Hernandez had been questioned in the killing of Odin Lloyd, an associate of Hernandez who was found dead near Hernandez’s house.
Hernandez was transported by police to his arraignment at Attleboro District Court and arrived at the courthouse just before 2 p.m. Eastern. He was mostly expressionless as he heard the charges read in the courtroom, and didn’t change expression as he heard the prosecutor outline the case against him. That included the prosecutor saying there was surveillance video of Hernandez with a gun the night Lloyd was shot. The prosecutor asked that Hernandez be held without bail, and despite Hernandez’s lawyer Michael Fee’s argument that Hernandez is not a risk to flee, the judge ordered Hernandez be held without bail.
Multiple reports said Lloyd’s family was in the courtroom for Hernandez’s arraignment.
At least two fire bombs were thrown at the Fort Worth office of state Sen. Wendy Davis (D) on Tuesday night, according to the Star Telegram.
Davis was not in her office at the time, but some staff members were present. They used a fire extinguisher to put out the small blaze.
No one was injured in the attack, but the lawmaker’s office was damaged by the fire.
“It’s unfortunate when things like this happen in the public arena,” she said. “It reminds us of how important it is for us to remain very civil in our discourse and to work not to foment this kind of anger in our community as we discuss things that are challenges that we all face and care about.”
Anthony Spangler, Davis’ communications director, said he had no idea what motivated the attack.
After hours of vigils and secret family meetings, South Africans awoke to another day of unease Wednesday as ailing anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela remained hospitalized in critical condition.
“Former President Nelson Mandela’s condition remains unchanged in hospital and doctors continue to do their best to ensure his recovery, well-being and comfort,” the government said in a statement late Tuesday night.
As the nation remained on edge, police barricaded the street leading to the hospital’s main entrance.
Well-wishers hung balloons, stuffed animals and messages of support along the wall outside his Pretoria hospital . Crowds hovering nearby sang “where is Mandela” as they matched toward the entrance.
Mandela has been hospitalized since June 8 for a recurring lung infection, and authorities have described his condition as critical in the last few days.
Summertime is Here! School is out and that means it’s time for the Family Vacation. My family and I just returned from the Best Vacation I’ve ever been on, a 5-day cruise to the Bahamas. This being my first cruise, I’m going to discuss the “Hotel on Water” experiences only.
Now let me begin by saying we cruised on the troubled cruise liner, Carnival and we chose the Fantasy ship which had not been under the dreaded and beleaguered brand of ships. Our daughter graduated high school in June and this was a present to her that had been planned for 2-years.
I must admit I was very nervous leading up to our voyage to the Bahamas because of the difficulties Carnival had been having over the last few months. And needless to say, ALL that water out there and NO land around didn’t give me ‘warm, fuzzy feelings’.
So, last week, our very 1st cruise began at the Port of Charleston, SC at 4pm departure time. Security was very similar to the airlines with bag checks and going through the metal detector. Once through security, it was time to board or in Cruise terms, Embarkment began. When my family and I got on board and put our bags in our assigned rooms, we met on the Lido Deck and looked over to see others boarding. The view was spectacular but somewhat unnerving for a beginner like me. I’m not a big fan of heights so add to the idea of being on water as well…not a good mix. But things were about to change, For the Better!
Four o’clock pm. Like clockwork, we began to move. Tug boats were pushing us out and we were off. Out to the Atlantic, on our way to the Bahamas! From the moment we set foot on the Carnival Fantasy until we got back to Charleston, SC, the entire Crew – from the room attendants, the dining staff, the drink attendants, the show and entertainment staff, the excursion personnel and the store employees – were the BEST I’ve ever had pertaining to hospitality! Top-notched Service All the Way!
Pictures were taken at every moment it seemed. And that was just from the ships photographers. Drinks were offered continuously and the guest were buying them up. I must admit, my family and I had our share as well. On the entire voyage, this was the smoothest ride ever. Again, my first cruise, I was thinking it would be rough, bouncy, turbulent, nauseating but to my surprise, None of the aforementioned. I purchased Dramamine for that very reason but never needed it.
Our first port of call was in Nassau. Beautiful. Scenic. Tranquil Beaches. Gorgeous Blue Waters. It is definitely the Island of Paradise. From there, we journeyed up to Freeport. That day, we decided not to venture onto the island but to enjoy the ship’s activities. We enjoyed a broadway show, a comedy show (Adults Only), Bingo with up to $3000 at stake, karaoke and clubs for our generation to the teen-agers.
Then there’s shopping on board, casinos, eating, putt-putt, swimming pools, eating, a walking track on the very top of the ship where the putt-putt course is located, eating, ping pong, eating, sun bathing, eating, eating, Eating, a gym, a masseuse and EATING! OMG, I ate and Ate and ATE! But it was GOOOD! Yep, I gained 5-pounds but it was a GOOD 5-pounds.
