culture
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Missouri Too Quick to Execute, Lawyers Say
In Missouri, the practice of putting inmates to death even though their cases are on appeal is not really that unusual, and lawyers think this signals a huge problem with the state’s judicial system, the Associated Press reports. The case of Herbert Smulls is just the latest example. His lawyers are arguing that his execution…
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New Biopic Tells Olympic Champion Gabby Douglas’ Inspiring Life Story
Gabby Douglas is still on fire. She’s been a household name—a brand, even—ever since her historic 2012 Olympic double-gold win launched her into the sports Hall of Fame. She’s been featured in ads and slapped on cereal boxes and has even written books—and now the upbeat 18-year-old is getting her very own biopic. Tonight, cable’s…
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Richard Sherman’s Dad Refuses to Take Advantage of His Seahawk Son’s Wealth
Kevin Sherman, better known as star NFL player Richard Sherman’s dad, has been driving a garbage truck for 26 years, and he’s not about to stop just because his son is famous and makes a much bigger paycheck than he does. “It’s a job that I don’t too much like, but I’ve done it all…
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Utah School Throws Out Lunches of Students Who Owe Money
A group of up to 40 students at a Utah elementary school had their school lunches taken from them and thrown in the trash once school staff realized that the children didn’t have enough money in their cafeteria accounts, the Salt Lake Tribune reports. Sophia Isom, a fifth-grader at Uintah Elementary in Salt Lake City,…
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MSNBC Fires Staffer Over Offending Tweet, Apologizes to Republican National Committee
MSNBC President Phil Griffin officially apologized to the Republican National Committee and its chairman, Reince Priebus, Thursday after fallout concerning an offending tweet from the cable channel’s Twitter account, according to Politico. “Maybe the rightwing will hate it, but everyone else will go awww: the adorable new #Cheerios ad w/ biracial family,” the tweet read.…
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Prestigious NYC Private School Apologizes for Showing Slavery Satire
One of New York City’s most exalted prep schools has formally apologized for screening a satirical slavery film to students in which the South won the Civil War, the New York Times reports. The Dalton School, located in the Upper East Side, showed C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America to sophomores during history-project presentations on…
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Dennis Rodman Would Trade Places With North Korea Captive Kenneth Bae
Dennis Rodman returned for another interview with CNN’s Chris Cuomo, only this time he’s expressing earnest sympathy for Kenneth Bae, the American citizen currently being held in North Korea. “I don’t want anyone to go in any country or anywhere in the world and be hostage for something maybe they did or didn’t do,” he…
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Seahawks’ Derrick Coleman Surprises Hearing-Impaired Fans
Derrick Coleman, the Seattle Seahawks fullback who gained viral fame after being featured in a Duracell ad about his struggles growing up deaf, apparently takes being an inspiration very seriously. He recently made Riley Kovalcik and her twin sister, Erin, extremely happy fans when he surprised them while they were on the air during a…
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Hampton U. President Donates Money to Raise School’s Minimum Wage
President Obama wasn’t the only president who offered a bump in pay for some workers. Hampton University’s president donated $108,403 to the school to support a wage increase for the 121 permanent, full-time staff members currently working for less than $9 an hour, the Chronicle of Higher Education reports. William R. Harvey and his wife,…
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Rutgers University Offers Course on Beyoncé
Looks like Jay Z isn’t the only the only one in the family who can brag on having a university course devoted to him, now that Rutgers University is offering “Politicizing Beyoncé.” The Department of Women’s and Gender Studies will offer the course taught by doctoral student Kevin Allred, who told the university’s online news…