Posts Categorized: news

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Michael Jordan Tears Up At Opening of His Clinic in Charlotte, NC

Elsa/Getty Images

NBA legend Michael Jordan opened a medical clinic to serve the disadvantaged in his native North Carolina.

According to the Charlotte Observer, the 6-time NBA champion teared up on Thursday as he unveiled the Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinic which has already treated 300 patients.

During his speech the Charlotte Hornets owner fought back tears as he dedicated the clinic to the community that supported him.

"I've gone off and made my life in Illinois and other places, but I know where it all begins. And I don't need my mother to constantly remind me about that," Jordan said as the crowd laughed.

John Harrelson/Getty Images

"I can only give in gratitude for what I can never repay. I stand here before you as a proud parent, son, obviously a member of this community. My mother, my brothers, my daughter, my grandson, we all represent the name 'Michael Jordan,'" the NBA Hall-of-Famer said. "As you can see, it's a very emotional thing for me. To be able to give back to a community that's supported me over the years."

The clinic was funded by a $7 million philanthropic donation from Jordan.

Jordan's goal is to bring more medical clinics to disadvantaged neighborhoods in North Carolina.

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Jordan, 56, and his second wife, Yvette Prieto share twin daughters, Victoria and Ysabel.

He also has three grown children, sons Jeffrey and Marcus, and a daughter, Jasmine, by his first wife, Juanita Vanoy.

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Rep. Elijah Cummings Dead at 68

Cheriss May/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Rep. Elijah Cummings, who was a frequent target of President Trump, has died at age 68. The Democratic leader died early Thursday at a hospice facility in his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland.

Cummings' staff said he battled "longstanding health issues" and he was taken to a hospice facility for "treatment". Hospice is for terminally ill patients who are nearing the end of life.

Cummings' health problems were not disclosed, but he was recently seen in a wheelchair in the halls of Congress.

Colleagues paid tribute to their fallen leader on Thursday.

"The news that our friend and colleague Elijah Cummings has passed away marks a sad day for the members of the United States Congress, the people of Baltimore, and the entire nation," said Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY).

"His loss will be felt across our country," said Rep. Chrissy Houlihan (D-PA).

Cummings was first elected to Congress in 1996. He rose to become the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee. He made headlines earlier this year when he objected to Trump referring to Baltimore as "rat- and rodent-infested.

Cummings, who represented Baltimore's majority-Black 7th Congressional District, attacked Trump for his administration's treatment of illegal immigrants arriving at the border.

Cummings was part of the House Democrats push to impeach Trump.

"We are going to uphold the rule of law," Cummings said in May after the White House attempted to stonewall the Mueller Russian collusion investigation.

"I'm begging the American people to pay attention to what is going on," Cummings said in a statement earlier this year. "Because if you want to have a democracy intact for your children, and your children's children, and generations yet unborn we've got to guard this moment. This is our watch."

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Kim Zolciak’s Neighbor Arrested After SWAT Standoff

RWong/WENN.com

A neighbor of a Real Housewives of Atlanta star was arrested after a SWAT standoff that lasted for several hours on Wednesday.

George R. Moore was arrested after firing a gunshot inside his mansion in the affluent Manor Golf and County Club in Milton, GA.

Channel 2's Mike Petchenik, was at the scene when police and SWAT officers set up a perimeter around the house in the gated subdivision of million dollar homes near Hopewell and Hamby roads.

Petchenik learned that Moore is the next-door neighbor of Kim Zolciak and her husband, ex-NFL player Kroy Biermann.

Footage shot by NewsChopper 2 shows a man come outside and surrender to police, who handcuffed him and led him to a police cruiser.

The drama unfolded on Wednesday afternoon after family members called police to report that someone at the home was in distress and asked for a welfare check.

When officers arrived at the home, Moore refused to open the door and hung up on them when they called his phone.

Police later determined Moore had fired a handgun inside the home. No one else was in the home at the time.

Moore was charged with reckless conduct and booked into the Fulton County jail.

"This is the kind of resolution that we hope for when we get into these situations," Captain Charles Barstow told Petchenik.

RWong/WENN.com

Zolciak's chef, Tracey Bloom, was cooking dinner at the time of the incident.

"When I was in the house, everyone was running around," Bloom told Petchenik. "I was just cooking and I was like, 'What's going on?' My boss, Kim, was like, 'Get all the wine and bring it down to the safe room.'"

Bloom said she's seen the man before in the neighborhood.

"From what I hear, he was cool, but then if you got on his bad side, he'd go crazy and get weird and stuff like that," Bloom said. "I hope this guy gets the help he needs."

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Kamille ‘Cupcake’ McKinney, 3, Still Missing, Police Confirm

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Facebook.com

A 3-year-old girl who was kidnapped by 2 suspects in Alabama is still missing after false reports that she was found safe on Wednesday.

Kamille McKinney, nickname "Cupcake", was abducted by 2 people from a child's birthday party on Saturday, Oct. 12. Witnesses say Kamille was pulled into a dark SUV parked outside a public housing project in Birmingham around 8:30 p.m.

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Facebook.com

A statewide Amber Alert was issued and two suspects were taken into custody. But Police Chief Patrick Smith said precious time was lost because the family delayed reporting her missing for several hours.

Hopes were high on Wednesday when the Jefferson County Sherif's Office reported Kamille was found safe around noon.

Jefferson County Sheriff Mark Pettway said Kamille had been found alive and was being checked by medical personnel, according to WRBI.

But an hour later, Birmingham Police confirmed Kamille was still missing and had not been found, despite the Jefferson Co. Sheriff's confirmation of her location.

Sheriff Mark Pettway told CBS 42's Art Franklin in a phone call that he had received misinformation from one of his deputies in the field.

Two persons of interest are in custody and police located the Toyota Sequoia SUV Kamille was last seen in.

No photo

Birmingham PD

Patrick Devone Stallworth, 39, of Birmingham (pictured left) was charged with multiple counts of child pornography with intent to distribute. He is being held on $500,000 bond. And Derrick Irisha Brown, 29, (pictured right) also of Birmingham, is being held with no bond for an unrelated kidnapping.

Both suspects denied abducting Kamille.

