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    ‘Justin Timberlake’


    By: Caitlin Maguire

    News Round-Up: Friday, January 11th, 2013

    Friday, January 11th, 2013

    The U.S. orders a review of Boeing 787s;  the student that opened fire at CA’s Taft Union High Schol had intended targets; President Obama and President Hamid Karzai will meet to discuss troop levels in Afghanistan; campaign staffers report that Michele Bachmann still has not paid them; and the NYPD will review 800 rape cases due to mishandling of DNA evidence. Meanwhile, Iran will respond to ‘Argo’ with its own film; Justin Bieber’s former bodyguard sues him; and Justin Timberlake is ready to make new music.

    Caitlin

    CRUCIAL:

    Dreamliner investigation: U.S. orders review of Boeing 787s, http://trib.in/VrJlV3
    The FAA will conduct an investigation of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner after two separate incidents on aircrafts in Japan. The Dreamliner gained a great deal of attention when it was first introduced for its sophistication and technology; however, it has been plagued with mishaps and production delays.

    Taft Union school shooting: Boy had ‘intended targets,’ police say, http://lat.ms/XSPDQ3
    Kern County, CA police say the 16-year-old student who fired a shotgun in a Taft Union High School classroom Thursday had “intended targets.” The suspect burst into the class he was supposed to be attending and shot one student two to four times before trying to shoot another. A teacher and school supervisor talked the student into putting the gun down and evacuated the rest of the classroom safely. “They did a great job of protecting the kids,” said Ed Whiting, the chief of the Taft Police Department. “We can’t thank them enough for what they did today.” One victim is in critical condition while the teacher suffered a minor pellet wound to his head.

    Plea decision looms in James Holmes’ Aurora theater shooting case, http://bit.ly/VSApVM
    Colorado Judge William B. Sylvester ruled Thursday that there is enough evidence to try James Holmes for the shooting that killed 12 people and wounded 70 in an Aurora, CO movie theater.  The ruling ties Homes to 166 counts of murder, attempted murder, and other weapons charges. As a result, Holmes will be held without bail and arraigned Friday. Defense lawyers have said that they are not ready to plea and will most likely ask for a delay. Holmes’ lawyers have said that he is mentally ill, causing some to believe that he will plead not guilty by reason of insanity.

    Afghan troop levels top agenda for Obama-Karzai talks, http://reut.rs/VqqsBH
    President Obama will meet with Afghan President Hamid Karzai Friday to discuss withdrawing U.S. troops from the country by 2014. The White House has been considering removing all troops with some suggesting that this “zero option” will be an important bargaining chip in Obama’s discussion with Karzai. White House aides say that it’s not likely any decisions will be made during Friday’s talk, and that it could be months before Obama decides how many troops to remove from Afghanistan. Chuck Hagel, Obama’s nomination for Defense Secretary, will most likely support removing as many troops as possible.

    Bachmann still hasn’t paid presidential campaign staffers, http://bit.ly/WxBn8N
    Peter Waldon, the former national field coordinator for Michele Bachmann’s presidential campaign, has said that Bachmann has refused to pay five staffers. Waldon claims that the staffers are owed $5,000 and that Bachmann has $2,000,000 towards her campaign. Bachmann allegedly will not pay the owed funds until the staffers sign a nondisclosure agreement saying they will not tell members of the media about any “unethical, immoral, or criminal activity” witnessed on the campaign trail.

    New York Examines Over 800 Rape Cases for Possible Mishandling of Evidence, http://nyti.ms/USKQgr
    The NYPD said Friday that it will review 843 cases of rape where a lab technician overlooked or mishandled DNA evidence. According to the medical examiner’s office, supervisors have found 26 cases where the technician did not find biological evidence when it did actually exist. The director of forensic biology at the examiner’s office said that these errors are false negatives instead of false positives and that “nobody was wrongfully convicted” due to the mistakes. The cases in review span from 2001 to 2011, when the technician worked in the examiner’s office.

