Fake girlfriend takes man for $200K online

I was tempted to file this one in the [Moron Dept.] but as obviously ridiculous as it might be that a man wouldn't have figured out within two years that his on-line girlfriend didn't even exist, one has to feel just a twinge of pity for the guy.

Voodoo sex ceremony sparked deadly blaze

A Voodoo sex ceremony meant to bring good luck triggered the Brooklyn blaze that killed one person and left dozens homeless, sources have revealed.

The war next door: 14 killed in Mexico bar attacks

MEXICO CITY (AP) - At least 14 people were killed in three separate attacks in bars in northern Mexico, authorities said Sunday. In Coahuila state, across the border from Texas, nine men died late Saturday when gunmen opened fire inside two ...

Lil Wayne -- Stopped and Searched by Federal Agents

Lil Wayne had one hell of a greeting party at Opa-Loca Airport in Miami earlier this week -- where the rapper was stopped and searched by federal agents after he got off his plane ... TMZ has learned. Law enforcement sources tell us ... ...

Vintage Jet Crashes In Hudson River Near Kingston

KINGSTON, NY - A vintage military jet, now privately owned and flown in air shows, crashed into ice on the Hudson River on Saturday as it came in for a landing at an airport in Kingston, authorities said.

Eight-year-old boy arrested for fifth time

The Orange County Sheriff's Office arrested an 8-year-old special ed. student on Tuesday, for battery on a school employee, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and disruption of an educational institute.

Measles Scare: Travelers And Workers At Four Major US airports May Have Been Exposed

A traveler with measles has caused concern that workers and thousands of travelers passing through four major US Airports could have been exposed to the highly infectious viral illness.

Obama Describes FDA as Agency in Need of Overhaul

President Obama said his administration would focus on modernizing the US Food and Drug Administration, an agency not prepared to handle emerging 21st century challenges in regulating food and drugs.

Lady Gaga To Sue Over Breast Milk Ice Cream?

An ice cream shop in London is selling an ice cream dish called Baby Gaga that is made from real breast milk! Covent Gardens' Icecreamists sells the creation for £14 and a costumed Baby Gaga waitress serves the dish to the customers.

Brit Docs - Abortion is Safer Than Having a Baby

Nothing makes the case better than the recommendation of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that all pregnant women should be told that having an abortion is safer than having the baby.

More reason to get free pancakes at IHOP -- for charity!

A couple days ago I wrote about National Pancake Day, which entails getting a free short stack at IHOP on March 1st. And now there's even more reason to go: they're accepting donations to the Leukemia Lymphona Society.

Supreme Court Saves Nation's Immunization Program

The Supreme Court of the United States made a ruling the other day that has profound implications for the health of millions of children.

Why There's Nothing to Fear From a Government Shutdown

Social Security checks would still go out. Troops would remain at their posts. Furloughed federal workers probably would get paid, though not until later.

Sprawl Wallops St. Louis with 8% Population Loss

St. Louis is reeling from the news that the city has lost 29,000 residents - or eight percent of its population - since 2000. The Gateway City had already lost a greater share of its population than any other major US city.

FBI arrests pro-abortion activist after making threats on Illinois pro-lifer

Illinois-based pro-life activist Jill Stanek has been living for months under the hateful threats of a pro-abortion activist that was arrested by the FBI last night in New York.

Anthony Weiner Wants to Sell Sexist Statue on Craigslist

This guy has way too much free time on his hands.A controversial Queens statue, featured as an "Eyesore Next Door" in the Daily News, should be sold through an online classifieds site, according to a group of elected officials.

Is Advocacy of Jury Nullification a Crime?

The New York Times today catches up with a story Reason readers have known about for a while now: the ridiculous prosecution of Fully Informed Jury Association advocate Julian Heicklen, a 78-year-old retired Penn State chemistry professor ...

Former MADD chapter president arrested for DUI in Florida

Not many people would disagree with the sentiment that driving a car while under the influence of alcohol is a good idea. It's selfish and poses a great risk to other drivers, among a million other reasons why people shouldn't do it.

