Jodi Arias Gets Life in Prison Without the Possibility of Parole

Jodi Arias has been sentenced to a natural life sentence with no possibility of parole.

Arias was found guilty in May 2013 of murdering her on-off boyfriend, Travis Alexander, five years earlier.

Because two previous juries were unable to decide whether or not she should receive the death penalty, the final sentencing decision was up to Judge Sherry Stephens at today's hearing. Stephens had to rule on whether Arias would serve her natural life in prison or have the possibility of parole after 25 years.

After hearing tearful statements from Alexander's sisters, the court also heard Arias' mother asking for leniency, and then Arias' final plea to receive the possibility of parole in 25 years.

"It's my firm belief that death would bring me untold peace and freedom. If I die today, I would be free and I would be at peace," Arias said as she appeared in a prison jumpsuit in Maricopa County Court. "For years, that's exactly what I wanted. But I have to fight for my life just like I did on June 4, 2008 because I realize how selfish it would be for me to escape accountability for this mess that I created."

Arias, who was convicted of first degree murder, maintained that Alexander was trying to attack her when she stabbed him multiple times and shot him.

"To this day I cannot believe I was capable of doing something that terrible," Arias said. "I'm truly disgusted and I'm repulsed with myself. I wish there was some way I could take it back."

Mark Henle/The Arizona Republic/AP Photo

PHOTO: Hillary Wilcox, a sister of Travis Alexander, makes a statement during the sentencing of Jodi Arias in Maricopa County Superior Court, April 13, 2015, in Phoenix.

Arias' testimony came after Alexander's relatives tearfully urged the judge to give the convicted killer the strongest possible sentence available.

"It hurts too much to remember him alive because if I remember him, I remember too much about how he was brutally taken from us and I can't handle it," Alexander's sister, Hillary Wilcox, said amid tears in Arizona's Maricopa County Court this morning. "This is what I've had to do so I can cope."

Wilcox said that sometimes when she does think of him, she is in the shower, and, "I know that's because that's where she killed him, so I have to quickly shake it out of my head and get out of the shower."

The second sister to speak, Tanisha Sorenson, turned and directly addressed Arias, citing Arias' earlier claims in her personal journal where she said the person who killed Alexander deserved to die.

"What happened to that, Jodi?" a tearful Sorenson asked as she faced Arias.

Mark Henle/The Arizona Republic/AP Photo

PHOTO: Tanisha Sorenson, a sister of Travis Alexander, reacts during the sentencing of Jodi Arias in Maricopa County Superior Court, April 13, 2015, in Phoenix.

Sorenson also told the judge that she and her relatives have been harassed by Arias' supporters throughout the trial, saying that they "send me pictures of my brother's dead body, his autopsy photos, his blackened face and slit throat, to my email and my Facebook page. ... I did not ever think we would be victimized."

Alexander's relatives and friends were all seen wearing blue in solidarity.

Prosecutor Juan Martinez said that Alexander's relatives hope that Arias is sentenced to serve life without the possibility of parole "not because they want to be vindictive, but [because] as you have also seen, what happened in that bathroom was a butchering."

All but one holdout on the second jury wanted to give Arias the death penalty, jurors said. However, because a unanimous decision was not reached, Stephens was tasked with determining her prison sentence, and the death penalty was taken off the table.

Arias took the stand for a marathon 18 days in the first trial, which turned into a national spectacle with live coverage. Judge Stephens ruled that cameras were not allowed in court during the second trial, covering the sentencing phase, except for the reading of the verdict.

Source: http://abcnews.go.com/US/jodi-arias-victims-relatives-tearfully-judge-impose-maximum/story?id%3D30277868

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Masters 2015: Tiger Woods reveals injury scare after successful Augusta return

Tiger Woods survived another injury scare before recording his best Major finish since the 2013 Open.

The four-time Masters champion hit a tree root with his club as he played out of the rough on the ninth hole as he shot a closing 73 to finish tied 17.

It hurts, it definitely hurts," he said. "I didn't know there was a tree root there. I drilled the club straight into it. It didn't move, but my body kept moving.

"There's a little joint that popped out, and I was able to somehow put it back in, which didn't feel very good.

"At least I got it back in. I could move my hand again. It's sore. I'm not going to be lifting any weights for a while!"

Masters final day: Best pictures

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He finished 13 shots behind winner Jordan Spieth but this was the first time Woods completed 72 holes in an official PGA Tour event since the 2014 WGC-Cadillac Championship in March last year when he tied for 25th.

He underwent back surgery soon after and has played just eight worldwide events since and just three this year. During that stretch, he withdrew from two tournaments and missed the cut in three other.

But after finishing tied 17 following a nine-week layoff, Woods said: It was mostly positives this week. Considering that I, the state of my game the where it was at Torrey and Phoenix.

"You saw the state of my short game at the time, because again I was caught in between two different patterns. But now my short game's my strength again, which is good stuff.

Source: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/golf/masters-2015-tiger-woods-reveals-5509557

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Taraji P. Henson on 'SNL': Cookie Lyon Invades 'Sesame Street,' Nicki Minaj ...

