Mexico extradites reputed drug lord Arellano Felix

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The reputed leader of one of Mexico's most violent drug cartels was extradited to the United States on Friday to face drug-trafficking charges, the Mexican Attorney General's Office announced.

American Evangelist David Wilkerson Dies At 79

World famous evangelist David Wilkerson, who founded Times Square Church in New York City and authored the best-selling book, "The Cross and the Switchblade," has died.

Erin Burnett leaving CNBC to anchor CNN show

In a big loss for CNBC, Erin Burnett is jumping to CNN to anchor a weekday general news show. She will start at CNN in June and be based in New York, CNN announced.

Police: 8-Year-Old Boy Brings Loaded Gun To School; Sells It To Classmate

Last week, Mark wrote about a kindergartner who brought a gun to school in Houston. Today, the New York City Police Department says an 8-year-old brought a loaded 9mm pistol to his third-grade class on Thursday and sold it to a classmate for $3.

Monster Alabama tornado spawned by rare "perfect storm"

National Geographic: The tornado that devastated Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on Wednesday was the result of an unusual confluence of meteorological conditions.

Chris Christie Addresses Future Teachers At Harvard

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie addressed hundreds of students at Harvard's Graduate School of Education Friday. According to Bloomberg, Christie was met with a standing ovation when he entered the auditorium.

Covering a Natural Disaster in Social Media – the Mile-Wide Tornado

The devastation that has hit the Southern US states, known as the “mile-wide tornado” has left destruction across at least six states including Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, Virginia and Kentucky.

Man in Cow Suit Steals Milk from Walmart

An 18-year-old man dressed as a cow entered a Walmart store in Garrisonville, Va., Tuesday night and allegedly stole 26 gallons of milk, police said.

Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

The DEA is sponsoring National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day tomorrow, Saturday, April 30, 2011, to help stem the tide of prescription drug abuse which has reached epidemic proportions (according to a recent DoseNation listing).

Court reverses US funding ban on embryonic stem cells

US government cash for research on human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) is safe for now, thanks to a ruling by judges sitting in the US Court of Appeals in Washington DC.

Tornadoes, floods, and fires continue to pound US

by Jeff Masters, wunderblog, April 27, 2011 The nation's unprecedented April tornado-fest continued full force last night, with NOAA's Storm Prediction Center logging 57 tornado reports, 295 cases of damaging thunderstorm winds, and 254 reports ...

Watch: Larry Kramer's 'The Normal Heart' Opens on Broadway

Had a chance the other night to see a preview of the revival of Larry Kramer's groundbreaking 1985 play The Normal Heart about the early days of the AIDS epidemic and was moved beyond anything I was prepared for.

Buy a fake, go to jail

Buyers could face a year in jail or a $,1000 fine under a proposed bill by a city councilwoman fed up with cheapskate tourists and Big Apple residents flooding her district in search of fake designer merchandise.

Outdated prescription drugs to be collected citywide

Unintentional drug poisoning has been the leading cause of injury death in Ohio since 2007, according to the Ohio Department of Health.

US Supreme Court Hears Oral Argument in Nevada Commission on Ethics v Carrigan

On April 27, the US Supreme Court heard oral argument in Nevada Commission on Ethics v Carrigan, 10-568. Here is a summary of that argument by Lyle Denniston of Scotusblog.

Detroit police say Broncos DE Jason Hunter stabbed

DETROIT (AP) - Detroit police say Denver Broncos defensive end Jason Hunter has been stabbed and taken to a local hospital. Officer Dan Donakowski says Hunter was stabbed Wednesday, but didn't have any additional information, including where the ...

Birmingham, AL – Storms Kill 39 Across South; Pummel Alabama

Birmingham, AL - A wave of severe storms laced with tornadoes strafed the South on Wednesday, killing at least 39 people in four states and splintering buildings across swaths of an Alabama university town.

Homeless mom pleads not guilty to lying to enroll her kid in Conn. school

USA Today reports: A homeless single mother pleaded not guilty today of stealing more than $15,000 from Norwalk, Conn., taxpayers by lying about her address in order to send her 5-year-old son to the city's elementary school, The Connecticut Post reports.

Class Actions Limited as US Supreme Court Supports AT&T

Class Actions Limited as US Supreme Court Supports ATT 27 Apr 2011 A divided US Supreme Court bolstered the ability of businesses to channel customer and employee complaints into arbitration, ruling that companies can block people from ...

