Jeremy Bieber is accused of being a “deadbeat dad” who encouraged his son to take drugs and may have helped set up the drag race that led to the pop star’s arrest this week.

Justin was spotted with his father in the day prior to his arrest, and sources close to the pop star say his father has only recently returned to his life, bringing with him a bad influence. Some have even suggested that Jeremy Bieber encouraged Justin to race on the morning of his arrest.

The elder Bieber lashed out at those reports this week. On Friday the famous father went on Twitter to vent his frustration toward those spreading “lies” about his son’s arrest this week.

“I can protect my kids, but I can’t protect them from you and your lies. Believe in the truth not in the lies of the enemy. #reallife,” he tweeted on Friday.

The message may have been in response to a report that said Jeremy Bieber was with his son when he was taken into custody. According to TMZ, Bieber’s 38-year-old father was not only present with Justin, but also helped block off a residential street so this son could drag race in a rented Lamborghini.

The report went on to say that Jeremy Bieber was in SET nightclub with Justin as he drank and smoked pot. Justin reportedly admitted to being under the influence of pot, alcohol, and prescription drugs at the time of his arrest.

“And Justin’s dad was right there in the mix,” TMZ claimed.

While it’s still not clear whether Jeremy was with Justin Bieber at the time of his arrest, he was spotted in Miami with Justin earlier in the week, taking his 19-year-old son on a trip to the beach just hours before he was arrested.

Jeremy Bieber is not the only one in Justin’s inner circle speaking out about the arrest. His manager and friend Scooter Braun also sent a public message of support to the pop star.

“@justinbieber love you and i will act in the manner of someone who truly cares. that is all I have to say,” Braun tweeted. “thanks for all those concerned.”

Though the famous dad remains defiant, more reports are piling on Jeremy Bieber and his actions with his son. The UK’s Daily Mail branded him a “deadbeat dad” who only recently came back into Justin’s life, and said that his own drinking and fighting troubles are leading Justin down the wrong path.

Jeremy Bieber: ‘Deadbeat Dad’ Reportedly Encouraged Justin To Smoke Pot, Drag Race is a post from: The Inquisitr News

Previous reports that Justin Bieber has been banned from all Miami Heat home games are incorrect says Heat owner Micky Arison.

Ccontrary reports stated due to the singer’s arrest and charging for a suspected DUI while allegedly drag racing, resisting arrest without violence, and driving with an expired license on a residential street in Miami, early Thursday morning, a decision had been taken to pull his tickets.

The claim came via a source to E! News who said Bieber’s tickets for the Miami Heat-Los Angeles Laker game that Thursday evening were revoked by the Heat.

It was then reported the 19-year-old-old had been banned from all Miami Heat home games.

The reason given by E! News stated: “Bieber’s tickets were pulled last minute by the Heat because they didn’t want the particular brand of attention that his presence would inevitably attract.”

However, Arison has blasted that rumor in a straightforward tweet.

@The23_ @BeyondTheBuzzer absolutely ridiculous story Justin @justinbieber is always welcome at our @MiamiHEAT games. @scooterbraun

— Micky Arison (@MickyArison) January 25, 2014

So, it looks like Bieber decided of his own accord that attending a televised basketball match in the same day he was arrested probably wasn’t the best move.

At around 4 am Thursday, Miami Beach Police say a police officer saw Bieber [allegedly] drag-racing in a yellow Lamborghini against a red Ferrari along Pine Tree Drive and 26th Street, a residential area of Miami Beach. The patrol cruiser subsequently gave chase for 15 blocks and caught up with the drivers on 41st street.

Bieber – who had an expired license – failed a field sobriety test.

One of the arresting officers wrote in his report that he could smell alcohol on the singer, and that he fired off a string of F-bombs when asked to get out of his Lamborghini and also when given instructions during a pat down.

Police also allege the “Baby” star told them before his arrest that he was taking prescription medication, had been smoking marijuana all day, and had one beer earlier that night.

But as it turns out, there are big questions over the singer’s DUI arrest.

According to reports based on a well-placed source, Bieber’s blood-alcohol level in breath two tests came up as below 0.08%, which is the legal limit for most drivers in Florida. For drivers under 21, the figure lower still 0.02%.

A source told CNN that Bieber blew 0.011% and 0.014% in two Breathalyzer tests.

Roughly translated, that’s less than one beer.

The results have undermined statements in the arrest report claiming substantive alcohol odor was detected on the singer.

Read the report in three parts, here, here, and here.

