After decades of allegations, R. Kelly faces sexual abuse charges
For decades, it was one of the music industry’s most disturbing open secrets: R&B singer R. Kelly was hounded by sexual misconduct allegations, often involving minors, but continued to enjoy the spoils of stardom. Illinois prosecutors outlined charges that Kelly abused four victims, three of whom were between 13 and 16, for a total of 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse from 1998 through 2010. Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx announced the charges at a Friday afternoon news conference and Kelly turned himself in later that evening. Renewed interest in his behavior peaked with a ratings-grabbing docuseries, “Surviving R. Kelly,” which aired on Lifetime last month. She is glad Kelly is facing charges but says she’s concerned about the young women in their early 20s who remain with him.
Source:Washington Post
February 23, 2019 01:09 UTC
Dozens die from tainted liquor in India’s northeast
GAUHATI, India — At least 84 people have died and another 200 have been hospitalized after drinking tainted liquor in two separate incidents in India’s remote northeast, authorities said on Saturday. The workers consumed the tainted liquor laced with methyl alcohol, a chemical that attacks the central nervous system, on Thursday and started falling unconscious. Himanta Biswa Sharma, Assam’s health minister, said around 200 people who fell sick after drinking the toxic liquor are in hospitals, some in critical condition. “We shall not spare anyone involved in manufacture and distribution of the tainted liquor,” Sharma, the health minister, said. In India’s Uttar Pradesh state earlier this month, about 80 people died from tainted bootleg liquor.
Source:Washington Post
February 23, 2019 01:09 UTC
Florida firefighters buy microwave for member of ‘the greatest generation,’ department says
A Florida fire department took to Facebook on Thursday to highlight an act of kindness carried out by some of their firefighters for a “member of ‘The Greatest Generation.’”High Springs firefighters arrived to a residence around 5:40 p.m. after a Life Alert alarm was triggered, the department posted. There wound up being no emergency, as the alarm was set off inadvertently, officials said. FLORIDA COPS SURPRISE MAN WITH NEW BIKE AFTER HIS ‘OWN MODE OF TRANSPORTATION’ WAS STOLENBut firefighters noticed something that they apparently took issue with. “You see, this member of ‘The Greatest Generation’ lives alone and receives meals from the Meals on Wheels program, many of them frozen. Not only did they pick up a new appliance for her, but they also “installed it, and cooked her dinner.”“In Small Town USA, neighbors help neighbors,” the fire department wrote.
Source:Fox News
February 23, 2019 01:07 UTC
Unapologetic Alabama Editor Who Urged KKK To 'Ride Again' Finally Resigns
He told the Auburn Plainsman on Friday: “I can drink beer and chase women now. They can’t run too fast, or I can’t catch them.”A news release from the Democrat-Reporter announced that local woman Elecia Dexter became publisher and editor on Thursday. Dexter told The Associated Press that, although she will run the 3,000-circulation newspaper, Sutton will continue to own it. The university released a statement earlier this week condemning Sutton and announcing his removal from the hall of fame. Here’s the Democrat-Reporter’s full statement on Sutton stepping down:
Source:Huffington Post
February 23, 2019 01:07 UTC
Trump nominates his Canadian ambassador to be United Nations ambassador
Craft, who helped lead the U.S. team through contentious negotiations with Canada for a new trade agreement, appeared to be a consensus choice within the administration. She had backing from top officials including Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo, who met with Craft and the president Friday before Trump tweeted the news.
Source:Los Angeles Times
February 23, 2019 01:07 UTC
SoCal dance listings, Feb. 24-March 3: Ailey II at Pepperdine and more
Martha Graham Dance Company The company joins forces with L.A.-based modern music collective wildUp for the world premiere of Pam Tanowitz’s “Untitled (Souvenir)” set to music by Pulitzer Prize-winner Caroline Shaw; program also includes Pontus Lidberg’s “Woodland” and the Graham classics “Secular Games” and “Chronicle.” Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge. Sat., 8 p.m. $39 and up. (818) 677-3000.
Source:Los Angeles Times
February 23, 2019 00:56 UTC
SoCal classical music listings, Feb. 24-March 3: Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra with Matthias Pintscher and more
Susan Graham The mezzo-soprano, accompanied by pianist Jeremy Frank, performs Schumann’s eight-part song cycle “Frauenliebe und leben (A Woman’s Love and Life)” plus related songs by Grieg, Strauss, Faureì, Mahler, Ravel, Debussy, Tchaikovsky, Poulenc, and others in this Philharmonic Society of Orange County presentation. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Wed., 8 p.m. $28 and up. (949) 553-2422.
