WebProNews

Author: Val Powell

  • ‘Walking Dead’: Andrew Lincoln Thinks Season Finale May Have Gone Too Far [Spoiler]

    The season 4 finale of The Walking Dead has just aired and several questions on viewers’ minds were answered. The finale episode was full of gore, as expected. Aside from having some issues resolved, the finale also raised more questions that will keep fans hanging at the edge of their seats.

    Last week’s episode was emotionally packed, as Carol had to kill Lizzie, and then admitted to killing the girlfriend of Tyreese, which happened in the earlier part of the fourth season.

    In an interview with Yahoo TV, Andrew Lincoln, who plays the shows protagonist, Rick Grimes, said that the writers for the show might have gone too far on the finale. “You will see a side of Rick that you haven’t seen before or in a place that he goes to that he’s never been before,” he said.

    The finale showed Michonne, Carl, and Rick as they continue their travel to Terminus, but Joe’s group captures them. Daryl, who soon realizes who Joe is, tries his hand at helping Rick to no avail. One of the men in Joe’s group then attempts to rape Carl, causing Rick to get mad and bite Joe on his neck, which allows Michonne and Rick to kill off the rest of Joe’s men.

    The next day, Rick is still in shock of the events that happened and Daryl says his apologies for following Joe. Rick accepts Daryl’s apology. The group then continues toward Terminus. Carl also confides in Michonne and tells him that he still has thoughts about murder.

    Finally, Rick’s group finds their way to Terminus, a shipment-type structure with three levels that are surrounded by flowers and a fence, where they are warmly greeted. However, Rick soon notices that the people in Terminus have items that only his group could have. They attempt to escape, but are not successful, and the Terminus citizens lock them up in a rail car. With that, Rick’s group is then reunited with Maggie and Glenn’s group. Rick then says that the Terminus citizens are “screwing with the wrong people.”

    The rumors of someone trying to sexually assault Carl came true, and Rick biting Joe on the neck is a real shocker. Did the season finale really go too far? You decide. Meanwhile, fans will just have to wait for what’s to come in the season 5 premiere of The Walking Dead, which will air in October.

    Things You Didn’t Know About ‘The Walking Dead’

    Image via YouTube

  • ‘Noah’ Movie Has Big Opening; Still Mired In Controversy

    The much-talked about biblical epic Noah scored a stellar $44 million opening this weekend despite the huge amount of controversy that has surrounded it prior to its release.

    Paramount’s big budget film grossed more than $95 million worldwide on opening day, courtesy of an early launch in countries like Mexico and South Korea. In Russia, the film grossed $17 million, which is the highest ever opening for a non-sequel. Noah is number four on the list of top openings of all time.

    The film, which was directed by Darren Aronofsky of Black Swan fame, features a darker take on the Old Testament tale. During filming, Noah sparked a lot of buzz among Christian groups in the United States, and even got banned from several Muslim countries. As a result, Paramount Pictures added a disclaimer at the beginning of its film stating that “artistic license was taken” in interpreting the biblical tale of Noah.

    Noah’s surprisingly impressive showing surpassed another strong box office contender, the science fiction action Divergent. The film, which stars Theo James and Shailene Woodley, was the second top grosser this weekend with approximately $27 million in ticket sales.

    Paramount Pictures president of domestic marketing Megan Cooligan stated that the results were “fantastic” and that the film “surprises people and makes them want to talk about it”. Paramount vice chair Rob Moore added that Noah’s “increased attention” in the U.S. and around the world definitely worked to the film’s advantage as it piqued people’s interest – whether positively or negatively.

    The film drew a diverse audience, which included African-Americans, Catholic Latinos, Christians, and fans of the acclaimed The Wrestler director. Cooligan also noted that although there was a nice balance of age ranges in the crowd, more than half of the number of ticket buyers belong to the over-25 age group.

    Is ‘Noah’ Movie Bogus?


    Image via Noah Movie, Twitter

  • Hulk Hogan Says Johnny Manziel Is The Next Greatest Of All Time

    Hulk Hogan is such a big fan of Johnny Manziel that he came up with a video praising the player. Wearing a bright lime green shirt, red headgear, shades, and his iconic Hulkster ‘stache, the wrestler began his video by saying: “Hulk Hogan here, the greatest of all time.”

    Hogan then introduced the reason for his on-screen appearance: “But the next greatest that’s coming along, that’s gonna change the whole world of football, is ‘Johnny Football Jack’, Johnny Manziel.”

    The Hulkster then moved away from the center of the screen, revealing a cardboard cutout of Manziel about to make a pass. He began to express his admiration in earnest.

    “You know no one could tell except Hulk Hogan that he’d have the heart of a lion,” the 60-year-old celebrity said.

    Hogan continued, saying “No one could tell except Hulk Hogan that he’d have the greatest arm that’s gonna be in the NFL,” as he flexed his own arm, showing off his bulging muscles. And according to him, no one else but him could tell that Manziel is “a superior being, a superior athlete” because of course, it takes on to know one, right?

