Storms Kill 28, NBA to Speak
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Vol. 3, No. 117
Extreme: Two days of powerful storms that hit the country from the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes have killed at least 28 people. Rescue workers are still digging through rubble. Tornadoes have flattened homes, tossed cars and knocked a freight train off the tracks in Illinois. Moderate to severe thunderstorms with high winds and hail are possible again today.
National: An employee armed with a shotgun wounded six people before killing himself at a FedEx warehouse just outside Atlanta this morning. One victim is reported to be in critical condition. The shooter was said to be a package handler.
>Congressman Michael Grimm, R-NY, was charged yesterday in a 20-count indictment with avoiding taxes by concealing income from the restaurant he owned. The Staten Island congressman is accused of conspiracy, obstruction, mail fraud and perjury on accusations that he hid $1 million in sales at his fast-food restaurant Healthalicious. Grimm is a former FBI agent who distinguished himself in January for threatening to throw a television reporter off the congressional balcony for asking about the investigation. It looks like Grimm is the one going over the balcony now.
Rebound: The NBA is expected to make an announcement regarding the status of Clippers’ owner Donald T. Sterling later today. The release of an audiotape with Sterling making racist comments has produced calls for the NBA to take action.
The Los Angeles NAACP has reversed its decision to give a “Lifetime Achievement” award to Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald T. Sterling. The billionaire basketball owner with a history of racist views has bought his way to respectability with charitable donations over the years. He frequently takes out newspaper ads that tout his generosity.
His team is tied 2-2 with Golden State in a series to determine whether they will advance to the NBA’s final four. Game five is today.
Ukraine: A large crowd of pro-Russian separatists stormed the regional administration building in Luhansk, Eastern Ukraine today. They smashed windows and doors to get into the building and raised the Russian flag.
Troubled Waters: Singer-songwriter Paul Simon, 72, and his folk singer wife Edie Brickell, 48, were charged with disorderly conduct after a domestic dispute at their New Canaan, Ct. home over the weekend. Police said there was “aggression” on both sides. Married since 1992, the couple has three children together. Brickell was lead singer ofEdie Brickell & New Bohemians. Police say they went to the house in the upscale Connecticut town because someone called 911 and quickly hung up. The two held hands at their arraignment and assured the judge they were not a danger to each other.
High Overhead: Frontier Airlines broke the barrier and became the first to put a price on placing your bag in the overhead bin. The airline posted a whole new schedule of petty fees that make banks look like charities. Three dollars to pick your seat online in advance. But it’s $25 to use the overhead, $35 if you wait to pay at the airport, and $50 if you wait until the gate. Frontier knows you have a choice of airlines and would like to thank you for flying with them today.
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