA evidence cleared him of only two of the three rapes and he was acquitted of a fourth case that appeared to be enough for state officials to release him of all prior charges.

Thomas Haynesworth’s exoneration marks the first time that Virginia has issued a “write of actual innocence” for a rape case (the third case) that did not provide any DNA evidence.

Acting on his behalf was two state prosecutors, Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli and one of the rape victims.

In the meantime an already convicted rapist was matched to the two DNA samples found at the scene of the rapes, that rapist is already serving a life term behind bars.

Speaking about his exoneration Haynesworth called it “a blessing,” and added:

“”There are a lot of people behind the scenes who believed in me. Twenty-seven years, I never gave up. I kept pushing. I ain’t give up hope.”

Haynesworth was release on Parole in March however he was listed at that time on the state’s sex offender registry, was not allowed to use the internet and had to introduce potential dates to his parole officer before they could go out.

Thomas Haynesworth Exonerated Of Rape Charges 27-Years After His Conviction is a post from: The Inquisitr

If this doesn’t touch your heart, you have a heart of gnarled, twisted oak.

Over the weekend, the Los Angeles Times reported on the discovery of Petunia, an 11-year-old dog who went missing from her home in Virginia when she was three.

Yep, that’s eight years (56 in dog years!) Petunia spent apart from her family, but just as amazing is the distance she managed to travel in that period. See, Petunia was found in California, over 3,000 miles away in an animal shelter. You may commence baaaaawing … now.

Authorities said that Petunia went missing around Thanksgiving in 2003, and was never found despite an expansive search. Yet the American Staffordshire terrier (a breed that can live until 16 or 17) recently showed up at an animal shelter in Sacramento, California, where she was registered as a stray.

And just to make sure it is her, a scan of a microchip found in Petunia linked her to Virginia-based veterinarian clinic in Virginia. The clinic was contacted by the California animal shelter, and in turn got in touch with Petunia’s owners. Who, I imagine, had a bloody good baaaaaw themselves.

The aim now is to get the intrepid mutt home for Christmas. It’ll be a long and perhaps lonely trip for Petunia, but the California animal shelter is on the case. Man, who wants to be at that reunion?

See also:More happy endings!

Dog From Virginia Found in California, Eight Years After Going Missing is a post from: The Inquisitr

This has been popping up on both Twitter and Facebook, a photo illustrating the damage wrought on the Eastern seaboard by the August 2011 earthquake.

(You can see some more earthquake damage pics over on Buzzfeed.)

Shocking Photos of East Coast Earthquake Devastation is a post from: The Inquisitr

Many East Coast residents experienced their first notable earthquake today, and the Capitol and Pentagon were evacuated in the minutes following the tremor.

Information is filtering in from news sources and social networks, with many users reporting the quake from points south of Virginia to Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts, where President Barack Obama is vacationing. Traders on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange reported feeling the quake, and buildings in major cities across the Eastern seaboard saw building evacuations due to fears of less strict building codes than on the more quake-prone West Coast.

Major news networks are reporting a magnitude of 5.9 for the quake in DC, close to the tremor’s epicenter in Mineral, Virginia. JFK International Airport in Queens has been shut down in the earthquake’s wake. The WSJ is reporting that the quake was several orders of magnitude stronger than the last of its type- which, at the time, was the strongest quake in the area’s history:

Tuesday’s earthquake was 100 times stronger than an earthquake last July, also near Washington, D.C., which at the time was the largest earthquake in D.C. history.

No major damage has been reported yet in relation to the tremor, nor have any deaths or injuries been associated with the incident.

Did you feel the East Coast Earthquake?

Earthquake Hits East Coast of US, 5.9 in DC, Capitol and Pentagon Evacuated is a post from: The Inquisitr

A small outbreak of measles has been reported in Virginia after a woman who had traveled to India passed the now-rare illness onto two others upon her return.

Three residents in the Thomas Jefferson Health District have been confirmed as infected. Measles, an “extremely contagious viral respiratory illness,” is airborne, and can spread quickly among those who have not been vaccinated against the infection. Patient zero of the Virginia measles outbreak was confirmed to be ill with the virus on May 19th, and Dr. Lilian Peake of the Charlottesville Health Department says the woman had some interaction with the community before she fell ill:

Peake says possible additional exposures in the community could have taken place May 20 at Charlottesville Waldorf School or particular areas of the Downtown Mall between the hours of 4:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Those locations include the area outside The Paramount Theater between 4:30 p.m. and 9 p.m., Marco & Luca Dumpling Store between 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. and and Chaps Ice Cream between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.