Rev. David Wilkerson Dies in Texas Car Crash

Rev. David Wilkerson, founding pastor of Times Square Church in New York City and author of the well-known book The Cross and the Switchblade, was killed Wednesday in a car crash, according to a source close to CBN News.

Ditch your drugs at Wellesley Police Department

The Wellesley Police Department on Saturday, April 30 is taking part in national “Take Back Day” during which you can dump off your unused or expired prescription drugs.

Beautiful Mother’s Day gifts from Snapfish that she will love!

Are you getting ready for Mother’s Day on May 8? Are you searching around for that perfect gift? Sure, flowers are pretty, but they cost a lot and crisp up after just a few days.

FBI: Colorado mall plot likely unrelated to Columbine

An apparent attempted bombing at a Colorado shopping mall was not likely related to the 12-year anniversary of the shootings at nearby Columbine High School, the FBI said.

River Expected To Crest At 33 Feet

The National Weather Service has predicted that the Ohio River will crest at 33 feet by Tuesday afternoon, that's ten feet above flood stage.

Rethinking IMS Health v. Sorrell: Privacy as a First Amendment Value

The Supreme Court will soon hear oral arguments in IMS Health v. Sorrell. The case pits medical data giant IMS Health (and some other plaintiffs) against the state of Vermont, which restricted the distribution of certain ...

Attorney Generals Condemn Snoop Dogg's Colt 45 Drink

Snoop Dogg is once again under fire for Blast by Colt 45, a new alcoholic beverage he endorses. According to reports, the attorney generals in 17 states are asking that parent company Pabst Brewing Company reduce the alcohol content of the ...

Memories of William Donald Schaefer, the animal lover

I wanted to share this letter that I just got from a woman with first-hand memories of just how much William Donald Schaefer loved animals -- and also how the former mayor, whose funeral procession will traverse the city today, helped ...

State Dept. Proposes Creepy, Impossible-To-Answer Questions for Passport Applications

The US Department of State is proposing a new Biographical Questionnaire for some passport applicants: The proposed new Form DS-5513 asks for all addresses since birth; lifetime employment history including employers' and supervisors names, ...

VIDEO: Tornado Roars Through St. Louis Airport Concourse

This is frightening. When a tornado struck Lambert-St. Louis International Airport Friday night, a security camera caught some amazing footage as things went flying in one concourse.

How-to College Course on Violent Union Tactics, Part II: Case Studies Edition

Earlier today, Big Government brought you video footage of a disturbing college course from University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) and University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC).

Elizabeth II distributes Maundy pence purse to pensioners - Videos

of silver one, two, three and four penny pieces, the sum of which equals the Queen's age. This year's Royal Maundy Service took place at Westminster Abbey Thursday.

Tweeting, Deleting Help Build Case Against Tyler Clementi's Roommate In Rutgers Webcam Case

TRENTON, NJ -- Accused of a hate crime for allegedly using a webcam to spy on his college roommate's same-sex encounter, the roommate of Tyler Clementi is now also finding that it's not just what you tweet, but also what you delete, that can ...

NY: Salmonella Fears Prompt Cucumber Recall

A North Carolina company is recalling a batch of cucumbers due to the potential that the product may be contaminated with Salmonella.

Game Re-Surfaces Onstage With Lil Wayne In Los Angeles

Game surprised fans in Los Angeles Friday night (April 22), when he popped up onstage with Lil Wayne, during the New Orleans rapper's stop on his "I Am Still Music" tour.

Princeton's Mysterious Suicide Scandal: Why Was Antonio Calvo Fired? [Mysteries]

On Thursday we reported the death of Princeton lecturer Antonio Calvo, who committed suicide in the midst of a complicated game of academic politics.

Looking at the Louds: A video supplement to 'Cinema Verite' and 'An American Family'

On Saturday night, HBO will premiere "Cinema Verite," itsTV movie about the 1973 PBS documentary "An American Family." That 12-hour series, which I review here, has been called the first reality show, though it resembles what we call reality ...

Riots among illegal immigrants ongoing in Australia

This is excellent. It gives publicity to the fact that illegals are often not granted residency and are locked up for long periods.

Anchorage Police Officer … Mexican Illegal Alien Rafael Mora-Lopez (Rafael Espinoza) Charged with Passport Fraud

So those pesky illegal aliens are only doing the jobs that Americans don't want to do, eh? Mexican national Rafael Mora-Lopez has been charged with passport fraud as he took on a false identity and committed identity theft in order to become an ...