Chief Smith said it is possible Kamille is being moved around to different locations. He addressed the kidnapper directly during a press conference.

"I wanted to reach out to just one individual. If you know where Kamille is... if you have her and you're not sure what to do... I want to give you safe passage," Smith said.

Crime Stoppers is offering a $20,000 reward in addition to the governor's $5,000 reward.

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Supreme Court to Consider Reducing DC Sniper’s Life Sentence Due to Young Age At Time of Sentencing

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Virginia Dept. of Corrections

Many believe D.C. sniper Lee Boyd Malvo is a psychopath who deserves to spend the rest of his life in prison. But the Supreme Court may consider reducing his sentence or releasing him.

DAVIS TURNER/AFP via Getty Images

Malvo and his mentor John Allen Muhammad terrorized Washington, D.C. during the so-called "D.C. Sniper" shooting spree in 2002. 10 people were killed and three others injured during the sniper attacks.

The two men were arrested while they slept in a car at a highway rest stop in Maryland. Muhammad (pictured below) was executed on death row, per his request.

DAVIS TURNER/AFP Pool via Getty Images

Malvo, who was 17 at the time of the shootings, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Supporters say Malvo was an immature boy who was easily manipulated by the older man. Now 34, Malvo is a model inmate at a maximum security prison in Virginia.

SHAWN THEW/AFP via Getty Images

A talented artist, Malvo spends his days reading the Quran and drawing in his prison cell. The doodle below was entered into evidence December 3, 2003 during his trial at the Chesapeake Circuit Court in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Fairfax Circuit Court via Getty Images

The United States Supreme Court will consider Malvo's request to re-sentence or release him in the aftermath of a 2012 court decision that prohibits mandatory life sentences for juveniles, ABC News reported.

Malvo's attorney's wrote in court documents:

"Invalidation of 'mandatory' life without-parole sentences is premised on the court's recognition that the qualities of youth - immaturity, vulnerability and changeability - must be taken into account when sentencing a juvenile offender because those qualities will typically make life without parole an excessive punishment for a juvenile."

Malvo's lawyers say the jury were only instructed to consider a punishment of life without parole or the death penalty in his murder trial.

Malvo's case has precedence. Just recently, convicted murderer Cyntoia Brown, who killed a man in his sleep when she was 16, was released from prison where she was serving a life sentence.

Brown, now 31, apologized to the victim's family this week - but only to promote her new memoir, critics say.

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Police Kill Another Unarmed Black Man Over Chicken

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theAdvocate.com

A Louisiana man was shot dead by an East Feliciana Parish deputy who responded to a burglary call at a Texaco gas station early Monday.

The family of Christopher Whitfield, 31, say he had a history of mental illness and he fled from the cops because he had previous trouble with the law.

The store's owner, Danny Williams, said Whitfield broke into a cooler and stole a box of raw chicken before fleeing the store.

East Feliciana Parish Sheriff's Chief Deputy Greg Phares confirmed the deputy encountered Whitfield behind the gas station and shot him, according to The Advocate.

Whitfield had a previous arrest in 2010 for breaking into the same store.

Phares declined to say if Whitfield was armed with a weapon.

Myrtle Jackson described her grandson as a nice person who didn't carry guns.

"I don't think he should have been shot," she said.

Whitfield's death is the latest fatal shooting of an unarmed Black person by white police officers.

Atatiana Jefferson, 28, of Fort Worth, Texas, was shot and killed by a cop when she looked out her bedroom window after hearing a prowler in her back yard early Saturday.

The cop, 34-year-old Aaron Dean, was arrested and charged with murder hours after he tendered his resignation. He was also dishonorably discharged from the police force.

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Federal judge overturns ObamaCare transgender protections

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ABC News

A federal judge overturned a 2016 Obama era policy that protected transgenders against healthcare providers who used religious freedom to deny treatment.

Judge Reed O'Connor in the Northern District of Texas overturned the 2016 ObamaCare protections for transgenders on Tuesday.

The Obama era policy prevented insurers and providers who receive federal funds from denying patients on the basis of sex, gender identity or termination of pregnancy.

The policy required doctors and hospitals to provide "medically necessary" services to transgender individuals as long as those services were the same ones provided to other patients.

President Obama's Department of Health and Human Services defended a challenge by a group of Christian providers as well as five conservative states.

But President Trump's administration dropped the defense in 2017 after Trump took office.

LGBT advocates complain that overturning the policy will allow doctors and hospitals to deny treatment to transgenders.

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Open Post: Felicity Huffman Reports to Prison to Begin Serving 14-Day Sentence

TNYF/WENN.com

Actress Felicity Huffman reported to prison on Tuesday morning to begin serving a 14-day sentence for her role in the U.S. college admissions scandal.

The former 'Desperate Housewives' star reported to the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, California "to serve the term of imprisonment Judge Talwani ordered as one part of the punishment she imposed for Ms. Huffman's actions," according to the fallen star's representatives.

"She will begin serving the remainder of the sentence Judge Talwani imposed - one year of supervised release, with conditions including 250 hours of community service - when she is released," a statement reads.

Joseph Marzullo/WENN.com

WENN.com reports Huffman will serve the next two weeks in the low-security all-women's federal prison, located in Alameda County in California.

Huffman, 56, accepted responsibility and pleaded guilty to charges of bribing a middleman to get her daughter into an elite university.

She learned her fate in a federal courtroom in Boston, Massachusetts on September 13.

She was also ordered to pay a $30,000 fine and complete 250 hours of community service upon her release in 2 weeks. The actress will also be placed on probation for one year.

She was one of 30 affluent parents, including 'Fuller House' star Lori Loughlin, who were charged with cheating the system.

Loughlin, 55, pleaded not guilty and has yet to be sentenced. A federal judge is expected to throw the book at Loughlin and her husband, Mossimo Giannulli, 56, who also pleaded not guilty.
 

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Could the nation’s most prolific serial killer be another Henry Lee Lucas?

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Youtube.com, FBI.gov

It was déjà vu all over again when news broke that a convicted killer in Texas had confessed to 93 murders.

The news media was quick to label 79-year-old Samuel Little as America's "most prolific serial killer".

The FBI has "confirmed about half" of Little's confessions, although no bodies have been unearthed so far. He has recounted 93 murders from memory.

