WebProNews

Author: Val Powell

  • Oscar Isaac Named In ‘Star Wars: Episode 7’ Cast

    Star Wars fans have long been waiting for the complete list of cast members for J.J. Abrams’ upcoming Star Wars: Episode VII, which is set to be released in 2015.

    Rumors have been floating around for months on who the cast members will be. After much speculation, the cast has finally been revealed.

    The official announcement was made on the Star Wars website. A black and white picture showed all the cast members sitting in a circle, together with Abrams, during a read-through of the script at the Pinewood Studios.

    The picture was accompanied by a message from Abrams saying that they are excited to share the cast of the movie. He is also excited about the fact that “original cast and these brilliant new performers” are coming together for the film. Abrams also mentioned that they will start shooting in a few weeks.

    For several months, there have been rumors about the actors who will be participating in the film. Among them were Star Wars veterans Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, and Peter Mayhew. Based on the news, veterans Kenny Baker and Anthony Daniels will also be in the film.

    Other cast members included in the film are John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Andy Serkis, Adam Driver, Max von Sydow, Domhnall Gleeson, and Oscar Isaac. Individual roles for the actors have not yet been announced, but fans are hoping to hear more details on May 4, which is celebrated as “Star Wars Day.”

    Isaac was the latest actor to join the cast. He is a Guatemalan-born actor and singer who starred in Inside Llewyn Davis by the Coen brothers. There are still no reports as to what role he will play, but he’s rumored to have one of the major parts in the film.

    Star Wars: Episode VII will be shown in theaters on December 18, 2015.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • FedEx Shooter Injured Six Before Taking His Own Life

    A FedEx employee armed with a shotgun injured six people at a FedEx warehouse in Atlanta, Georgia, before killing himself with his own gun on Tuesday morning.

    According to police spokesperson Sgt. Dana Pierce, the shooting started at 5:54 am. The police were alerted of the incident by several 911 calls that reported a shooter in the FedEx building. Over a hundred officers responded to the incident, but the shooter was already dead by the time they arrived.

    Reports indicate that the shooter, identified as Geddy L. Kramer, worked as a package handler for the company. He entered the facility through the guard shack where he shot the guard on duty before entering the warehouse where he shot five other people.

    Eyewitness account

    Of the six that were injured, two had to undergo surgery and three are in critical condition. One of the victims was treated and released by the hospital. All of the victims were brought to the WellStar Kennestone Hospital. A doctor at the facility described the wounds to have been caused by shotgun blast projectiles.

    Liza Aiken, a FedEx employee, said Kramer “looked like he was heading into war.” She also said that he had bullets strapped to his chest just like Rambo. Aiken was working on some packages when he saw Kramer enter the warehouse carrying a gun and a knife.

    Eyewitness Liz Aiken said “shooter looked like he was heading into war.”

    After the incident, the authorities went through the building in order to make sure that Kramer did not plant any devices that may bring danger to the employees. They were able to find a Molotov cocktail (petrol bomb) that was left by Kramer.

    In a statement, Aiken said that she had already reported Kramer to her superiors after he aimed a laser pointer at her eye. As of now, there are no clues leading the Kramer’s motives for the attack.

    Scott Fiedler, the spokesperson for FedEx, released a statement saying that the company is cooperating with authorities in the investigation.

    Image via YouTube

  • Porsha Williams Says Kenya Moore Bullied Her For Two Years

    Porsha Williams, one of the women in the reality series Real Housewives of Atlanta, opened up about her recent fight with one of her co-stars, Kenya Moore.

    The on-screen catfight happened during the show’s reunion special that was aired a few weeks ago. The two women attacked each other verbally on the show and Moore brought a scepter and a megaphone with her to use as props, but Williams saw them as “weapons.” Williams then fought back by grabbing Moore by the hair and dragging her on the floor.

    Williams said that the brawl had been a long time coming. Last season, Williams was going through a divorce with her then husband Kordell Stewart and Moore was quick to say that Williams was cheating on him. She also called Kordell Stewart a homosexual, which only further infuriated Williams.

    Williams says her other co-stars knew about Moore’s bullying. “They knew the bullying she had put me through for two years straight.” Because of that, the other women of RHOA were not entirely surprised by the brawl.

    Williams was arrested a few days after the catfight, as Moore pressed charges against her. In a statement, Moore said that violence is “never an option” and that’s why she called the cops on Williams.

