- 5 killed in possible murder-suicide at Georgia health spa
Five people were shot dead Tuesday night at a health spa in Norcross, Ga., myFOXatlanta.com reported.
- US air base to transfer shipwreck treasure worth millions to Spain
The transfer of 17 tons of shipwreck treasure wrested away from deep-sea explorers by the Spanish government will be made later this week from a U.S. Air Force base in Florida, officials confirmed Tuesday night.
- Mother visits Marine veteran sentenced to death in Iran
The mother of a former U.S. Marine sentenced to death in Iran on a spying conviction has visited her son in an Iranian prison, a spokesman for the family said Tuesday.
- Woman in Texas struck by bullet from Mexico
A woman shopping on a busy downtown El Paso street became the first victim of bullets flying across the border from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, on Tuesday when she was hit in the calf and wounded, authorities said.
- Lugar faces hearing on residency, reportedly uncertain about address on license
In a rare moment of bipartisan accord, Republicans and Democrats alike are putting pressure on Indiana Republican Sen. Richard Lugar over the fact he doesn’t actually live at the address he uses to claim residency.
- Texas man found guilty of abducting and raping his former neighbor
A Texas man has been found guilty of kidnapping his former neighbor and raping her on a deer-skinning device and a bed where she was chained nightly for almost two weeks.
- Gun-rights groups decry proposed surtax on Illinois ammo sales
An Illinois lawmaker wants gun owners to shell out extra taxes in order to finance a new grant program for trauma centers, a move firearms advocacy groups say amounts to a “sin tax” on law-abiding hunters and target shooters.
Today’s Links February 22, 2012
February 22nd, 2012
XR14 Today’s Links February 21, 2012
February 21st, 2012
XR14 - Obama peddles modest American dream on campaign trail
This time around, President Barack Obama’s message can sound decidedly down-to-earth.
- Linsanity hits snag as Melo returns
Carmelo Anthony had mostly been a bystander as Jeremy Lin went from the end of the Knicks’ bench to the biggest story in sports.
- Texas billionaire donates across Republican field with goal of beating Obama
Texas billionaire Harold Simmons donated $100,000 to a super PAC supporting the presidential bid of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in January, according to a fundraising report released Monday afternoon.
- Greece to get $170B bailout, reduce debt
An EU diplomat says that an agreement has been reached to give Greece euro130 billion ($170 billion) more in bailout loans and bring its debt down to 120.5 percent of GDP by 2020.
- Human remains found in well confirmed as those of missing Georgia man
Human remains were found Monday in a well outside Atlanta, myFOXatlanta.com reported.
Police confirmed the remains were initially identified as those of Charles Stephen Parker, a 25-year-old Bank of America employee who went missing in January.
- Analysis: ‘Fair share’ in taxes? Not by the numbers
As Americans sit down to file their federal tax returns, a simple question comes to mind — what’s a “fair share” to give the federal government in taxes?
- Md. teen dies after falling from moving car
Police say no charges will be filed against the driver who struck a Maryland teenager who died after falling out of a moving car.
Today’s Links February 20, 2012
February 20th, 2012
XR14 - Police find remains of Ohio girl missing since 1999 in accused rapist’s home
The skeletal remains of a 14-year-old Ohio runaway who went missing in 1999 have been found after the home where she was last seen was demolished, according to police.
- South Korea begins military drills despite threat from North Korea
South Korea on Monday began live-fire military drills from front-line islands near its disputed sea border with North Korea, despite Pyongyang’s threat to attack.
- 3 killed after avalanche near Washington ski resort
Three skiers were killed Sunday when an avalanche swept them about a quarter-mile down an out-of-bounds canyon at a popular resort, but a fourth skier caught up in the slide was saved by a safety device, authorities said.
- Swedish man survives two months in sub-zero temperatures by ‘hibernating’ in car, theory says
A Swedish man who was found alive after spending two months trapped in a car in freezing temperatures survived by eating snow and hibernating “like a bear,” according to one theory.
- Prison riot in Mexico leaves at least 44 dead
A fight among inmates led to a prison riot in northern Mexico that killed 44 people Sunday, a security official said.
