Category: U.S.

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Breaking News U.S. World

US Military Experiences Twitter Hack, IS Sympathizers Suspected

US military, Twitter hack, IS sympathizers
US military, Twitter hack, IS sympathizers

IS sympathizers are suspected by the government after a Twitter hack was performed on the US military Twitter account, although so far no one has claimed responsibility. After the hack the US went into overdrive to ensure that the security of the military and the country were not compromised, and there have been reassurances that the matter has been taken care of and that the accounts in question have been suspended. It is suspected that the hack is retaliation by IS sympathizers for the American bombing campaign against ISIS. Two anonymous sources from the defense department told reporters that the incident was embarrassing for the United States government but that it was not a serious security threat. Many have voiced concern that if the Central Command is not secure then no other accounts or online method are secure either.

The US military responded quickly to the Twitter Hack by suspending both Twitter and YouTube accounts, and it is doubtful that the IS sympathizers suspected of being behind the hacking gained any useful information from their illegal activities. There is growing concern about lone wolf terrorists, both in the USA and in many other countries around the world, and part of the hack involved a posting of the top generals in the military along with the addresses which are associated with these commanders in the system. A message posted by the hackers told Americans to “Watch Your Back.” After the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris many believe it is just a matter of time before extremists make an attempt on American soil again.

 

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Breaking News U.S.

Two Albuquerque Police Officers Face Murder Charges in Shooting

murder charges, Albuquerque police officers
murder charges, Albuquerque police officers

Two Albuquerque police officers are now facing murder charges as a result of an on duty shooting which killed a homeless camper and that ignited protests which have turned violent at times. The shooting has also started a federal investigation because of excessive force complaints against the Albuquerque police department. The incident which led up to the shooting is not in dispute, 38 year old James Boyd was holding two knives and caused a standoff with police that lasted hours. A helmet camera worn by an officer captured the shooting on tape, and the video seems to show Boyd surrendering when he was shot. Second District Attorney Kari Brandenburg has charged Keith Sandy, a former detective, and Dominique Perez, a SWAT team member, with one count of open murder each.

The open murder charges against the two Albuquerque police officers will allow the prosecutor to seek either first or second degree murder convictions against each of the officers involved. James Boyd had struggled with mental illness in the past. The results in this case are far different from recent police related deaths in Ferguson, Missouri and New York City, New York. In the previous cases the officers involved were not charged at all, causing protests around the country. Defense attorney Sam Bergman who is representing Sandy in this case told the media that “Keith, as a police officer, had not only the right, but the duty to defend a fellow officer from a mentally unstable, violent man wielding two knives.”

 

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Politics U.S.

White House Admits Error in Paris March After Charlie Hebdo Attack

White House, Paris march, Charlie Hebdo attack
White House, Paris march, Charlie Hebdo attack

In a rare error admission the White House has admitted that a high ranking official should have been sent to the Paris march after the Charlie Hebdo attack, and the omission was glaring because more than 40 countries around the globe sent their leaders to event. The United States was represented by the US Ambassador to France, and Attorney General Eric Holder was in the city of Paris France while the event was going on although he did not attend. Holder was attending security meetings at the time. Josh Earnest, the spokesman for the White House, admitted to the media that “It’s fair to say we should have sent someone with a higher profile.” It looks like the White House was caught unaware, and did not expect the display of international unity that occurred for the Paris March.

There has been a lot of criticism of the White House because the only official to attend the Paris march honoring the victims of the Charlie Hebdo attack was Ambassador Jane Hartley. Many suspect that the error admission by the US government was intended to blunt the criticism that has been leveled. Josh Earnest suggested to reporters that the security procedures and protocols regarding the president and vice president was not capable of being put in place in time for Obama or Vice President Biden to travel to France for the Paris March. Earnest stated “There’s no doubt that had the president or vice president, on this very short time frame, gone to participate in this event that took place outdoors with more than a million people in attendance, that it would have significantly impacted the ability of those who attended the march to participate in the way they did yesterday.” 40 world leaders managed to attend but the leaders of the USA could not make it happen.

 

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U.S.