Oscar-nominated actress trots out her Empire character and cleverly impersonates comedienne during parody of NBCs Hollywood Game Night

Taraji P. Henson is not a comedienne, but the Oscar-nominated actress is hilariously over-the-top as Cookie Lyon in Foxs top-rated, soapy drama Empire. Sketch comedy is a hard beast to tame and Henson proved this when she set out to conquer the art form as a first-time host on Saturday Night Live this weekend.

In her opening monologue, she strutted and sang with a choir about achieving long overdue mainstream acclaim in a song called I Made It.

Also Read: Taraji P. Henson Goes Cookie Lyon on Taran Killam in SNL Promos (Video)

This is so nice, Henson deadpanned before the song. After 20 years in show business, white people finally know who I am.

In some of the nights other sketches, Henson went on to play a lawyer in an HLN sketch, a QVC host in another bit and Nicki Minaj in a parody of Home.

A Boyz N the Hood inspired parody titled John Singletons Game of Thrones short turned out to be rather funny with well-timed cameo from GoTs Nikolaj Coster-Waldau aka Jaime Lannister and not because of Henson.

Also Read: SNLs Michael Keaton-Hosted Episode Mocks Indiana Pizzeria, Scientology and CNN Newsroom (Video)

After Weekend Update, Henson impersonated comedian Wanda Sykes in a Hollywood Game Night sketch that really showed off her comedic chops. Henson drew big laughs as she nailed Sykes voice and walk.

To no ones surprise, Empire made its way onto the show and Henson once again proved how funny she is as Cookie Lyon this time on a Sesame Street short that included an Elmo coat.

Henson also garnered giggles as Janelles freak dancing mom on the recurring web show sketch How To Dance with Janelle and as a black woman who wanted to play baseball in a bit that intelligently parodied A League of Their Own.

Also Read: Empires Taraji P. Henson Shares Favorite Cookie Lines: Shut Up Dora, Boo Boo Kitty (Video)

If SNL had reversed the order of the sketches and showed the Sesame Street, Janelle and baseball pieces first, the episode wouldve been much stronger. Instead, the writers probably disappointed a lot of Empire and Henson fans early on.

In other segments, Weekend Update was a treat with Michael Che delivering a few brilliantly crafted one-liners on police shootings and college riots and a delightful cameo by Billy Crystal as Jacob the Bar Mitzvah Boys dad.

Meanwhile, Kate McKinnons SNL domination continued as she nailed it in both the cold open as Hillary Clinton and as Jane Lynch on Hollywood Game Night. The added bonus was seeing Darrell Hammond as former President Bill Clinton again.

Saturday Night Live airs 11:30 p.m. Saturdays on NBC.

Watch sketches from Tarajs SNL episode:

Source: http://www.thewrap.com/taraji-p-henson-uneven-on-snl-sesame-street-works-nicki-minaj-doesnt/

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Hillary Clinton drives to Iowa

When Hillary Clinton said she was going to hit the road, she meant it.

The newly declared presidential candidate is on her way to Iowa, from New York, in a van after announcing her candidacy online Sunday afternoon.

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The former secretary of state, who is trying to become the first female president, is set to appear in Iowa the influential early-voting state on Tuesday for a series of small, private events. But first, shell be driving with two campaign aides Nick Merrill and Huma Abedin making unplanned stops along the way.

While she has no planned pit stops on her road trip which was her own idea the candidate stopped by a gas station in Pennsylvania on Sunday. She later tweeted a picture of the stop, saying, Road trip! Loaded the van & set off for IA. Met a great family when we stopped this afternoon. Many more to come. -H

Clinton asked top aides whether a road trip was feasible about a month ago, one of her staffers said. Instead of a motorcade, she is traveling in a three-car caravan, the smallest possible arrangement given the former first ladys security constraints.

We know at some point shell get OJed like the White Bronco, said one campaign aide, anticipating a highly-watched drive. But its worth the risk If she gets mobbed or we have a circus-type scene, thats one day in an 18-month campaign, and we can deal with it.

Clinton is not filming ads during her road trip, the aide said, adding that the trip will allow Clinton reap the political benefits of small, spontaneous events without a large crowd or media contingent. Even the launch video was filmed in-house, under the eye of digital strategist Teddy Goff, partially to avoid leaks.

Clintons much-anticipated launch came in the form of a web video on Sunday afternoon, ending months of speculation about her intentions. Her campaign kick-off is expected to include a series of low-key events with private citizens, as opposed to large speeches and her road trip reflects that plan. The presumptive Democratic front-runner is not planning any major speeches or campaign rallies until May.

Glenn Thrush contributed reporting.

Source: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/hillary-clinton-2016-hits-the-road-116911.html

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Rap star Nelly arrested in drug charge in Tennessee

NASHVILLE --- A Tennessee state trooper arrested internationally known hip-hop artist "Nelly" on felony drug charges in Putnam County on Saturday morning.

Nelly, whose real name is Cornell Haynes, was charged with felony possession of drugs, simple possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

At approximately 9:20 a.m. on Saturday, Trooper Michael Loftis stopped a Prevost motor coach bus on Interstate 40 near the 275 mile marker for failure to display a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and International Fuel Tax Association (IFTA) sticker on the vehicle. The investigating trooper planned to conduct an inspection on the bus when he noticed an odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle.