    The Atlanta police conducted an investigation on the incident which included a review of unedited footage from the reunion show. As a result, Williams was charged with battery, but was later released on a $2,000 bail. Williams was cooperative throughout the investigation in the hopes of clearing her name. When asked by The View about her charges, she only answered, “Just like everybody else who gets charged with something like that, I have to go to court.”

    Williams is now deliberating whether to press charges against Moore for bringing a scepter to the reunion and using it as a “weapon.”

    Image via YouTube

  • Rosie The Riveter Plant May Be Lost To A Wrecking Ball

    The iconic Michigan Plant where thousands of women constructed B-24 bombers during World War II faces its own battle this week with a wrecking ball. The Willow Run bomber plant in Ypsilanti has two days to come up with $1 million to keep its doors and history intact.

    A group leading the “Save the Bomber” campaign has raised $7 million already. But they are still $1 million short. And although they have until Thursday to come up with the remaining funds, demolition has already started on some parts of the factory.

    Loraine Osborne, one of the few remaining riveters today, stated that if their campaign fails, a very important piece of U.S. history will be lost forever.

    Although she isn’t the renowned Rosie the Riveter, Loraine Osborne was one of thousands of women to have built the 8,685 B-24 Liberators from 1942 to 1945, with one aircraft capable of being built in an hour.

    The Willow Run Bomber Plant

    Rose Will Monroe, who was the inspiration for the character Rosie the Riveter, was the woman behind the most influential female empowerment symbol of all time. Still used today, the acclaimed poster of Rosie with rolled up sleeves and red, polka-dot bandana, still carries the same weight of decades past.

    Today, Rosie needs help from the public. The plant is to be demolished to make way for a vehicle research facility.  However, Osborne and company have their own plans of saving that space for the Yankee Air Museum. The site’s manager has given plenty of extensions, but May 1st is the deadline.

    The president of the Michigan Aerospace Foundation told the Associated Press that “time is really short…” and that they need more people to help. But he hasn’t given up hope yet. He believes that they are going to make it.

    Image via YouTube

  • Cathedral Roof Fall Leaves Woman Trapped In Bell Tower

    The RAF (Royal Air Force) was called to the Wells Cathedral in Somerset, England, to rescue a 68-year-old woman who was trapped between a void located between two walls in the church’s bell tower. The woman was trapped for three hours before the rescue team came to her aid.

    According to a spokesperson for the cathedral, the woman was part of a 12-person group that was touring the top of the cathedral with two tour guides. During the tour, she fell 30 feet and became lodged between two turrets located 150 feet from the ground. Based on police reports, she sustained pelvic and arm injuries from the accident.

    Marc House, a representative from the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue team, said that they had to call in specialist crews in order to come up with the best plan to get the woman down. The RAF was called to the scene after they decided that it was the best way to rescue her from the bell tower comfortably and without adding further injures. The helicopter came and landed on the Cathedral Green and four RAF personnel rescued the woman. The woman was given pain medication and then brought to the Frenchay Hospital in Bristol for medical treatment.

    Wells Cathedral administrator Dr. Paul Richards said that they would be investigating how the accident happened, and the cathedral will be closed for tours during this time.

    The woman was said to be part of the cathedral’s “high part” tours wherein a tour group is brought to hidden parts of the cathedral where they can enjoy fantastic views of Somerset and Glastonbury Tor. Richards suspects that the woman fell in between the gaps on the floor of the 775-year-old cathedral.

    A representative for the Health and Safety Executive said that they intend to fully cooperate with the local authorities regarding the accident.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Julie Schenecker Double Murder Trial Begins

    Julie Schenecker was a suburban mother and former military linguist. She is charged with two counts of murder for allegedly killing her two teenaged children. On Monday, Schenecker attend the jury selection stage of her trial at the Hillsborough County courtroom. Her ex-husband Army Col. Parker Schenecker was also in attendance.

    According to police, the 53-year-old military wife from Tampa confessed to fatally shooting her 13-year-old son Beau and 16-year-old daughter Calyx because they were being “mouthy”. The crime allegedly took place while their father was abroad.

    The court was informed by several potential jurors that they have some knowledge of the case. A number of jury members stated that they have already made a decision regarding the case, based on the reports released by various media.

    The jury pool was advised by the presiding judge that the murder trial may last a maximum of three weeks, which some of the members considered a “hardship” that they will have difficulty dealing with.