    BIDEN SEEKS VIDEO GAME INDUSTRY INPUT ON GUNS, http://bit.ly/WHJgYS
    Vice President Biden will meet with representatives from the videogame industry Friday to gauge videogames’ influence on violent behavior. On Thursday, Biden and his gun control task force met with heads of the NRA for more than 90 minutes. The meeting has been described as an open and frank discussion, but neither side came out of it showing signs of negotiating. Biden is set to present his ideas regarding gun laws to President Obama early next week.

    CULTURAL:

    Film to Present Iran’s View of ‘Argo’ Events, http://nyti.ms/VMPqbY

    JUSTIN BIEBER Sued By Ex-Bodyguard: He Punched & Berated Me!, http://tmz.me/10iQhrE

    Inside the Critics Choice Movie Awards: What You Didn’t See on TV, http://bit.ly/WJ8kPi

    Sharon Osbourne Slams Lady Gaga After Kelly Critique, Calls Her “Hypocrite” and “Bully”, http://eonli.ne/ZQ6qn0

    Justin Timberlake is “ready” for new project, http://bit.ly/ZCfN55

    Caitlin Maguire
    Bio: Caitlin is the Marketing & Operations Manager for Rock the Vote
    @caitlinmagu
    Email the author at: blog(at)rockthevote.com

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    By: Caitlin Maguire

    News Round-Up: Friday, March 9, 2012

    Friday, March 9th, 2012

    Syrian opposition rejects talks with President Bashar al Assad; the Taliban has threatened attacks if Pakistan does not release Osama bin Laden’s widows; and the Obama administration comes out in support of Invisible Children’s Kony bill. Meanwhile, Rock the Vote will debut its “Scan to Vote” QR t-shirts at SXSW. Make sure to follow us on Twitter at @Rockthevote and at Facebook.com/rockthevote for updates from the festival.

    Caitlin

    CRUCIAL:

    Syria opposition chief rejects talks, http://bit.ly/wgryD4
    Burhan Ghalioun, the head of the rebel Syrian National Council, has refused Kofi Annan’s suggestion that the opposition hold talks with Syrian president Bashar al Assad. In an interview with the Associated Press, Ghalioun said the request was unrealistic and that Annan had failed the Syrian people. Annan will meet with Assad this weekend.

    (via POLITICO Breaking News) The economy added 227,000 jobs in February and the unemployment rate held steady at 8.3 percent, the Labor Department reported Friday.

    Pakistan Taliban demand release of bin Laden’s widows, threaten attacks, http://reut.rs/wHwQjm
    The Taliban has vowed to carry out suicide attacks if the Pakistani government, police, and military do not release Osama bin Laden’s three widows from their custody. On Thursday, Pakistan’s government charged the women with entering the country illegally. Pakistan has been interviewing them to find out how bin Laden managed to stay in the country without being discovered. The Tehrik-e-Taliban, the branch of the Taliban that has promised attacks, has executed major assaults against an American consulate and an American naval base.

    U.S. and Afghanistan Agree on Handover of Prisoners, http://nyti.ms/A3rlSB
    The United States has agreed to hand over 3,200 Afghan prisoners, most of them Taliban insurgents, to the Afghan government far sooner than expected. In what some think is an effort to make up for the NATO burning of Q’rans, the United States will allow for a six-month transition period for the prisoners as opposed to releasing them in 2014 as originally planned.

    Kony 2012 campaign gets support of Obama, others, http://wapo.st/A6LKRb
    The Obama administration has come out in support of an online film aimed at drawing attention to Joseph Kony, the Ugandan leader of the Lord Resistance’s Army, a violent and child-kidnapping militaristic group. The film, released by charity Invisible Children, has gone viral, garnering 48 million views on YouTube and Vimeo. Invisible Children has also created a bill to bring aid and peace to Uganda, and The White House has confirmed its support of the bill. Despite this, Invisible Children has been criticized for oversimplifying the situation in Uganda and for also being factually incorrect.