Breast Milk Ice Cream

Ice cream parlors and grocery stores all across the US have begun selling ice cream made from breast milk. It's an organic treat! Wal-Mart, Costco, Kroger, Wal-Mart are all following the lead of Whole Foods, which is the first chain store to ...

weGrow, 'Wal-Mart Of Weed,' Set To Open In Sacramento

A retail store billing itself as "the Wal-Mart of weed" will open its doors in Sacramento tomorrow, the Sacramento Bee reports. The 10,000-square-foot weGrow outlet, advertised as a one-stop shop for legal growers seeking supplies and training, ...

Seattle Restaurant Puts TSA Workers on “No-Eat” List

Revenge, it is said, is a dish best served cold. In the case of certain TSA workers, it is a dish served not at all. That's the ruling from a restaurant near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, which has made it a policy to deny service to ...

Court: Family can sue Mazda over seat belt death

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court will let Mazda be sued in California courts because a woman died while wearing a seat belt across her lap in her family's minivan.

Illegal Alien Islamic Asswipe only convicted for 2nd Degree Murder for killing his own daughter in HONOR KILLING

An Iraqi man in Arizona accused of killing his daughter because she had become too westernized was convicted on Tuesday of second-degree murder.

Black History Month 2011: Jeremy Love

To hear my education growing up tell it, “black history” means a few tools in Africa, slaves, Martin Luther the King, and the LA Riots.

Providence Teachers Union Head Compares Layoff Notices To Pearl Harbor Attack

The City of Providence is a fiscal mess. The former Mayor, David Cicilline, is now a Congressman, but he left behind a huge budget gap which the new Mayor, Angel Taveras, and the Providence school district are struggling to cope with.

Florida: 16-Year-Old Arrested For Cop Killing

Authorities in Florida arrested a 16-year-old boy and intend to charge him with first degree murder in the shooting death of St. Petersburg police Officer David Crawford.

Muslim group sues FBI over surveillance at California mosques

Council on American-Islamic Relations and ACLU say a paid FBI informant violated the First Amendment rights of worshipers at several California mosques, targeting the most devout.

Bloomberg Outlaws Smoking In New York City Public Spaces

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed into law Tuesday a measure that prohibits smoking in many outdoor areas in the city. Beginning May 23, smoking in New York City's parks and pedestrian plazas will be illegal and violators will be ...

Boston Rob works the Blindside on Survivor: Redemption Island

We begin the second episode of Survivor: Redemption Island on Redemption Island as Francesca arrives on Night 3. She got the boot from Boston Rob and his Loyal 5 of the Ometepe Tribe.

US Supreme Court Rules for Drugmakers on Lawsuits

A US law protects vaccine makers from lawsuits filed for serious side effects caused by childhood inoculations, the Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.

Fake sick teachers may cost Wisconsin taxpayers at least $6 million

Criminey. By the MacIver Institute's estimate, public school union members who have participated in the ruthless “sick-in' campaign across Wisconsin may cost taxpayers at least an estimated $6 million: As Milwaukee Public School teachers left ...

Lady Gaga Does Photoshoot With Terry Richardson

The boys from OFWGKTA better watch out; someone with a slightly more recognizable name is stealing their status as prime peddler of New York skater clothing store Supreme.

Judge Found Guilty of Fraud, Racketeering in “Cash For Kids” Scandal

I don't know if you have been following this story, but it's pretty awful. A pair of judges were accused of getting kickbacks from privately run detention facilitiesâ€"that is, if they sent kids to juvenile detention facilities, in exchange for money.

2011, 2012 NFL Draft: Alex Tanney Trick Shot QB Number Two

Earlier this month pwillisbeast52 put together a FanPost with video of Connecticut quarterback Johnny McEnteemaking a variety of trick throws.

male wrestler refuses to wrestle girl

There was controversy at a state wrestling match when a high school wrestler defaulted a game, refusing to wrestle a female opponent.

Teachers Unions, ACT/SAT, and Student Performance: Is Wisconsin Out-Ranking the Non-Union States?

As I posted yesterday, the tweets going around comparing Wisconsin's SAT/ACT scores to five states where teachers have no right to unionize are based on bad data - it's not true that Wisconsin's SAT/ACT ranking is second in the nation, and that ...