It all began with two cold case files pulled from a dusty Miami-Dade warehouse. Little's recollections of the 2 murders appeared to match the evidence in the files.

Detectives claim they didn't feed him any of the details about the cold cases. They just let him talk. Authorities promised to take the death penalty off the table if he confessed to multiple murders. So he did.

"The more you tell us, the more pictures we can show you," Miami-Dade Police detective David Denmark remembers telling Little.

His detailed confessions were uncanny, according to the Washington Post, "from the cement arch he claims he drove under before choking Miriam Chapman to the way he buried Mary Brosley with her leg sticking out because the dirt was so hard."

But, as the Washington Post points out, officials may have unwittingly provided those details to the killer.

Denmark insists this is not a repeat of the now infamous Henry Lee Lucas case.

In 1983, Lucas, already on trial for murdering one elderly woman, became a household name when he confessed to 100 more murders "out there somewhere."

The Texas Rangers believed his stories. The news media wanted to believe him. And soon enough, dozens of eager law enforcement officials, prosecutors and reporters from all over the country lined up to interview Lucas in jail.

The 100 murders Lucas confessed to soon grew to 600 murders. The news media went into a feeding frenzy.

Lucas's lies were exposed when a reporter extracted a confession from him that he made the whole thing up.

But Denmark insists Little's case is different because interrogation techniques have improved since the 1980s.

"We knew what the deal was because [Little] had given these details without even talking to us,” Denmark told The Washington Post.

All the feds have to go on are Little's elaborately detailed confessions and the colorful drawings that used to line the walls of his prison cell. There are roughly 50 victims depicted in the artwork. Little claims he created the images of his victims from memory.

The feds are so desperate to close cold cases, that they compiled an online gallery featuring Little's drawings. Their hope is that the paintings will jog the memories of family members whose loved ones went missing or were murdered between 1970 and 2005.

One man, who was 5-years-old when his mother was murdered, claims he recognized her from one of the drawings. CBS News program "60 Minutes" compared the drawing to an old photograph of the woman. There is no resemblance between the drawing and the woman in the photo.

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Youtube.com, 60 Minutes

But the feds are convinced that there is enough of a resemblance to close the cold case. And so on. And so on.

The feds and the news media believe Little is a "prolific serial killer", but others remain skeptical.

One Washington Post reader wrote: "This developmentally challenged bum just likes to watercolor faces of women. He wants Dr. Pepper, Cheetos, and an audience of gullible law enforcement."

And a YouTube viewer wrote, "When is a confession, without any bodies, verifiable evidence?"

For inmates like Little, confessing to nearly 100 murders is better than sitting alone in a 6x8 cell for 23 hours a day.

Little is currently in a prison in Texas.
 

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Open Post: Cop who shot Atatiana Jefferson in her own home resigns

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Google Maps

The Fort Worth, Texas cop who shot Atatiana Jefferson in her own home has resigned from the police force. Interim Police Chief Ed Kraus identified the cop as Officer Aaron Dean at a press conference on Monday afternoon.

Kraus announced Dean's resignation, saying he intended to fire the rookie cop for violating use-of-force policy and "unprofessional conduct."

"Had the officer not resigned, I would have fired him for violations for several policies, including our use of force policy, our de-escalation policy and unprofessional conduct," Kraus said.

 

Civic leaders praised the Fort Worth Police Department for its quick action and transparency in the wrongful death case.

Dean, who joined the department in April 2018, still faces criminal charges as well as possible civil rights violations, Kraus said, according to NBC News.

Jefferson, 28, was gunned down by Dean as she peered out her bedroom window after hearing what she thought was a prowler in her yard early Saturday.

Dean shot Jefferson through her bedroom window because he "perceived a threat." Police did not clarify the threat.

Body cam video footage showed Dean and another officer circling Jefferson's home after responding to a non-emergency welfare check call.

 

Jefferson's 8-year-old nephew was in Jefferson's bedroom playing a video game when they thought they heard a prowler in the backyard, said the family's attorney S. Lee Merritt.

"They looked at each other and listened more intently when they heard it again," Merritt said in a social media post. "Someone was outside."

Merritt said the nephew described how his aunt went to the window to see who was there.

"Suddenly a man's voice was screaming something he couldn't make out, and then 'bang,'" Merritt said. Jefferson fell to the floor. Merritt said he didn't ask the child what he saw next because he didn't want him "to have to relive that" moment.

Legal experts say the rookie cop didn't give Jefferson enough time to react to his orders before he shot her through the bedroom window.

Twitter activist Shaun King accused Fort Worth police of giving the killer cop special treatment.

"We've been told that the @FortWorthPD has been deliberately hiding the name of the officer who murdered #AtatianaJefferson so that he can wipe all of his social media clean," King tweeted on Sunday. "Not one single justifiable reason exists for hiding his identity."

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Nicki Minaj’s brother loses appeal; Sentencing hearing set

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Getty Images, Nassau County PD

Nicki Minaj's brother, Jelani Maraj has exhausted his appeals two years after he was convicted of child rape. A Nassau County judge denied Maraj's request to set aside his conviction and release him on bail.

In November 2017 a Nassau County jury convicted Maraj, 40, of raping his now-former stepdaughter when she was just 11 years old.

His defense team argued that the charges were fabricated by Maraj's ex-wife - the girl's mother - to extort $25 million from Minaj, who was an A-list rap star at the time.

The girl testified that Maraj raped her repeatedly between April and November 2015 while her mother was at work.

In his ruling, the judge said Maraj failed to meet the "burden of proof that any misconduct here created a significant risk that a substantial right of the defendant was prejudiced."

The judge set Maraj's sentencing for Nov. 18 - nearly 2 years to the day he was convicted.

Maraj faces the possibility of life behind bars.

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Nephew, 8, describes moments before aunt was fatally shot by Fort Worth police

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Google Maps

Atatiana Jefferson's 8-year-old nephew described the moments before his aunt was fatally shot by a Forth Worth cop early Saturday.

Jefferson, 28, was gunned down by a rookie cop as she peered out her bedroom window after hearing what she thought was a prowler in her yard.

Fort Worth police say the unidentified cop shot Jefferson through her bedroom window because he "perceived a threat." Police did not clarify the threat.