    Last Thursday, the Texas A&M quarterback had his Pro Day, his official workout for the annual NFL drafts. Present were 30 NFL teams, seven head coaches, and at least eight general managers. The Pro Day even drew the attention of Texas governor Rick Perry and former president George H.W. Bush and wife Barbara.

    Manziel threw a total of 65 passes, and all but two were caught by six receivers. He definitely impressed his audience, and after the workout thanked them for coming. Later that day he met with several teams to discuss his pro career.

    Hogan may have seen enough of Manziel’s game to have developed such an extreme admiration, but he also may not know Manziel’s name by heart. The wrestler says in his video, “So, you know somethin’? When Johnny Mantell, Manziel, I call him ‘Johnny Football’—what the heck, I call everybody ‘brother’.” The blunder and excuse were said in rapid succession—perhaps he was that excited?

    Overcoming his slip-up Hogan said, “When Johnny Football takes over the NFL, whatchagonna do when the host of Wrestlemania 30 is behind Johnny Football and we run wild—on—you?” he growled, while slowly throwing a massive knuckle at the camera.

    What will pro football and wrestling fans do, indeed? Is the Hulkster right in his predictions of Manziel’s success as a “superior athlete” in the NFL? Or will he turn out to be just another football player who’ll eventually falter once he begins his pro career? We’ll just have to find out.

    Hulk Hogan thinks Johnny Manziel is the next “greatest of all time”. Watch video.

    Image via YouTube

  • Obamacare Sees Surge In Sign-Ups On Eve Of Deadline; Republicans Question Transparency

    With only a day to go before the first batch of signups closes, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act—more popularly known as “Obamacare”—has yet to reach its target of 7 million registrants. President Obama’s trademark health care legislation has faced controversy since its inception, and it looks like the Republicans’ steady opposition is taking its toll.

    Obamacare’s primary purpose was to make health insurance more affordable and accessible to the public without sacrificing the quality of claimable benefits. It aimed to minimize the number of uninsured Americans through increasing the coverage of public and private insurance and lowering insurance costs. It imposes certain requirements on insurance companies, such as covering new applicants with the same rates regardless of pre-existing conditions or sex, in exchange for incentives. Insurers such as WellPoint and CoOpportunity Health are, for the most part, satisfied with the way the program is running.

    The program met a disastrous launch in October of last year, with many of the state-hosted sites for signup experiencing glitches. This resulted in lost application data, crashes, and delays. Interventions performed for weeks after the launch were able to get some of the sites running smoothly; others could not be fully recovered. Since then, the program has attracted over 6 million participants, many of whom are late applicants. Over a million signed up through the federal site just this weekend. White House Senior Advisor David Plouffe claims the enrollees actually numbered around 10 million, taking into account direct signups with private insurance companies, Medicaid, and children’s health care.

    Republicans question the transparency in the handling of the program. They argue that because Obamacare aims to reduce the uninsured, the administration should show the extent to which this goal is being achieved. A McKinsey & Co. survey reports that 27% of respondents participating in Obamacare were previously uninsured. Supporters of the law take this as a positive sign. Still, Republicans and Democrats alike have come up with various proposals to improve the law. Many Republicans call for its complete repeal, with some like Senator Barrasso calling it unfixable.

    The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that 14 million Americans will sign up for insurance in 2014 through private insurance agencies or the Medicaid expansion. Obamacare is expected to be in full swing in 2018, when the CBO predicts the program will have enrollees numbering 25 million through private insurance, and 12 million through Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

    Does The Obamacare Deadline Mean Anything?

    Image via YouTube

  • ‘Star Wars: Episode 7’ May See Peter Mayhew Reprise His Role As Chewbacca

    Since the announcement of J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: Episode VII, there has been assumptions about the return of some of the original cast members including Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill. Now, there are speculations about the lovable Wookiee, Peter Mayhew, joining the film.

    The 7’3” star is known for his role as Chewbacca in the Star Wars films. The rumors that he may be returning in the next film came after he cancelled his appearance at the Comicpalooza in Texas this coming May, due to filming commitments. Although there has been no official announcement regarding his participation in the upcoming film, there have already been reports that Abrams is slated to start filming in May.

    The possibility of Mayhew joining the cast may be a surprise to some, as he was hospitalized in September 2013 for a double knee replacement, which could be a hindrance for joining the film. Reports indicate that Mayhew admittedly said that the surgery was not a minor operation, but his recovery did not take long.

    According to Metro U.K, Abrams has yet to confirm the full cast of the movie at this point. He did say, however, that “lots of familiar faces” will be seen in the film. There have also been reports about casting unknown actors for the lead roles. Names have not popped up yet, but Abrams said that they are following the ’77 trend for the New Hope cast, as Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, and Harrison Ford were not big names when they were cast for their roles.

    If rumors are true, fans could see Mayhew back in his Chewbacca costume, or perhaps in another role. Fans just have to wait for the official announcement of all the cast members. Star Wars: Episode VII is set to hit theaters in December 18, 2015.