Second Major Earthquake Hits Christchurch

A large earthquake hit Christchurch at 12:51 NZDT (23:51 GMT). The earthquake has brought down buildings and ruptured pipes across the city.

Zahra Baker Update: Stepmother Indicted For Murder

Zahra Baker is the little Australian girl that captured the heart of the world when her little body was found in parts scattered in different areas in North Carolina.

TV: The Chicago Code: "Gillis, Chase, & Baby Face"

This week's Chicago Code still finds the series divided against itself. “Gillis, Chase And Baby Face” delivers thrilling action sequences, dynamic location shooting, true-to-life policier details, and smart considerations of how authority ...

University of Wisconsin to investigate doctors who gave out fake sick notes to protesters

Via Gateway Pundit, I've diagnosed the situation and can offer a prognosis: Wrist slaps for everyone. These UW Health physicians were acting on their own and without the knowledge or approval of UW Health.

ICE agent killed when window on armored car opened

As his fellow officer was dying in the car seat beside him after gunmen ambushed their vehicle earlier this week, US special agent Victor Avila, wounded himself, telephoned the US embassy here to shout that they were under attack.

WHO recommends continued use of current flu vaccine strains

The World Health Organization recommended the (Snip) current three flu vaccine strains for the Northern Hemisphere's next influenza season, which signals that these flu strains are likely to endure over the next few months.

Derelict to the End: AP Fails to Tag Judge in Pa. Guilty of Racketeering in 'Kids For Cash' Case As a Dem

Friday, a jury convicted former Luzerne County, Pennsylvania Judge Mark Ciavarella of “12 counts, including racketeering, money laundering and conspiracy, but acquitted him of 27 counts, including extortion” in connection with “what ...

Urban Homesteading

For those of you who have somehow avoided the controversy until now, the Dervaes family has trademarked the term “Urban Homesteading.

Latest Poughkeepsie Shooting Developments

You've probably heard by now that there was a serious shooting near the Poughkeepsie train station yesterday, which is only a ten minute drive from campus and on Vassar's community shuttle route.

Domain Name for Radical Football, Founded by Mark Cuban, Has Interesting Provenance

Mark Cuban announced plans for a new company called Radical Football, which is expected to compete with college football's BCS. I will spare you the company details since you're probably not interested in that, but the domain name history for...

Iowa girl respects boy who refused to wrestle her in tourney

Northrup's decision garnered national publicity a day earlier, when the two were set to meet in a first-round match. Northrup, a favorite to win his 112-pound weight class, cited his religious beliefs and said he didn't think it appropriate to ...

“FDR's Ghost Is Smiling on Wisconsin's Governor”

“The process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service,” Roosevelt wrote in 1937 to the National Federation of Federal Employees.

REPORT: Handing out bogus medical excuses to striking Wisconsin teachers. If the doctor involved i…

REPORT: Handing out bogus medical excuses to striking Wisconsin teachers. If the doctor involved is actually signing these, he should be brought before the medical licensing board.

Ex-Cargo Handler Gets Life Sentence In Foiled JFK Airport Terror Plot

A former cargo handler, who authorities said was the mastermind in a foiled terror plot against John F. Kennedy International Airport, has been sentenced to life in prison in New York City Thursday.

Businesses are refusing to hire the unemployed, commission told

Being unemployed is, for many, not fun. There are no co-workers to mock at the water cooler, no expense accounts on which to wine and dine associates, and no impressive title to drop when you're trying to pick up the ladies (or men, for that matter).

Nearly 10,000 Kids A Year Injured In Cribs, Bassinets And Playpens

Falls are the biggest problem and caused two-thirds of injuries. Cribs accounted for 83 percent of the problems over the 19-year study period.

FDA device regulator faces critics from both sides

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Food and Drug Administration is approving medical devices too slowly. Or too quickly - depending on whom you ask.

Remembering College Football Player Wilson Holloway

Former University of Tulsa football player, Wilson Holloway, died Wednesday after battling cancer. The 22-year-old offensive tackle was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in March 2008.