    On January 28, 2011, police officers discovered the bodies of the two teenagers in the Schenecker’s Tampa Palms residence. Authorities had visited their home on a “welfare check” call made by Julie Schenecker. She had allegedly received an alarming email from her daughter, Calyx, that implied that she would be taking her own life.

    Two police officers headed over to the Schenecker’s home and found Julie at the patio, sprawled on the floor and initially unresponsive. Once she regained consciousness, she informed the officers that she was on medication for bipolar disorder. Julie added that she had also been drinking prior to their arrival.

    However, when the officers checked the other rooms in the house, they found Julie’s daughter Calyx lying on her bed, with two fatal gunshot wounds to the head. The body of Julie’s son Beau was also found dead in the garage, with at least one gunshot wound. Police also managed to find a handgun, as well as multiple used shell casings inside the premises.

    Julie Schenecker used to work as an Army Intelligence officer for the U.S. military forces. In her job, she used her ability to communicate in fluent Russian to interrogate refugees. Prosecution are no longer seeking the death penalty but Schenecker could face life in prison without parole if found guilty.

     Schenecker pleads not guilty by reason of insanity

    Image via YouTube

  • Lone Ranger’s Colt .45 Pistol Acquired By Wyoming Firearms Museum

    A Wyoming museum has acquired an old colt .45 pistol that belonged to John Hart. In 1952, Hart became the second actor to play the title role in the The Lone Ranger series . Hart replaced Clayton Moore for one season after Moore demanded a higher salary. The western-themed television show was considered the highest rated program on the ABC network in the 1950s. It ran for eight seasons from 1949 to 1957. Although Hart portrayed the role for only a short time, he made an appearance as the Lone Ranger in the series Happy Days when one of the characters met his childhood hero.

    Hart, known for acting in western shows, had used different types of firearms in the course of his career, but the colt .45 stood out among the rest. The single-action revolver has an intricate vine and leaf design and an ivory grip with a buffalo skull that set it apart from other pistols and firearms, and many consider it a work of art.

    The curator of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West’s Cody Firearms Museum, Warren Newman, said that the pistol is beautiful and the detailed engraving makes it even more striking.

    According to reports, the museum was able to get the pistol for $18,150 at an auction that was held in October. Newman did not confirm the price, but he said that they hope the pistol will be a popular item among their visitors.

    Aside from the pistol, the museum also got their hands on a cookbook entitled Cowboys in the Kitchen that Hart authored in the 1990s. The cookbook consists of advice from Hart and stories from Hollywood. It even has a segment dedicated to “women and liquor.” There are also autographed pictures of Hart wearing his Lone Ranger costume. Hart died in 2009 when he was 91 years old.

    Memorabilia for The Lone Ranger is on display in the museum’s  “Hollywood Guns” section.

     Cody Firearms Museum

    Image via YouTube

  • Lydia Ko: Golf Prodigy Wins Swinging Skirts World Ladies Masters

    One look at Lydia Ko, and you might not guess that this unassuming young woman is one of the top players in professional golf today.

    The Korean-born, New Zealander just turned 17 on Sunday when she claimed victory at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic. Shortly before that, Ko was included in Time Magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential People in the World.

    While this is Ko’s third win in the LPGA, it is the first time that she’s been allowed to collect money for her efforts (amateur golfers don’t win prize money). To add to her already stellar career stats, her recent win is her sixth in worldwide professional golf events.

    Ko had to go through some off-target drives during her last LPGA tournament, but she focused as she hit a perfect 6-foot birdie in the final hole for her first LPGA Tour win as a professional golfer. Ko beat 29-year-old American golfer Stacy Lewis and fellow Korean Jenny Shin and went on to win third place in the tournament.

    In a post-match interview, Ko said that she could not have had a “better birthday week” after her win, and that her birthday can be considered “sweet 17”.

    The victory earned Ko a total of $270,000 worth of winnings. Three days after her actual birthday, the gallery sang “Happy Birthday” at the first tee box.

    Born in Seoul, South Korea and raised in North Harbour, New Zealand, Lydia Ko was the top-seeded female amateur golfer in the world for a total of 130 weeks before finally turning pro in October of 2013. She earned the title of youngest person to ever win a pro golf tour event, as well as the youngest golfer to ever win an LPGA tour event.

    Ko’s exposure to the game of golf started when she was five years old. In an article by Time Magazine, eight-time holder of the LPGA Tour Player of the Year title Annika Sorenstam called Ko an “exceptionally talented” player who is “mature beyond her years”.