Female Victims Suffers Seizure after Merciless Beating by Woman in McDonald's (VIDEO) … (Update: Victim, Transgender Woman … Hate Crime!)

A woman was beaten senseless by multiple other woman in a McDonald's. Use caution in viewing the below VIDEO as the images are alarming.

Tornado Hit Lambert Airport in St. Louis

Lambert Airport in St. Louis was hit by a tornado last night. The airport is not expected reopen until Sunday. The tornado lifted the roof off a concourse and blew out windows in the main terminal....

Farms, labor attorney sued over workers

Los Angeles (CNN) - The sovereign supervision is job a human-trafficking lawsuit opposite a California-based plantation labor executive and 8 farms a largest box of purported forced labor of plantation workers in a United States.

The Battle of San Jacinto

On the morning of the 19th of April, the Texan army crossed over and marched down the right bank of the Buffalo Bayou to within half a mile of its junction with the San Jacinto River.

Killer Bees Kill Texas Couple

Killer bees apparently killed an elderly couple at their ranch in South Texas, leaving their 67-year-old son injured. William Steele, 95, and his wife, Myrtle, 92, died after being attacked by bees on their remote ranch, authorities told the AP.

Baby Joseph goes home after receiving treatment in St Louis denied to him in his native Canada

ST. LOUIS -- A 15-month-old boy at the centre of an end-of-life debate on Thursday left the St. Louis hospital that treated him after doctors in his native Canada refused, doctors and family friends said.

Mayor Bloomberg Unveils PlaNYC 2.0

Mayor Michael Bloomberg today unveiled version 2.0 of New York City's comprehensive sustainability plan, PlaNYC. First launched in 2007, PlaNYC has provided a roadmap for long range and near term investment strategies to create a more ...

On the Ellen Lewin situation.

Very quick background: Ellen Lewin is a professor at the University of Iowa who saw fit to reply to an (approved) mass email from the Iowa College Republicans with a “F*ck you, Republicans” mass email reply - only it wasn't approved, wasn't...

FBI: pipe bomb in Colorado was "domestic terrorism"

A pipe bomb discovered in a Colorado shopping mall may have been the work of a "domestic terrorist," and may have been connected to the 12th anniversary of the shooting rampage at nearby Columbine High School, according to FBI investigators.

BP sues Transocean, Cameron International, and Halliburton

On the one year anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon rig disaster at the Macondo well in the Gulf of Mexico, BP sued rig operating partners Transocean, Cameron International, and Halliburton for more than $100 billion.

Half of US states have comprehensive smoking bans: CDC

Half of all US states have enacted smoking bans in private worksites, restaurants and bars in the past decade, but a government report says southern states lag in adopting such laws.

Body Of Missing Phylicia Barnes Found In Maryland River

Baltimore - The state medical examiner has told 11 News that one of the two bodies pulled from Maryland's Susquehanna River has been positively identified as a missing teenager from North Carolina.

Exclusive: Michael Douglas on Catherine Zeta Jones and “Liberaceâ€

Michael Douglas: “He's a rock star,” someone said last night when Douglas came into the Booth Theater to see Kathleen Turner's opening night in “High.

Emanuel names Claypool to head CTA

Former Cook County Commissioner Forrest Claypool is Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel's pick to run the Chicago Transit Authority. Claypool, a former Daley chief of staff and CEO of the Chicago Park District, will join Terry Peterson, who's continuing ...

Detroit's Mass Teacher Layoffs May Prove Bellwether For Education Reform Nationwide

When districtwide layoff notices hit every one of Detroit Public Schools' 5,466 unionized employees late last week, an American Federation of Teachers spokeswoman called the move the largest “one fell swoop” firing of teachers in union memory.

Taco Bell Meat Lawsuit Withdrawn

Remember the lawsuit filed against Taco Bell that claimed the fast-food giant's seasoned beef was, well, less than all beef? Turns out, the lawsuit's been dropped, reports the Associated Press.

Memorial Service Held For Oklahoma City Bombing 16th Anniversary Today

On April 19th 1995, 168 people were killed in Oklahoma City at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. A memorial service was held today as survivors and family members fell silent for 168 seconds to honor each of the lives lost.

Congratulations to LA Times' Gottlieb and Vives for Bell Pulitzer

Since the failed, destructive and incompetent editorship of John Carroll, the Los Angeles Times has been on a semi-permanent campaign to capture Pulitzer prizes.