    (via POLITICO) At SXSW, register to vote QR codes, http://politi.co/x6EIp9
    At this year’s South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas, Warby Parker, a hip eyeglass company based out of New York, and Rock the Vote are teaming up on “Scan to Vote” QR code t-shirts that will allow users to register to vote directly from whatever smartphone they use to scan the QR code…. The shirts can be found from March 12 to March 14 at Warby Parker’s Citizen Circus at SXSW, an annual conference that focuses on music, technology, and film.

    CULTURAL:

    Facebook Co-Founder Buys The New Republic, http://bit.ly/AvNqyu

    Smacketology: a tournament to determine The Wire’s greatest character, http://es.pn/xghfsJ

    Jessica Biel Finally Shows Off Her Massive Engagement Ring With Justin Timberlake, http://eonli.ne/yxCb9v

    South by Southwest: Five Things to Know About the Texan Film Festival, http://eonli.ne/yVupNU

    ‘Disco Inferno’ singer Jimmy Ellis dies at age 74, http://bit.ly/x55Fxx

    Caitlin Maguire
    Bio: Caitlin is the Marketing & Operations Manager for Rock the Vote
    @caitlinmagu
    Email the author at: blog(at)rockthevote.com

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    By: coral@rockthevote.com

    NEWS ROUND-UP: MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2011

    Monday, November 14th, 2011

    In today’s news, the judge who set bail for Jerry Sandusky has been involved in his charity; Herman Cain’s wife sticks by him; and ‘Obamacare’ is going to the Supreme Court. In entertainment news, Lady Gaga splits with her long-time creative director, and Justin Timberlake attends the Marine Corps. ball.

    Coral + Caitlin

    CRUCIAL

    (via Associated Press) Obama calls waterboarding ‘torture’: ‘President Barack Obama says the interrogation technique known as waterboarding constitutes torturing, disputing Republican presidential candidates who say they would reinstate the practice. Obama called waterboarding “torture” and said it was “contrary to America’s traditions” during a news conference at the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.’ http://bit.ly/tpLEs2

    Portland police arrest over 50 as protest camps cleared, http://reut.rs/ruc32s
    On Sunday, Portland police arrested more than 50 members of the Occupy movement as they cleared out and blocked off encampments after an eviction notice was issued. Portland’s mayor Sam Adams said that the encampments have been linked to increased crime and drug use, and while he supports the Occupy movements and what they stand for, they need to move beyond encampments to achieve their goals.

    Judge Who Freed Sandusky on Bail Reportedly Volunteered at His Charity, http://fxn.ws/vhrOoe
    Judge Leslie Dutchcot, who ordered former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky to be freed on $100,000 unsecured bail, is said to have volunteered for Sandusky’s charity, the Second Mile. Dutchcot gave the Second Mile between $500 and $1,000 and lists volunteering for the organization as one of her career achievements. Prosecutors originally asked that Sandusky’s bail to be set at $500,000 and that he be required to wear an ankle monitor. Dutchcot set the bail for $100,000.

    A Disturbing New Dimension of Far-Right Terror, http://bit.ly/u29JgE
    Police in Germany have busted a neo-Nazi ring that may have carried out at least 10 murders over the past 10 years. Police hunted down two members of the ring, Uwe Mundlos and Uwe Böhnhardt, who had recently robbed a bank. The two men took their own lives, but police found the weapons of two officers that were murdered in 2007. When police went to search the apartment where the men had been living, another member of their group blew up the residence before they arrived. Still, police recovered a murder weapon, propaganda videos, and other evidence and have made two arrests.

    Chelsea Clinton to Report for NBC, http://nyti.ms/rKbCz9
    On Monday morning, NBC is announcing that they have hired Chelsea Clinton as a full-time special correspondent. Clinton is supposed to start work promptly on Monday and will report within the “Making a Difference” series, which runs on “NBC Nightly News.” The segment highlights people who make a difference in their communities.

    What Would Gabby Do? http://bit.ly/vTjSbI
    Rep. Gabrielle Giffords returns to the public eye this week, as she and her husband sit down for an interview with ABC News and publish a memoir. She may be doing better than people would have expected, but she is not as well as the media has led people to believe. Apparently, Giffords does not speak as much in the ABC interview as ads suggest. Instead she says just a few words, and the feature is more based on managing Gifford’s image.