    Lydia Ko’s post win interview


    Image via YouTube

  • Erica Enders-Stevens Wins Pro Stock Race

    Erica Sanders-Stevens brought home the trophy last Sunday at the NHRA O’Reilly Auto Parts Spring Nationals held at the Royal Purple Raceway.

    Almost 40,000 people were there to witness the event. Stevens was able to beat her rival, Allen Johnson, while driving a Chevy Camaro. According to the race records, Stevens clocked in a 6.594-second pass finishing with a speed of 210.60 mph, while Johnson had a speed of 210.28 mph and clocked in at 6.588. Stevens was able to cross the finish line first even though Johnson had a faster elapsed time.

    After winning, Stevens said that her win was due to the fact that she had a consistent racecar. “My team’s been really awesome,” she said. With her recent win, Stevens is currently leading in the Pro Stock point standings, and is the first woman in history to  accomplish this feat.

    Stevens had an early start in the sport. She started racing when she was just 8 years old. In her career as a junior dragster, she won 37 times.

    The 30-year-old racecar driver was especially happy about winning at Royal Purple Raceway, where she began her career. “To win here in Houston at my home track is very special,” she said. She is planning to keep her momentum in order to remain at the top of the Pro Stock.

    Enders began the event as the second qualifier and made her way up the ranks by beating Matt Harford during the opening round. She was able to beat Jason Line in the second event, and she also beat Jeg Coughlin Jr. at the semi-final round.

    Johnson, on the other hand, started the event as the top qualifier and reached the final round by beating Greg Stanfield in the first round, Jonathan Gray in the second event, and Vincent Nobile in the semi-final round.

    Image via Erica Enders Racing, Facebook

  • Plane Crash At South Dakota Wind Farm Claims Four Victims

    A tragic plane crash in South Dakota leaves all four of its passengers dead early Monday morning. The single engine, Piper 32, was said to be headed to Gettysburg, South Dakota from Hereford, Texas. The plane disappeared on Sunday night.

    Spokeswoman Elizabeth Cory of the Federal Aviation Administration says that early reports of the crash indicated that the collision happened near a local wind farm about 50 miles east of Pierre. The plane was registered to Gettysburg resident Donald J. Fischer.

    Although the names of the victims have yet to be released by authorities, a local funeral home has confirmed the deaths of passengers Logan Rau, Brent Beitelspacher, and Pilot Donald Fischer. The fourth victim’s information has yet to be disclosed, but a Stock Show website recognizes the fourth victim as Nick Reimann.

    Further details will not be released until the families of the victims have all been notified. Currently, the National Transportation Safety Board is investigating. Bad weather conditions is said to have been a big factor in the crash, but Fisher’s failure to maintain control of the aircraft is said to have been the probable cause of the crash according to the Safety Board.

    All three passengers were returning from an annual event for a cattle sale in Texas. Others who attended the event have stated that the passengers discussed how bad the weather was on their arrival flight.

    Fischer was known as a very active member in his community, often volunteering as an emergency medical technician. He graduated from South Dakota State University, where he played defensive tackle on the school’s football team.

    The plane collided near the South Dakota Wind Energy Center which is equipped with 27 turbines that are a little over 200 feet tall.

    Image via YouTube

  • Potato Arrest: Police Put An End To Crime Spree

    Police authorities from Providence, Rhode Island, put an end to a robbery suspect’s potato crime spree Friday afternoon.

    No, this man did not try to steal potatoes; instead, he used the starchy vegetable as a weapon in two separate robbery attempts. Gary Deming, who hails from Cranston, first headed to a convenience store in the city’s Charles neighborhood, wherein he demanded all the money from the store’s cash register. Deming wielded a potato, which he tried to disguise as a gun, but failed to get the cash. Instead, the convenience store manager retaliated by running after him using a baseball bat until he left the store.

    In another incident, Deming made an attempt to rob the neighborhood dry cleaners. This time, however, an employee at the establishment handed him a counterfeit $20 that she took out of a decoy cash register.

    In a separate police report, Deming was said to have also broken into his sister’s home on Douglas Avenue just a few hours prior to the two attempted robberies. According to Deming’s sister, he was a druggie and had stolen a hundred dollars in cash, a Michael Kors purse, and a debit card before fleeing her home.

    She added that it was not the first time Deming had stolen from her.