    Everybody Loves Chewbacca 

    Image via YouTube

  • Martina Hingis And Sabine Lisicki Win Doubles Title At Sony Open

    Tennis pro Martina Hingis and playing partner Sabine Lisicki won in the doubles competition at the Sony Open in Key Biscayne, Miami, Florida on Sunday. It has been seven years since her last doubles title in 2007 when she played in Doha. It is her 38th WTA trophy win.

    The former world No. 1 first decided to retire in 2003 due to injuries. She returned to the game in 2005, but decided to retire again in 2007. The second retirement was also due to the two-year suspension she received from the International Tennis Federation.  That year, Hingis’ urine sample was found to contain benzoylecgonine, a metabolite found in cocaine.

    In July last year, Hingis took up the racket again to play in the sport’s doubles event in Carlsbad, pairing up with Daniela Hantuchova. It was also the month she was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

    Hingis and Lisicki joined the BNP Paribas Open tournament in California’s Indian Wells Tennis Garden earlier this March, but they only got so far as the first round. At first Hingis wasn’t sure if she wanted to join the Key Biscayne tournament and lose again, but now that they’ve won, things have changed, and she seems inclined to continue playing more matches.

    The Swiss Hingis and German Lisicki took on Russian duo Elena Vesnina and Ekaterina Makarova, scoring 4-6, 6-4, and 10-5 to win the game. The champion pair joined the Florida tournament as a wildcard entry. They were able to win the last seven points of the game’s super tie-break against the Russians.

    The 33-year-old pro tennis player is a five-time Grand Slam singles title holder: one for the US Open, another for Wimbledon, and three for the Australian Open. She has also won nine Grand Slam women’s doubles titles. Sunday’s win will most likely project Hingis to 60th place in the new doubles world rankings. Lisicki is projected to move up to 36th place.

    Everybody knows Martina Hingis, but who is Sabine Lisicki? Watch her in action.

    Image via TeamSabine,  Twitter

  • Soyuz Docking Successful After Technical Hitch

    The Russian Soyuz spacecraft successfully docked at the International Space Station on Thursday, two days after it suffered technical lags that prevented a fast track linkup after launching on Tuesday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

    The spacecraft was carrying two cosmonauts and one NASA astronaut.

    Commander Alexander Skvortsov controlled the automated approach as the docking mechanism engaged its counterpart at the upper Poisk module. Together, the two spacecraft flew over Southern Brazil at height of 252 miles.

    Oleg Ostapenko, director of the Russian Federal Space Agency Roscosmos, congratulated the crew for successfully completing the first part of its mission.

    After locking the Soyuz spacecraft in place, Skvortsov, along with NASA astronaut Steven Swanson and flight engineer Oleg Artemyev were greeted by Expedition 39 commander Koichi Wakata, Mikhail Tyurin and Rick Mastracchio.

    The three-man crew joined the Expedition 39 team for a post-docking radio chat with the space agency, family, and friends who were at a Russian flight control center in Moscow. Their families sent their congratulations, with Swanson’s father joking that they “took the scenic route there.”

    The technical hitch happened after the crew ran into problems firing a required rendezvous rocket. The first two rendezvous firings went on schedule, but the third one failed because it was not in the “expected altitude or orientation.”

    In May, Wakata and his team are scheduled to return to Earth, leaving Skvortsov to be the commander of Expedition 40. They are scheduled to return to Earth on September 11.

    This back and forth sequence between expeditions is used to keep the space station healthy, and to keep it sufficiently supplied and staffed with rotating crews from different countries. NASA generates electricity and provides communication satellites, while Russian Soyuz spacecraft send US and partner astronauts to space. However, NASA hopes to have its own spacecraft capable of sending its astronauts to space by 2017.

    Understanding Soyuz Undocking And Reentry

    Soyuz Launches Into Space

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Patrick Cannon, Charlotte Mayor, Resigns Pending Corruption Charges

    Eight hours following his arrest on charges of bribery, extortion, and theft, among others, Mayor Patrick DeAngelo Cannon of Charlotte City, North Carolina, resigned from his post. The resignation was contained in a letter addressed to city manager Ron Carlee and city attorney Bob Hagemann, effective immediately.

    In his letter, Cannon explains that he chose to resign because the charges would create “too much of a distraction” for the smooth performance of the city’s business and functions. He was elected mayor in November 2013, taking office the following month.

    Prior to that, he was Mayor Pro Tempore and a member of the City Council. He has been the subject of an undercover FBI investigation since 2010 for illicit activities performed in connection with his official acts. The charges against Cannon could land him up to 20 years in jail.

    Press conference regarding Cannon’s arrest

    He was alleged to have solicited bribes from undercover FBI agents who posed as investors interested in establishing projects in the city. In one of the five instances described in the FBI affidavit, the mayor fanned dollar bills by his ear after receiving $12,500 from an agent. In another incident, while at his office, he accepted a briefcase containing $20,000. Among the other items he accepted are hotel reservations and airline tickets.