- Domestic production eyed as gas prices head toward record-breaking height
President Obama’s re-elect team defended White House energy policy on Sunday as gas prices shoot toward the $4 mark and beyond, a level that could devastate voter’s pocketbooks as well as Obama’s chances for a second term.
- Romney inability to clear field leads to possibility of contested convention, more GOP names
As the August Republican national convention hastily sneaks up on the field, the fact that one candidate hasn’t yet run away with momentum has the media, pundits and insiders talking about whether the challengers can generate the appeal to defeat President Obama in November or whether someone else will jump in the race.
Today’s Links February 19, 2012
February 19th, 2012
XR14 - North Korea accuses South Korea of planning military drills near border, threatens to attack
North Korea has threatened to attack South Korea accusing it of planning live-fire drills near their disputed sea border.
- Police: Mom, baby abducted at gunpoint while out walking
Authorities say a young mother and her baby daughter were abducted by the woman’s estranged boyfriend at gunpoint while they were on a walk, Fox8.com reports.
- Navy SEAL skydiving trainer dies during skydiving competition
A skydiver who had trained US Navy SEALs and completed more than 8,000 jumps died Saturday while attempting a dangerous maneuver during a competition near Los Angeles.
- Report: Iran poised to greatly expand uranium enrichment production
Iran is poised to greatly expand uranium enrichment at a fortified underground bunker to a point that would boost how quickly it could make nuclear warheads, diplomats tell The Associated Press.
- Elizabeth Smart marries boyfriend in private, spur of the moment Hawaiian ceremony
Elizabeth Smart, whose 2002 kidnapping gripped the nation, married her boyfriend of one year, Matthew Gilmour, in a private ceremony Saturday afternoon in Hawaii.
- Whitney Houston remembered by friends, family at emotional funeral
Friends, family and familiar faces shared their memories for fallen music legend Whitney Houston on Saturday in Newark, NJ, in the church where she sang as a child.
- Report: Serial killer says more bodies are out there
Sacramento television station CBS-13 has received a letter it says is from serial killer Wesley Shermantine claiming he knows of sites where the bodies of additional victims were dumped.
Today’s Links February 18, 2012
February 18th, 2012
XR14 - Four-month-old baby stabbed in forehead with pen during NYC fight
A four-month-old girl was stabbed in the forehead with a pen Friday afternoon after the woman holding her got into a fight with another woman in New York City, police said.
- Afghan general sounds alarm on US plan to cut local security forces
An American proposal to cut the size of Afghan security forces by more than one third after 2014 could lead to a catastrophe, Afghanistan’s defense minister told The Wall Street Journal, underlining his government’s growing fears of being abandoned after most foreign troops withdraw.
- Gingrich slams rivals for backing out of Georgia debate
Newt Gingrich slammed his Republican rivals Friday for refusing to appear in a nationally televised debate from his home state of Georgia, a state the former House speaker has made central to his strategy of getting his struggling presidential bid back on track.
- Baggage handler killed after being trapped in Phoenix Airport conveyor belt
A US Airways baggage handler was killed on the job Friday at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor Airport, after he was trapped between two conveyor belts.
- ICE agent opened fire during job discussion at California federal building
It had all the ingredients of workplace violence: a manager, an angry employee, a discussion about job performance and at least one gun.
- Gov. Christie follows through on promise to veto gay marriage bill
Gov. Chris Christie has followed through on his promise to reject a bill allowing same-sex marriage in New Jersey by quickly vetoing the measure Friday and renewing his call for a ballot question to decide the issue.
- Tiffani Thiessen of ‘Saved by the Bell’ star loses 45 pounds: Who’s the sexiest former child star?
Wow, look at Kelly Kapowski! “Saved by the Bell” hottie Tiffani Thiessen — the object of Zack Morris’ affections — looked better than ever at a Hollywood event on Wednesday night, rocking her curves in a Little Black Dress.