 

Twitter activist Shaun King tweeted that Fort Worth police are giving the killer cop special treatment.

"We've been told that the @FortWorthPD has been deliberately hiding the name of the officer who murdered #AtatianaJefferson so that he can wipe all of his social media clean," King tweeted on Sunday. "Not one single justifiable reason exists for hiding his identity."

The 8-year-old boy was in Jefferson's bedroom playing a video game when they thought they heard a prowler in the backyard, said the family's attorney S. Lee Merritt.

"They looked at each other and listened more intently when they heard it again," Merritt said in a social media post. "Someone was outside."

Merritt said the nephew described how his aunt went to the window to see who was there.

"Suddenly a man's voice was screaming something he couldn't make out, and then 'bang,'" Merritt said. Jefferson fell to the floor. Merritt said he didn't ask the child what he saw next because he didn't want him "to have to relive that" moment.

"I'm hurt. I'm angry. I'm a little afraid when I'm honest," Merritt said. "I hate this happened to (the nephew). I hate it happened to Tay and her beautiful family. This has to stop now. Enough."

Jefferson was killed after next-door neighbor James Smith, 62, called a non-emergency number to request a welfare check because his neighbor's front door was wide open at 2:30 a.m.

The boy told Merritt they left the door open to get some fresh air and they lost track of time.

Two officers arrived six minutes later and walked around the exterior of the house.

Smith said he heard police shout "Put your hands up, show me your hands!" before hearing a single gunshot.

Body cam video shows Jefferson didn't have enough time to react to the cop's orders before he opened fire through her bedroom window.

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Facebook.com

Jefferson lived in the home with her mother who is hospitalized and wasn't at home at the time of the shooting.

Jefferson, who was black, worked as a pharmaceutical sales representative. The cop, who is white, was on the police force for only 18 months. He is currently on paid leave.

The college graduate's case is being compared to that of Botham Jean, who was killed in his own apartment by former Dallas cop Amber Guyger on Sept. 6, 2018.

Guyger, 31, was convicted of murder and sentenced to 10 years in prison earlier this month.

Merritt said the cop who shot Jefferson did not identify himself as a police officer before he fired.

"As if killing this gentle sister wasn't enough, I ask myself what would have happened if (the nephew) was the one to look out the window," Merritt said on social media. "Why is this a reality at all for either of them? I am truly heartbroken by this. We must have justice quickly. It cannot wait."

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Father of Black woman killed in her own home by white cop: ‘Unlike Botham Jean, I don’t want no hug’

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Facebook.com

The father of a 28-year-old Texas woman who was fatally shot by a rookie cop is comparing his daughter's wrongful death to Botham Jean, the 26-year-old account who was killed in his apartment by a cop.

Atatiana Jefferson's father, Marquis Jefferson, said his daughter didn't have time to react to a cop's orders before she was shot through her bedroom window early Saturday morning.

Marquis Jefferson was inconsolable after receiving the call that his daughter was killed.

As Atatiana's name trended on Twitter.com all weekend, Marquis told KTXA, "My daughter was 28 years old, had her whole life in front of her.

"You have to know this is somebody's daughter. Somebody loved her. There was a better way. It didn't have to be like that."

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Facebook.com

Jefferson's family said she was playing video games with her young nephew before she was shot. Jefferson and her nephew thought they heard a prowler outside before she walked to her bedroom window to look out.

The family has retained attorney Lee Merritt who also represents Botham Jean's family.

According to published reports, two cops responded to a non-emergency 911 call placed by next door neighbor James Smith, 62, who asked police to conduct a welfare check after noticing Jefferson's front door was open at 2:30 a.m.

The two officers observed the open front door, but rather than knock or identify themselves as police officers, they conducted a search of the property at the back of the house.

Body cam video released by the Fort Worth Police Department shows the cop shining a flashlight around the darkened exterior of the home.

At one point the cop was startled by Jefferson who looked out her bedroom window. The cop, without identifying himself, shouted "Put your hands up! Show me your hands!" before firing through the closed window, striking Jefferson and killing her.

Legal experts say the fact that the cop shouted "show me your hands" before firing a split second later is sufficient proof that he did not see Jefferson's hands before he fired. Nor did he give Jefferson sufficient time to react to his orders.

 

The edited police video shows still photos taken of a handgun presumably located inside Jefferson's bedroom after she was shot. According to Texas law, Jefferson was within her rights to keep a gun to protect her home.

The college graduate's case is being compared to that of Botham Jean, who was killed in his own apartment by former Dallas cop Amber Guyger on Sept. 6, 2018.

Guyger, 31, was convicted of murder and sentenced to 10 years in prison earlier this month.

"Unlike this Botham Jean, I don't want no hug," Marquis Jefferson said, referring to the infamous hug Guyger received from trial judge Tammy Kemp after she was found guilty. "That's my one and only daughter. I will never forget that," Jefferson said.

Smith says he regrets calling the police to conduct a welfare check on his neighbor.

He said Jefferson was a good neighbor who lived with her 8-year-old nephew and an older woman, who was in the hospital.

"I'm shaken. I'm mad. I'm upset. And I feel it's partly my fault," Smith said. "If I had never dialed the police department, she'd still be alive."

The officer has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation into the shooting.

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Trump Celebrates Shepard Smith Leaving Fox News

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Fox News

Shepard Smith stunned viewers and colleagues on Friday when he announced his resignation from Fox News after 23 years with the network. Smith, 55, addressed his departure at the end of his final show.

"Even in our currently polarized nation, it's my hope that the facts will win the day, that the truth will always matter, that journalism and journalist will thrive."

Smith's resignation hit social media like a mini tornado. The news was welcomed by his detractors who despised Smith's left-leaning bias.

Many on Twitter.com celebrated Smith's resignation, including President Trump.

SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images

"I don't know. Is he leaving? That's a shame," Trump joked on the South Lawn of the White House on Friday.

"Is he leaving because of bad ratings?" Trump continued. "If he's leaving, I assume he's leaving because he had bad ratings."

Probably no one was happier to see Smith leave than Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

Smith lashed out at Carlson after Fox legal commentator Judge Andrew Napolitano got into it with Carlson and one of his guests during a live broadcast 2 weeks ago.