    The accusations involve some of the largest ongoing developments in Charlotte. These include the controversial Lynx Gold Line, the city’s mass transit streetcar line; the Metropolitan development in Midtown Charlotte; and the issuance of permits for zoning, construction, and alcohol control. Cannon allegedly claimed to use his political clout with the White House to obtain more funding for Charlotte’s mass transit system.

    Charlotte City Council issued a statement expressing their disappointment and surprise at the mayor’s arrest, saying they had no knowledge of the undercover investigation. Mayor Pro Tempore Michael Barnes will assume office until a new mayor is appointed by the council.

    Image via Facebook

  • YouTube Banned By Turkish Government Less Than A Week After Twitter Ban

    Just a few days after the Turkish government blocked popular social networking site Twitter, it also imposed a crackdown on the video streaming site YouTube.

    Twitter, which has an estimated 10 million Turkish subscribers, was blocked by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the run-up to the local elections due to fears that voters will be influenced by what he calls “fake online tapes” that accuse him of corruption.

    International news agency Reuters quoted PM Erdogan at a rally last week, saying that he could not see why “people of good sense” could take the side of popular social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube because they carry “all of kinds of lies” there.

    Less than a week after the Twitter ban, Turkish YouTube users claimed to have been greeted by a message stating that  “administrative measure” had been taken against the site after “technical analysis and legal consideration” in accordance with Turkish law.

    A leaked audio recording of top government officials discussing potential military operations in Syria previously flooded the video website, thus prompting Turkey’s telecommunications authority (TIB) to take another administrative measure against it. There have been speculations that the government’s decision to remove YouTube access was made because PM Erdogan and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) were trying to do some damage control over recent corruption allegations.

    However, it was also reported that some users are able to access YouTube, while others aren’t.

    Turkish Twitter users were originally getting around the crackdown by modifying their Domain Name System settings. The Twitter ban has since been lifted following a ruling imposed by an Ankara court. However, an insider from PM Edrogan’s office claimed that the TIB still had 30 days to appeal or implement the court’s decision.

    PM Edrogan made a promise during the campaign trail that he would “wipe out” the service and that he did not care about the reaction of the international community regarding the matter.

    According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, the seemingly hasty move to ban YouTube came after search engine Google turned down several requests from the Turkish government to remove videos featuring corruption accusations.

    At a rally held today, PM Erdogan described the leaked video on YouTube as “villainous”, and one of his officials claimed that it caused an issue of national security. The same source also stated that the government was negotiating with YouTube and that it may lift the ban if the video sharing site agreed to take down the incriminating content.

    Image via YouTube

  • Johnny Manziel Lives Up To Hype In Pro Day Workout

    College football player Johnny Manziel recently had his official workout for the annual drafts of the NFL teams, and it drew attention from former president George H.W. Bush and his wife Barbara, and Texas governor Rick Perry.

    During the workout held Thursday, the Texas A&M University quarterback threw for 75 officials representing 30 teams.

    Manziel, known to students and fans as “Johnny Football,” entered the facility with his receivers and a Drake soundtrack that blared over the building. In true flashy Manziel form, the quarterback arrived in full gear, wearing a black jersey with his number 2 on the back, camouflage shorts, shoulder pads, and a helmet.

    Evaluating Johnny Manziel’s performance in Pro Day workout

    The shoulder pads and helmet caused quite a stir, but Manziel said that it was a no-brainer. According to him, players wear the shoulder pads in Sundays games, so “why not come out and do it?” Manziel said that he was “going for perfection” when he threw 65 passes to six receivers. Only two were not caught. Sixteen NFL general managers and head coaches watched the workout. General manager Rick Smith and coach Bill O’Brien liked what they saw, but admitted that the workout was just one step in the long process of drafting.

    New York Jets’ Michael Vick and Miami Heat’s LeBron James also complimented Manziel on his skills.

    George Whitfield, who runs a quarterback training academy, ran the workout and was impressed with Manziel’s competitiveness. Manziel and Whitfield have worked together through Manziel’s career and have spent the last two months training in California.

    Manziel worked under center and did throws of varying distances, both in the pocket and on the run. Whitfield added some challenges to prove that “we didn’t have anything to hide.”

    Whitfield on Manziel

    After the workout, Manziel called all the NFL officials and personally thanked them for coming. That afternoon, he met several teams to discuss future plans.

    Image via YouTube

  • Several Tornadoes Hit Northern California [Video]

    The National Weather Service announced the touchdown of several tornadoes in California on Wednesday.

    Jeff Ranieri, chief meteorologist of the NBC Bay Area, said that there were reports of six funnel clouds and four tornadoes in the region. The National Weather Service confirmed two of the tornadoes, which is a rare occurrence in California.

    The tornadoes touched down in Northern California during a storm. There was also a report of a twister that was spotted near Sacramento. There were about a dozen homes that were damaged, and the twister left a 300 yard-long path scattered with debris.

