Category: U.S.

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Economic U.S.

Grand Blanc, Michigan Walmart Forced Eviction of Woman Living in the Store

Walmart, eviction, Grand Blanc, Michigan
Walmart, eviction, Grand Blanc, Michigan

A Walmart in Grand Blanc, Michigan had to engage in an eviction when a woman who had been staying in the store around the clock for days refused to leave. I know times may be tight for many people but is Walmart really the place you want to live? For some who spend a lot of time in the store this may seem like a dream, but be warned that it is illegal. The 45 year old female who has not been named apparently moved into the Walmart in Grand Blanc, Michigan on January 6, 2015, and she did not plan on leaving. Prior to her arrival in the store the woman had been staying with her son, but he lost his place because he had a problem with alcohol abuse.

The woman managed to blend in during the days she spent at the Grand Blanc, Michigan Walmart, and it was not until a manager reviewed the surveillance video for the store that eviction was even discussed. According to Grand Blanc Township Police Department Detective Matt Harburn “During the day, she’d just walk around and meander near the store. At night, apparently she’d go into the bathroom and sleep.” When store managers were going through video footage they realized that the female had been in the store for more than 48 hours, so they tried to get her to leave. When the woman refused several requests to leave the store police weer called in. Detective Hartburn told the media “When I first made contact with her she was sitting in a chair, she had her laptop in her lap with headphones in.”

 

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U.S.

Idaho Prosecutor Who Issued an Arrest Warrant for a 9 Year Old Cites Mistake

arrest warrant for a 9 year old, Idaho prosecutor
arrest warrant for a 9 year old, Idaho prosecutor

An Idaho prosecutor who actually issued an arrest warrant for a 9 year old accused of stealing a pack of gum, yes you read that right and should be outraged, has spoken out and said that it was a mistake. The boy was held in juvenile detention for 3 days as a result of the actions by Kootenai County Prosecutor Barry McHugh, and when the outrage started building he has admitted that issuing the arrest warrant for a 9 year old was a big mistake. McHugh told reporters that a child protection investigation should have been requested rather than issuing an arrest warrant for a child so young, but the damage has been done and the child was held in custody for three days.

An apology was issued by the Idaho prosecutor who issued the arrest warrant for a 9 year old. Barry McHugh issued a statement that read “I have concluded that my office’s request to have an arrest warrant issued was a mistake under the circumstances,” McHugh said in a statement filed after a weekend in which the boy’s arrest gained widespread attention. “I regret this having taken place and will do everything in my power to avoid this type of mistake in the future.” After the warrant was requested because the boy failed to appear in court after stealing the gum the warrant was authorized by

First District Court Judge Lansing Haynes. Post Falls Police Chief Scott Haug told the media that the 9 year old was taken into police custody on January 6, stating “He was not treated like an adult, and simply given a ride to the Juvenile Detention Center. No officer wants to do this. It’s unfortunate that it got to this point. Had we known (the missing court dates) was a transportation issue, we could have gotten the child a ride to court.”

 

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Health U.S.

Cell Phone Video Showing Gun In Toddler’s Mouth Leads to Arrest of Indiana Couple

cell phone video, gun in toddler's mouth, Indiana couple
cell phone video, gun in toddler’s mouth, Indiana couple

An Indiana couple has been placed under arrest after a cell phone video has surfaced which shows a gun in a toddler’s mouth. According to law enforcement the video shows the couple encouraging the toddler to place the weapon in her mouth, and to then make sounds like the gun was being discharged. 19 year old Michael Barnes is obviously not the brightest parent, and neither is the little girl’s mom who told police that it was only a pellet gun. Barnes was initially arrested because he arranged to sell a gun to an undercover officer, using social media in order to facilitate the transaction. After Michael was arrested the police found the cell phone video on his phone, and this led to further questioning.

When police were following up on the initial investigation on the attempted sale of a weapon they went through the cell phone of Michael Barnes, and this was when the cell phone video showing the gun in the toddler’s mouth was discovered and the Indiana couple was in deeper trouble. Both parents, Michael Barnes and 22 year old Toni Wilson, can be heard in the video background, and they are voicing encouragement for the little girl to play with the gun. According to the police “Barnes can be heard telling the child to say “pow” on multiple occasions while the child plays with the gun. The video also shows the child placing the muzzle of the gun in her mouth. At no point does Barnes try to stop the child from playing with the gun.”