Rio Ferdinand’s Stalker Arrested After Fleeing Court

The woman who was found guilty of stalking manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has been arrested after she fled the court. Susanne Ibru walked out of Macclesfield Magistrates after being told she could not cross-examine Rio's wife.

Wiffle Ball Declared "Risky" by the State of New York

Dodgeball, Red Rover, Wiffle Ball - those time-honored kids' games, along with activities like Steal the Bacon and Capture the Flag - have been deemed dangerous by the state as part of an effort to tighten regulations for summer camps in the area.

People: Emanuel Appoints Brizard To Head Chicago Schools

Chicago Mayor Appoints New Schools Chief Wall Street Journal: Incoming Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel named a new schools chief Monday, choosing a leader known for his efforts to close low-performing schools, fire underperforming principals and ...

Houston Kindergartner Reportedly Brings Gun To School; Three Injured

Details are still coming in from Houston, where the Chronicle's main headline at this moment is "Kindergartner's Gun Injured 3 At Houston School.

Teenager Stabs Self to Death at Open Mic Night [Tragic]

On Thursday night, 19-year-old Kipp Rusty Walker played the keyboard for a small crowd at a cafe open-mic night in Bend, Ore. Then he stood up, produced a small blade, and stabbed himself in the chest until he collapsed, dead.

The Philadelphia Orchestra's Bankruptcy

Many friends have used the word "sad" to describe the news that the Philadelphia Orchestra's board of directors voted to file a Chapter 11 petition in the US Bankruptcy Court in Philadelphia.

Powerful spring storms kill 21 in southern states; many tornadoes reported

RALEIGH, NC - A brutal spring storm raged across North Carolina on Saturday, flattening businesses, flipping cars and destroying homes, leaving at least four dead from a system already blamed for killing 17 people in four states.

National Poetry Month 2011

April is National Poetry Month. I'll once again promote the wonderful Favorite Poem Project, which I covered more extensively in this 2009 entry.

20 Year Old Holly Bobo Still Missing in Parsons, TN … The Search Continues Natchez Trace State Park

20 year old Holly Bobo has been missing since the morning of April 13, 2011 when she was seen by her brother walking off into the woods with a man dressed in camouflage.

Winds spare city threatened by Texas wildfires

Elliott Blackburn in Reuters: Shifting winds gave some relief to Texans menaced by wildfires that have scorched more than 230,000 acres near rural towns but forecasts point to more fire potential in coming days, officials said Saturday.

The Trouble With Poetry, by Billy Collins

April is poetry month, and so this week will feature five favorite poets. If you have a chance this April, find a poem and read it out loud.

VIDEO: US storm death toll rises

North Carolina becomes the latest state to be hit by severe storms and tornados that have swept across the southern US, killing at least 43 people.

“Mystery Illnesses Plague Louisiana Oil Spill Crews”

by Agence France-Presse “Jamie Simon worked on a barge in the oily waters for six months following the BP spill last year, cooking for the cleanup workers, washing their clothes and tidying up after them.

Killer tornadoes land in N Carolina, 5 other states

North Carolina was the worst-hit area, with up to 23 deaths reported after a series of tornadoes swept through the US state Sunday 18 April.

Mother who withheld cancer treatment from autistic son sentenced

Kristen LaBrie was sentenced today to 8 years in prison in the death of her son. Her son was autistic and developed cancer. Doctors thought the cancer (non-Hodgkins lymphoma) was treatable, and gave the child a 90% chance of surviving.

Syrian Revolution : The first million man protest Friday "Graphic"

Our Syria has got its first million man protest Friday officially today , yes million man according to estimations. Thousands and thousands are taking the streets all over the country demanding freedom and chanting the chant that united ...

HRC Stands with Students on National Day of Silence

Today is National Day of Silence and thousands of students across the country are speaking up by staying silent. Through their silence, students make a statement against anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying, and harassment in their schools.

Detroit Sends Layoff Notices To Every Public School Teacher

Every one of Detroit's public school teachers is receiving a layoff notice -- but that doesn't mean they will all be fired. The layoff notices were sent to the 5,466 unionized teachers "in anticipation of a workforce reduction to match the ...

SHOCKING DETAILS! Rev. Jesse Jackson Accused By Gay Ex-Staffer Of Harassment And Being On The Down Low

They are really slinging the mud over in the windy city this week. Rev. Jesse Jackson, political activist and the founder and leader of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, is being accused of harassing a gay ex-staffer, forcing him to partake in raunchy ...