    Another tornado reportedly hit near Placer County at about 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday. It damaged fences and roofs of about 12 to 20 houses in the area. Fortunately, none of the residents were harmed in the process. According to Rob Baquera, the spokesperson for the fire department, the debris brought about by the tornado stretched to a hundred yards in length.

    A tornado was also spotted and recorded in Glenn County by YouTuber Coti Benitez.

    Video of tornado forming

    Baquera said that everyone in the affected areas did the right thing by seeking shelter when the tornado landed. He also said that they are in recovery mode as, “there were a few people a bit shaken up as they saw the cloud roll over them.”

    Central and Northern California have been experiencing rains and heavy winds. San Francisco also experienced heavy rain in the morning, but the water level is still low, as the state is experiencing drought. Sources say that San Francisco has received less than half of the rainfall it experienced last summer.

    Reports indicate that the rains could last through the weekend and even through early next week. Sacramento meteorologist Holly Osborne warned local residents to wear their rain boots and bring their umbrellas, due to the expected unsettling weather.

    Image via YouTube

  • Gilford Beatty Went To Jail For 5 Robberies He Didn’t Commit; How Could 5 Eyewitnesses Be Wrong?

    Gilford Beatty, a man from Houston, Texas, was charged with five robberies that he did not commit. The legal troubles all began when he received a phone call from a bonding company.

    The company left a message on his mobile phone saying that he had two outstanding warrants of arrest for aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon. The problems did not stop there. Beatty was arrested on the account of three more robbery charges, bringing the total to five.

    Beatty said that the legal troubles he faced made his family scared and brought them pain and suffering.

    The string of robberies were said to have taken place in various mobile phone stores around Humble, Texas. Beatty kept on telling authorities that he was not the man they were looking for, but his efforts were futile.

    According to the Harris County court documents, Beatty was the common denominator among all the crimes. Additionally, five eyewitnesses identified Beatty as the robber.

    Beatty was put at the scene of the crime when a surveillance video showed him at a location near one of the mobile phone stores. Employees of the mobile phone store also had a record of his driver’s license.

    The false accusations caused Beatty his job. He also spent six days in jail and had to pay $15,000 on bail.

    The robbery cases against him started to crumble when detectives did further inspection of each crime. When one of the crimes happened, Beatty was paying for his bail. On another crime, he was present at his workplace. Investigators also gathered his cellphone records, and they found out that Beatty was located at least 10 miles away from each store when the crimes happened.

    With the evidence collected, the charges against Beatty were finally dismissed. However, it happened a little too late, as he was already five months into the ordeal before results came out.

    According to prosecutors and detectives, the system did work, since charges were dropped against Beatty. For Beatty, however, the pain he and his family had to go through was too much. “All mixed emotions; angry, sad, everything,” he said.

    Authorities say that the real person responsible for the crimes has not yet been caught.

    The Problem With Eyewitness Testimony


    Image via YouTube

  • Pink Dwarf Planet “Biden” Found Beyond Pluto, Hints At More Planets

    Scientists discovered a pink dwarf planet at the edge of the solar system, long thought to be a celestial no-man’s land. The object, officially called 2012 VP-113, is nicknamed “Biden” in jest after incumbent US Vice President Joe Biden.

    The dwarf planet was found by Scott Sheppard of the Carnegie Institution for Science and Chad Trujillo of the Gemini Observatory through the use of a new camera affixed to a telescope mounted in Chile. Biden is described as a “pink ice ball” because temperatures on it are estimated to reach around minus 400 degrees Fahrenheit. It has a diameter of 280 miles and is 7.5 billion miles from the sun, making a year on Biden 4000 times longer than one on Earth. At its farthest, Biden can reach 42 billion miles from the sun.

     Animation of dwarf planet in orbit

    For decades, scientists thought the area beyond the Kuiper belt, of which Pluto is part of, was deserted. In 2003, the dwarf planet Sedna was discovered, but was initially considered an outlier. The discovery of Biden dramatically changes things. Sedna is not just accompanied—there may be hundreds of other objects out there.

    California Institute of Technology (Caltech) astronomer and Sedna co-discoverer Mike Brown shares how he initially thought finding Sedna was possibly a fluke, but the new find confirms the area may be populated after all.

    Calculations based on new data brought by Biden’s discovery reveal that there are possibly 900 other celestial bodies in the area waiting to be found.

    Scientists also observed patterns in Sedna’s and Biden’s orbits, which point to the existence of a massive body nearby. This planet is estimated to be ten times the size of Earth and up to a thousand times as far from the sun. Brown comments that the new discovery shows that there are regions of the solar system that we barely know anything about.

    The immense distance has made it difficult for these celestial bodies to be found. Few of the objects will be visible to today’s telescopes because they do not emit their own light and it takes thousands of years for them to get closest to the sun.