Smith thought Carlson should have defended the judge.

"Attacking our colleague who is here to offer legal assessments on our air, in our work home, is repugnant," Smith said during his show the next day.

Later that night, Carlson mocked Smith on the air, repeatedly calling Smith a "daytime host" and never addressing him by name. Carlson ended his rant by taking a jab at Smith's sinking ratings: "When you dress up partisanship as news coverage, people tune out."

While some believe Trump's constant criticism of Smith may have intimidated the anchor to leave, others say Smith was upset about the stinging personal attack by Carlson.

Smith reportedly asked Fox to accept his resignation after only 1 year into his $15 million-a-year contract.

Smith's fans wished him well on Twitter and praised him for keeping his boot on Trump's neck over the past two years. But others thought he was too hypercritical of the president.

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Appeals Court Orders Trump To Turn Over Taxes; Trump May Take Case to Supreme Court

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Getty Images

A federal appeals court has ordered President Donald Trump to turn over his tax returns to Congress.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled Friday that President Trump's accountants must hand over his tax returns. But Trump could still take the case to the full appeals court or even the Supreme Court.

House Democrats, who are desperate to impeach Trump before the 2020 election, are ecstatic over the appeals order.

"Today's ruling is a fundamental and resounding victory for Congressional oversight, our Constitutional system of checks and balances, and the rule of law," Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), chairman of the oversight committee, said in a statement.

The House Committee on Oversight and Reform subpoenaed Trump's tax records from Trump's accounts, Mazars USA, in April. The subpoena include documents from 2011 to 2018 that the House wants for investigation into the president's potential conflicts of interest.

House Democrats are also attempting to impeach Trump over a complaint filed by a CIA whistleblower who asked to remain anonymous.

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Male menstruation commercial causes mass confusion (Video)

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Thinx - YouTube.com

A television commercial is causing mass confusion among young people who apparently missed or misunderstood the ad's tagline at the end.

The commercial opens with a pre-teen boy telling his father, "I think I got my period." The next scene shows a man rolling over in bed to reveal a bloodstain on the sheet under him.

The commercial also shows men dealing with their periods in public restrooms and locker rooms. One man asks another man for a Tampon, and a high school boy nervously drops his pantyliners in front of a girl, who asks him if he needs her help.

The commercial caused confusion among young people on social media who questioned how boys and men can menstruate.

Many missed the ad's tagline at the end of the commercial - 'If we all had them, maybe we'd be more comfortable with them.'

But even those who read the tagline were baffled. Since when are we women ashamed of having periods?

Some viewers believe the people behind the commercial are men who assume women are ashamed of having periods.

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Thinx - YouTube.com

Thinx claims to make underwear that absorbs your period.

"We're on a mission to empower every body [sic] with innovative solutions and social change," the company states.

The company's Twitter page promotes their undergarments under the hashtag #IfWeAllHadPeriods.

One YouTube viewer wrote: "I think [the ad is] mostly trying to deconstruct the 'stigma' about periods. I'd personally never heard of period shaming, but apparently some people think its a thing."
 

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St. Louis cop who killed fellow officer during a game of Russian roulette allegedly forced her to participate in game

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St. Louis PD, GoFundMe

A St. Louis, Missouri cop who was arrested for killing his fellow officer during a game of Russian roulette may have forced the woman to participate in the dangerous game.

Nathaniel Hendren is accused of fatally shooting fellow police officer Katlyn Alix in the early morning hours of Jan. 24, according to PEOPLE.

Alix, 24, and Hendren, 29, were allegedly drinking in Hendren's apartment when the gun went off, killing Alix.

According to a probable cause statement obtained by PEOPLE, Hendren emptied the gun before putting "one cartridge back into the cylinder."

The two then took turns pointing the gun at each other and pulling the trigger, the probable cause statement says.

At one point, Hendren pointed the gun at Alix and the gun discharged, striking her in the chest, the report says.

Alix, a patrol officer in her second year on the force, was pronounced dead upon arrival at a hospital.

Hendren's law enforcement partner, Patrick Riordan, who was also in the apartment that morning, were both on duty when Alix was killed. Alix was off-duty.

Alix's mother Aimee Lynn Wahlers, filed a wrongful death lawsuit in St. Louis Circuit Court on Wednesday.

The lawsuit alleges that Hendren forced other women to play the deadly game in the past, the AP and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch report.

The lawsuit also alleges Hendren forced ex-girlfriends to engage in sexual activity that involved firearms, the suit says.

Wahlers says the city should have known that Hendren allegedly had a psychiatric history before hiring him, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Hendren, who is free on $100K bond, pleaded not guilty to first-degree manslaughter. He has been suspended from the police force and is currently awaiting trial.

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Judge Tammy Kemp says court bailiff frisked Amber Guyger’s hair for razor blades

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YouTube.com

Judge Tammy Kemp was a guest on The Tamron Hall Show on Thursday, Oct. 10. The embattled judge came under fire for hugging former Dallas cop Amber Guyger after she was found guilty of killing 26-year-old accountant Botham Jean in his own apartment.

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YouTube.com

In previous interviews Kemp defended her behavior, saying Guyger asked her twice for a hug. Kemp also said she gave Guyger her personal Bible because the 31-year-old promised to return it after she completes her 10-year prison sentence.

Kemp's court bailiff was also criticized for appearing to comfort Guyger by primping her hair in the courtroom.

When Hall asked Kemp to explain the bailiff's actions, Kemp said "Guyger had been found guilty of murder... and we were on a lunch break. However, I couldn't send her to the jail to be frisked. So we asked a female bailiff to stay with her throughout the lunch break. And if you know anything about the jail, you gotta search every part of a person, including their hair."

But critics of the judge and the bailiff say officers never conduct searches for razor blades or other contraband with their bare hands.
 

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Amphibious snakehead fish breathes air and survives on land; Officials want you to kill it ASAP

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William Thomas Cain/Getty Images

A rare predatory fish that breathes fresh air and can survive on land for hours has been discovered in Georgia for the first time.

If you see it on land or in the water, kill it immediately. Wildlife officials don't want the fish to breed and multiply.