Internal Emails Confirm that BP and the Government Controlled Scientists to Keep Them Away from Honest Research Into Gulf Oil Spill

BP officials tried to take control of a $500m fund pledged by the oil company for independent research into the consequences of the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster, it has emerged.

New York, NY – Former NYC Comptroller Hevesi Sentenced To Prison in Pension Probe

New York, NY - Forrmer New York state comptroller Alan Hevesi will have to spend time behind bars for his leading role in an influence-peddling scandal at the state's massive pension fund.

TSA Security Targets Critics

The much-discussed "enhanced security procedures" put into place by the US Transportation Security Administration late last year are still in place, despite waning attention, and anyone who wants or has to be a passenger on a US flight can ...

Severe storms in Oklahoma and Arkansas kill nine people

Destructive storms tore across the country's midsection and left at least nine people dead after smashing uprooted trees into homes in Arkansas and ripping apart the only school in one tiny Oklahoma town, officials said Friday.

Mastectomy self-portrait in American Cancer Society book

I am so grateful that I'll be able to spread the word about the importance of yearly mammograms! Thank you so much for your submission to our “Picture Your Life After Cancer” photo gallery.

LOUISIANA: Federal Appeals Court Denies Gay Dads On Birth Certificate Request

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has refused to allow two gay dads to have their names placed on the Louisiana birth certificate of their adopted son.

NASA chooses retirement homes for space shuttles

If you live in Florida, California, Virginia, or New York, congratulations, you just got yourself an retired space shuttle. As promised, NASA announced its plans yesterday to give its three retiring (plus one already-retired) shuttles to new homes.

'Miracle' Cat Survives Being Shot in the Head With an Arrow

Adorable animals in trouble! A 3-year-old cat named Max who lives in Live Oak, near Santa Cruz, California, has somehow survived being shot in the head with an arrow.

Say Hello to Chip Skowron III, the Latest Hedge Funder Charged With Insider Trading

At this point, US attorney Preet Bahara must be running out of places to store all those "scalps." His office arrested former FrontPoint Partners hedge-fund manager Dr.

Studio Calico Blog Hop

We are doing another blog hop at Studio Calico today to celebrate the fact that Countryside and State Fair are now in the shop!! I know that many of you have been waiting to get your hands on these products!

TSA, Congress to review screening procedures after pat-down of 6-year-old girl

A Kentucky couple wants the TSA to change how it screens children after their 6-year-old daughter was frisked at the New Orleans airport.

Mom, three kids found dead in minivan in Hudson River

A Newburgh, NY woman and three of her children were found dead in a submerged minivan after police say the woman intentionally drove the vehicle into the river last night.

Yale Student Michele Dufault Dies In Chemistry Lab Accident

NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- A Yale University student died in an apparent accident in a chemistry lab machine shop, school officials said.

Barry Bonds Convicted of Obstruction, Jury Hangs on False Statement Counts

Baseball legend Barry Bonds was convicted of one count of obstruction of justice today. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on three counts alleging Bonds made false statements to the grand jury.

Police Find More Human Remains on Long Island [Serial Killers]

Bodies just keep turning up on Long Island, where police are searching for a serial killer (who is "maybe" a cop himself) believed to be responsible for the deaths of at least four prostitutes.

New York, NY – Two Planes Collided While Taxiing at JFK Airport

New York, NY - Two planes taxiing at Kennedy Airport collided causing damage to both aircrafts. An Air France A380 was heading to runway to take off.

Composer Daniel Catan dies unexpectedly at 62

Daniel Catán, the composer of the opera "Il Postino," which opened the current season at Los Angeles Opera, died unexpectedly Sunday in Austin, Texas.

Man Believed To Be Ron Hirsch, Suspect In Blast Outside Santa Monica Synagogue, Arrested Near Cleveland

SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- A man believed to be a suspect in the explosion outside a Santa Monica synagogue has been arrested near Cleveland, authorities said Monday.

Hospital Stocks Crushed On Lawsuit That Claims They Unnecessarily Admit Patients (THC, CYH, HCA, UHS, HMA, KND)

Healthcare stocks are way down today on news that Tenet Healthcare has filed a federal lawsuit against Community Health Systems, accusing the company of unnecessarily admitting patients to hospitals in order to collect more money from insurers ...