People who were in those areas May 20 may have been exposed. Peake stresses that most citizens are immune to contracting the measles.

99% of people who have had two doses of measles vaccine maintain immunity to the illness. However, 90% of those who are not immune will contract measles when exposed to the illness.

Small Measles Outbreak Reported in Virginia is a post from: The Inquisitr

Another UFL team needs a nickname and that of course means another “Your Town, Your Team, Your Name-You make the call” contest to name it. This time the UFL is allowing fans to nominate their own idea for the team’s moniker, and they have the choice of the following four monikers: Destroyers, Navigators, Commanders, or Tritons. While some of them seem a little campy, I think they fit the area around Virginia very well. This team could do very well associating itself with the tremendous military presence in the area, and especially tying it to the Navy which has the largest presence in Virginia.

Of the four I like Commanders the best. I think it is a regal name and a lot could be done with it from a PR standpoint. Although I also am drawn to the Tritons moniker. I see great uniforms and killer mascots and guys with big pointed forks on their helmets. I think it would be great, and a lot good be done as a rival to the Tuskers.

Of course the four suggested names have not faired very well in the other three contests the UFL have run in Hartford, Sacramento, and Omaha. In fact none of those contest went with one of the four suggested monikers, so I think the good people of Virginia will be naming this team something they like.

Related Links:

•UFL Examiner
•UFL Facebook fan group
•The Business of the UFL

UFL gets ready to name its Virginia franchise is a post from: The Inquisitr

Yeardley Love, a 22-year-old senior at the University of Virginia, was found dead at around 2:15 AM in an off-campus apartment, and 22-year-old George Huguely has been charged with her murder.

Police say that Love’s body showed signs of “physical trauma,” but have not disclosed a possible cause of death in the case. Authorities say they were called to the scene for a possible case of “alcohol poisoning” when Love’s body was discovered:

Love was found in bed by a roommate at their private apartment about 3 blocks from campus that Love shared with two female friends, Longo said. Huguely was located at his apartment and questioned and arrested by about 6 a.m., Longo.

Longo said police have no other suspects in the case. Love and Huguely, he said, “have had a romantic relationship but the exact status of that at this time is part of our investigation.”

A quick scan of Love’s Facebook friends reveals that Huguely is not listed among her more than 1,000 connections on the service. Both Love and Huguely played on the UVa lacrosse teams for their respective genders, and both students were in their fourth year at the university.

The University of Virginia has declined to comment on behalf of the administration, coaches or players regarding Love’s death. Huguely has been charged with first degree murder, and he is currently detained in the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail.

UVa lacrosse player charged in murder of girlfriend is a post from: The Inquisitr

Four young girls were orphaned Saturday in a Virginia crash that claimed the lives of their parents, Michael, 47, and Jeanne Merrill, 42.

Three of the four Merrill girls, aged 13, 3, and 18 months, were in the car with their parents at the time of the fatal collision. A fourth child, 9, was in the care of a friend’s parents. All three girls suffered minor injuries and were released to the care of relatives. Police don’t believe alcohol and speed were factors in the accident, but indicate that heavy rain may have been a contributing factor. Two other people in different cars were killed in the crash, in which two cars in opposite lanes veered into the lane in which the Merrills were driving. Police also say that charges may be filed, but did not disclose who may be charged or which charges were being considered.

Although injury to the Merrill girls was minor, Michael and Jeanne Merrill were pronounced dead at the scene. Funeral services are planned for the couple at local St. Bernadette’s parish on Thursday.

[Source: Washington Post]

Parents to 4 girls, Michael and Jeanne Merrill, killed in Va. crash is a post from: The Inquisitr

American police have continued their fight in the War against Small Dogs by shooting dead an overweight miniature sausage dog.

11 year old miniature dachshund Killer (the name was meant to be ironic, because he was nothing of the sort) is claimed to have barked, and then lunged at an police officer in Danville, Virginia. Despite Killer’s small stature and rotund waist line, the officer choose to shot the dog on the spot, after all, you can’t trust those crafty foreign dogs with their funny names and brown fur.

Neighbors told local media that Killer was a friendly neighborhood dog that had never acted violently before. “He was just a little house dog” one said. Local police representatives are naturally saying that the war against small dogs is completely fair, and the officer was acting within department policy.

The shooting follows the shooting of a Chihuahua in Ohio earlier this week.

War against small dogs continues: police shoot overweight miniature sausage dog is a post from: The Inquisitr