Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Man killed in St. Louis home, another shot and injured in the confusion that followed


Tina Turner Chokes Up When Talking About Robbie - Welcome to Sweetie Pie"s - Oprah Winfrey Network

UPDATED at 5p.m. with more information about the victim.

ST. LOUIS A man who was shot and killed Monday night inside a home near Fairground Park was the grandson of Robbie Montgomery, owner of Sweetie Pies restaurants.

Andre Montgomery, 21, was killed in the shooting about 8 p.m. inside the home in the 3900 block of Natural Bridge Avenue, police said Tuesday.

He had appeared in past seasons on the familys reality TV show, Welcome to Sweetie Pies, on the Oprah Winfrey Network. He graduated in 2013 from McCluer North High School, and the ceremony was featured on the show.

Our hearts are with Miss Robbie, Andres Uncle Tim Norman and the rest of the Sweetie Pies family, OWN President Sheri Salata said in a written statement.

The show also documented Andre Montgomerys transition after struggles in school and moving from Texas to the St. Louis area, as well as a visit to the grave of his father, Andre Montgomery Sr.

I want Andre to become a successful man, Robbie Montgomery said in the episode that included his high school graduation. And now I think he knows whatever he wants to do, if he puts forth the effort, he can do it.

His family could not be reached Tuesday.

A second man was shot and injured Monday night in the confusion after the shooting of Andre Montgomery.

Another man, 22, ran upstairs to help Montgomery after the shooting, police said. That man was armed with a firearm.

A third man who was in the home didnt know the second man was there until he appeared with the gun. The third man opened fire with his own gun because he feared for his safety, police said.

The 22-year-old was taken to a hospital, where he was in critical condition with wounds to the chest and arm, police said.

Police dont know who shot Montgomery, who was pronounced dead at the scene. He had been shot in the head.

Montgomery"s killing was at least the 25th homicide of the year in the city. Authorities asked anyone with information to call CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-8477.

Source: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/grandson-of-sweetie-pie-s-owner-killed-in-st-louis/article_e1e9635c-6785-597c-946a-47eea2dcf651.html

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Five things to know about Merrick Garland


Obama nominates Merrick Garland to Supreme Court
Five things to know about Merrick Garland

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President Barack Obama names Merrick B. Garland to the U.S. Supreme Court. He will replace the seat vacated by Justice Antonin Scalia. USA TODAY

In this April 27, 1995, file photo, Merrick Garland, then the associate deputy attorney general, speaks to the media following the hearing of Oklahoma bombing suspect Timothy McVeigh in El Reno, Okla.(Photo: Rick Bowmer, AP)

WASHINGTON Here are five things you need to know about Merrick Garland, President Obama"s nominee to fill the Supreme Court seat of the late Justice Antonin Scalia:

Long appellate tenure

He"s served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, a traditional steppingstone to the high court, for 19 years and is now its chief judge.

Past Republican favorite

Several times in the past, he has been touted by Republican senators as the most palatable possible choice (but now they say no chance). In 1997 he was confirmed by the Senate to the appellate bench on a 76-23 vote, which included the backing of 32 Republicans.

Roberts" rsum

Like Chief Justice John Roberts, he went to Harvard Law School, clerked for federal appeals court Judge Henry Friendly, served at the Justice Department, was a law firm partner and wound up on the D.C. Circuit.

Oklahoma City

He managed the 1995 investigation into the Oklahoma City bombing, which at the time was the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil. A year later, he was named to oversee theUnabomber inquiry following the 1996 arrest of Ted Kaczynski.

He"s no Scalia

Friends and colleagues describe him as a low-key, unassuming person who does not seek the limelight, quite unlike the man he would replace, Antonin Scalia. (Good luck with that.)