    Deming, who also has an outstanding warrant for larceny in East Providence, was arrested by Providence police on Thursday afternoon. He was charged with larceny in December, after admitting to authorities that he had stolen two laptop computers and some jewelry from his sister’s home over the course of months. Deming was living on the ground floor of his sister’s home at the time, and showed multiple pawn shop receipts as proof of his crimes.

    A telephone listing for Deming has yet to be found.


    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • London Underground Workers Go On 48-Hour Strike

    Workers of the London Underground (LU) went on a strike, which began at 9pm on April 28 and will last for 48 hours. The strike was done in protest of the plans to close the Tube’s ticket offices. The closure will cause hundreds of Tube workers to lose their jobs, as well as threaten the safety of commuters.

    According to the administrators of the London Underground, the staff would be better employed on station concourses instead of ticket offices, because according to their data, only 3% of tube tickets are obtained through the ticket offices anyway.

    The April 28 strike will be followed by another on the Heathrow Express on April 29 starting 3am in a separate conflict over worker compensation and job cuts. The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union is planning yet another strike, which will run for 72 hours starting 9 pm on Monday, May 5.

    Commuters are advised to seek alternative routes, such as walking, cycling, taking the buses, and riding the black cabs.

    Union leaders held a last-ditch negotiation meeting with the London Underground administrators in an attempt to resolve the dispute over the closure of the ticket offices; however, the gathering ended after only two hours without the issue getting resolved.

    RMT leaders stated that the union had given the company some proposals that could have stopped the strike from happening, if only LU responded positively to their ideas.

    According to Mick Cash, the union’s acting general secretary, the company leaders “have dug themselves into an entrenched position” and have expressed their refusal to reconsider their stance regarding the closure of the Tube ticket offices. He said that this breaches the agreement they reached before through the conciliation service known as Acas, which allowed them to suspend the round of action previously done.

    RMT believes that contrary to what the LU is proposing, the closure of the ticket offices have nothing to do with modernization, and is more about the substantial austerity cuts driven by the Prime Minister David Cameron and implemented by London Mayor Boris Johnson.

    London Underground: A Brief History

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Seung-Yul Noh: 22-Year-Old South Korean Wins Zurich Classic On PGA Tour

    On Sunday, Seung-Yul Noh won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. At 22 years old, the South Korean native is the fourth player under the age of 25 to win on the PGA tour. He worked his way towards a two-stroke victory with a one-under-par 71.

    During the event, Noh wore black and yellow ribbons on his hat as a tribute to the missing persons from a ferry accident in the waters of South Korea. He also said that he wanted to win in order to lift the spirits of his fellow South Koreans.

    In 2010, English golfer Oliver Wilson tweeted that he played with Noh and said, “Keep an eye out for him. One of the best ball strikers in the world.” The tweet was posted just after Wilson lost to Noh.

    At just 17 years old, Noh won the Asian Tour. At 18, he became the second youngest victor in European Tour history when he won the Maybank Malaysian Open. A year later, he was ranked 61st in the world.

    At Sunday’s event, Ko said that he “needed to get close” and give himself a “birdie chance” amidst the loud applause at the 18th hole. Noh is the 7th first time PGA winner of the event in the last decade. He finished 19-under 269 and won a prize of $1,224,000.

    Robert Streb and Andre Svoboda tied for second with Streb shooting a 70 and Svoboda finishing with a 69.

    What’s next in line for Noh? As a native of South Korea, he will have to serve two years in the Korean military. However, he has postponed his service after the Olympic Games in 2016 where he is hoping to compete for Korea, as winning a medal will permit him to waive his mandatory service to the military.

    If Sunday was an indication of what’s to come for Noh, then his chances of skipping military service would be good.

    Image via YouTube

  • Vince Young To Try Out For Cleveland Browns Team At Pre-Draft Camp

    In a recent interview, Vince Young mentioned that he must do his part and stay ready, since “you never know when you are going to get a call.” The call has arrived for the football player, and it came from the Cleveland Browns.

    Young, who is a free agent quarterback, has been brought in by the Cleveland Browns for a tryout, Ray Farmer, the general manager of the team said. Tyler Thigpen was brought in as well. The two quarterbacks will be participating in a pre-draft camp that will start on Tuesday and will last for three days.

    Farmer said that the mini camp is the best way for their team to see what Young is capable of. He also said that they have been following him through offseason. “He’d been doing some things that kind of caught our eye and made us kind of take note,” he said.