Source:Los Angeles Times
February 23, 2019 00:56 UTC
Japan’s crown prince hopes to continue father’s legacy
In this Feb. 17, 2019 photo provided by the Imperial Household Agency of Japan, Japan’s Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako speak at their residence Togu Palace in Tokyo. (Imperial Household Agency of Japan via AP) (Associated Press)TOKYO — Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito says he hopes to continue the close relationship his father built with the people when he succeeds him as emperor later this year. I would like Masako to continue to slowly widen her contribution in her role,” Naruhito said, adding he hopes to support his wife just as she has supported him. The Japanese throne is only inherited by male heirs, and Naruhito’s only child is a daughter. I would like to refrain from giving any opinions on the system,” the crown prince said.
Source:Washington Post
February 23, 2019 00:50 UTC
What Will the N.F.L. Do About Robert Kraft This Time?
Roger Goodell began his tenure as commissioner of the N.F.L. True to his word, the number of suspensions and fines rose, and it remains high relative to what it was. As with players, the N.F.L. Kraft, 77, was charged on Friday with two counts of soliciting sex as part of a wide-ranging investigation into prostitution and human trafficking in Florida. The police in Jupiter, Fla., used video surveillance that showed Kraft inside a massage parlor that, the police said, was used for selling sex.
Source:New York Times
February 23, 2019 00:38 UTC
Comedian Brody Stevens, 48, dead of apparent suicide by hanging
Comedian Brody Stevens has died in what appears to have been a suicide, Fox News has learned. Stevens was a regular around the local comedy scene in Los Angeles as well as Montreal and Vancouver Comedy Festivals. He also earned acting credits in “The Hangover,” “Due Date” and “The Hangover Part II.” Stevens also co-created the Comedy Central series “Brody Stevens: Enjoy It!” with fellow comedian and close pal Zach Galifianakis. “Nobody made me laugh harder than Brody Stevens and turns out nobody can make me cry harder either. Comedian and actor Bob Saget echoed Cummings’ sentiments tweeting, “Brody Stevens ~ Such a funny man.
Source:Fox News
February 23, 2019 00:35 UTC
Opinion | An Emergency for the G.O.P.
Once again, congressional Republicans are facing a gut-check moment, forced to choose between supporting and defending the Constitution or Donald J. Trump. House Democrats introduced a joint resolution of disapproval on Friday aimed at canceling President Trump’s bogus national emergency at the southern border. It is widely expected to pass the chamber, where Democrats have the majority. Even so, with Republicans in control there, and loath to irk the president, the resolution is widely expected to die. Critical principles are at stake — Congress’s power of the purse, the separation of powers — that transcend any one declaration or leader.
Source:New York Times
February 23, 2019 00:33 UTC
Aid showdown: Venezuela opposition prepares to deliver goods
“We think it’s going to enter,” opposition leader David Smolansky said in the lead up to the push. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said the military would “never have orders to fire on the civilian population” and likened the aid push to a media spectacle. The aid push comes on the heels of a giant concert organized by British billionaire Richard Branson aimed at pressuring Maduro to accept the aid. Opposition leaders are pushing forward in belief that whether Maduro lets the aid in or not, he will come out weakened. Analysts warn that there may be no clear victor and humanitarian groups have criticized the opposition as using the aid as a political weapon.
Source:Washington Post
February 23, 2019 00:33 UTC
Washington on high alert for Mueller report but uncertainty surrounds what happens next
“No one really knows or can predict with any uncertainty how this is going to play out,” said Andrew Coan, a University of Arizona law professor who has written a book about presidential investigations. “Not only do we not know what the attorney general is going to do with Robert Mueller's report, we don't know what Robert Mueller's report is going to look like."
Source:Los Angeles Times
February 23, 2019 00:33 UTC
Son arrested in developer's mysterious dog leash death
The mysterious death of a real estate developer found strangled with a dog leash nearby took an unusual turn Friday when his teenage son was charged with killing him. Durham Police said in a news release that Alexander Bishop, 16, was arrested Friday and charged with murder in the death of 60-year-old William Bishop. Authorities say the son told them he and the father had been alone in the house at the time. An autopsy later determined that William Bishop had died from homicide by strangulation, with ligature marks around his neck. The warrant, signed by Detective T. Huelsman stated: "These searches and websites explain a possible motive for Alexander Bishop to kill his dad."
Source:Fox News
February 23, 2019 00:33 UTC
Facebook Is Collecting App Users' Data Without Consent, Wall Street Journal Finds
An investigation by The Wall Street Journal on Friday found that Facebook is collecting data from smartphone users’ other apps without their consent, adding yet another layer to intensifying concerns about the company’s privacy violations. The apps may do this whether an individual uses a Facebook account to log into the app or not. They may even send Facebook information about an app user who isn’t a member of the social media network, the investigation found. Using software that monitors internet communications, the Journal found that out of 70 popular apps that handle sensitive information and are available in Apple’s app store, 11 sent Facebook information about their users, such as information users entered or data the app collected about the users’ behavior. You can read more about which apps are sharing information with Facebook in the full Journal story.
Source:Huffington Post
February 23, 2019 00:33 UTC