Health-Care Fraud Force Arrests 111

First the mob, now corrupt health-care professionals. The Medicare Fraud Strike Force nabbed 111 suspects in nine cities this morning in what Attorney General Eric Holder called the largest such sweep in US history.

Cardinal Rigali outlines new actions in response to grand jury report

A new grand jury report has reopened for Catholics the raw wound of sexual abuse of children by clergy and personnel in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Out ABC News correspondent Miguel Marquez beaten, his camera taken while covering protests in Bahrain

This is so horrifying. ABC News correspondent Miguel Marquez, one of the highest-profile openly gay journalists on broadcast television, has been attacked in the Persian Gulf nation of Bahrain.

How attack on US agents in Mexico may impact relations

One US immigration and customs agent was killed and a second was wounded in a suspected ambush on their car in Mexico. The BBC's Steve Kingstone investigates how the incident could affect the future of US-Mexico relations: Life has become ...

Joel Northup Refuses To Face Cassy Herkelman: Iowa Wrestler Won't Face Girl

DES MOINES, Iowa - An Iowa high school wrestler who was one of the favorites to win his weight class defaulted on his first-round state tournament match rather than face one of the first girls to ever qualify for the event.

Williamsburg, NY – Mayor's Unorthodox Style of Drinking Beer Gets an Icy Reception

Williamsburg, NY - Mayor Bloomberg likes his beer cold - really cold. Standing inside the just-expanded Brooklyn Brewery yesterday, the mayor revealed that his unorthodox approach to drinking beer requires ice.

Sexually abused vets file class-action suit against Rumsfeld and Gates

The current and past Secretaries of Defense are being sued over their failure to deal with cases of rape and sexual assault in the military: A group of US veterans who say they were raped, insulted and otherwise abused by their comrades want to ...

12 Towns That Made The National Trust's 'Distinctive Destinations' List (PHOTOS)

The National Trust for Historic Preservation announced their list of America's "Dozen Distinctive Destinations" on Tuesday, ie places that tourists don't necessarily head to but should.

Rebecca Wells, LA County Employee, Found Dead In Her Cubicle A Day Later

DOWNEY (KTLA) -- An LA County employee apparently died while working in her cubicle on Friday, but no one noticed for quite some time.

San Diego Port Official's Interview Hints WMD Have Been Found in San Diego

San Diego assistant port director Al Hallor, also a US Customs and Border Protection officer, told local ABC affiliate Channel 10 News that authorities have uncovered “weapons of mass effect” in an interview that aired Feb. 11.

Michelle Obama Promotes Breastfeeding

WASHINGTON DC-As part of her campaign for better health, First Lady, Michelle Obama has been promoting breastfeeding. Politics Daily Reports: Looking ahead to what she will do in the second year of “Let's Move,” Mrs.

NHS Meltdown: Shameful Treatment of the Elderly

The NHS is a single payer system, albeit unlike in the USA and many other nations, fully socialized. To put it mildly: It. Is. A. Mess.

Home Depot To Add More Than 60,000 Seasonal Jobs

ATLANTA - Home Depot Inc. will hire more than 60,000 seasonal workers to help with its busy spring season. The world's biggest home improvement retailer said Tuesday it will fill the positions before its second annual Spring Black Friday promotion.

New York Chief Judge Calls for Equal Access, Civil Counsel

New York Chief Judge Lippman today delivered the State of the Judiciary address--a speech dominated by calls for open courts and access to justice.

Ice Agents Shot Near Monterrey

MEXICO CITY (LALATE) - Two ICE agents were shot today en route to Monterrey from Mexico City. ICE (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement), a division of the US Department of Homeland Security, confirms two unidentified agents were shot today ...

Top Aide to Philadelphia Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua Indicted

Countless Catholics continue to stick their head in the sand and try to ignore the continuing tidal wave of evidence of the systemic moral bankruptcy throughout the Church's senior leadership.

Taxi Cab Crash Near Stingaree Leaves Questions

SAN DIEGO (LALATE) - The taxi cab crash outside San Diego's Stingaree drew more questions Sunday. After Stingaree patrons on a sidewalk had been hit by the taxi cab driver from “Emerald Cab” of San Diego, the driver reportedly began to backup.