Today’s Links February 17, 2012
February 17th, 2012
XR14 - Rhode Island public school committee votes not to appeal prayer banner case
A Rhode Island public school district committee on Thursday voted not to appeal a federal court decision ordering the removal of a prayer banner displayed in a high school in a lawsuit brought on behalf of a 16-year-old atheist.
- Georgia restaurant disclaimer says no crying kids allowed
In an attempt to answer complaints about screaming and unruly children, an Atlanta family restaurant has added a new disclaimer to their menu to control the nose level in the establishment.
- German president quits in scandal over favors
German President Christian Wulff has announced his resignation in a scandal over favors he allegedly received before becoming head of state — creating a new problem for Chancellor Angela Merkel.
- Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter dies at 57
In a rough-and-tumble clubhouse filled with dark secrets and constant conflict, there was always one sunny stall.
- 1 dead, 1 wounded after ICE agent opens fire at federal building in California
A federal immigration agent who shot and injured a colleague in their office Thursday was killed when a third agent drew his weapon and fired, the FBI said.
- Battle over Keystone pipeline heats up in Congress
House Democrats are trying to delay or kill the Keystone pipeline once and for all with a series of poison pill amendments, while Republicans are trying to make sure the pipeline proposal gets to President Obama’s desk.
- Sex offender eyed in cold-case disappearance of Brittanee Drexel in South Carolina
A convicted child rapist is being eyed by South Carolina cops in the disappearances of two young women, including a New York teenager who disappeared while on spring break in Myrtle Beach almost three years ago, FoxNews.com has learned.
Today’s Links February 16, 2012
February 16th, 2012
XR14 - Police nab 17 students, including 4 football players, in TCU drug sting
Authorities arrested 17 students at Texas Christian University on Wednesday as part of a six-month drug sting, an especially embarrassing blow to the school because it included four members of the high-profile football team.
- Congressional negotiators seal final agreement on payroll tax cut
A top lawmaker says the House of Representatives and Senate have sealed a final agreement on legislation to renew a 2 percentage-point cut in the payroll tax and jobless benefits for millions of unemployed workers, a top priority of President Barack Obama.
- Marine’s mom arrested for allegedly stealing thousands from son deployed in Afghanistan
The Florida mother of a United States marine was arrested for allegedly stealing $4,000 from her son’s bank account while he was deployed in Afghanistan, MyFoxOrlando.com reports.
- US and Afghan governments begin three-way peace talks with Taliban
The U.S. and Afghan governments have begun secret three-way talks with the Taliban, Afghan President Hamid Karzai told The Wall Street Journal, disclosing an important breakthrough in efforts to end the 10-year war.
- Obama’s popularity could take a hit if gas prices continue to spike
Prices for regular unleaded gasoline are up 12 cents on average in the past three weeks, according to the latest Lundbergh survey. They’re poised to go higher still this spring, likely breaking the $4 barrier for regular unleaded and holding steady through the summer months, according to many analysts.
- Social networks saturated with criticism of Grammys for allowing Chris Brown to perform twice
Chris Brown might be the most hated man on Twitter this week.
- Georgia student sues school over strip search in front of classmates
A Georgia middle school student claimed in a lawsuit Wednesday he was humiliated and traumatized when he was brought to a vice principal’s office and forced to strip in front of classmates who said he had marijuana.
Today’s Links February 15, 2012
February 15th, 2012
XR14 - US, Europe eye risky, unprecedented penalty for Iran over pursuit of nuclear weapons
The last-resort financial effort suggests the U.S. and Europe are grasping for ways to show immediate results because economic sanctions have so far failed to force Iran back to nuclear talks.
- Preschooler’s homemade lunch replaced with nuggets
A Hoke County preschooler was fed chicken nuggets for lunch because a state worker felt that her homemade lunch did not have enough nutritional value, according to a report by the <a href=”http://www.carolinajournal.com/exclusives/homemade-lunch-replaced-with-cafeteria-nuggets.html”>Carolina Journal</a>.
- Proposed Obama budget includes surge in tax hikes
President Obama’s proposed 2013 budget contains a decade-long surge of tax hikes that, if approved, would affect everything from income to investment to inheritance.