    Young, 30, was with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2011, Buffalo Bills in 2012, and the Green Bay Packers in 2013. Throughout his football career, his record indicates that he has had 51 interceptions and 46 touchdowns. Thigpen, on the other hand, has played for teams, such as the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, and the Kansas City Chiefs.

    According to Farmer, the two candidates they brought in share the same quality that they are seeking for the quarterback position, and that is mobility. However, he also said that mobility is just a “piece of the puzzle” and that a quarterback should be able to do a lot of things.

    In a report from The Houston Chronicle, Young said that he has a job available for him to grab if his pro football career is over. The work? An ambassador for the University of Texas. Young said that he wants to support the university and help kids get scholarships.

    Image via YouTube

  • Elin Nordegren And Lindsey Vonn Getting Chummy

    After the messy and very public divorce between golf superstar Tiger Woods and former model Elin Nordegren, no one would have guessed that it was possible for his ex-wife to be friends with his current flame.

    This unlikely scenario is probably making life easier for Woods, whose career suffered significantly following his split with Nordegren. An insider told celebrity news magazine Us Weekly that Nordegren actually adores Vonn and the two women talk all the time. The source added that Nordegren is drawn to the fact that Vonn is a “strong woman.”

    The whole family – Woods, Vonn, Nordegren, and the children recently vacationed together, with the 29-year-old Olympic skier and the 34-year-old Swedish mother of two occasionally bonding with each other over drinks, while Woods was left to look after his six-year-old daughter Sam and five-year-old son Charlie.

    Nordegren discovered that both her and Vonn had a lot of similarities and common ground. The insider said that they talk and laugh “like they have been girlfriends forever.”

    However, E! News pointed out that the two ladies have not been seen together in public. Since the paparazzi hardly misses a celebrity spotting – especially a controversial one – there has been some skepticism about the alleged closeness of Nordegren and Vonn.

    While it may be considered absurd for Woods’ former wife to get close to any of the women he was – and is – involved with, Vonn spends a significant amount of time with Nordegren’s children, thus a reason for the two women to build a relationship.

    Vonn and Woods met in 2012 at the pro-golfer’s World Challenge Charity golf tournament, and officially became a couple in March 2013. Vonn’s divorce from fellow skier Thomas Vonn was finalized in January 2013, although the couple had been separated since late 2011.

    Meanwhile, Nordegren has been linked to coal billionaire Chris Cline, who was a neighbor of Nordegren and Woods when they were still together.

    Image via YouTube

  • Missouri Execution: William Rousan Is Dead

    William Rousan, 57, was executed in Missouri on Wednesday. Rousan is the main man responsible for orchestrating the 1993 murder of a couple who owned some cows that he wanted to steal.

    Rousan was the mastermind behind the murders that were carried out by his brother and his son, Brent. His son ambushed the Lewis home and shot Charles Lewis first, next he shot Charles’ wife Grace. Rousan was sentenced to death without the possibility of parole.

    According to Attorney General Chris Koster, Rousan ordered his then 16-year-old son to murder Grace Lewis “all so they could steal two cows, soda, a VCR, and some jewelry.”

    It was not until a year later that Rousan was caught when people noticed that the Lewis couple suddenly disappeared without a trace. In 1994, the investigators were able to get two tips that helped crack the case.

    Rousan’s attorneys argued against the lethal injection, as they said that the drugs used may result in suffering while the inmate is being put to death. However, the US Supreme Court denied the request to stay Rousan’s execution. Advocates of those on death row say that the convicts have a right to know about the drug that will be injected into their bodies. They are also opposed to the drugs used to carry out the executions as they claim they are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

    Rousan’s last meal consisted of onion rings, a bacon cheeseburger, a soft drink, and pecan pie.

    A minister and Rousan’s brother-in-law were invited to see him before the execution. He mouthed some words to his visitors. The drug was administered, Rousan took two deep breaths, and all was still. There was no sign that Rousan was in distress. At 12:10 am, Rousan was declared dead, just 9 minutes after the entire procedure started.

    In a final statement written by Rousan, he said “My trials and transgressions have been many.”

    Michael Lewis, the son of the murdered couple, said in a prepared statement after the execution that he gained “no real satisfaction from Mr. Rousan’s incarceration or execution,” as neither would bring his parents back.