US Navy celebrates 100 years of aviation

Feb. 13, 2011 (United Press International) - The US Navy celebrated its 100-year anniversary in San Diego, where its aviation program began, officials said.

Police: Hostage-taker at NC bank was unarmed

A man who told hostages and police he had a gun was actually unarmed during a three-hour standoff that ended with officers shooting and killing him outside a North Carolina bank, police said Sunday.

What to Serve–or Not–During Black History Month

February is Black History Month, and kitchens in black homes everywhere are filled with the intoxicating aromas of crispy duck with glogg sauce, dill-crusted Arctic char in a Pinot Noir reduction, and pan-roasted venison chops with ...

The Ninth Anniversary Of The TSA In Airports

Nine years ago today aviation security around the world changed … and not necessarily for the better. Nine years ago today the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) took over passenger screening in airports from private security ...

Gay Couple Barred From Creation Museum's 'Date Night' Christian Marriage Event

The 70,000-square foot Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky - where attendees are reminded the earth is only a few thousand years old and aliens are probably responsible for all those dinosaur fossils - hosted a ticketed "Date Night" event on ...

I Heart Faces – Red Photo Challenge

This is my daughter painting her Daddy's fingernails for Valentine's Day. She is my heart and makes me want to take better care of myself.

Dealers near border won't have to report multiple AK-47 purchases

By Martha Mendoza AP National Writer WASHINGTON - The White House has rejected a request from the US agency that monitors weapons sales to give them emergency authority requiring firearms dealers near the Mexican border to report multiple ...

Maksim Gelman Caught After Brooklyn Stabbing Spree

NEW YORK -- New York City police are searching for a 23-year-old man they say fatally stabbed three people and ran over a pedestrian.

CAM on campus: Black History Month

I emerge from the haze of board exams and residency interviews to blog about a recent development on campus that disappointed me, involving a university celebration of Black History Month.

Protecting Food Safety Whistleblowers: Included in the recently-passed Food Safety...

Included in the recently-passed Food Safety and Modernization Act is a section that protects whistleblowers who alert government officials to dangerous practices in their facilities.

Ohio Gas Explosion Seen And Heard Miles Away

HANOVERTON, Ohio - People miles away reported hearing a "blowtorch" sound and could see a glow in the sky from a gas pipeline explosion that shook residents in eastern Ohio, an official said Friday.

Grand jury indicts five after Philadelphia sex abuse investigation

By Matthew Gambino, Catholic News Service PHILADELPHIA (CNS) -- In a reprise of 2005's sensational grand jury report of sexual assaults by clergy in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams released a new report Feb.

Heart-Healthy Tips!

Heart Disease is the #1 killer of women in America. And according to the American Heart Association 1 in 6 US women will die of heart disease.

New Sports Illustrated Column on Barry Bonds Case and Impact of Greg Anderson Recording

I have a new SI column on the Barry Bonds trial and how a hearing today will determine whether a recording of a pivotal conversation between Bonds's former trainer, Greg Anderson, and business partner, Steve Hoskins, is deemed admissible or hearsay.

Woman dies after illegal hotel room cosmetic surgery

It was reported yesterday that a woman named Claudia Sereye Aderotimi died in a Philadelphia after undergoing an illegal cosmetic surgery - an injection of a substance to her buttocks - in a hotel room near the Philly airport.

Democracy denied: Fort Wayne building will not be named after Harry Baals

Harry Baals legacy dangles over the City of Fort Wayne, Indiana. As a show of respect its citizens cast their votes online to name the newest government building in the area after him.

Mayor Bloomberg Apologizes for Irish Drinking Comment

New York (CNN) â€"- New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg apologized Thursday for controversial comments he made about Irish people at an event hosted by the American Irish Historical Society.

Elizabeth Taylor Hospitalized with Heart Problems

The legendary actress, 78, was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles earlier this week for symptoms caused by congestive heart failure, described as "an ongoing condition," according to a statement from her reps.