600 year old book discovered in Sandy, Utah

A fund-raiser for the Sandy Museum, in Sandy, Utah turned up something thoroughly unexpected. According to a Fox 13 report, a man brought in a book that turned out to be a 1494 copy of the Nuremberg Chronicle, a companion to the Guttenberg ...

'Somebody Was Looking Out' For People In Iowa Town Crushed By Tornado

"At least 10 tornadoes took their best swipe at northwest Iowa on Saturday," The Des Moines Register writes this morning. And the one that hit the town of Mapleton was particularly powerful.

2011 Final NHL Central Scouting Draft Rankings

Before we begin, the hockey community lost a quality person in former director of NHL Central Scouting EJ McGuire last week to cancer.

DC Mayor Vincent Gray Arrested, But Not For Usual DC Mayor Reasons

DC Mayor Vincent C. Gray and several members of the DC Council were arrested Monday at a protest on Capitol Hill, as city officials turned up the volume on their complaints about a federal spending deal that imposes controversial riders on the District.

Ninth Circuit Upholds Injunction Against Arizona Immigration Law

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday struck down Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer's appeal of a preliminary injunction against the state's controversial immigration law, upholding the decision by a District Court judge to block key parts of the ...

National Poetry Month

I nearly forgot! It's National Poetry Month! I have always loved poetry ever since I was a girl. I can remember filling notebook upon notebook with angst-filled poems rife with teenage drama.

Prosecutor’s close in Bonds trial swings momentum

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A longtime federal prosecutor is drawing praise for his closing argument in the Barry Bonds perjury trial.

15 discharged from hospital after deadly milk poisoning

Fifteen people who were poisoned after drinking tainted milk on Thursday was released from hospital Saturday, local authorities said.

Maryland Dream Act Moves Forward

From ParkPatch: The Maryland House of Delegates has cleared a controversial bill that would grant in-state tuition status to undocumented immigrants.

SOME THOUGHTS in response to my earlier advice on the Planned Parenthood ad: One thing that seems…

One thing that seems odd to me is that if you emphasize the importance of government funding for “women's health” more generally — with talk about cancer screenings and STDs — then how do you explain the gender bias?

Cuba's official response to Posada verdict

On the afternoon of 8 April 2011, the farce begun 13 weeks ago in El Paso, Texas, culminated in the acquittal of terrorist Luis Posada Carriles of all the charges imputed in the immigration trial against him.

Long Island Serial Killer: Search Presses On In New York

OAK BEACH, NY - While investigators scour miles of desolate New York beachfront from the tops of fire trucks and map plans for officers to traverse a daunting morass of thicket on horseback in search of more victims, dozens of detectives are ...

Philadelphia Shooting: 9 Teens Wounded, 1 Dead

CHESTER, Pa. - Shots rang out in a social hall in suburban Philadelphia where a teenage party was being held, killing one person and sending eight others to the hospital, two of them in critical condition, authorities said Saturday.

There's No Choice If You Don't Actually Let People Choose

There's No Choice If You Don't Actually Let People Choose City Of Boston Mayor Nanny Tom Menino signed an order on Thursday banning the sale, promotion, and advertising of sugary drinks on government owned property.

Gunman Kills 5 in Dutch Mall

A man opened fire at a busy mall in the town of Alphen aan den Rijn, in the Netherlands, killing five people and wounding 11 others before turning the gun on himself.

Phillip Garrido pleads not guilty to kidnapping Jaycee Lee Dugard

Accused kidnapper and rapist Phillip Garrido pleaded not guilty Thursday to snatching an 11-year-old schoolgirl from her South Lake Tahoe-area street, holding her captive for nearly two decades and fathering her two daughters.

ABC News: Outspoken New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie Refers To Teachers' Union Leaders As "Political Thugs''

In the latest development, Christie told veteran journalist Diane Sawyer in an interview on ABC News that the teachers' union leaders in New Jersey are "political thugs.

Two Suspects Arrested in Slaying of BET Host DJ Megatron

New York authorities have arrested two suspects in the shooting death of DJ Megatron, the New York Daily News reported.William Williams, 21, and Richard Cromwell, 20, were reportedly ID'd by video surveillance equipment at the scene of the ...

Mexico Earthquake 2011: Magnitude 6.5 Temblor Felt In Mexico City

MEXICO CITY - A magnitude-6.5 earthquake shook a wide area of southern and central Mexico on Thursday, sending people fleeing into the streets, but there were no initial reports of damage.