    Michael Lewis reads a statement on behalf of his parents who Rousan murdered

    Image via YouTube

  • Tara Lipinski And Johnny Weir Set To Cover Kentucky Derby For NBC

    The most talked about stars at the 2014 Sochi Olympics were Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir, but take note that the two did not compete in any events during the Olympics. The duo captured the audience’s approval for commentating on ice skating events instead.

    Lipinski won an Olympic gold medal for figure skating at the age of 15, while Weir is a three-time US national champion figure skater.

    According to retired figure skater, Lipinski, she always loved fashion, just like Weir. “We’ve always loved loud fashion and sort of bonded over it,” she said.

    After the successful commentary they provided at the Sochi Olympics a few months ago, the two have now been asked by NBC to comment on the fashion at the Kentucky Derby, which is an ideal event for them, as everyone knows that the annual event covers a bit of the race, and a lot of the fashion. Celebrities and other well-known personalities attend the derby each year.

    Both Lipinski and Weir are a bit familiar with ponies. Lipinski rode horses when she was younger, and Weir used to compete in equestrian events. This is not the first time Weir is attending the Kentucky Derby. According to reports, he was in attendance at the 2010 derby and even betted on the winning horse.

    Weir expressed his excitement over their upcoming engagement on Twitter. However, he also mentioned that he’s not a big sports fan. Weir said that he loves figure skating and his job, but he would prefer to “run in the meadows and chase butterflies.”

    The Kentucky Derby is the perfect event for the duo to cover. They will get the chance to give their fashion-forward critique of the stylish outfits and hats that will be filling the seats at the occasion.

    The 2014 Kentucky Derby will be aired on NBC on May 3.

    Image via YouTube

  • ‘Ice Road Truckers’ Driver Tim Zickuhr Charged With Kidnapping Vegas Hooker

    ‘Ice Road Truckers’ Driver Tim Zickuhr Charged With Kidnapping Vegas Hooker

    Tim Zickuhr, one of the drivers on History Channel’s show Ice Road Truckers: Deadliest Roads, is facing felony charges for purportedly kidnapping a prostitute named Lisa Cadeau, also called “Snow White.”

    According to police reports, Zickuhr went to an ATM machine and asked Cadeau to use his credit card to withdraw cash so that he could pay her for sexual services. Cadeau withdrew too much cash, which angered Zickuhr. He then allegedly tied up the prostitute and locked her in a closet back in his apartment. Zickuhr told Cadeau to give him a phone number that he could call so that he could get back the money she owed him.

    In addition to locking her up, reports also indicated that Zickuhr punched Cadeau in the face while threatening to kill her if she didn’t give back the money.

    What the reality star didn’t know was that Cadeau was a “citizen source,” and that the phone number she gave him was for a Las Vegas police officer’s phone.

    According to the officer who received the call, Zickuhr told him to show up at a phone booth and bring $1000 or else he would kill Cadeau. He also mentioned that he heard Cadeau screaming through the phone before that call was disconnected.

    The officer eventually followed the lead and was able to arrest Zickuhr behind a casino in Las Vegas.

    Roy Nelson, Zickuhr’s attorney, said that his client maintains his innocence to “any criminal wrongdoing.” He also explained that Cadeau, the alleged victim, has credibility issues. Authorities will be performing an investigation regarding the events that transpired on the night of the incident.

    The History Channel has not released a statement regarding the issue. It was noted, however, that Zickuhr has not been part of the show since the second season.

    Zickuhr is due to appear in court in May.

    Image via YouTube

  • Arpad Busson And Uma Thurman Call Off Engagement Yet Again

    Hollywood actress Uma Thurman has reportedly ended her engagement with her hedge-fund billionaire fiancé Arpad Busson once again.

    According to British tabloid Daily Mail, the 43-year-old Kill Bill star and the 51-year-old French financier are said to have been struggling to make their long-distance relationship work. Throughout the couple’s seven-year engagement, they have been based on opposite sides of the Atlantic – Thurman in New York and Busson in London. The first time they called off their engagement was in 2009 before rekindling their romance in 2011. A year later, Thurman gave birth to their daughter, whom they named Rosalind Arusha Arkadina Altalune Florence Thurman-Busson.

    An insider told Us Weekly that Thurman and Busson were supposed to attend the Room to Grow Spring Gala as a couple in New York City on April 8, but it was only Thurman who turned up at the event. Several attendees and media people noticed that Thurman was not wearing her engagement ring.