Video: Melanie Fiona Covers Sam Cooke’s ‘I Belong To Your Heart’

Soulful songstress Melanie Fiona celebrated Black History Month (US) by paying tribute the legendary Sam Cooke. The Roc Nation star shared with fans a spine-tingling rendition of Cooke's 'I Belong To Your Heart'.

Texas School District Backs Off Mandatory Arabic Classes

"It shows how we mischaracterized, we willfully misunderstand Islam. Yes, on the face of it, yes, Arabic is a language. In a sense there would be no difference between opening a foreign language school -- a Spanish language school or a french ...

Lampeter-Strasburg School District names Peart superintendent

Lampeter-Strasburg School District has named a familiar leader as its new superintendent. On Monday, the board unanimously named Kevin Peart, the district's assistant superintendent, to replace superintendent Robert Frick, who retires in June.

Maybe People Will Like ObamaCare Better In Comic Book Form

Today's conundrum: I like comic books. I dislike ObamaCare. But an ObamaCare comic book graphic novel...? I'm guessing no, but I suppose I'll find out soon enough: The MIT economics whiz who crafted President Obama's national health-care ...

British tourist dies after butt implant procedure at Philly hotel

Police are seeking a woman for questioning after a 20-year-old student from the UK died in a Philadelphia Hampton Inn hotel after a butt implant injection procedure.

Governor drops plan to sell state buildings

SACRAMENTO (AP) - California Gov. Jerry Brown announced Wednesday he is dropping a plan hatched by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to sell 24 state government buildings to private investors because the high cost of rent did not make sense for...

Secretary Martin Announces Opening of Black History Month Pictorial Exhibit

And So I Sing: An African American Musical and Cultural Legacy Little Rock, Ark. - In honor of Black History Month, Secretary of State Mark Martin announces the opening of And So I Sing: An African American Musical and Cultural Legacy exhibit ...

Top Six Planned Parenthood Deceptions: In Order of Increasing Absurdity

Deception 6) “We reported this to the FBI” Planned Parenthood wrote the FBI a letter a week after our investigation, only after they realized that Live Action had conducted the sting.

New Campbell’s Soup Coupon = Cheap at Walgreens Next Week

This $0.50/3 Campbell's Soup coupon will make the Chicken noodle soup and Tomato soup cheap at Walgreens next week. Both will be on sale for $0.50 each.

Adrienne Martin, August Busch IV Girlfriend, Overdosed on Oxycodone

ST LOUIS (LALATE) - Adrienne Martin aka Adrienne Nicole Martin (photos below) died of an overdose. August Busch IV was Adrienne Martin's boyfriend at the time, even though the St Louis native has never officially spoken about the couple's ...

Amtrak Tries Picking Up the ARC Pieces With “Gateway Project”

This morning, NJ's Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez joined Amtrak President Joseph Boardman to make the exciting announcement that Amtrak will try to take the lead on a new trans-Hudson rail project, the “Gateway Project.

Fire in the Natural History Museum’s Mechanical Building Under Control

A fire broke out earlier today at a cooling tower near the Natural History Museum. Flickr photo courtesy of kimberlyfaye Early this morning, a fire broke out just off the Mall in the National Museum of Natural History's mechanical building, ...

Charges filed against Muslim students in California who disrupted Israeli ambassador's speech

A group of Muslim students accused of disrupting a speech by Israeli ambassador Michael Oren at the University of California, Irvine, were charged Friday with misdemeanor conspiracy counts, ending speculation about what would come from their ...

San Diego Deportation Attorney - Thousands from India have entered Texas illegally from Mexico!

What do you make of this? Thousands of immigrants from India have crossed into the United States illegally at the southern tip of Texas in the last year, part of a mysterious and rapidly growing human-smuggling pipeline that is backing up court ...

Thorpe Park's New Water Ride Is 'Haunted'

An entirely credulous report in the Evening Standard suggests that a new attraction at Thorpe Park is haunted. A water ride at the Staines fun park has been shifted to a new location after its original foundations disturbed an old burial ground.

IL Senators Want Review of Lake Shore Drive Safety

Illinois' senators have asked federal officials to review Lake Shore Drive safety, days after a blizzard socked Chicago with 20 inches of snow.

