Posts Tagged
‘Barack Obama’

In today’s news, Anders Breivik admits to killing 77 people, but claims self-defense; Obama’s campaign hauled in $53 million during the month of March; Dole recalls bagged salad mix in 15 states after random samples tested positive for salmonella; George Zimmerman’s attorneys fear negative jury bias as the trial gets starts; and the Taliban wreaks havoc in Kabul over the weekend. Meanwhile, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are officially engaged; Hillary Clinton parties in Colombia; and the federal government is looking to retry Roger Clemens.

Kelly H. + Caitlin

CRUCIAL:

Norway killer admits massacre, claims self-defense, http://bit.ly/HYUHIp
Anders Behring Breivik has admitted to a bomb-and-shooting massacre that killed 77 people in Norway last year. However, he has pleaded not guilty to criminal charges, claiming he acted in self-defense. Breivik’s court appearance disturbed spectators as he flashed salutes, smiles and shook hands with prosecutors and court officials. Breivik also stated that he does not recognize Norwegian courts or their authority to charge him, saying, “I don’t recognize Norwegian courts because you get your mandate from the Norwegian political parties who support multiculturalism.” Eight people were killed as a result of Breivik’s bombing and 69 were killed in his shooting massacre. The center issue at the court hearings is determining if Breivik’s mental health should require him to go to prison or a psychiatric hospital.

Tough for Zimmerman to get fair trial, defense attorneys say, http://on.msnbc.com/INZ1gt
Defense attorneys working for George Zimmerman are saying that a fair trial is looking less possible. Citing the pressure for his arrest and public outcry, including a petition with two million signatures calling for his prosecution, the defense team is claiming the emotional state surrounding the shooting of Trayvon Martin is too volatile to conduct a fair trial. They specifically said that finding a jury of peers who have not already made an opinion about Zimmerman’s guilty or innocence will be especially difficult. Zimmerman is expected to take the stand and tell his side of the story in this case. But it is possible that if a judge rules Zimmerman’s action qualified under Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law, Zimmerman may be granted immunity from prosecution.

Afghan-led forces beat back brazen Taliban attack, http://yhoo.it/IS2RAw
An 18-hour Taliban attack on the Afghan capital has ended after insurgents were overcome by heavy gunfire from Afghan-led forces and air assaults from U.S.-led helicopters. At least one police office and 17 militants were killed in the various attacks in Kabul and three other eastern cities. The attacks are cause for concern that the Taliban is not defeated and has found security weaknesses in Afghanistan. International combat troops, including U.S. and NATO forces are scheduled to leave by the end of 2014. The Taliban attacks targeted embassies, government buildings and NATO bases, becoming the most widespread attack in the Afghan capital since an assault on the U.S. Embassy and NATO headquarters last September blamed on the Haqqani network.

Dole recalls bagged salad in 15 states for salmonella, http://usat.ly/HHzn7a
756 cases of Dole bagged salad have been recalled because of possible salmonella contamination. The Seven Lettuces salad bags are stamped with a use-by date of April 11, 2011 and list the UPC code 71430 01057, and product codes 0577N089112A and 0577N089112B. The salads were distributed in several states, including Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin. No illnesses have been reported. The bags were recalled after a random sample tested positive for salmonella.

(via PennPIRG.org) Vast Majority of PA College IDs Not Valid for Voting: A recent study released today by PennPIRG and a broad coalition of voter protection groups found that Pennsylvania’s new photo ID voting law could potentially disenfranchise more than 80% of the state’s college students. While the law states that it will allow college IDs as a valid form of voting ID, it also includes language requiring that all IDs must have expiration dates, which the study found very few colleges in the state actually print on their issued IDs. Out of the 110 surveyed colleges and universities only 15 schools have student identification cards for all students that meet the requirements of having a photo, name and expiration date on the card. This discrepancy between how colleges print their IDs and what the state legislature passed into law means that more than 80% of Pennsylvania’s 700,000 college students will not be able to use their college ID to vote on Election Day this fall, http://bit.ly/HM1bvS

Obama campaign, Democrats raised $53 million in March, http://lat.ms/HZlEZd
President Obama’s campaign announced that fundraising efforts hauled in $53 million in March. The campaign is also reporting that 190,000 of March’s 567,000 donors were first-time supporters. Obama started fundraising for his campaign a year ago and March’s figure  is halfway to Obama’s goal. Campaign staff said that they expect to see previous donors give more now that the 2012 race is focused on Mitt Romney. No GOP Presidential candidate has released March fundraising numbers yet.

CULTURAL:

Howard Stern Takes Shot at Kim Kardashian: ‘Stop The Nonsense,’ http://bit.ly/HMcs09

Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie Engaged, http://fcnews.tv/HN3Cxm

Shock as Pippa Middleton pal points pistol in crazy car stunt, http://bit.ly/HJhl9K

Hillary Clinton in Colombia dances, drinks beer (Photos), http://wapo.st/HJ04xr

Feds bulk up to retry Clemens over drug claims, http://cbsn.ws/HLXjv8

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