The invasive fish species is called "snakehead fish" because its markings resemble a python snake. It was discovered swimming in a pond in Gwinnett County, Georgia. The fish have sharp teeth and are voracious eaters. The can grow to three feet long.

Officials at the Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Wildlife Resources Division said a fisherman caught the fish and alerted them.

"Thanks to the quick report by an angler, our staff was able to investigate and confirm the presence of this species in this water body," said Matt Thomas, chief of fisheries for the Wildlife Resources Division. "We are now taking steps to determine if they have spread from this water body and, hopefully, keep it from spreading to other Georgia waters."

Early humans are believed to have evolved from amphibious sea creatures that crawled out of the sea and adapted quickly to land.

Humans were originally herbivores (plant eaters) until they began cooking meat shortly after discovering fire. From then on humans killed, cooked and ate meat, wiping out entire species of animals. Scientists don't want this predatory fish to acclimate to land and wipe out local species.

Officials say the snakehead fish is non-native to Georgia and it affects native species by competing with them for food and habitat.

Officials ask fishermen to immediately kill the fish and freeze it so officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and GDNR officials can retrieve it for research purposes.

If caught do not release it back into the water.

"If possible, take pictures of the fish, including close ups of its mouth, fins and tail (and) note where it was caught," state officials said, adding that it is illegal in Georgia to keep snakehead fish as pets.

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NBC News Correspondent Goes Viral When Son Interrupts Live News Report

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MSNBC

Working moms everywhere can relate to a NBC news correspondent who vent viral on social media after her son interrupted her live report on Syria.

NBC News correspondent Courtney Kube was live on the air reporting on the conflict in Syria on Wednesday when her son wandered over and demanded her attention.

Kube, who covers national security and the Pentagon, was discussing Turkey's incursion into Syria from the NBC News studios in Washington, D.C. when her 4-year-old son interrupted her.

"Excuse me... my Kids are here. Live television," Kube laughed while simultaneously pushing her son away.

Kube later explained that her kids were dropped off in the studio from preschool and, "Breaking news in Syria didn't line up with preschool drop-off, so he and his twin brother were with me."

Hopefully Kube's boss has a good sense of humor.
 

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Judge Kemp: ‘Amber Guyger did tell me she’d bring my Bible back in 10 years’

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CBSDFW News

Judge Tammy Kemp sat down with media outlets to explain why she hugged convicted ex-cop Amber Guyger, and gave her a Bible after her murder trial ended.

The embattled judge didn't just give Guyger any Bible, she went back to her judge's chambers to retrieve her own personal Bible to give the departing killer.

Kemp was criticized by legal experts and the public after she appeared to show bias toward the former Dallas police officer who was convicted of killing 26-year-old accountant Botham Jean in his own apartment last year.

Kemp wiped away tears as she told CNN she thought it would be "rude" not to hug Guyger after she hugged Jean's family members.

She said Guyger asked her, "Do you think God will forgive me?" Kemp said yes and, Guyger added, "'Well, I don't have a Bible. I don't own a Bible, and I don't know where to start.' And I said I will get you a Bible."

“And that's when I went to retrieve my Bible and gave it to her." Kemp also said, "She did tell me she'd bring my Bible back in 10 years."

Kemp said she told Guyger, "Brandt Jean has forgiven you. Please forgive yourself, so you can have a purposeful life. And she asked me, 'Do you think my life can still have a purpose?' And I said, 'I know it can.'"

Kemp said Guyger asked for a hug twice. "I'm embarrassed to say that she had to ask me twice," Kemp told CBSDFW News.

"When I looked at her and saw how she was hurting, of course I agreed to give her a hug."

Kemp responded to the backlash from critics who say she never shows empathy toward Black defendants in court.

"Frankly, I don't think I would be getting this criticism if Miss Guyger were a Black woman," Kemp said. "I hate that we limit our compassion to one race."
 

 

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Fears grow for woman who filmed dying Botham Jean after Joshua Brown’s assassination

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Advise Media Network, Law & Crime

The Dallas woman who filmed Botham Jean's last moments alive fears for her life after the apparent assassination of key trial witness Joshua Brown.

Brown, 28, was gunned down on Friday night by an unknown assailant after he exited his car at his apartment complex, about 6 miles from the South Side Flats apartments where he previously lived across the hall from Jean.

There are growing fears for the woman who filmed Jean dying after he was shot by former Dallas cop Amber Guyger in his own apartment.

Ronnie Babbs, who also goes by "Bunny", was a neighbor of Jean's, who filmed the aftermath of the shooting from a lower staircase. She said she hadn't planned to upload the video to social media, but she changed her mind after seeing news reports that contradicted with what she filmed.

Babbs told the Advise Media Network in January, that she began filming the scene after hearing 2 gunshots and a man's voice saying, "Oh my God. Why did you do that?"

"It was just a lot of crying, a lot of hysterics," Babbs said. "[Guyger] was just pacing back and forth for at least seven minutes, according to my video."

She also captured footage of paramedics rushing Jean down the hall on a gurney.

Babbs said she's received death threats and she was fired from her job at a pharmaceutical company after speaking out about the Jean shooting.

She said her employer accused her of "radical, anti-police" behavior before they "blacklisted" her.

 

She created a GoFundMe account that raised over $65,000 in donations.

No photo "I was brave enough to come forward with information that has helped the DA charge a police officer who murdered an innocent black man in his own home when nobody else would," Babbs wrote on the fundraising page, according to The Dallas Morning News. "I was hesitant as I knew the consequences could affect me greatly. I put my own life at risk and decided to help."

Babbs originally planned to write a book about her experiences. Now she says she is taking classes to own her own pharmacy.

During her testimony in court Babbs dismissed concerns that her GoFundMe donations damaged her credibility.

"There are obviously major red flags any time a witness uses a connection to a legal proceeding as a platform to openly solicit donations," Dallas defense attorney Chris Knox told the Morning News.

Guyger is serving a 10-year prison sentence at the maximum security Mountain View Unit in Gatesville, about 120 miles southwest of Dallas. A new mugshot of the 31-year-old former cop was released by the Texas Department of Corrections on Tuesday.

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China bans NBA games after James Harden’s apology for Rockets GM tweet

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NBA superstar James Harden apologized to China on Monday for a tweet his general manager sent out on Friday. Unfortunately, his apology wasn't good enough.