Youngstown State Shooting: Witness Recalls Victim Jamail Johnson Covered In Blood

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - A friend of the college student who was killed at an Ohio fraternity house says he found him covered in blood, gasping for his final breaths.

Columnist not in the mood to celebrate Black History Month

Colbert King on "the calamity in our midst": Here we are, another Black History Month: time to lionize great black men and women of the past.

A BIG New York Debut: West 57th

The awkwardly shaped large site at West Side Highway and 57th Street is about to get a whole lot more attention. Bjarke Ingels and BIG will finally make their architectural debut in North America, with an unusual apartment building design in ...

Angelo Reyes is dead.

Former Sec. Angelo Reyes commits Suicide Ex-Energy Chief shoots self in front of mother's grave, dies at Quirino Hospital By MANILA BULLETIN ONLINE February 8, 2011, 9:03am MANILA, Philippines - Former Energy Chief Angelo Reyes was reportedly ...

Brooklyn's Markowitz Mocks Bicycles

Caroline Samponaro from Transportation Alternatives in New York sent this message via Facebook regarding comments that Brooklyn's Borough President Markowitz gave at his State of the Borough Address.

More Education Madness, Virginia Teen Andrew Mikel II Suspended for Remainder of Year for Shooting Spitballs

Zero-tolerance = Infant Stupidity. Who knew that spitballs were a weapon? No wonder our schools are failing our children, they are being run by individuals with absolutely no common sense.

Rahm Rips Public-Sector Workers in Campaign Ad

Even though he's got the endorsement of Chicago's powerful Teamsters Joint Council 25 in his back pocket, Rahm Emanuel must feel that he's got to push a few more buttons in order to get over the 50% threshold to avoid a runoff election.

Will New FDA Guidelines Affect Our Cheese?

The Federal Food and Drug Administration has completed a two-year review of its regulations requiring that raw-milk cheese be aged for 60 days for food safety reasons.

James Madison Chess Pieces Uncovered

by Rebecca Dolan Archaeologists excavating James Madison's Montpelier estate have unearthed portions of two chess pawns belonging to the founding father.

Ex Commish : The Wilpons Are Screwed

(monster truck rallies! flea markets! mass weddings! Good Rats reunion gigs! Promise Keepers' sack-races!) Madoff recovery trustee Irving Picard's voluminous lawsuit against Mets owners Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz was released yesterday, and ...

11 Muslim Student Union members charged with disrupting Israeli ambassador's speech at UC Irvine

Orange County DA charges the students with conspiring to disrupt a meeting. The university has already suspended the organization and disciplined the students.

Krispy Kreme Challenge: Doughnuts And Running A Good Combination? (Video)

Have you heard about the Krispy Kreme Challenge in Raleigh, NC? Basically the Krispy Kreme challenge is a race that 7500 people have decided to take on, which consists of eating a dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts, and then running two miles immediately after.

Aristide: On my return to Haiti . . .

A profit-driven recovery plan, devised and carried out by outsiders, cannot reconstruct my country, Jean Bertrand Aristide writes in London's Guardian.

US: Three cholera cases confirmed in New York City

The first known cases of cholera in New York since the outbreak of the disease in Haiti last year were confirmed on Saturday by city officials.

DeSean Jackson Surprises Bullied Boy Nadin Khoury on The View

Nadin Khoury, a 13-year-old boy from Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, was brutally attacked by classmates earlier this year while he was walking home from school.

Pacific Science Center arches once again “Go Red for Women” to fight heart disease

The Pacific Science Center arches are turning red again this year to commemorate the American Heart Association's “Go Red for Women” campaign, an annual program to increase awareness and lessen the risk of heart disease, which is the number ...

Rapper Scarface Jailed For 4 Cases Of Not Paying Child Support

HOUSTON-Rapper Scarface, real name Brad Jordan is currently incarcerated for 4 cases of not paying child support and an unknown federal charge.