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Last SlideNext SlideMERRICK GARLAND IS OBAMA"S SCOTUS NOMINEEGarland: Supreme Court nomination "greatest honor of my life" | 01:48

President Barack Obama announced that federal appeals court judge Merrick Garland as his nominee for the Supreme Court vacancy. USA TODAY

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MERRICK GARLAND IS OBAMA"S SCOTUS NOMINEEObama Introduces Garland as High Court Nominee | 00:34

President Barack Obama is nominating federal appeals court judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court, challenging Republicans to reject a long-time jurist and former prosecutor known as a consensus builder on what is often dubbed the nation"s secon AP

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MERRICK GARLAND IS OBAMA"S SCOTUS NOMINEEMerrick Garland nomination a strategic move for Obama | 01:26

President Obama announced he is nominating Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court. USA TODAY"s Richard Wolf analyzes what Obama"s nomination of Garland could mean come November. USA TODAY

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MERRICK GARLAND IS OBAMA"S SCOTUS NOMINEEObama names Garland as U.S. Supreme Court nominee | 00:32

President Barack Obama names Merrick B. Garland to the U.S. Supreme Court. He will replace the seat vacated by Justice Antonin Scalia. USA TODAY

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  • Garland: Supreme Court nomination "greatest honor of my life"

  • Obama Introduces Garland as High Court Nominee

  • Merrick Garland nomination a strategic move for Obama

  • Obama names Garland as U.S. Supreme Court nominee

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Source: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2016/03/16/five-things-merrick-garland/81853926/

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"Pretty Little Liars" Season 6 Spoilers: Kara Royster Talks Spaleb Romance, Uber A [EXCLUSIVE]


The Cast of Pretty Little Liars Takes a Lie Detector Test

(Photo : Photo Credit: Advantage PR) Kara Royster who plays Yvonne Phillips, Toby Cavanaugh"s girlfriend teases some spoilers and reveals whether or not she is team Spoby.

The "Pretty Little Liars" season 6 finale is just a few hours away and we cannot wait! Design & Trend chatted with actress Kara Royster who plays Yvonne Phillips, Toby Cavanaugh"s girlfriend.

Check out our exclusive interview with her as she teases some spoilers and reveals whether or not she is team Spoby.

It was recently revealed that Yvonne had an abortion a few years ago. Will this storyline be explored in the upcoming episodes? Will this impact Yvonne"s relationship with Toby?

I think it was amazing that the show was willing to explore this subject and I think it was handled very well. I think more details could come out about it however, Toby has known about it for a while so I don"t think it will harm their relationship.

Caleb previously teased Toby about building a house for Yvonne and Toby also planned on proposing to his new girlfriend. Will we see anymore engagements or weddings take place this season?

I think that an engagement or wedding could be a big possibility. Toby really loves Yvonne and Caleb and Spencer are growing quite strong. However, with everyone working together in the finale we see if the feelings are still there.

In the upcoming final episode of season 6, we will see Toby and Spencer work together to track down Sara Harvey. How will this impact Yvonne and Toby"s relationship?

I think Spoby working together again will affect our relationship. For the first time, Yvonne is a little insecure and wonders if Toby has unresolved feelings for Spencer.

Were you a fan of "Pretty Little Liars" prior to taking on the role of Yvonne? If yes, were you a Spoby fan or do you think Toby should end up with your character?

I was a huge fan of the show before coming on board. My mother, sister and I would watch every week and discuss our theories. I was a big Spoby supporter, as so many others are, and as a fan I was so surprised I would be the one to come between them. However, with my relationship with Toby and Spencer"s with Caleb progresses, I can really see a future for both couples.

Do you have any theories on who Uber A is? Can you tease whether or not Yvonne will have an interaction with the villainous character?

I think Uber A is someone we never saw coming, a character that is talked about but rarely seen. I would love to see Yvonne interact with the likes of Sara Harvey or even Melissa, in true PLL fashion everyone is a suspect.

Are you ready for the the "Pretty Little Liars" season 6 finale? Tell us how you think it will end in the comment section below.

Source: http://www.designntrend.com/articles/72068/20160315/pretty-little-liars-season-6-spoilers-kara-royster-spaleb-uber-a-exclusive.htm

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US Hellfire missile mistakenly shipped to Cuba


Beware the Ides of March

A dummy US Hellfire missile was mistakenly shipped from Europe to Cuba in 2014, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.