    Sedna and Biden were both found at their closest approach to the sun, which made light from the sun bounce off their surfaces and allowed them to be seen from Earth’s observatories. Astronomers are hoping that new technology will facilitate the search for answers in our solar system.

    Image via YouTube

  • Trace Adkins And Wife Are Divorcing

    The wife of country singer and actor Trace Adkins has filed for divorce after 16 years of marriage.

    According to court documents, Rhonda Adkins filed the paperwork on Tuesday in Williamson County, Tennessee. The documents cited “irreconcilable differences” as the primary reason of the split. It also included Rhonda’s demands for residential custody of their three children (aged 16, 12, and 9) as well as child support, health insurance for herself and their daughters, and alimony.

    Another interesting bit in the divorce papers is Rhonda’s desire to be the sole beneficiary of her soon-to-be ex-husband’s life insurance policy.

    The divorce is just one of several troubles that have surrounded Trace. Prior to the filing, he was at the Grand Ole Opry in his first public appearance since he completed his alcohol rehabilitation program. The 52-year-old music artist admitted himself to a rehab facility in January shortly after being involved in a cruise ship brawl with a Trace Adkins impersonator.

    Adkins checked into rehab in January after cruise ship brawl

    Trace has struggled with alcoholism for years and his decision to enter rehab came after he broke a long period of sobriety. Two weeks after, he checked out of the Florida treatment center in order to visit his dying father. After his father’s death, the country star completed the rest of his program.

    The “You’re Gonna Miss This” singer is a member of the Grand Ole Opry and the winner of the hit NBC reality show All-Star Celebrity Apprentice. Apart from his struggles with alcoholism, Trace also suffered a grave misfortune in 2011 when his home in the Nashville suburb of Brentwood, Tennessee was burned to the ground.

    Rhonda Adkins is Trace’s third wife, with whom he has three young daughters. He also has two other daughters with his previous wives, Julie Curtis and Barbara Lewis. Curtis, who was his second wife shot him in the chest in 1994 during an argument over his beer drinking. Trace did not press charges against Curtis.

    Image via YouTube

  • Chief Keef: Rapper In Custody Following Shooting Incident In Northfield, Illinois

    Chief Keef surely isn’t liking where he is now. The rapper behind “I Don’t Like” is currently in the custody of the Northfield Police department in Chicago. According to reports, he was present during a shooting incident in a home located in Northfield that landed one person in the hospital on the morning of March 26.

    According to the Northfield Police department, the incident is still under investigation. The North Regional Major Crimes Task Force has been assigned to do the probing together with the Attorney’s office of the Cook County State. The police believe that the shooting is an isolated case and that “the community is safe.”

    The shooting took place in a house along Happ Road that is being rented by Chief Keef’s manager. The road has been closed off due to the ongoing investigation, and only residents are allowed to pass. According to residents, their neighborhood has been getting a lot of traffic problems and noise. Chief Keef’s neighbors said that fans of the rapper will drive by, shout the rapper’s name, and honk their horns.


    The shooting victim was taken to the NorthShore Skokie Hospital and is now recovering at the hospital’s intensive care unit.

    Chief Keef was one of the passengers in the car that dropped off the victim. The rapper was questioned about his involvement in the shooting incident at the police station on Wednesday. Keef’s lawyer Leah Starkman confirms that her client was present during the incident but was not the shooter, and was not involved at all. According to Starkman, Chief Keef did not even see what happened.

    When asked what the relationship between the rapper and the victim was, the lawyer replied that the victim was just an acquaintance.

    Viktor Mehta, the property manager of the house, said he received a call from the police informing him about the incident. According to him, the rapper’s manager has been renting the house in Northfield for almost a year, and that the manager is behind on his rent. The manager told Mehta that this was because his client was in rehab.

    Chief Keef was released from a drug rehabilitation center recently.

    Chief Keef: ‘I Don’t Like’

    Image via YouTube

  • Slippery Roads Cause 61-Vehicle Pileup At Mendota Bridge [Video]

    The icy roads caused 61 vehicles to pileup on the westbound lane of Minnesota’s Highway 55 on Monday. The accident occurred in the afternoon during icy conditions.

    According to State Patrol Lt. Eric Roeske, what ignited the incident were two vehicles that lost control and crashed due to the weather conditions. Afterwards, a semi skidded towards the first two vehicles, causing all the westbound lanes to be blocked.

    More than four dozen vehicles then added to the chain reaction as they crashed into each other, leaving the highway in a litter of vehicles.

    Roeske tallied the final count of vehicles at 61.

    Fortunately, none of the drivers and passengers involved in the pileup was majorly harmed. Only one person was brought to the hospital to be treated for minor injuries. The damages to vehicles behind the semi were also reported to be minor.

    Joe Mueller was present during the pileup and was able to capture the incident on video. He tried to help the motorists who were involved in the accident, asking them if they were okay, and helping them cross the barrier to get away from the site of the incident. The video shows the length of the highway and cars slipping and sliding, adding to the pileup.