In addition, TMZ reports that Bieber and his friend, R&B singer Sharieff – who drove the red Ferrari and who was also arrested for DUI – were actually driving under the speed limit at the point police caught up with them, according to GPS devices in their rented cars which also tracked speed.

Just before their arrest the two singer’s speeds were recorded at 27 MPH, which conflicts with the police report which claims both men were driving at an, “approximate speed of about 55-60 MPH” in a 30-MPH zone.

Bottom line, the case is shaky. And until proven guilty people are innocent under the law.

That Arison has chosen not to act as a judge and jury in a case which is not yet been wholly proven, appears to have mounting credibility issues, and should be left to resolve in a legal rather than basketball arena — is commendable.

Justin Bieber Is Not Banned From Miami Heat Games Says Heat Owner In Commendable Tweet is a post from: The Inquisitr News

Danielle Panabaker is moving past the world of horror flicks and into the comic book realm.

The 26-year-old actress, who has made a name for herself as a “Scream Queen” with appearances in horror movies Friday the 13th (2009), The Crazies, John Carpenter’s The Ward and Piranha 3DD, has now signed on to appear in the CW pilot The Flash.

The show is based on the popular DC comic and tells the origin story of Barry Allen (AKA The Flash), a Central City assistant police forensics investigator who comes to Starling to investigate a series of robberies that hold the key to his own past.

Danielle Panabaker is set to play Caitlin Snow, a bioengineering expert who lost her fiance in a lab explosion.

The Flash was originally envisioned as a backdoor pilot episode of Arrow, but has now earned a regular pilot directed by David Nutter.

The project goes against the grain for Panabaker, who followed up a start in Disney movies with a string of horror films.

But after appearing in two slasher movies in a short time frame, Panabaker noted that she wasn’t trying to typecast herself.

“Working on three horror films in a row wasn’t a conscientious decision for me actually,” Panabaker said at the time. “Right now, though, the horror genre seems to have better movies coming out these days, and I just responded to these three scripts when I read them. There’s a great quality to horror films today, and it’s just a different feeling when you’re working on a horror set. It’s a great acting experience.”

Danielle Panabaker has a companion from the world of frightful entertainment joining her on The Flash. Rick Cosnett, who plays the villain on The Vampire Diaries, has joined the CW pilot as Eddit Thawne, a detective who comes to Central City holding a dark secret

Danielle Panabaker: Horror Movie Queen Joins CW Pilot ‘The Flash’ is a post from: The Inquisitr News

Lizzie Borden Took An Ax may aim to be entertaining, but the Lifetime re-telling of the famous 1892 ax murders isn’t exactly historically accurate.

The movie stars Christina Ricci as an attractive but deeply troubled young woman, made famous in the dark children’s verse “Lizzie Borden Took An Ax.” Lizzie discovered the bodies of Andrew and Abby Borden on a hot August day in Fall River, Massachusetts, their bodies hacked to pieces and their heads bisected.

Lizzie Borden, the daughter of Andrew and stepdaughter of Abby, was eventually charged with their murders but acquitted after a headline-grabbing trial.

The story of the real-life Lizzie Borden has since become something of a legend, which is exactly where the Lifetime movie picks up. The film operates from the premise that Lizzie was indeed responsible for the murders, and invents a back story for the young woman as a repressed psycho.

Lizzie Borden Took An Ax takes liberties with Lizzie’s parents, painting them not as warm caregivers but instead cold and unloving toward Lizzie.

Lizzie Borden Took An Ax also added some cinematic splashes that don’t jive with history, showing Lizzie strip down before murdering her parents.

While it may not have been the most historically accurate movie, Christina Ricci said she enjoyed the opportunity to explore the troubled Lizzie character.

“I’m interested in people who are troubled. Their behavior comes from their neuroses. I loved the idea of living inside someone so villainous and trying to express the person everyone can relate to,” Ricci said.

Ricci added that she has no doubt the young woman was responsible for the murders.

“[Lizzie Borden] was guilty, but the jury couldn’t see their way to convict her. Very little is known about what went on in the family, but obviously she was a very troubled girl. You don’t kill your parents if you’re happy.”

While Ricci is right that not many details are known, that didn’t stop Lizzie Borden Took An Ax from filling in the blanks with some Hollywood pizzazz.