- In an election about the economy, the culture wars make a comeback
The immortal campaign words from the 1990s, “It’s the economy, Stupid,” were thought to apply to the campaign season of 2012, too. But recent circumstances have re-ignited the culture wars and help to explain the sudden and unlikely rise of Rick Santorum, a Republican social conservative who was all but written off.
- Missing South Carolina woman’s fiance seen leaving scene of her burned SUV, police say
The fiance was found dead Friday of a gunshot wound, and Charleston County Coroner Rae Wooten confirmed that the wound was self-inflicted.
- Is Ford working on a new supercar?
Jamal Hameedi has a dream.
- Congressional negotiators reach tentative deal on payroll tax cut, jobless aid, Medicare money
Under the emerging details of the agreement, the payroll tax cut still wouldn’t be offset by other taxes or spending cuts, however, negotiators are working out funding provisions for the unemployment and Medicare measures.
Today’s Links February 14, 2012
February 14th, 2012
XR14 - New Jersey’s state Senate passes gay marriage bill, Christie promises veto
In a move that supporters called a civil rights milestone, New Jersey’s state Senate on Monday passed a bill to recognize same-sex marriages, marking the first time state lawmakers officially endorsed the idea — despite the promise of a veto by Gov. Chris Christie.
- Panetta to defend cuts to military in budget plan
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is defending his department’s slimmed-down, $614 billion budget plan, telling senators that it’s time to step up and show they are serious about reducing the deficit.
- Pennsylvania judge charged over dismissing her own traffic tickets
A judge in Lancaster, Pa., was removed from the bench and charged with numerous criminal offenses Monday after allegedly dismissing her own traffic tickets.
- Obama plays hardball with pet project of Boehner’s
Buried on page 1321 of President Obama’s new budget is a sign the White House is ready to play hardball with Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio).
- Justice Breyer robbed by machete-wielding intruder at West Indies vacation home
A Supreme Court spokeswoman says Justice Stephen Breyer was robbed last week by a machete-wielding intruder at his vacation home in the West Indies.
- Why did Tony Bennett link Whitney Houston’s death to illegal drugs?
Tony Bennett used the death of Whitney Houston to promote his pro-legalization stance on drugs.
- Hugh Hefner’s son Marston arrested for attacking Playmate-of-the-Year-girlfriend, report says
Hugh Hefner’s oldest son Marston Hefner was arrested last night after he allegedly attacked his Playmate of the Year girlfriend Claire Sinclair … TMZ has learned.
Today’s Links February 13, 2012
February 13th, 2012
XR14 - The Grammys pay tribute to the late singing legend Whitney Houston
A somber Grammys got under way Sunday night with the Recording Academy paying tribute to one of pop music’s biggest names — Whitney Houston.
- Australian authorities find body of American tourist inside tree
The decomposing body of a woman found in a tree in suburban Sydney last month was Monday identified as missing American tourist Melissa Joy Dietzel.
- President Obama’s budget meets early GOP skepticism
Drawing on $1 trillion in deficit reductions already negotiated in last summer’s debt ceiling deal, President Obama’s next fiscal year budget — out Monday — will call for $1.5 trillion in spending cuts to go with $1.5 trillion in new taxes on corporations and high-income earners.
- Police: Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport evacuated due to bomb threat
Airport police say they have evacuated most of Amsterdam’s busy Schiphol Airport after receiving a bomb threat.
- Pastor’s daughter accidentally shot at Florida church
Authorities say the daughter of a pastor was accidentally shot in the head at a church in St. Petersburg.
- Adele wins big at Grammys amid tributes to Whitney Houston
The Foo Fighters captured five Grammys and Adele won four, including the song of the year trophy for “Rolling in the Deep,” at a Grammy ceremony that had the difficult task of celebrating music’s best while mourning the loss of one of their greatest, Whitney Houston.
- US admiral says Navy forces are prepared to confront Iran
The top U.S. Navy official in the Gulf said Sunday he takes Iran’s military capabilities seriously but insists his forces are prepared to confront any Iranian aggression in the region.