UCLA’s Williams Institute Estimates 9 Million LGBT Individuals Living in America

Today the Williams Institute released new research that estimates the size of the LGBT community in the United States. The study suggests that there are more than 8 million adults in the US who are lesbian, gay, or bisexual, making up about ...

Michael Jackson's Death Was Self-Inflicted, Conrad Murray's Lawyers Claim

On Wednesday, Dr. Conrad Murray's defense attorney theorized that Michael Jackson had been spiraling into an unmanageable amount of debt, and that it may have led to his self-inflicted death.

Stone Age Gender Bender: Was 5,000-Year-Old Skeleton Gay?

An ancient grave may hide more than just a skeleton: Was this the first gay caveman? Archaeologists digging a site in the Czech Republic recently unearthed the skeleton of a 5,000-year-old man, buried on his left side with his head facing West.

April Is National Poetry Month

National Poetry Month is a month-long, national celebration of poetry established by the Academy of American Poets in 1996 with the ultimate goal of widening the attention of individuals and the mediaâ€"to the art of poetry, to living poets, to ...

Anthony Smith, 85-Year-Old British Sailor, Crosses Atlantic On Raft With Friends

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten -- An 85-year-old British sailor who dreamed of crossing the Atlantic on a raft as a young boy completed the journey with three friends Wednesday.

Tokyo – Strong Aftershock: Magnitude 7.4 Earthquake Hits Off Japan Coast

Tokyo - Japan's northeastern coast has been rattled by a strong aftershock. The Japan meteorological agency has issued a tsunami warning for a wave of up to one meter.

120 Day Comment Period and Field Hearings Critical for Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement

Yesterday, NRDC and over thirty other groups wrote to the State Department calling for the comment period on the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Keystone XL tar sands pipeline to be extended from 45 days to 120 ...

32 killed as UN plane crashes in DR Congo

KINSHASA, April 06, 2011: Thirty-two people including UN officials and peacekeepers were killed Monday when a plane crashed on landing in heavy rain in the Democratic Republic of Congo capital, the United Nations said.

Daft Punk auctioning Ferrari for Japanese Disaster Relief [Blip]

Daft Punk's auctioning off the 1987 Ferrari 412 from their "Electroma" video for the Red Cross Japanese Disaster Relief Fund. Buy it and you can say "Daft Punk's Ferrari is parking at my house.

Opinion recap: Court strengthens municipal immunity for prosecutorial violations

On March 29, 2011 in Connick v. Thompson, the Court - by a vote of five to four, in an opinion by Justice Thomas - reversed a fourteen-million-dollar award in favor of John Thompson, who served eighteen years in prison for murder and armed ...

Mike believes Atlantic Yards hoopla

by Rich Calder and David Seifman A confident Mayor Bloomberg insisted yesterday that the housing and commercial component of the $4.9 billion Atlantic Yards complex won't be scrapped, saying he was certain that developer Bruce Ratner is ...

Mercedes-Benz reportedly recalling 136,000 M Class models over cruise control problem

Mercedes-Benz is issuing a recall for its 2000-2002 M-Class and 2000-2004 M-Class AMG models after reports that hitting the brakes may not automatically turn off cruise control.

Keri Hilson, Akon Fight Against AIDS in H&M Campaign

Keri Hilson and Akon fix up and look sharp in HM's celebrity-driven collection for Fashion Against AIDS. The campaign, which also stars Selma Blair, Penn Badgley, Sky Ferreira, Nikki Reed, Ginnifer Goodwin, Scissor Sisters, Shiloh Fernandez, ...

Census Analysis Reveals Growing Gap Between Aging Whites And Young Hispanics, Asians

WASHINGTON -- A new analysis of 2010 Census data suggests that America might be become a white-minority nation faster than once predicted.

Barry Bonds Trial Nears End As Prosecution Rests Case

Earlier on Tuesday in the Barry Bonds trial, judge Illston ruled that Steve Hoskins' tape of a recorded conversation between himself and Dr.

FBI Memo: "ABC mole advised that a source within Saudi intelligence said that the Oklahoma City bombing was sponsored by Iraqi intelligence ..."

"... A once-classified FBI memo reveals that the bureau treated a senior ABC News journalist as a potential confidential informant in the 1990s, pumping the reporter to ascertain the source of a sensational but uncorroborated tip that the ...

Multiple Violations Found at LA Food Manufacturer

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found multiple violations at a Los Angeles food manufacturer during an inspection last Sept.