    Jordan’s king urges Syria’s Assad to step down, http://apne.ws/evjTAr
    Jordan’s King Abdullah has publicly urged President Bashar al-Assad to step down, making him the first Arab-ruler to issue a statement over the violent handling of the 8-month uprising. Syrian regime supporters reacted to the ouster with violence, storming regional embassies. Meanwhile, the U.N. estimates that 3,500 civilians have died since the beginning of the crackdown. Over the weekend, one activist was shot down in front of his 9-year old son.

    Judge: Norway terror suspect is not insane, http://bit.ly/vJE5tx
    On Monday, District Court Judge Torkjel Nesheim said Norway mass murderer, Anders Behring Breivik is not insane. Breivik confessed to a bombing and a shooting that killed 77 people in Norway this summer. Nesheim said there was no evidence Breivik had any accomplices and ordered his custody be extended for another 12 weeks. The courtroom was packed with over 500 people including survivors of the shootings and family of the victims.

    Court sets 5 1/2-hour hearing on health care, http://bit.ly/vTRfwd
    The Supreme Court is set to review ‘Obamacare.’ On Monday, the justices announced that they will see three cases arguing how constitutionally sound the health care reform is. The court will hold oral arguments sometime in the spring, most likely in March. It is expected to issue a decision by the end of its current term, which is normally in late June.

    College students will be allowed to use stickers on IDs to vote,     http://bit.ly/vsBMZI
    A Wisconsin law passed in the spring said that students may use college IDs at the polls, but they must expire in two years; however, most IDs issued by Wisconsin schools expire in 4 to 5 years. In response, a law has been passed allowing colleges to issue stickers to validate IDs. The IDs will be required for the February 2012 primary.

    Gloria Cain speaks out about sexual harassment allegations,     http://wapo.st/vHnqqO
    In her first ever television interview, Gloria Cain disputes the sexual harassment claims made against her husband. She said that Cain would have to posses a split personality to be capable of the acts the five women are accusing him of committing. “To hear such graphic allegations and know that that would have been something that was totally disrespectful of her as a woman and I know that’s not the person he is,” she said. Herman Cain had previously said that his wife supported him during the allegations, and that she knew he would not do anything as silly as what the women claim.

    (via Politico) Herman Cain’s poll numbers slide in POLITICO poll: ‘Among likely Republican voters surveyed Sunday, Nov. 6, Cain led the field with 40 percent. On Monday, he was third with 22 percent. By Wednesday, just 19 percent of those surveyed said they supported Cain for the nomination.’ http://politi.co/t8MAsb

    (via NY Times) Google’s Lab of Wildest Dreams: ‘It’s a place where your refrigerator could be connected to the Internet, so it could order groceries when they ran low. Your dinner plate could post to a social network what you’re eating. Your robot could go to the office while you stay home in your pajamas. And you could, perhaps, take an elevator to outer space.’ http://nyti.ms/sXPpD5

    CULTURAL

    Peter J. Boyer describes “The Wonk Who Slays Washington” http://bit.ly/sn00e5

    Ben Keller on “How Romney Could Win” http://nyti.ms/uOnqDa

    Lady Gaga Splits From Longtime Creative Director Laurieann Gibson, Rep Confirms, http://bit.ly/uEHjNK

    Reality TV’s Instant Stars Populate a Magazine, http://nyti.ms/sYi7Vt

    ‘Hunger Games’ Full Trailer Debuts, http://on.mtv.com/swUMiL

    Justin Timberlake Attends Marine Corps Ball, http://on.mtv.com/sJQ2rb

    coral@rockthevote.com
    Bio: Coral is the Marketing Intern at Rock the Vote

    Email the author at: blog(at)rockthevote.com

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    By: Caitlin Maguire

    News Round-Up: Wednesday, August 31, 2011

    Wednesday, August 31st, 2011

    In today’s news, corporations pay more in CEO salaries than in taxes; at least 88 have been tortured and killed in Syrian detention centers; an unemployed man finds $150,000 in his garden; and the U.S. is suing to block an AT&T and T-Mobile merger. Meanwhile, Robert Downey Jr.’s wife is pregnant and T.I has been released to a halfway house.

