news
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Minn. Lawyers Charged in Massive Porn Copyright Extortion Scheme
Prosecutors in Minnesota charged two attorneys Friday with a “massive extortion scheme” after they reportedly uploaded X-rated films to file-sharing sites, sued people for downloading them and then collected millions from unwitting victims who feared humiliation. Minnesota U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger said that Paul Hansmeier, 35, and John Steele, 45, produced some of the pornography…
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Public Health Emergency Declared in St. Joseph, La., After Contaminated Water Found
The governor of Louisiana declared a public health emergency Friday after the water supply in a town in that state, St. Joseph, was found to be contaminated with lead and copper Thursday. Gov. John Bel Edwards said that state testing showed elevated levels of lead at a private residence as well as the town hall building,…
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First Lady Michelle Obama Hosts Hidden Figures Screening at White House
It was #BlackGirlMagic Thursday at the White House, where first lady Michelle Obama hosted a private movie screening for the upcoming film Hidden Figures, scheduled to come out on Christmas Day. The event included a screening of the movie, followed by a panel featuring the creators and cast members and remarks by Obama herself. Janelle Monáe, Taraji P. Henson…
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Unarmed 73-Year-Old Calif. Man Was Shot 5 Times, Autopsy Reveals
The unarmed California 73-year-old grandfather who was fatally shot by police earlier this week was struck by five bullets, according to authorities, Time magazine reports. Francisco Serna was killed early Monday morning by a Bakersfield, Calif., police officer after authorities responded to a call about a man brandishing a handgun in the neighborhood. The officer…
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Outgoing Ariz. Sheriff Joe Arpaio Renews Obama Birther Conspiracy 1 More Time
Sigh. It seems as though outgoing Maricopa County, Ariz., Sheriff Joe Arpaio hasn’t gotten the memo that no one cares about his problematic points of views (even after eight years of most of us rolling our eyes). On Thursday, Arpaio, who has earned the title “America’s Toughest Sheriff,” announced the results of a yearslong investigation…
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Fla. Teacher Suspended Over Threat to Get Black Students 'Sent Back to Africa'
The white Pasco County, Fla., teacher who allegedly threatened to get black students sent back to Africa has been suspended without pay for three days and transferred to a different school in the county, the Tampa Bay Times reports. According to the news site, many in the community called for Wesley Chapel High School teacher…
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Donald Trump Thanks 'Smart' African Americans Who 'Didn't Come Out to Vote'
During a Thursday victory rally in Hershey, Pa., President-elect Donald Trump called on a mostly white crowd to cheer for African Americans who were “smart” to listen to him and then “didn’t come out to vote” for Hillary Clinton to become president, the Associated Press reports. During his speech, Trump regaled the crowd with a play-by-play…
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Family of Terrence Sterling, Black Man Fatally Shot by DC Police, Files Lawsuit
The family of an unarmed black motorcyclist who was gunned down by a Washington, D.C., police officer in September has filed a lawsuit against the Metropolitan Police Department, claiming that the victim was no threat to the officer, Reuters reports. Immediately after the Sept. 11 shooting death, D.C. officials said that Terrence Sterling, 31, was…
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Trump Supporter Who Punched Protester in the Face at Rally Apologizes in Court
The Donald Trump supporter who threatened a protester and punched him in the face at a rally for the then-presidential candidate in March apologized to his victim in court Wednesday, according to the Washington Post. A video showing 79-year-old John Franklin McGraw, who is white, punching 27-year-old Rakeem Jones, who is black, at a Donald…