Meet Felice Cohen: She REALLY Wanted To Live In Manhattan

We told you guys about this a while back and here is the proof. In this video a woman named Felice shows off one of the smallest micro-studios in New York, her 90 square foot apartment she rents for a little over $700 on New York's Upper West Side.

Men's Health Editor Endorses MMA In New York Times

David Zinczenko, editor in chief of Men's Health and the editorial director of Women's Health, has come clean. The former opponent of MMA legalization in New York state has had a change of heart.

Video: Massive Pillow Fight in Union Square in New York City

Pillows and feathers were everywhere in New York City's Union Square as citizens massed for a massive pillow fight. 1,000 people showed up for the sixth annual celebration of Pillow Fight Day.

The Republicans come for Medicare

The current debate over federal budget cutting is only a prelude to a much bigger fight - the House Republicans' leadership plan to target Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.

Martin L. King Jr. Assassinated (1968)

Learn about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., an American civil rights leader and National hero, who was born on January 15. Share the stories of his vision and commitment by using activities and printables that detail his life.

Keri Hilson Performs At Wrestlemania 27

RB star Keri Hilson took centre-stage at the WWE's Wrestlemania 27 extravaganza at Atlanta's Georgia Dome moments ago. There, the hometown singer performed a rousing rendition of 'America The Beautiful'.

former Duke lacrosse accuser, arrested for allegedly stabbing boyfriend

The New York York Daily News reports: Crystal Mangum, the woman who famously claimed she was raped by a group of Duke lacrosse players in 2006, has now been accused of stabbing her boyfriend.

Why does Sarkozy have French Troops in Ivory Coast? French forces take over Abidjan airport. - World News

Ivory Coast: French forces take over Abidjan airport France has sent extra troops to Ivory Coast's main city, Abidjan, and taken control of its airport.

Leading Marxist Manning Marable Dies - Once Wrote, Obama "Has Read Left Literature, Including My Works"

One of America's leading academic Marxists, Director of the Institute for Research in African-American Studies, Columbia University, Manning Marable, has died, aged 60.

Benefit Print Sale for Japan Society's Earthquake Relief Fund

This set of three 8”x10” photographs, a limited-edition of 100, are available for $150 (plus shipping and handling). They are archival, digital C-prints, signed and numbered.

FDA: Not Enough Evidence To Issue Warnings On Food Dyes [Update]

As many predicted, a FDA advisory panel found yesterday that that warnings about artificial dyes causing hyperactivity in some children shouldn't be added to food packaging.

375-Pound Shark Leaps Into Fisherman's Boat (VIDEO)

FREEPORT, Texas (AP) - It's the catch of a lifetime, but it's not clear whether a Texas fisherman landed an 8-foot shark or it landed him.

O'Hare-Bound Flight Diverted to Ohio With Sick Passengers

O'Hare-Bound Flight Diverted to Ohio With Sick Passengers --Flight landed in Dayton after four passengers apparently fainted 01 Apr 2011 Four passengers apparently fainted on an American Airlines flight headed to Chicago from Washington DC ...

Ex-Rugby Star Charged In Serial Axe Murders

Johannesburg, South Africa - A former South African rugby star will undergo mental observation after he was charged with the gruesome axe murders of three people in Durban on Monday.

Busted: WI Teacher Charged With Sending Death Threats to GOP Lawmakers

26-year-old Katherine R. Windels of Cross Plains has been named in a criminal complaint filed in Dane County Criminal Court. She is charged with sending a death threat letter to GOP Senators.

FDA Releases Menu, Vending Machine Guidelines

The US Food and Drug Administration today issued two proposed regulations regarding calorie labeling on menus and menu boards in chain restaurants, retail food establishments, and vending machines, as required under President Obama's Affordable ...

NaPoWriMo!! It's National Poetry Writing Month! Join Me In Writing A Poem A Day

I'll be writing a poem a day for April again this year for National Poetry Writing Month and National Poetry Month. This year I'll be posting them here.

Join Enfamil Family Beginnings for Up to $250 in Savings and Freebies

Join Enfamil Family Beginnings and get up to $250 in free gifts, plus expert advice for every stage of your baby's development. I know that in the past they have sent oodles of high value coupons (like $5 off!

Southwest flight diverted after rapid cabin decompression

Southwest flight diverted after rapid cabin decompression 01 Apr 2011 A Southwest Airlines flight from Phoenix to Sacramento, California, declared an in-flight emergency Friday and diverted to Yuma, Arizona, due to rapid decompression in the ...