    The Nymphomaniac actress and Busson, who was in a previous relationship with Australian supermodel Elle MacPherson, have been dealing with an on-and-off arrangement since 2007. Thurman, on the other hand, has been married twice before – her first husband was English stage actor Gary Oldman whom she divorced 1992, and her second marriage was with Gattaca co-star Ethan Hawke, which ended in 2005.

    Thurman has two other children with Hawke, a 12-year-old son named Levon and a 16-year-old daughter named Maya. While Busson has never been married before, he also has two sons with MacPherson, 11-year-old Aurelius and 16-year-old Arpad.

    At the Room to Grow event, Thurman spoke with Us Weekly and gushed about raising her 21-month-old daughter. She said that she loves watching her little girl’s development and is fascinated by how fast she is growing. In Thurman’s most recent interviews, she did not give any hint of any problems in her personal life.

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  • Jaren Lockhart: Police Resume Investigation In Murder Case

    On June of 2012, Jaren Lockhart’s dismembered body was found a few days after she went missing in New Orleans.

    According to the Hancock County Sheriff Office’s investigation, Lockhart, 22, was murdered shortly after she left Bourbon Street, which is the location of the club where she worked.

    Now, two years after Lockhart was found, the police are resuming their investigation. Their main concern in the past was that they went as far as they could and “didn’t have the resources to move it further.” The Kenner Police Department is now aiding in the investigation, since one of the suspects in the case resides in Kenner.

    Based on the surveillance images acquired by the authorities, Lockhart was seen leaving her place of work along with a couple identified as Margaret Sanchez, 29, and Terry Speaks, 41.

    Speaks was a doorman at Stiletto’s Cabaret, which is located beside Lockhart’s workplace. He is currently serving jail time for neglecting to register himself as a sex offender, but is slated for release from federal prison in October.

    A month after Lockhart’s murder, Sanchez appeared in an episode of Final Witness and stated that one of her best friends named Addie Hall was also dismembered back in 2006. According to Detective Glenn Grannan, knowing two people who have been dismembered seems too much of a coincidence.

    Neighbors describe living next to Margaret Sanchez and Terry Speaks

    Kenner Police will be going over all the details of the case. They will also be conducting re-interviews of people who are involved in the case to make sure that they haven’t missed anything.

    Lockhart’s friends and family conducted a beachfront vigil in her memory. They described her as a loving mother who was caring and happy.

    To date, there are still no developments from the evidence that was collected. However, some evidence was already sent to the FBI headquarters in Virginia for further processing.

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  • Big Bang Theory In Doubt By Most Americans According To Poll

    A recent Associated Press- GfK poll taken revealed that most Americans are skeptical when it comes to topics such as the Big Bang theory, evolution, and global warming. It also revealed that Americans are more inclined to believe and support simpler concepts related to health and genetics.

    These results disappoint a few of America’s top scientists, including Randy Schekman, the recipient of the 2013 Nobel Prize in medicine. Schekman explains that society is very ignorant towards scientific facts. He also adds that it doesn’t help that some of the national leaders are candidly opposed to established concepts.

    There are many reasons that most Americans tend to value these ideas over science, with political affiliation and religious views being at the top of the list. The poll found that Republicans are more inclined to express doubts towards scientific evolution and changes in climate than their Democratic counterparts.

    Similarly, religious views are just as important. According to the Associated Press, faith in a higher being or power drastically diminishes confidence towards those scientific concepts.

    Faith And Science

    Duke University Professor and Nobel Prize winner Robert Lefkowitz states, “…facts can’t argue against faith.”

    People are keener to believe in facts that they see with their own eyes. Things that have happened in the past have less of an influence on values than concepts that a person has experienced themselves.

    “I wasn’t there,” explains Jorge Delarosa, a 39-year-old architect from Bridgewater, N.J., when asked about the Earths beginnings. However, Jorge also stated that he did notice that 2012 was without a winter and much warmer, implying that he definitely feels a change and that there must be a reason.

    After witnessing many of her family members who were smokers die of cancer, Marsha Brooks, a 59-year-old Washington, D.C. native, says she is certain that smoking does cause cancer. She has doubts however, when asked about the Big Bang theory or how the Earth began. “It could be a lack of knowledge. It seems so far away,” she explains.

    It seems that science often loses out to politics and religious views because you cannot contest faith as you can science. Professor Robert Lefkowitz points out that the trouble science has had against faith makes sense now, stating “… science would have made no headway because faith is untestable.”

    So, What Exactly Is The Big Bang?

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