To sum it up, The BEST Vacation my Family and I have EVER Had. I’ve been to Disney a number of times, a Washington, DC trip twice, Myrtle Beach, SC countless times, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, Va. and other locations, but a Cruise? Wow! There’s Nothing that compare. Kudo’s to Carnival Fantasy Cruise Line! They made our Vacation one of the most Memorable Ever! And as Arnold said in the “Terminator”, I’ll Be Back!
Branden Lee is a blogger, screenwriter, producer, and actor, currently residing in Boston, MA. Follow Branden on Twitter and Tumblr.
According to Jezebel, a company called Wing Co. is selling a coat made out of the collected chest hair of a bunch of men, to combat the growing trend of men feeling required to be hairless.
The hair jacket is currently being sold for £2,499, about $3900 and was created using over 1 million different strands of chest hair.
There’s also a version available for women.
As much as I love a hairy man, there’s no way I’d ever want to wear a coat made out strangers’ body hair.
Well, it took less than a week for Alex Rodriguez to cause chaos in Yankee Universe via twitter. The embattled star took to twitter two hours ago and announced that he was cleared to play in rehab games. Andrew Marchand of ESPN New York reached out to the Yankee GM Brian Cashman, and asked him about Rodriguez’s tweet. Cashman, who is known for being forthcoming with the media, did not hold back his feelings. He told Marchand;
“You know what? When the Yankees want to announce something WE will. Alex should just shut the f**k up. That’s it. I’m calling Alex now.”
Clearly Cashman is not very happy with the Yankee slugger. Even more clear is the fact that Rodriguez picked the worst time to join twitter leaving us all to question who he is taking advice from over at camp A-Rod.
A one man band. He “played his… instrument on the Grand Central subway station, leading to the number 4 and 6 trains. Is it music or a whole lotta noise?
Wearing pink tennis shoes to prepare for nearly 13 consecutive hours of standing, a Democratic Texas state senator on Tuesday began a one-woman filibuster to block a GOP-led effort that would impose stringent new abortion restrictions across the nation’s second-most populous state.
Sen. Wendy Davis of Fort Worth began the filibuster at 11:18 a.m. CDT Tuesday. To derail a vote in the GOP-dominated Senate, she must keep speaking on the bill until midnight — the deadline for the end of the 30-day special session.
Before Davis began speaking, her chair was removed. CBSDFW.com reports that Davis must speak continuously — and stay on topic — the entire time. She is not allowed to lean against something for support. And she will not be able to stop or take a break, not even for meals or the restroom, during the entire 13-hour ordeal.
Davis offered some insight to her plans Monday night on Twitter.
Remember when conservatives across the nation accused liberal justices of being activists? Of making law without interpreting it? Of imposing their political ideology on court cases instead of taking a uniquely 18th century view of the constitution? Good times, no?
Welcome to the conservative majority.
Today’s ruling in the Voting Rights Act case shows that the right can be just as activist, just as ideological and just as dismissive of the democratic process as they accused the left of being. It was evident during arguments in March, and the decision was not far off from what many feared would happen.
Justice Thomas called for striking down Section 5 immediately, saying the majority opinion had provided the reasons and merely left “the inevitable conclusion unstated.”
The most disturbing part of the decision came from Justice Roberts, who claims to care about originalism and reliance on the past, except in cases where he doesn’t. Thus,
The current coverage scheme, Chief Justice Roberts wrote, is “based on 40-year-old facts having no relationship to the present day.”
“Congress — if it is to divide the states — must identify those jurisdictions to be singled out on a basis that makes sense in light of current conditions,” he wrote. “It cannot simply rely on the past.”
What makes sense in light of current conditions is a product of the past. That’s the bedrock assumption of every history class I’ve ever taken and one that serious historians wouldsurely agree. It’s like saying that Paula Deen said what she said only in light of what’s happening in the country in 2013 and forgetting that she is a product of a specific time, place, history and upbringing.
As usual, it took a liberal justice to remind the court why the Voting Rights Act had been passed in the first place and why we still need it today: History. From Justice Ginsburg:
“The great man who led the march from Selma to Montgomery and there called for the passage of the Voting Rights Act foresaw progress, even in Alabama,” she said. “’The arc of the moral universe is long,’ he said, but ‘it bends toward justice,’ if there is a steadfast commitment to see the task through to completion.”
“That commitment,” she said, “has been disserved by today’s decision.”
Ginsburg also laid out a chilling future based on today’s decision.
She said the focus of the Voting Rights Act had properly changed from “first-generation barriers to ballot access” to “second-generation barriers” like racial gerrymandering and laws requiring at-large voting in places with a sizable black minority. She said Section 5 had been effective in thwarting such efforts.