 

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Politics U.S.

President Obama Announces Cybersecurity Plan, Many Say It Is Simply Past Proposals Revamped

cybersecurity, President Obama, past proposals
cybersecurity, President Obama, past proposals

The latest cybersecurity plan was recently announced by President Obama, but critics say that the leader of the USA is simply revamping past proposals which have failed or been highly controversial. The two biggest components so far seem to be information sharing and notification when breaches occur. Both of these proposed solutions have come up in the past and been dismissed for a number of reasons. Right now there is no national data breach notification law, and each state has their own laws on the books. This has led to a patchwork and companies may become confused about what laws apply to them, especially if a company operates in more than one state. The second controversial plan by President Obama would resurrect a cybersecurity bill from 2011 that was very controversial from the state.

The 2011 cybersecurity bill which is one of the past proposals that President Obama wants to revive has been dismissed by critics because it poses a serious threat to the privacy of Americans. Neither of the past proposals ever made it through Congress, and it is highly doubtful that either plan will make it through this time around either. The ideals and philosophies behind both of the plans are good, but few trust the US government when it comes to collecting or storing information after all of the spying on US citizens that has happened by government agencies in recent years. Since Edward Snowden revealed a number of secret programs and helped the public realize just how much information the government already collects even lawmakers have been wary.

 

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Entertainment TV & Movies U.S. World

Obama Administration Paris Absence Slammed by Jon Stewart

Jon Stewart, Paris Absence, Obama Administration
Jon Stewart, Paris Absence, Obama Administration

The Paris absence of anyone from the Obama administration has been criticized repeatedly, and Jon Stewart has joined the long line of critics on this topic. The comedian actually made the comment “Je suis to be kidding me”. Stewart believed that the Obama administration should have had a much larger presence during the Paris rally on Sunday for the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack, and many leaders from around the world attended but the only official from the USA was the United States Ambassador to France. This oversight has already cost the administration significantly in the last two days. Stewart came out swinging by saying “How could the U.S. not be there when representatives of such beacons of freedom and lack of censorship as journalist-punishing Russia was there? Journalist-jailing Turkey was there. Egypt… ’nuff said. Palestinian cartoonist-jailing Israel was there. And of course, our greatest ally, Saudi Arabia, was there— although a little out of breath having just days ago flogged a blogger.”

Jon Stewart is not the only one to be critical of the Obama administration Paris absence either. After it was disclosed the Attorney General Eric Holder was already in Paris for security meetings but did not attend the Paris rally Stewart quipped “[Holder was] probably taking advantage of the shortest tourist lines in French history. While the march is going on you’re just kicking back snapping selfies with the Mona Lisa.” Josh Earnest, the spokesperson for the White House, told the media “I think it’s fair to say that we should have sent someone with a higher profile. That said, there is no doubt that the American people and this administration stand foursquare behind our allies in France as they face down this threat.”

 

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Entertainment U.S.

MacDonald’s Commercial Referencing National Tragedies Offensive to Some

MacDonald's, commercial, national tragedies
MacDonald’s, commercial, national tragedies

A new MacDonald’s commercial that references national tragedies is being called offensive by some viewers, while the restaurant chain supposedly meant to honor the victims of these tragedies. There is a fine line that businesses must navigate when any tragic incident is referenced in an ad, so that viewers are not offended and turn against the business in question. The new commercial for MacDonald’s was aired during both the Golden Globe awards and the NFL Playoffs, and some are crying foul. The ad is called Signs, and it shows a montage of various signs outside of different MacDonald’s restaurants around the country. Some of the signs featured refer to the Boston Marathon bombing and and the 9/11 terror attacks, and the music played is a choir of children who are singing the Fun hit Carry On.

Many of the signs on the new MacDonald’s commercial had nothing to do with national tragedies, they were more personal. Some thanked US veterans, others wished a happy birthday, and there were messages of goodwill. Some of the viewers said that the ad moved them but others slammed it as tacky or in poor taste because of the attempt of the company to profit off of national tragedies. According to MacDonald’s chief marketing officer Deborah Wahl he intention was for the ad to show that the restaurant has always been there for Americans, through the tough times as well as the good ones. Wahl defended the decision by stating that leaving out the worst parts would have been dishonest or deceptive.