Trooper Loftis, assisted by THP Sgt. Donald Jennings, then conducted a probable cause search of the bus. The troopers discovered in the sleeper area a plastic bag that contained five colored crystal-type rocks that tested positive for methamphetamine, as well as a small amount of marijuana and other drug paraphernalia. Further investigation revealed approximately 100 small Ziploc bags that are commonly associated with the sale of narcotics and numerous handguns, including a gold-plated 50-caliber Desert Eagle pistol, a 45-caliber Tarus pistol, and a 500 magnum Smith and Wesson.

The bus was occupied by six subjects, one of whom was identified as Brian Jones,44, of St. Louis, Missouri.Mr. Jones, a convicted felon, was also in possession of a handgun and was charged accordingly.

Nelly,40, also of St. Louis, Missouriand Jones, who were traveling to St. Louis when the traffic stop occurred, were transported to the Putnam County Jail.

Source: http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2015/apr/11/rap-star-nelly-arrested-drug-charge-west-tennessee/298227/

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Circulan falsas noticias sobre la muerte de Vicente Fern�ndez y Joan Sebastian

MXICO.- Las notas sobre muertes de los famosos suelen ser garanta de rating en televisin y "clicks" fciles en pginas de internet que slo buscan atraer visitas. Por esto, es comn encontrar este tipo de noticias aun cuando son falsas. Un ejemplo es el de Joan Sebastian que en das recientes fue hospitalizado en Puebla.

Este domingo se creo el rumor de la supuesta muerte del cantante y compositor Joan Sebastian, al parecer, un medio de Monterrey difundi que haba fallecido a causa de complicaciones por el cncer que padece.

Inmediatamente su hijo, Jose Manuel Figueroa, public en su Twitter mensajes para desmentir tal informacin.

Foto: Captura Twitter

Otro caso reciente, es el interprete de msica ranchera, Vicente Fernndez, public a travs de las redes sociales un mensaje acerca de los rumores que lo daban por muerto. Segn confirmaron varios medios, todo comenz cuando el programa Primer Impacto, inform que el cantante haba fallecido de un paro cardaco.

Foto: Captura instagram

El 22 de marzo Vicente fue sometido a una ciruga de emergencia, sus hijos se encargaron de difundir mediante un comunicado en redes sociales su estado de salud. Despus el 'Charro de Huentitn' subi fotos en redes sociales sobre su recuperacin.

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Source: http://www.sandiegored.com/noticias/62610/Circulan-falsas-noticias-sobre-la-muerte-de-Vicente-Fernandez-y-Joan-Sebastian/

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Girl, 7, 'Breaks' Kidney After Tripping Over Shoelaces

A California girl is recovering after a simple trip and fall left her a kidney so badly injured that one-third of the organ might be irreparably damaged, according to her father, Dominic Angelini.

Sophia Angelini, 7, was simply trying to go inside her school during lunch to get a jacket, when she tripped and fell.

I tripped on my shoelace and fell on the curb and I hit my side on it, Sophia told ABC station KGO-TV in San Francisco.

The seemingly minor fall resulted in serious consequences with Sophia needing to be hospitalized for eight days. After the fall, Sophia first went to the nurse at her Bay Area school and then was sent home with her mother. Sophia's said when his wife picked up Sophia, she realized immediately that she was sick.

"She was very pale and was vomiting," Angelini said of Sophia. But she "didnt have a scratch on her or even a bruise."

Sophia ended up at the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford University, where doctors were able to find the source of Sophia's problem: an injured kidney that would require surgery.

She had a lacerated kidney, Angelini told ABC News. When they showed us, the lower third [of the kidney] looks broken into pieces.

Dr. Jonathan Ross, a pediatric urologist at UH Rainbow Babies & Childrens Hospital in Cleveland, said children can be at a higher risk for kidney injuries.

"What protects our kidneys is the [abdominal] muscles and fat," said Ross, who did not treat Sophia. "Kids dont have nearly as much fat" or muscle.

Ross said one thing doctors might consider in cases similar to Sophias is whether there is any kind of underlying condition, such as a partial blockage to the kidney. Ross said if the urine cant drain properly, because the kidney has a malformation, it can mean the organ is more prone to being damaged.

He cautioned, however, he did not know whether this was an issue in Sophias case.

They would know based on the CT scan; it would definitely be apparent, he said.

To fix Sophia's broken kidney, doctors were able to apply a stent connecting the bladder to the kidney and essentially repairing much of the damage, according to KGO. The stent helped remove liquid from around the injury and helped keep the important pathway open, so that it didn't close as part of the healing process.

Sophia's physician at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Dr. Hsi-Yang Wu, told KGO the stent would help keep any urine from surrounding the kidney as the organ healed.

Angelini said Sophia is now recovering at home and will likely not notice any lingering issues from her injury.

Its something [she] wont notice, Angelini said. As she grows the kidney will grow a little bit.

Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/girl-breaks-kidney-tripping-shoelaces/story?id%3D29526981

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