Lizzie Borden: Lifetime Movie Is Big On Hollywood Flash, Short On Historical Facts is a post from: The Inquisitr News

Tyler Johnson, 25, has been identified as one of the victims at the mall in Columbia shooting. Johnson, from Ellicot City in Maryland, and Brianna Benlolo, 21, were identified by Howard County police on Saturday afternoon as the victims of the Maryland mall shooting. Both worked for popular skate store Zumiez. Tyler Johnson had just begun working there in November and Brianna was an assistant manager at the store.

Zumiez released an official statement concerning the loss of their two Maryland employees through Facebook.

“We are deeply saddened by the violence that has occurred this morning within our store in Maryland at The Mall in Columbia. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families.

As you have heard from the Howard County Police the two victims are Zumiez employees. They have been identified as Brianna Benlolo and Tyler Johnson.

We’re making arrangements for counselling to be made available to Zumiez employees in the area.

As you can imagine, we are receiving numerous calls and are unable to respond to the flood of questions at this time. We’re working with the Howard County police department and all information will come through them. We won’t be giving interviews or comments. Thank you for understanding.

The Zumiez team is a tight knit community and all of our hearts go out to Brianna and Tyler’s families.” Rick Brooks, Zumiez CEO

Early reports claimed there were three dead in the Columbia mall shooting. It has now been revealed that the third death was actually the shooter. His name has not yet been released because police are further investigating the situation. It is highly likely that he was strapped with explosives. Five others were injured by the shotgun the shooter used.

Tyler Johnson was a young man recovering from a battle with drug addiction. Working at Zumiez was part of his road to recovery and his Facebook page reveals a person who was looking to move forward with his life.

In August 2012, Tyler Johnson wrote:

One year clean today. Celebrating tomorrow (8/5) at the serenity center from 6pm-7pm 9650 basket ring road, Columbia, MD, 21045. All are welcome.

And then again in August 2013:

I will be celebrating two years Sunday August 18th at 6:00pm (Personal Stories meeting of N.A.) at the Serenity Center (9650 Basket Ring road Columbia, MD) all are welcome!

Tyler Johnson seems to have been a young man who was looking forward to his future. Unfortunately, his life was cut short by the terrible circumstances at the Columbia Mall. Many offered their condolences via Twitter.

Sending my prayers to the families of Brianna Benlolo and Tyler Johnson, two Zumiez employess killed in the shooting in MD this afternoon.

— Holli Parenteau (@holliparenteau) January 26, 2014

Rest in paradise Brianna Benlolo and Tyler Johnson from the columbia mall shooting at the @zumiez store…I miss you guys…rip.

— Hannah-Leah (@hannahleah_23) January 25, 2014

Tyler Johnson, Mall In Columbia Shooting Victim, Was Getting Life Together is a post from: The Inquisitr News

“Rafael Nadal is incredible,” says 14-time Grand Slam Champion Pete Sampras, after watching the Spanish player perform live for the first time.

Nadal — who has good chances of winning his 14th Grand Slam this Sunday, tying Sampras — will play against Stanislas Wawrinka in the Australian Open Men’s Final — and is on track to become one of the winningest tennis player of all time.

Pete Sampras made these comments to the BBC after arriving in Melbourne in time to watch Rafael Nadal beat Roger Federer in straight sets Friday:

“I think he’s incredible. I saw him play live for the first time on Friday night and the movement he has is incredible. He’s able to adjust his shots on the run. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Sampras is considered one of the best players in the history of tennis and has the edge at Wimbledon when compared to Nadal, however, the 27-year-old Spaniard owns eight French Open titles, while Sampras has none. Roland Garros was the elusive one for the American great.

Pete Sampras, 42, ended his career in 2002 with 14 Grand Slams only to lose his standing to Federer — who leads with 17 titles, the most of any player.

Rafael Nadal is expected to surpass that record as well, barring a devastating injury, it shouldn’t be difficult for the No. 1 player in the world to win four more titles.

But first, Rafa must needs to match Sampras’ record on Sunday — which most expect him to do as this is Wawrinka’s first Grand Slam final.

After Pete Sampras saw Rafael Nadal beat four-time Australian Open Roger Federer he spoke to BBC:

“To see him play – he hits a very heavy ball, serves pretty well, he does everything,” said the seven-time Wimbledon champion, who will present the trophy to the winner on Sunday, 20 years on from the first of his two Australian victories.”

“He’s mentally tough – he has the whole package.”

“He’s not looking at 14, he’s looking beyond. Realistically, he could very well get 17, 18 majors when it’s all said and done. He’s a credit to the sport. I’m a fan.”