The inert missile did not contain any explosives, the Journal reported, but there are concerns that Cuba could share the technology with potential US adversaries such as North Korea or Russia.

The Journal report was attributed to anonymous people familiar with the matter.

A US official with knowledge of the situation, who wasnt authorised to speak publicly on the matter and demanded anonymity, confirmed its veracity to the Associated Press (AP).

Related: US-Cuba thaw, one year later: historic breakthroughs, but when will they trickle down?

According to the defense department, the Hellfire is a laser-guided, air-to-surface missile that weighs about 45kg (100lb). It can be deployed from an attack helicopter such as the Apache or an unmanned drone such as the Predator. It is manufactured by Lockheed Martin.

The US official told the AP that Lockheed was authorised to export the dummy missile for a Nato training exercise. The official attributed the shipping error to Lockheeds freight forwarders, and said the US was working with Lockheed to get the device back.

The official said the US did not want any defense technology to remain in a proscribed country, whether that country can use it or not. The official said there is greater concern that Cuba could give more technically advanced countries access to the dummy.

According to the Journal report, the missile was properly shipped to Spain, where it was used in the training exercise. It was then taken on a somewhat roundabout journey through Spain, Germany and France before winding up at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris.

From there, it was supposed to have been shipped back to Florida; instead, it was loaded onto an Air France flight to Havana.

US officials have been urging the Cuban government to return the missile, the Journals sources said. The US and Cuba restored diplomatic relations in July 2015 after more than 50 years of hostility.

The Journal reported that the US is also investigating whether the missiles disappearance was a deliberate act of espionage.

Source: http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/08/dummy-us-hellfire-missile-mistakenly-shipped-cuba

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Mother Teresa should not be made into a saint and here"s why


Acceptance Speech by Mother Teresa Media Player at Nobelprize org
Mother Teresa (Picture: Getty)

Mother Teresa is on the verge of being canonised by the Vatican.

Some might wonder why its taken this long after all, most of us have grown up with tales of her fight against poverty and her general air of goodness.

However, academics at the University of Montreal suggest things are not as they seem.

After analysis of a vast amount of papers about the woman born Anjez Gonxhe Bojaxhiu in Macedonia in August 1910, Serge Larive and Genevieve Chenard came to the conclusion that Blessed Teresa of Calcutta was anything but a saint, with her rather dubious way of caring for the sick, her questionable political contacts, her suspicious management of the enormous sums of money she received, and her overly dogmatic views regarding, in particular, abortion, contraception, and divorce.

Mother Teresa to be made a saint

They are far from the first to criticise the saint-in-waitings works.

Christopher Hitchens published The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practicein 1995 and to say he held negative views about his subject is an understatement, to say the least.

He wrote: she was a friend to the worst of the rich, taking misappropriated money from the atrocious Duvalier family in Haiti (whose rule she praised in return) and from Charles Keating of the Lincoln Savings and Loan.

Where did that money, and all the other donations, go?

The primitive hospice in Calcutta was as run down when she died as it always had been she preferred California clinics when she got sick herself and her order always refused to publish any audit.

But we have her own claim that she opened 500 convents in more than a hundred countries, all bearing the name of her own order. Excuse me, but this is modesty and humility?

So what other reasons are there to argue against this imminent sainthood?

Secret baptism of the dying

Mother Teresa believed it a duty to baptise the dying, regardless of their religious beliefs.

Susan Shields, a former member of the Missionaries of Charity, was quoted by Hitchins as saying: Sisters were to ask each person in danger of death if he wanted a ticket to heaven. An affirmative reply was to mean consent to baptism.

The sister was then to pretend that she was just cooling the patients head with a wet cloth, while in fact she was baptising him, saying quietly the necessary words.

Secrecy was important so that it would not come to be known that Mother Teresas sisters were baptising Hindus and Muslims.

Her perception of the poor

Mother Teresa apparently believed that suffering was a gift from G*d.