    Caitlin

    CRUCIAL:

    Where Pay for Chiefs Outstrips U.S. Taxes, http://nyti.ms/r86uaB
    According to the Institute for Policy Studies, at least 25 corporations, such as Verizon, General Electric, Boeing, and eBay, paid more to their CEOs than they paid in federal taxes. In fact, these corporations paid their CEOs an average of $16.8 million when the government paid the companies hundreds of millions of dollars in tax refunds. For example, the CEO of Verizon received $18 million while Verizon itself received a $705 million tax refund.

    Dozens ‘Tortured and Killed in Syria Detention Centres,’ http://aje.me/nOWRwD
    At least 88 people in Syrian detention centers have been tortured and killed; 10 of the 88 were children. According to an Amnesty International report, the torture included “broken necks, cigarette burns to the chest and face, electrocution to genitalia, fractures and whipping slashes.” The Syrian government currently has 12,000 to 15,000 people in detention centers.

    Unemployed Illinois Man Finds $150,000 in His Backyard, http://huff.to/qxaXr9
    Wayne Sabaj, an unemployed carpenter, went to look for broccoli in his garden when he found two duffel bags filled with $150,000. Sabaj and his father called the police who took the bags into custody. The police left a phone number where the bags were found. If no one claims the money, the police will work with Sabaj to claim it for himself.

    Judge Strikes Down Key Parts of Texas Sonogram Law, http://bit.ly/qmqutN
    A federal judge in Texas has rejected a provision of a Texas anti-abortion law that would require patients to see a sonogram of their baby before an abortion. The judge also struck down a provision where patients would have to sign an agreement saying they do not want to see a sonogram because they have been impregnated from sexual assault or incest. The judge said that the provisions violated the First Amendment rights of doctors and patients, and that patients should not have to disclose information that they would not even tell the police.

    (via POLITICO Playbook) REP. MICHELE BACHMANN MEMOIR OUT NOV. 21 – Publisher’s release: “The book [is] currently untitled … Bachmann will share previously untold stories about her life outside of politics, including her roles as a tax attorney, a wife, a mother of five and a foster mother of 23. … Bachmann will not receive an advance against royalties, in compliance with the rules of the House … Bachmann said, ‘People are the most important ingredient in life. I love people, and I care deeply that our nation’s economy turns around so they can realize their American dream. This book will help to share my enthusiasm for an energized, pro-growth economy, and the life experiences that inform my optimism for the American people and for American greatness.’”

    U.S. Files Antitrust Complaint to Block AT&T, T-Mobile Merger, http://bloom.bg/nG6B9M
    The U.S. government is suing to block AT&T from acquiring T-Mobile, claiming the merger will violate U.S. antitrust law. The U.S. is also asking for a court order to stop any implementation of the deal.

    CULTURAL:

    Justin Bieber Fine After Minor Collision, http://bit.ly/oHvzy0

    Robert Downey Jr.’s Wife Is Pregnant, http://bit.ly/pmzBtk

    T.I. Released to Halfway House, http://on.mtv.com/qdX2MN

    Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel Back Together, http://bit.ly/oo8ULM

    ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Pairs Revealed, http://eonli.ne/mZWZZB

    Caitlin Maguire
    Bio: Caitlin is the Marketing & Operations Manager for Rock the Vote
    @caitlinmagu
    Email the author at: blog(at)rockthevote.com

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    By: Kristin Andrews

    News Round-Up: Wednesday, April 13, 2011

    Wednesday, April 13th, 2011

    In DC politicians are still focused on the country’s budget and our approach to the debt ceiling with President Obama making a speech today at George Washington University. This debate will continue for months, but will the country follow along with it voraciously after a shut down was averted Friday?