As to Wawrinka’s chances, the Swiss eliminated current champion Djovak Nokovic, however, he has not been able to take one set from Rafael Nadal in their previous 12 meetings.

Pete Sampras is one of many who believe Wawrinka has no real chance against the feisty Spaniard:

“Stan’s very talented, he hits the ball well, but I’m just not sure he has the firepower from the back court.”

“He’s going to be dealing with Rafa, he’s going to be dealing with his nerves – first major [final], he’s going to be nervous, so he needs to settle down and work his way into the match. But he’s up against a tough guy, I think it’s just a touch match-up for him.”

“If he’s able to come in a little bit, put a little bit of pressure on Rafa, flatten out his ball, maybe – but I just think Rafa’s playing too well.”

What do you think are the chances of Rafael Nadal tying Pete Sampras’ 14 Grand Slam titles?

‘Rafael Nadal Is Incredible’, Says 14-Time Grand Slam Champ Pete Sampras is a post from: The Inquisitr News

Bruno Mars wasn’t always a crooner singing lovelorn songs about the one that got away. Once upon a time, before the Grammy nominations, and before he snatched a coveted spot at Super Bowl, Mars was simply a starving artist just trying to get by on his words.

These days Bruno Mars is known for penning some pretty great hits, but before he was singing his own hit songs, he was writing songs for other artists, like Cee Lo Green, Justin Bieber and B.O.B. While writing songs can be fulfilling for some artists, Mars isn’t interested in turning himself into a hustling music man.

Of his rough days before he hit it big, Mars said:

“There’s a piece of me that’s no longer there — which was basically let me write a song and then sell it. That was back in the day when I was struggling and hustling to pay rent. I was selling songs for 250 bucks, but now that I’m OK, I shouldn’t treat it like a sport.”

Years after producing for Alicia Keys, Lil Wayne and Flo Rida, and Bruno is more about collaborating in an organic way, rather than chasing a check. Of course these days he can afford to take his time and cherry pick the artists he wants to work with, even though his resume isn’t anything to cry over.

As an artist the 28-year-old has seen the most success over the past year. Mars, who is one of three producing partners that make up The Smeezingtons, finds himself nominated for four Grammys for his sophomore album Unorthodox Jukebox. If that’s not enough his tour was so successful that he had to add a second leg for his fans. In addition, he also has a number one hit with “Locked Out of Heaven.”

Although Bruno makes it all seem pretty effortless, the crooner was candid in discussing his process in the studio for his hit song, having said:

“People didn’t see us going at each other’s throats in the studio and pulling out our hair for a song like ‘Locked Out of Heaven. Trying to get these drums right and figure out a base line. It being recognized in these monster categories is an extreme honor.”

Mars doesn’t just have the Grammys to look forward to, he also has the Super Bowl to gear up for as he is slated to perform at the halftime show on February 2.

[Image Credit: benzpics63 via photopin cc]

Bruno Mars: No Longer Hustling; Heads To Grammys Then Super Bowl is a post from: The Inquisitr News

Lily Glidden went to Thailand as a young college graduate enthusiastic to learn more about wildlife and see some wild elephants, but authorities say this is precisely what led to the 24-year-old’s death.

Glidden’s body was found by Thai park rangers on January 18, five days after she set out alone from a campground in Kaeng Krachan National Park.

Authorities said the severity of the injuries Lily Glidden suffered lead them to believe she was trampled by elephants.

“Looking at the pictures she took in her camera, we see a lot of animals, birds, snakes, lizards,” police Col. Woradet Suanklaai said. “We assumed she wanted to take pictures of elephants because that’s what the Kaeng Krachan National Park is famous for.”

Glidden was a 2012 graduate of Tufts University, where she majored in biology. She had a keen interest in animals, with pictures on her Facebook page showing her working closely with snakes and wolves.

After her shocking death, the family of Lily Glidden said she was “very aware of the dangers of working with wildlife and not a person to court foolish risks, particularly where animals were involved.”

“We believe that what happened to Lily was a result of unknowable and unusual circumstances which she must have been unable to foresee or prevent,” her family said in a statement reported by NBC.

Friends and family alike have remembered Glidden for her fearless spirit and deep love of animals.

“She was known as kind of a bad-ss,” said Ryan Clapp, a friend who had visited Glidden in Thailand earlier this month.

Lily Glidden was no stranger to working with dangerous animals. In completing her biology degree, she worked in the western United States trapping wolves, traveled to Hong Kong to handle venomous snakes, and counted game animals on the Serengeti plains.