The problem is not a lack of money the Foundation created by Mother Teresa has raised hundreds of millions of dollars but rather a particular conception of suffering and death.

There is something beautiful in seeing the poor accept their lot, to suffer it like Christs Passion. The world gains much from their suffering, was her reply to criticism, cites Hitchens.

Nevertheless, when Mother Teresa required palliative care, she received it in a modern American hospital.

Mother Teresa blesses a child in 1993 (Picture: AFP/Getty)

Politics and use of charity funds

Aroup Chatterjees book Mother Teresa: The Final Verdictwill also make surprising reading for those who see the missionary as the epitome of goodness.

In it he explains that Mother Teresas friendship with Indira Gandhi and the Congress Party was widely believed to have been behind such assertions as People are happier. There are more jobs. There are no strikes.

This was after the suspension of civil liberties in 1975.

From the Montreal paper: Mother Teresa was generous with her prayers but rather miserly with her foundations millions when it came to humanitys suffering.

During numerous floods in India or following the explosion of a pesticide plant in Bhopal, she offered numerous prayers and medallions of the Virgin Mary but no direct or monetary aid.

On the other hand, she had no qualms about accepting the Legion of Honour and a grant from the Duvalier dictatorship in Haiti.

Millions of dollars were transferred to the MCOs various bank accounts, but most of the accounts were kept secret, Larive says.

Given the parsimonious management of Mother Teresas works, one may ask where the millions of dollars for the poorest of the poor have gone?

The dubious matter of the miracle

Quoting the Montreal paper again:

The miracle attributed to Mother Theresa was the healing of a woman, Monica Besra, who had been suffering from intense abdominal pain.

The woman testified that she was cured after a medallion blessed by Mother Theresa was placed on her abdomen.

Her doctors thought otherwise: the ovarian cyst and the tuberculosis from which she suffered were healed by the drugs they had given her.

The Vatican, nevertheless, concluded that it was a miracle.

Interestingly, Mother Teresa herself had issues with her own faith.

This from a posthumous collection of her personal papers (her request to have them destroyed after her death was roundly ignored). Emphasis is mine:

Lord, my G*d, you have thrown [me] away as unwanted unloved, she wrote in one missive.

I call, I cling, I want, and there is no one to answer, no, no one. Alone. Where is my faith? Even deep down right in there is nothing. I have no faith. I dare not utter the words and thoughts that crowd in my heart.

Some might say that Mother Teresa was simply following the tenets of her religious beliefs and this is a valid point, although one could argue that other religious figures have managed to do with it in a more sensitive fashion.

When I spoke with Catholic friends about writing this piece, they were already well aware of the issues surrounding the potential canonisation and suggested thatif they were to choose a candidate of their own it would be scar Romero, whose story is well worth investigating.

Even the Montreal academics admitted that If the extraordinary image of Mother Teresa conveyed in the collective imagination has encouraged humanitarian initiatives that are genuinely engaged with those crushed by poverty, we can only rejoice.

It is likely that she has inspired many humanitarian workers whose actions have truly relieved the suffering of the destitute and addressed the causes of poverty and isolation without being extolled by the media.

Nevertheless, the media coverage of Mother Teresa could have been a little more rigorous.

So Mother Teresas existence as an icon may well have led to others helping where it is needed, and that can only be a good thing.

But whether she is deserving of sainthood is another matter entirely.

Source: http://metro.co.uk/2016/03/16/mother-teresa-should-not-be-made-a-saint-and-heres-why-5754127/

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Trump Wins Northern Mariana Islands, 9 Delegates


Donald Trump Wins GOP Caucus On The Northern Mariana Islands

Donald Trump added another nine delegates to his arsenal early Tuesday morning by winning in the Northern Mariana Islands. Trump won the U.S. territory with 73 percent of the vote.