    As a result of the crash, the Mendota Bridge had to be closed. It re-opened at 2:45 p.m., nearly two hours after the first crash.

    According to Dispatcher Don Zenanko, the area is treacherous. He also said that people need to be extra cautious and remember how to drive safely in winter. The roads were not deep in snow, but there was just enough snow to cause some areas to be slippery.

    Aside from the 61-vehicle pileup, there were also reports of four other car accidents that occurred on the same day in nearby locations.

    Image via YouTube

  • Mother Thrown In Jail For Breastfeeding While Drinking; Charges Dropped

    In November of last year, a 28-year-old mother from Toad Suck, Arkansas was arrested and charged for endangering the welfare of a minor after she decided to breastfeed her child while drinking alcohol at a restaurant.

    The stay-at-home mom, whose name is Tasha Adams, appeared in ABC’s primetime news program 20/20 in her first televised interview, in which she admitted having consumed alcohol while breastfeeding her then 6-month-old baby daughter Ana. However, she claimed that she was not aware that the act was illegal and that she “wouldn’t have done it” had she known it was against the law.

    Adams had attended a funeral with her parents and three young children and decided to have dinner at Gusano’s Pizzeria, which is located in Conway, Arkansas. The family ordered pizza with spinach dip, which Adams claimed she had with a couple of beers.

    Adams says she didn’t know drinking while breastfeeding was illegal

    However, the details of the incident were slightly different according to Gusano’s waitress Jackie Connors, who also gave an interview on 20/20. Connors, who was off-duty at the time, claimed she saw “two or three drinks” in front of Adams when she arrived at the restaurant for an after-hours staff meeting. While Adams was not in the act of drinking when Connors saw her, the waitress said that she saw the bartender fix up what “looked like Long Islands”, which were served to Adams’ table.

    Connors decided to notify the police about Adams’ actions when Gusano’s management refused to reprimand the breastfeeding mother. When the officers arrived at the restaurant, they spoke to Adams about Connors’ report after which Adams said she was not aware that drinking while breastfeeding was illegal. State law does not state anything about the supposed offense, but the police officers decided to arrest Adams for endangering the welfare of a child.

    The waitress called the police

    Conway deputy city attorney Chuck Clawson dropped the child endangerment charges against Adams last week. Clawson claimed that there wasn’t sufficient evidence to prove that she had indeed been too intoxicated to care for her child.

    Adams said on 20/20 that she hoped the police officers had made her undergo a Breathalyzer test at the restaurant before making the decision to arrest her.

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  • Northwestern University Football Players Granted Right To Form Union

    The unionization efforts of the football players of Northwestern University are starting to pay off. On Wednesday, a National Labor Relations Board official ruled that the players have the right to form a union as they are considered employees of the university. As such, they may vote in a union election and they also have the right to bargain collectively.

    The petition toward the ruling was submitted to the NLRB by the newly-formed College Athletes Players Association, headed by former UCLA football player Ramogi Huma. The petition was submitted in January, and in February a hearing for it spanned three weeks.

    Peter Ohr, the regional director of the NLRB, stated in a 24-page decision that all of the football players granted scholarships by Northwestern University are eligible to form a union. His decision was based on a number of factors, including the amount of time they spend for football-related activities, which could amount to as many as 50 hours in a week.

    In addition, the scholarships also serve as contracts for compensation, or a form of payment in exchange for the work done on the football field, which earns money for the NCAA and its member universities. For Ohr, it is clear that there is a transfer of economic value and employer-employee relationship: the university, as the employer, pays for the players’ room, board, tuition, and other necessities provided by the scholarship.

    The NCAA has been facing criticism for its profiting from basketball and football players, as they earn billions of dollars every year. In a statement, the NCAA expressed its disappointment with Ohr’s ruling. Donald Remy, their chief legal officer, stated that they disagree with the belief that student-athletes are considered employees.

    One of the base arguments was whether the scholar players were students, or employees, or if they were somehow hybrids.

    Ohr’s decision cited examples supporting his conclusion. He says that the football players were different from other students in that they were on campus basically to play. Football players are also recruited for what they can do on the field and not in the classroom. In addition, part of the team’s guidelines include drug testing, which other students are not subjected to. Other students can also refuse a friend request from a professor, but players cannot do the same when a coach adds them on Facebook.

    Ohr’s ruling applies to the football players on scholarship in private Northwestern University, but the precedent may be applied to all of the scholarship football players in Division I private institutions as well.

    Should Student Athletes Get Paid?


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  • Albuquerque Police Involved In Another Deadly Shooting

    The Albuquerque Police Department is under scrutiny once again as they are involved in another deadly shooting, the second in the last 10 days.

    The first shooting was on March 16, when officers fired stun guns, six live rounds, and beanbags, killing James Boyd, a homeless camper in the Sandia foothills.

    According to reports, the second incident found officers shooting and killing a man outside a public housing complex on Tuesday night, who was later identified as Alfred Redwine.