    Team Obama, led by ’08 top campaign strategist and former Senior White House Advisor David Axelrod, is bolstering its presence in Chicago in hopes that they’ll be able to stay in touch with the pulse of the nation outside the capital. On the other side, the squabbles and positioning for the presidency continue, but statistician extraordinaire Nate Silver breaks down the GOP field by analyzing the prospects of what he’s calling the Fairifax Five (“legit” contenders) and the Factional Five (uber-conservative primary contenders).

    Meanwhile, after a high-profile launch of the White House’s new program to support military families Michelle Obama and Jill Biden are under fire for excluding gay soldiers from participating until Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is formally obsolete. Commercial rates for Oprah’s last show rival the Super Bowl, Emma Watson feels Princess Kate’s pain as the world awaits the Royal Wedding this wknd, and Ashton + Demi launch the ‘Real Men Don’t Buy Girls’ campaign with help from Justin Timberlake, Drake and Bradley Cooper.

    CRUCIAL:

    Obama Debt Reduction Plan to Be Outlined in Wednesday Speech, http://huff.to/i6ygIe

    Obama will jump into the debt-reduction debate today at 1:30 PM EDT today. It is expected to be a call for a balanced approach of shared burdens, and will tackle entitlement programs, defense spending, and taxes. This follows Rep. Paul Ryan’s plan to cut more than $5 trillion in spending over the next decade.

    A Mafia Boss Breaks A Code in Telling All, http://nyti.ms/hxi83s

    Joseph Massino, 68, has become the only official boss of a NY crime family to ever cooperate with federal authorities by testifying against a former confederate and spilling all the details of his mafia work. For nearly five hours in a Brooklyn Federal District Courthouse, Mr. Massino cataloged his misdeeds of murder and other criminal activity to the courtroom.

    White House Visitor Logs Riddled With Holes, http://bit.ly/fCgoVI

    The White House website proudly boasts making “1,000,000 records of everyone who’s come through the doors of the White House” available via a searchable database. However, an investigation by the Center for Public Integrity has found that these logs are incomplete for thousands of visitors to the White House, including celebrities, lobbyists, government employees, campaign donors, policy experts, and friends of the first family. The logs routinely omit or cloud key details about the identity of visitors, who they met with, and the nature of the visit. These are critical gaps that raise doubts about their historical accuracy and utility at a time when people are demanding more transparency in the government.

    U.S. Plans New Push on Arab-Israeli Peace: Clinton, http://reut.rs/eNuDEC

    The United States will begin pushing new plans to promote Arab-Israeli peace according to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, which suggests that the US will have a stronger hand in trying to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Obama is also expected to lay out US policy toward the Middle East and North Africa in the coming weeks.

    Mubarak and Sons Detained in Probe on Wealth, Egypt State Television Says, http://wapo.st/i3RcJ8

    Egypt’s state-run media reported today that the country’s top prosecutor has ordered former Egyptian President Mubarak and his sons to be detained for two weeks to question the origin of the family’s wealth and on the government suppression of the protests pushed from Mubarak’s office.

    White House Bars Gay Groups From Military Families Event, http://bit.ly/igm9Qa

    Servicemembers United, which respresents gay and lesbian military members, complained that the White House barred representatives from gay and lesbian servicemembers from attending the launch of the “Joining Forces” program.  However, the White House says that while Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell has been repealed, it is still the law and must be followed until the repeal goes into effect.

    CULTURAL:

    Emma Watson sympathetic for Kate Middleton: http://aol.it/eX6Tsq

    Justin Bieber’s meeting with Israeli PM called off: http://bit.ly/hZOInT

    JT, Drake, Bradley Cooper support ‘Real Men’ campaign: http://on.mtv.com/g2wfbx

    Commercials on Oprah’s final show going for how much?!: http://eonli.ne/hLa8Dr

    Is there a Kardashian movie in the works?: http://aol.it/i8j7Jq

    Chris Brown and Joe Jonas team up on new album: http://bit.ly/eQJ6za

    Kristin Andrews
    Bio: Kristin is Rock the Vote's Communications Intern

    Email the author at: blog(at)rockthevote.com

    Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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