The National Basketball League scrambled to get back on China's good side after the Chinese government blocked live broadcasts of NBA games on Monday. China was offended after Houston Rocket's general manager Daryl Morey tweeted that he chose democracy over Communism.

In the now-deleted tweet, Morey also supported Hong Kong, where pro-democracy demonstrators continue to protest in the streets against the pro-Chinese sector and the Hong Kong Police Force.

The Rockets are in Tokyo, Japan to play 2 pre-season exhibition games against NBA champions Toronto Raptors.

China banned live broadcasts of NBA pre-season games hours after Harden apologized for Morey's tweet.

Bob Levey/Getty Images

Harden, pictured left with teammate Russell Westbrook, said, "We apologize. You know, we love China. We love playing there. For both of us individually, we go there once or twice a year. They show us the most important love," Harden said.

He added: "We appreciate them as a fan base. We love everything there about them, and we appreciate the support that they give us individually and as [an] organization. We love you."

The Chinese government was further disappointed when NBA commissioner Adam Silver insisted he wouldn't gag owners or players from speaking their minds.

"The NBA will not put itself in a position of regulating what players, employees and team owners say or will not say on these issues. We simply could not operate that way," Silver said in a statement on Tuesday.

Morey's tweet resulted in the NBA losing advertisers and lucrative sponsorships, including Tiffany's jewelry.

The normally very opinionated NBA superstar LeBron James has so far remained silent on the controversy.

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Dallas judge explains why she hugged Amber Guyger, gave her Bible in court

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Law & Crime/YouTube.com

The Dallas judge who hugged Amber Guyger said the former cop asked her for a hug and for help seeking God's forgiveness.

Judge Tammy Kemp was widely criticized by legal experts and the public after she embraced Guyger and gave her a Bible at the end of Guyger's murder trial.

Kemp told The Associated Press that she believed her actions were appropriate since Guyger said she didn't understand how to begin seeking God's forgiveness for killing accountant Botham Jean, 26.

"She asked me if I thought that God could forgive her and I said, 'Yes, God can forgive you and has,'" Kemp said. "If she wanted to start with the Bible, I didn't want her to go back to the jail and to sink into doubt and self-pity and become bitter. Because she still has a lot of life ahead of her following her sentence and I would hope that she could live it purposefully."

Kenneth Williams, a professor at the South Texas College of Law in Houston, told The NY Post: "[Kemp] has indicated an affinity or sympathy for the defendant."

And attorney Sherrilyn Ifill tweeted that a judge should remain impartial and unbiased in a court of law.

However, Kemp said she never acknowledged her Christian faith in court previously or provided a defendant with a Bible, but Guyger told her she didn't have a Bible at the end of the trial. Kemp said Guyger asked her for a hug twice.

“Following my own convictions, I could not refuse that woman a hug. I would not," Kemp said defiantly.

She also responded to the anger of Black people who wondered why she didn't show the same empathy for Black defendants.

"I don't understand the anger. And I guess I could say if you profess religious beliefs and you are going to follow them, I would hope that they not be situational and limited to one race only," Kemp said.

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Joshua Brown was set to testify in an upcoming wrongful death lawsuit against Dallas Police Department before he was gunned down

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Facebook.com

Joshua Brown, the Amber Guyger witness who was gunned down on Friday night in Dallas, was set to testify in a wrongful death lawsuit against the Dallas Police Department when he was killed.

Brown, 28, gave key testimony against Guyger, 31, on day 2 of her murder trial for killing Botham Jean, 26. She was convicted of murder and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Brown was shot to death 2 days after Guyger was sentenced.

Jean's mother is suing the city, citing the Dallas Police Department for failure to properly train Guyger.

The attorney for the Jean family, S. Lee Merritt, stopped just short of accusing the police of assassinating Brown.

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Facebook.com

"It is a possibility," Merritt said. "I don't have any evidence other than the timing, but I am not ruling anything out. But what I do know is that Joshua was targeted. This was an assassination. He pulled into his parking lot and he was shot. The perpetrators fled. They didn't steal anything from him."

Witnesses reported seeing a silver four-door sedan speeding out of the parking lot after the shooting.

"This is a kid who had no gang ties, there was no lover's quarrel," said Merritt. "He was an AirBnB host and roofer. All the usual suspects of crime, drugs and sex are simply not there."

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Botham Jean’s neighbor who testified against Amber Guyger fatally shot in Dallas

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YouTube.com

Botham Jean's neighbor, Joshua Brown, who testified against former Dallas officer Amber Guyger at her murder trial was found shot to death in a Dallas, Texas parking lot on Friday night.

According to the Dallas Morning News, multiple witnesses flagged down police officers on Friday night and reported hearing gunshots at an apartment complex near Dallas' Medical District.

Police found Brown unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds in a parking lot in the 4600 block of Cedar Springs Rd.

Brown was transported to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Brown's apartment was located directly across from Botham Jean's apartment at South Side Flats apartments. Brown testified that he was in the hallway on the night of Sept. 6, 2018, when he heard two voices talking at the same time followed by 2 gunshots.

Guyger had just returned home after working a 13-hour shift when she entered the wrong apartment and shot Jean to death.

Brown broke down and cried when he recalled hearing Jean singing gospel music inside his apartment every morning.

Guyger was convicted of murder on Tuesday and sentenced to 10 years in prison on Wednesday.

Brown's death sparked rumors of retaliation for testifying against the former Dallas police officer.

Lee Merritt, a civil rights attorney who represents the Jean family, said Brown's murder "underscores the reality of the black experience in America."

He said Brown lived in constant fear for his life.

"Brown lived in constant fear that he could be the next victim of gun violence," Merritt wrote on Facebook. "Brown deserves the same justice he sought to ensure the Jean family."
 

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President Trump says Black people are just now getting credit for building America

AFP via Getty Images

President Donald Trump credited Black people with building America during a speech at the Young Black Leadership Summit at the White House on Friday, Oct. 4.

"You know, you're just starting to get real credit for that, OK," Trump said. "I don't know if you know that, you're just starting to get — you built the nation. We all built it, but you were such a massive part of it. Bigger than you were given credit for. Does that make sense?"