Juelz Santana Arrested On Drug And Gun Charges + Drew Sidora's Cocaine Smuggling Boyfriend Involves Her In Federal Investigation

Juelz Santana was arrested yesterday for possession of drugs and firearms. Get the deets on Juelz troubles inside plus find out how dating a cocaine dealer got Drew Sidora caught on some federal wiretaps... Juelz Santana was arrested yesterday ...

Event Alert: Black History Month in Chicago!

I am proud that NYC and my hometown Chicago are bustling with Black History Month events every year. One particular event stood out to me this year, since it combines African American history with youth mentoring-- two of my favorite things!

“Attorney General Cuccinelli announces he will seek expedited review of Virginia health care lawsuit in the Supreme Court”

Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli announced today that Virginia will file a petition to ask the United States Supreme Court to take Virginia's health care lawsuit now, as opposed to waiting for the case to first be decided by the court of appeals.

Breaking: Obama Administration Held in Contempt Over Gulf Drilling Moratorium

Update: You can read the opinion, here. The issue was purely a matter of attorneys fees as sanctions. There is not, at the moment, any indicators that any further action is being contemplated by the courts.

NYC Bans Smoking At Parks, Beaches

The smokers of New York City will soon have even fewer places to light up this summer after the Big Apple's city council voted to expand the existing ban on smoking in restaurants and bars to include, beaches, parks, boardwalks and other public spaces.

Lake Shore Drive Reopens After Blizzard; 1,500 Cars Stranded

CHICAGO - Chicago emergency officials say they've reopened the city's Lake Shore Drive after a massive blizzard left the vital thoroughfare filled with hundreds of abandoned vehicles.

USA: Census Estimates Show Big Gains For Racial Minorities

From the Associated Press: "Racial minorities accounted for roughly 85 percent of US population growth over the last decade -- one of the largest shares ever, with Hispanics counting for a large share of the gain.

Homeland’s Napolitano Says Crime and Illegal Crossings at Border

By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com Despite the contentious political rhetoric, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said crime and illegal crossings along the Mexico-US border have dropped sharply.

Quinn calls out National Guard

* Gov. Quinn has activated over 500 Illinois National Guard troops to help deal with the blizzard. The troops will be deployed to rest areas on Interstate highways from I-70 north.

Red light cameras cut traffic fatalities in some California cities but not all, study finds

A new national report says red-light cameras at intersections reduced traffic fatalities in some cities, including several in California.

A one-two punch of winter weather hits the region

PROVIDENCE, RI -- Snow has started falling in Rhode Island, and we can expect a total of 4 to 8 inches before we have a lull in the storm and then another wave of snow and sleet hits tonight and early Wednesday, bringing us another 1 to 3 ...

Longtime "Friend" of the Jawa Colleen "Jihad Jane" LaRose Pleads Guilty

Oh Colleen, it seems like only yesterday that you were busy supporting terrorism all over YouTube. You would put up videos, and we would pressure YouTube to take them down.

Washington – FDA Declines To Approve Orexigen Diet Drug

Washington - The government on Tuesday unexpectedly rejected what appeared to be the most promising candidate among a class of new diet drugs, wiping out hopes for a new medication to fight obesity anytime soon.

TV - Boardwalk Empire Launches on Sky Atlantic

A couple of weeks back I was invited to go along an watch the first couple of episodes of Boardwalk Empire, a show I'd head a lot about and was keen to see for myself.

NYC Mayor Bloomberg Conducts Gun Sting in Neighboring… Arizona

In the past, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has criticized Arizona's immigration law from afar, but when it comes to gun law enforcement in that state he seems to be operating a bit out of his mayoral jurisdiction, don't you think?

H1N1 Flu Shot Narcolepsy Link Found, Vaccine Under Review

The World Health Organization is reviewing the safety of GlaxoSmithKline's Pandemrix H1N1 flu vaccine after a Finnish study suggested children who got the shot were nine times more likely to suffer from narcolepsy, a rare sleeping disorder.

Ancestry.com Marks Black History Month With 250,000 New African American Records

PROVO, Utah, Feb. 1, 2011 -- In honor of Black History Month, Ancestry.com, the world's largest online family history resource, today launched more than 250,000 new historical records documenting early African American family history.