I encouraged CNMI GOP voters to come out and exercise their right and vote for their preferred presidential nominee. I am overwhelmed by the turnout and their support for my endorsement of Mr. Donald Trump. I thank all the voters for participating in this important process. The attention the CNMI has received this presidential cycle from all the candidates has truly shown that our votes matter,"Ralph Torres,governor of the Northern Mariana Islandssaid.

Source: http://townhall.com/tipsheet/justinholcomb/2016/03/15/trump-wins-north-mariana-islands-9-delegates-n2134181

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DC"s Metro Shutdown Is Mortifying, But at Least No One Will Die


BEAT THE DC METRO

Washingtonians, get ready to walk, pedal or Uber it. Officials from the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authoritythats the agency that runs the buses and trains of the nations capital cityare about to close the citys metro system, second-busiest in the country, for 29 hours. Underground electrical cables caught fire Monday, and WMATA brass says they cant guarantee it wont happen again.

We cannot send trains out in this system knowing full well that something could go wrong, said Jack Evans, director of Metros board of directors, in a Tuesday afternoon press conference. We believe the most prudent thing is to close down the system, find it, and fix it.

Beginning at midnight, inspectors will fan out across 118 miles of track to inspect 600 jumper cables, which connect portions of the transit systems electrical third rail to the train tracks, for signs of wear that could allow moisture into the cable. Its not especially complicated, or new technology. Care must be taken to prevent damage by water, which may result in short circuits, the American Railway Engineering Association wrote about jumpersin 1917.

Deterioration of those cables caused a fire at the LEnfant Plaza station in February 2015 that killed a 61-year-old woman and injured 69 others. Later that year, after the National Transportation Safety Board stepped in, Metro inspected the cables and replaced 125 of them. The fire on Monday raised fears among Metro officials that maybe their inspection wasnt all it could have been.

Its happened twice in a year, said Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld (who took the job in November 2015). I cant wait for a third time. Making safety a priority, he said, sometimes means making tough, unpopular decisions.

And this is going to be pretty unpopular. The shutdown will affect more than 700,000 passengers in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. Metro opened in 1976, and this is the first time the system has shut down for safetyapparently the first time any system of comparable size has shut down like this. But for many riders, it doesnt come as a shock.

Their dismay isnt limited to delays and crowds, those perpetual (and totally justifiable) complaints of the straphanger. In December 2015, the Federal Transit Administration ordered Metro to fix more than 200 safety issuessome dating back to 2008ranging from out-of-date fire extinguishers to derailments and collisions that the agency kept quiet. After last years fire, Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx moved safety enforcement authority from Metro to the Federal Transit Administration, and told the governors of Maryland and Virginia and mayor of DC to create a new Metro safety agency. That still hasnt happened, and Foxx said last month that he might withhold additional funds from the troubled system.

In 2015, Metros own safety report found a 70 percent increase in passengers getting doors slammed on them while trying to get out of the railcars, while employee injuries rose 30 percent over 2014. In the meantime, Metro ridership has dropped 10 percent since 2010 as Washingtonians have abandoned underground transit for cars and an increasingly popular bike share system.

The shutdown is embarrassing and seriously inconvenient, but perhaps not a calamity. Cities have coped with similar disruptions to their transportation networks. Los Angeles closed a chunk of the 405 freeway in July 2011 and again in September 2012, prompting fears of a carmageddon. Instead, so many people stayed home, traffic was better than average. San Francisco and Oakland have closed the Bay Bridge for weekend-long stretches several times in the past decade to accommodate construction. When a major strike crippled New Yorks transit system in 2005, city officials converted busy streets into temporary HOV lanes. Cars with fewer than four occupants werent allowed into Manhattan south of 96th street.

So, think of it as a snow day? Student absences and tardiness from school will be excused. Federal employeesa big chunk of the DC working populationare allowed to telecommute or take unscheduled leave. Stay home. Carpool. Take the bus. (Metro will add extra service). Metro may need serious repairsto its operations and infrastructure as well as its budget and reputationbut at least its riders will survive.

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Source: http://www.wired.com/2016/03/dcs-metro-shutdown-mortifying-least-no-one-will-die/

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