Fatal Accident Leads to Hit and Run Charges Against Maryland Episcopal Bishop

hit and run, Maryland Episcopal bishop, fatal accident
hit and run, Maryland Episcopal bishop, fatal accident

A fatal accident has led to hit and run charges against Maryland Episcopal bishop Heather Cook, the first woman to be ordained as a bishop in the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland. Cook is being accused of texting while driving and drunk driving and she is being charged with vehicular manslaughter. Investigators determined that Cook veered into a bike lane while she was driving through a suburb of Baltimore, Maryland, and she hit 41 year old cyclist Tom Palermo. According to Marilyn Mosby, the Baltimore City State’s Attorney “The State’s Attorney’s Office is committed to applying justice fairly and equally – no one is above the law.” Bishop Heather Cook faces charges of negligent manslaughter by vehicle, failing to remain at the scene of an accident resulting in death, and negligently driving under the influence of alcohol resulting in a homicide.

The fatal accident resulting from the hit and run involving the first female Maryland Episcopal bishop is still under investigation. Law enforcement believe that Cook struck Palermo, putting him through the windhield of her SUV, and then Cook left the scene of the accident. After Heather went home to her apartment she did return to the scene of the accident, and that was when police officers administered a breathalyzer. The breathalyzer test showed that Cook’s blood alcohol level was .22%, almost three times the legal limit of .08%. Bishop Eugene Sutton, the head bishop for the Diocese, responded with the statement “On behalf of everyone in the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland, please know that we are deeply heartbroken over this, and we cry for the Palermo family, our sister Heather and all in the community who are hurting.”

 

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Entertainment U.S.

Was Airbrushing Used With Justin Bieber’s Calvin Klein Ad?

Justin Bieber, Calvin Klein, airbrushing
Justin Bieber, Calvin Klein, airbrushing

Justin Bieber, the latest celebrity to appear in a Calvin Klein ad, has been accused of allow severe airbrushing before the ad photos were integrated into the campaign. Some online pictures have come out which appear to show the Biebs in his underwear posing for the camera, and the differences between these photos and the final ad pictures are very noticeable. Teh Calvin Klein ad shows a Justin whose muscles are suspiciously bulkier, and this has led to criticism that the photos were heavily edited before they were used. No one wants to be seen looking their worst, but the extensive airbrushing has seemed to be out of hand anymore. Many are accusing the designer and Bieber of being fake. The online photos show a much smaller bulge in the underwear, and far fewer muscles and bulges before the editing was done.

The airbrushing controversy over the Justin Bieber Calvin Klein underwear ad is just the latest tizzy over airbrushing. Many men and women have problems with body image, and critics claim that this trend gives unrealistic expectations of normal people by making celebrities and stars look perfect in every way. There is no way that the average Jane or John Doe can compete, and Justin Bieber is just the latest celebrity caught up in the controversy. Both Kim Kardashian and Lady Gaga were also recently accused of airbrushing and heavy editing after before and after photos appeared online. In an effort to push back some celebrities have insisted on using natural photos which have not been airbrushed at all.

 

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Breaking News U.S.

Kansas Gun Store Robbery Attempt Ends With Store Owner Dead, Robbers Wounded

gun store robbery attempt, Kansas
gun store robbery attempt, Kansas

A Kansas gun store robbery attempt ended with the owner of the store dead, his wife injured, and three of the four would be robbers suffering from wounds as well. When four men attempted to rob the She’s A Pistol LLC gun store located in Shawnee, Kansas, they got more than they bargained for because the owners, a husband and wife, fought back and did some shooting of their own. 44 year old John Baker, the husband who owned the store, was injured and taken to a nearby hospital where he died. The couple open fired when the men showed their intent to rob the store, and the wife was punched and injured in the shootout as well. According to Shawnee Police Department Major Dan Tennis “There was a big gun battle, lots of shots fired.”

After the Kansas gun store robbery attempt two of the four robbers were apprehended at the scene, and the other two robbers turned themselves into law enforcement later on. Unfortunately the store owner was killed, but the couple kept the robbers from taking off with a large amount of weapons and other items. The wife’s injuries were not life threatening but she has to face the fact that her husband is dead. It is unclear why the foursome targeted the gun store or what they were after at this time, but it is clear that their idea was not a very bright one. Everybody knows that owners of gun stores have weapons and are probably not afraid to use them.