    Police say that Redwine opened fire after officers responded to a 911 call a woman made, saying he pointed a gun at two girls.

    Redwine had a history of assault with a deadly weapon and domestic abuse.

    Redwine’s family insisted he was not armed and was only carrying a cellphone. However, a video released by Police Chief Gordon Eden revealed that shots had been fired before the police fired back.

    In the video, officers were heard shouting “Put the gun down, Alfred!”, and a police officer was seen ducking after a series of loud pops. The video was taken from an officer’s lapel camera.

    Video of Alfred Redwine being shot by Albuquerque police 

    Eden also released photos of Redwine’s gun, along with three spent casings. However, Eden concedes that it’s too early to know “if the shooting was justified.”

    Coincidentally, the Redwine shooting occurred merely hours after hundreds of people protested the shooting of Boyd.

    Police claimed that Boyd threatened to kill police officers with knives, but a helmet-camera soon revealed that Boyd turned away after gathering his belongings. Boyd’s shooting is the 36th police shooting since 2010.

    Gary King, New Mexico Attorney General, said that his office is investigating both shootings to give an objective external assessment to the cases. This comes after the U.S. Department of Justice’s year-long investigation of the police department.

    A group claiming to be the global cyber-activist hacker group Anonymous threatened to cyber attack the city, calling the police department “militarized thugs.” Critics have said that the department maintained a culture of force and abuse.

    Eden promised to inspect the department “from top to bottom.”

    Disturbing video of Albuquerque police killing homeless man James Boyd

    Shooting sparks protest

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  • Mary Virginia Jones Released After 32 Years In Prison For Murder Charge

    Mary Virginia Jones, a 74-year-old woman, was released from prison on Tuesday after spending 32 years in jail. She went to jail on the account of a murder that her ex-boyfriend committed back in 1981.

    The release from Lynwood County Jail for Women in California was granted a bit after midnight, and Jones was greeted by a few of her family members. When asked about here newly found freedom, Jones answered, “I feel great, I’m just hungry.”

    Jones was convicted of robbery, kidnapping, and first-degree murder. She was freed from jail due to the USC Post-Conviction Justice Project, wherein her conviction was challenged since she was a battered girlfriend. Students from the project also said that Jones wouldn’t have been convicted if the jury only heard expert statements on the results of partner battering.

    Mose Willis, Jones’ then boyfriend, forced her to drive a car that carried two drug dealers that he had kidnapped. He asked Jones to drive into the alley where he shot them. After the shooting, Jones ran away from the scene, as she was expecting Willis to kill her as well.

    Just a week before the shooting, Willis threatened Jones and shot at Denitra, her daughter. He threatened to kill them if they attempt to contact the police.

    Willis was convicted of shooting two of the drug dealers and killing one of them, and was sentenced to death. However, he died while on death row.

    Jones was in court on Monday and pleaded the judge to exchange her murder charge with no possibility of parole to voluntary manslaughter with time-served sentence.

    Voluntary manslaughter has a maximum sentence of 11 years, and Jones has already served a total of 11,875 days.

    Her request was granted, but it took a couple of hours before she was released due to incomplete paperwork.

    After her release, Jones said that what happened to her was a miracle and she thanked God. “God does everything in His time. Not when I want Him to, but in His time.”

    USC Post-Conviction Justice Project

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  • Leland Yee, California State Senator, Arrested For Bribery And Arms Dealing

    Senator Leland Yee, 65, candidate for California Secretary of State and author of gun control legislation, was apprehended Wednesday during an FBI sweep in the Sacramento and San FranciscoBay area. He was accused of wire fraud and conspiracy to illegally transport firearms, among other crimes.

    The senator represents California’s 8th District, which encompasses San Francisco and a sizeable portion of San Mateo County. He is known for his advocacies of strengthening government transparency and whistleblower protection. Certain bills he previously filed sought a ban on fast reloading of military-style assault weapons and the state study of safe firearm storage.

    Yee was implicated with 25 other individuals including gang leader Raymond “Shrimp Boy” Chow and Yee’s campaign aide Keith Jackson. The senator is alleged to have abused his office by performing official acts for donations to clear his failed mayoral campaign debt amounting to $70,000. He is also alleged to have accepted campaign contributions in exchange for getting introductions, facilitating contracts, and influencing legislation. His alleged wrongdoing was brought to light by undercover FBI agents.

    The FBI affidavit stated that Yee offered an undercover FBI agent access to weapons worth up to two and a half million, even walking him through the acquisition process from a Muslim separatist group in the Philippines where the senator intended to hide out in November. The undercover agent represented himself as part of Ghee Kung Tong, an association in San Francisco’s Chinese community.

    Yee was released on bail amounting to half a million dollars and is expected to be back in court next week to negotiate the terms of his release. He is the third senator from the Democratic Party to face charges in 2014.  He has been serving in the California Senate since 2006. He was also a member of the California Assembly, and was the first Chinese American to be elected to the California State Senate.

    Yee out on half million dollar bail

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