More information about Chechen brothers Dzokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev surfaces as they’re named the Boston marathon bombers; Boston is on lockdown after Tamerlan dies in a shootout and Dzokhar is still at large; Anzor Tsarnaev claims his sons are innocent; Chechnya’s president blames the suspects’ American upbringing for the Boston bombings; at least 35 are killed and 60 unaccounted for after the fertilizer-plant explosion in West, TX; The Boy Scouts may lift their ban on gay youth members; Pakistan police arrest ex-President Musharraf; and the United Nations calls Syria’s civil war a “humanitarian catastrophe.” Meanwhile, Dunkin’ Donuts defies the lockdown and stays open in Watertown, MA; “Time” names its 100 most influential people; and Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries reach a divorce settlement.
A plethora of new information about the Boston marathon bombers, brothers named Dzokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev, has surfaced after a police shootout with the suspects took place early this morning. Dzokhar is 19-years-old and attended Cambridge Rindge and Latin School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he had received scholarship money, was on the wrestling team, and was described as a nice, normal guy with an active social life; many of his classmates told the media they couldn’t believe he would be a terrorist. The brothers, who are Chechen, may have been living in the U.S. for ten years, coming to the states from Kyrgyzstan. Reports show that Tamerlan, who was 26 and an avid boxer, had recently flown from JFK to Russia, where he stayed for six months. Both identified with Islam on their social media, with their uncle speculating that somebody may have radicalized them.
Terror manhunt shuts down parts of Boston after shootings, chase, http://rtvote.com/11L9vTX
After an early morning shootout between police and the Boston marathon bombers, parts of Boston is on complete lockdown. Tamerlan, the elder Tsarnaev brother, was killed in the shootout while officials believe Dzokhar is at large in the Watertown area of Boston. Before the shootout, the suspects shot and killed an MIT campus police officer, robbed a 7-11, and carjacked a Mercedes SUV before letting the driver go free. Tamerlan was found dead with an explosive device attached to him. There has been a no-fly zone issued over Watertown, and mass transit has been shutdown throughout the entire city. Residents have been strongly encouraged to stay indoors as officials continue to search for Dzokhar and potentially a third suspect.
Boston Bomb Suspect’s Dad Tells Him to Surrender, Warns ‘ Hell Will Break Loose’ if Son Dies, http://rtvote.com/117LxRb
Anzor Tsarnaev, the father of the Boston marathon bombers, urged his younger son, Dzokhar, to “give up” and surrender himself to authorities. He also maintained his sons’ innocence and threatened that if Dzokhar is killed by police, then “all hell will break loose.” Anzor said that he spoke to his sons on the phone this week after the bombings because he was worried about their safety.
Report: As many as 35 killed in Texas plant explosion, http://rtvote.com/17LIjrS
As many as 35 people have been killed from a fertilizer-plant explosion in West, TX. Officials refuse to give an exact death toll as they are still searching through rubble for survivors. More than 160 were injured in the blast. Doctors have been treating mostly blast injuries instead of chemical ones. Police warned that the scene is still dangerous as ammonium nitrate is present in the air.
On Instagram, Chechnya’s president criticizes America’s handling of the Boston manhunt, http://rtvote.com/11L6MtP
Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov took to Instagram today to proclaim that the Chechen ethnicity of the Boston marathon bombers did not motivate their killings. “Any attempt to link Chechnya and the Tsarnaevs, if indeed they are guilty, are futile,” he wrote. “They grew up in the USA, their viewpoints and beliefs were formed there. You must look for the roots of [their] evil in American.” Evan Kohlmann, an American terrorism consultant, furthered Kadyrov’s sentiments tweeting, “The official media arm of the Chechen mujahideen has rejected allegations that two Chechen men were responsible for the Boston Bombing.”
Boy Scouts to consider lifting ban on openly gay youths, http://rtvote.com/XLgCeO
In May, the National Council of The Boy Scouts will vote on allowing gay members in the organization as long as none of the adult leaders are openly homosexual. “Scouting is a youth program, and any sexual conduct, whether homosexual or heterosexual, by youth of Scouting age is contrary to the virtues of Scouting,” a report says.
Pakistan police arrest ex-President Musharraf, http://rtvote.com/11Li558
Former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf was arrested and put under house arrest Thursday for his alleged dismissal of senior judges, including the chief justice of Pakistan’s Supreme Court. In two days, Musharraf will go to anti-terrorism court. “These allegations are politically motivated, and I will fight them in the trial court, where the truth will prevail,” Musharraf said.
United Nations says Syria conflict a humanitarian catastrophe, http://rtvote.com/17LGKKp
United Nations aid chief Valerie Amos has declared the civil war in Syria a “humanitarian catastrophe” as 22 million Syrians have been displaced from their homes and 1.3 million have fled to neighboring companies. The United Nations has not been able to take action in Syria as China and Russia, allies to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, have vetoed any plans that may jeopardize Assad’s government. “I do not have an answer for those Syrians I have spoken to who asked me why the world has abandoned them,” Amos said.
POLL: PUBLIC PESSIMISM ON ECONOMY IS INCREASING, http://rtvote.com/XLjzvC
According to a new Associated Press-GfK poll, only one in four Americans are optimistic about the future of their finances. 46% of those surveyed said they approve of how President Obama is handling the economy, while 52% said they disapprove. Only 7% said they trust Washington to do the right thing “just about always,” while 66% said they trust the federal government “some of the time;” 11% said they never trust the federal government.
60 Oklahoma Dental Patients Test Positive for Hepatitis, HIV, http://rtvote.com/XLmHaV
At least 60 patients of Oklahoma dentist W. Scott Harrington have tested positive for HIV or hepatitis after a surprise investigation of the dentist’s facilities found used needles, dirty tools, and other unsanitary conditions. Over 7,000 people who have been treated by Harrington were notified of potential infection. So far 3,122 have been tested for HIV and hepatitis with 57 testing positive for hepatitis C, 3 for hepatitis B, and at least 1 for HIV.
BOSTON BOMBING: THE MEANING OF DUNKIN’ DONUTS, http://rtvote.com/11LlwJa
Kim Kardashian, Kris Humphries finally reach settlement in divorce case, http://rtvote.com/XLk6hg
Fame may ‘lead to a shorter life,’ http://rtvote.com/XLk8FN