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

"You broke the sound barrier," Trump said, referring to the noise level as the young Black professionals stood and cheered. "I've never heard it quite like that, and I appreciate it. We love you," he told the crowd.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

The president praised conservative commentators Candace Owens and Terrence Williams and White House aide Ja'Ron Smith, inviting them to share the stage with him, Yahoo News reported.

He complimented Owens, saying she is a "star" who is not only "tough" but also "beautiful" - before he caught himself.

"Under the #MeToo generation, we're not allowed to say [beautiful]," Trump said. "So all of you young, brilliant guys, never, ever call a woman beautiful, please. You're not allowed to do it," he joked.

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YouTube.com

Owens noted that, 2 years into their first term, every president looks older. "He seems to be the only president that's getting younger!" she said.

Trump took a jab at the Democrats who are desperate to impeach him before the 2020 election.

"While we are fighting every day to build up our nation, the far left only wants to wreck, ruin and destroy our nation,” he said. “And you know better than anybody, for the last three years, Democrat lawmakers, their deep-state cronies, the fake news media, they've been colluding in their effort to overturn the presidential election — 63 million people voted — and to nullify the votes of the American people and many African American people voted for Trump, even then. Now they like me more."

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Then Trump and Vice President Mike Pence bowed their heads, as a young Ethiopian woman prayed for him. Afterwards, the crowd chanted "USA!" and "four more years!"

Watch the emotional video below.
 

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It Begins: Ukraine’s Top Prosecutor REOPENS Investigation Into Hunter Biden

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Ukraine's top prosecutor has reopened an investigation into the Burisma gas company that reportedly paid Joe Biden's son, Hunter, $3 million in salary and bonuses.

"We are now reviewing all the cases that were closed or split into several parts or were investigated before," said Ukraine's Prosecutor General Ruslan Ryaboshapka, according to DailyMail.com.

Ukraine's former prosecutor who launched a probe into Hunter Biden’s involvement with Burisma was reportedly fired under pressure from then-Vice President Joe Biden.

The investigation into possible corruption by Joe and Hunter was reopened hours after U.S. President Trump asked Ukraine for assistance investigating the Bidens, saying the country "should investigate" Joe and Hunter Biden.

Trump is on the hot seat for asking a foreign government to help investigate his political rival.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced an official impeachment inquiry into Trump's phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in which Trump asked Zelensky for information on the Bidens.

House Democrats are looking into whether Trump threatened to withhold military aid to Ukraine if the government didn't comply with his wishes.

Trump reportedly fired the U.S. ambassador to the Ukraine after Rudy Giuliani complained she would not launch an investigation into the Bidens.

Teresa Kroeger/Getty Images

In an interview with The Associated Press, President Zelensky denied he was pressured by Trump to investigate Joe Biden and his son.

Asked by The Associated Press about Trump's comment Thursday that the U.S. has an "absolute right" to ask foreign leaders to investigate corruption cases, Zelensky said that Ukraine is "open" and that all the cases under investigation are "transparent."

The Bidens are accused of influence peddling by using Joe's position as Barack Obama's vice president to enrich himself and his son.

Hunter reportedly received $1.5 billion from the Chinese government, in addition to $3 million from Burisma gas company and untold millions from other foreign governments while Joe was VP.

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Open Post: Stacey Dash Domestic Battery Case Dropped

James Devaney/GC Images

The domestic battery case against actress Stacey Dash has been dropped and she will not face charges in court, The Blast reports.

WENN.com

Dash's ordeal began on Sunday night when an argument she had with husband Jeffrey Marty and his three children at their Port St. Richey, Florida home escalated to violence.

Dash, 52, called 911 to report Marty put her in a chokehold, but officers arrested her and charged her with domestic battery against Marty.

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Pasco County Sheriff, Mindy Best/Getty Images

The Clueless star cooled her heels in a Pasco County jail for 12 hours. She was released on Monday morning after Marty paid her $500 bond.

After springing Dash from jail, Marty pinned a tweet showing him and Dash kissing. Text superimposed over the photograph shows a biblical phrase from the Old Testament which reads: "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."

Marty, 44, is Dash's fourth husband.

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Twitter.com

According to court documents obtained by DailyMail.com, Dash demanded a speedy trial in three days. She also filed for indigent status, saying she could not afford an attorney.

But now her charge has been dropped and she is a free woman, according to The Blast.
 

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Ethics Complaint Filed Against Judge Who Hugged Amber Guyger and Gave Her Bible

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Law & Crime/YouTube.com

An ethics complaint has been filed against a Dallas, Texas judge who hugged former cop Amber Guyger and gave her a Bible following her guilty verdict on Wednesday.

Guyger, who is white, was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 10 years in prison for fatally shooting 26-year-old accountant Botham Jean, an unarmed Black man who was relaxing in his own apartment when Guyger barged in.

Judge Tammy Kemp fueled outrage when she embraced Guyger in court and handed her a Bible after Guyger was sentenced on Wednesday, Oct. 2.

The judge's actions prompted many to question why Black defendants aren't treated the same way.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation filed an ethics complaint against the judge with the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct on Thursday.

The FFRF group said Kemp went too far by embracing the former cop in court and praying with her before Guyger was shipped off to prison.

The FFRF called Judge Kemp's behavior inappropriate and unconstitutional.

After a victim impact statement by Jean's brother, Brandt Jean, he told Guyger he loved her and embraced her.

Then Kemp embraced Guyger and spoke with her before leaving the courtroom and returning with her personal Bible.

She turned the pages to John 3:16 and told Guyger, "This is where you start." She continued, saying, "He has a purpose for you," referring to God.

In the complaint, the FFRF said Judge Kemp, "Handled a difficult trial with grace" but that she "signaled to everyone watching... that she is partial to Christian reform and Christian notions of forgiveness."

Legal experts have noted that the hug and the Bible could cause a conflict if Guyger files an appeal, which her attorneys have stated she will.

Other legal experts weighed in, saying Kemp's actions bordered on judicial misconduct.

"I did not see why the judge did what she did," said C. Victor Lander, a former municipal judge who spent 27 years behind the bench.

"Once there's an appearance that the judges are not impartial, we lose our entire criminal justice system," Lander said.