As if on cue, and wasting no time in trying to disenfranchise the next generation,
“With today’s decision,” said Greg Abbott, Texas’ attorney general, “the state’s voter ID law will take effect immediately. Redistricting maps passed by the Legislature may also take effect without approval from the federal government.”
Finally, you know that things are seriously awry when a liberal has to remind the conservatives of the bedrock of right wing originalist dogma:
In any event, she said, Congress, which reauthorized the law by a large majority in the House and unanimously in the Senate, was the right body to decide whether the law was needed and where.
Exactly.
Yes, we have an African-American president and we had more African-American participation in the 2012 election, and we have many more African-Americans in local and state offices.But we still have mischief and we still have false cries of voter fraud from the right. What will happen now because of this decision is that those laws will take affect and aggrieved parties will need to react to them after the fact. You were denied your vote? Oh well. Better luck next time.
If Harry Reid is our only hope, we probably have no more hope left. Remember, Harry Reid was the same guy who promised to do something about the Republican abused Filibuster, just to sit on his hands when the time came for him to act.
Now, after the Supreme Court voted down Section 5 of the Voting Act, Harry Reid is once again promising to act.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said on Tuesday that the “Senate will act” to address the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down a key part of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
First, Reid said he will task Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) to hold “wide-ranging hearings” on the subject beginning next month after Senate Democrats huddled on the issue during their lunch caucuses on Tuesday.
“There’s general displeasure — and that’s an understatement — in my caucus about what the Supreme Court did. Especially in light of what happened this last election cycle, with Republicans doing everything they could to suppress voting,” Reid told reporters after the lunches. “This is a dark day for the Supreme Court. But it’s been pretty cloudy over there for some time now.
Some Democrats added that the threat posed to minority voting rights — especially through hotly-contested voter ID laws — was just as present as it was when the VRA went into effect. But Republicans argue that the voting situation is much improved since the the act first passed.
“It’s an important bill that passed back in the ’60s at a time when we had a very different America than we have today,” said Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) of Kentucky, who declined to elaborate beyond that statement: “At this point I think I’m just going to have to read it first.”
Spencer Overton is a professor The George Washington University Law School and a senior fellow at Demos, a liberal research organization, and he teaches and writes on voting rights. He is the author of the book Stealing Democracy: The New Politics of Voter Suppression.
Below are four questions put to Mr. Overton regarding the The Supreme Court’s decision today to strike down a central part of the Voting Rights Act, Section 4:
Q. How would you summarize the decision in a single sentence?
A. The court effectively rolled back an important provision of the Voting Rights Act, ruling that the Act’s formula requiring federal pre-approval of election changes for some states but not others was outdated because it was based on data from the 1960s and 70s.
Q. Did anything in it — or in the justices’ votes — surprise you?
A. I was not surprised by the votes of the particular justices.
Q. How will the ruling affect elections and voting? How will it affect minority turnout and representation?
A. Overwhelming evidence shows that many state and local politicians continue to win elections by unfairly manipulating election rules, and the court’s decision will only make this problem worse. The biggest problem will be the under-the-radar manipulation of election rules for local offices like city councils, county commissions, school boards, and sheriffs. These offices are often non-partisan and escape national attention, but make important decisions related to schools, criminal justice, health and family services, and economic opportunity that directly affect our daily lives. Local manipulation is a real problem—over 85 percent of all election rule changes rejected as unfair under Section 5 were at the local level. In Nueces County, Tex., for example, the rapidly growing Latino community surpassed 56 percent of the county’s population, and in response county officials gerrymandered local election districts to diminish the ballots of Latino voters. Without Section 5 protections to block this type of racial manipulation, voters in many areas like Nueces County will lack the thousands (and sometimes millions) of dollars needed to bring a lawsuit and stop these unfair changes.
Q. What’s next for the Voting Rights Act?
A. Congress should update the Voting Rights Act. First, Congress should update pre-clearance so that states and localities that have recently violated voting rights or do so in the future are required to submit their election rule changes to federal officials for pre-approval. Second, Congress should streamline litigation, so that it is more efficient and effective in stopping unfair election rules before they are used in elections and harm voters. Third, Congress should require that states and localities with significant minority populations disclose information about the effects of their election law changes—more transparency would deter bad activity.
Congress should update the VRA. In fact, in my opinion it should have done so in the period between 1970 and 2006, when the act was up for renewal . The corrupt political situations that were evident in the 60’s, which prompted the creation of the bill, showed themselves to be alive and well during the 2012 election for President of the United States. ~ A. Conton
Kim and Kanye West just gave birth to their daughter, a baby their named… North. And ever since North was born, people have been fixated, trying to get a picture of what the little bundle of joy looks like.
Then this picture began surfacing the internet. But according to TMZ, this is not North West, this is an Imposter Baby…
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