Lily Glidden: American Killed By Elephants In Thailand Remembered As ‘Fearless’ is a post from: The Inquisitr News

Fans can watch the New York Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils live online as the teams face off from Yankee Stadium in New York.

The game is part of the NHL’s extension of the Winter Classic, the annual outdoor game that has grown into a slate of games in outdoor stadiums. In what could be a prelude to a wintry Super Bowl next week, the two New York metro teams are set to play in cold conditions.

“It was very special to walk out there today, but I think tomorrow when you hear the crowd… you get goose bumps,” said Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist. “It’s a feeling you’re looking for when you play the game. It gives you a lot of adrenaline.

“You try to enjoy that moment, but at the same time you need to be focused on what we have to do. It’s an important game for both teams, and that makes it even more special.”

Faceoff is scheduled at 12:30 pm from Yankee Stadium. The game is being broadcast on NBC, but fans who want to watch the NHL online can also turn to NBC Sports LiveExtra.

Fans who do watch the Watch New York Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils live online will see the teams face off under cold but clear skies, with the high temperature on Sunday expected to be around 20 and no snow in the forecast.

On Saturday, several Rangers got ready for the game by tossing a baseball around on the field. Though they are excited to get the chance to play outside, they said the matchup with their Metropolitan Division rivals has its own importance.

“This was the day where you get to enjoy it, you get to take everything in,” Rangers captain Ryan Callahan said. “We’re all professionals in here and we know when we come to the rink tomorrow there’s two points on the line.”

Those who want to watch the New York Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils live online can click here.

Watch New York Rangers Vs. New Jersey Devils Live Online, NHL Hockey From Yankee Stadium is a post from: The Inquisitr News

Tom Cruise admitted that his ex-wife Katie Holmes divorced him to protect their daughter Suri from the religion of Scientology.

The shocking admission came during a deposition, first obtained by RadarOnline for his $50 million defamation suit against Life & Style — who said that Cruise abandoned his daughter.

The 51-year-old actor reportedly became extremely angry when originally asked if he left his seven-year-old daughter, but later admitted to doing so.

Tom Cruise first said he found the question offensive saying, “there is no need to protect my daughter from my religion.”

However, when pressed by lawyers whether Katie Holmes left him to protect the couple’s daughter from the Church of Scientology, Tom Cruise said:

“Did she say that? That was one of the assertions, yes.”

But Tom Cruise’s shocking revelations weren’t limited to the relationship between the couple, confessing that Suri is no longer a member of the Church.

This is, perhaps, an even bigger admission since anyone who leaves the church is considered a “Suppressive Person” and is cut off from all members of the church, including their immediate family.

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes divorced in 2012 and at the time many critics of Scientology thought the church was playing favorites with Cruise’s family.

An account from insider Samantha Domingo — a former Scientologist — who was labeled a “Suppressive Person” and whose ex-husband Placido Domingo Jr. spoke out and eventually left the church after officials tried to make him break connection with her, talked to Vanity Fair about Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes split.

Domingo says that the way in which Holmes left Cruise and enrolled Suri in a private school would have been immediate grounds for disconnection if Holmes was married to anyone else.

Domingo adds that even if the real reason Holmes left Cruise to protect their daughter from his religion, he won’t give up trying to convince her to come back.

In the Vanity Fair fair interview Domingo explained:

“According to Scientology doctrine, Katie has denied Suri her spiritual eternity in the church. There’s no chance for her now. Why would Katie deny their daughter her spiritual freedom? How suppressive is that? If [Tom] loves his daughter, he will never give up on [Scientology]. He will try to use every means available to help his child, and he does think he’s helping his child, but he’s also helping the church control his life.”

During his deposition, Tom Cruise wouldn’t commit to saying he and the church of Scientology consider Katie Holmes was a “Suppressive Person” saying it would be a “oversimplification of religious doctrine.”

Tom Cruise Admits Katie Holmes Divorced Him To Protect Suri From Scientology is a post from: The Inquisitr News

Brianna Benlolo was killed in the Columbia Mall shooting late Saturday morning, leaving behind a 2-year-old son and a legacy as a caring and warmhearted mother.

Benlolo was one of three people killed when a gunman opened fire inside a Zumiez store at The Mall in Columbia, a suburb of Baltimore. Police said the shooter killed Benlolo and 25-year-old Tyler Johnson, both employees at Zumiez, before turning the gun on himself.

According to her Facebook page, Brianna Benlolo was an assistant manager at Zumiez, and friends said she worked hard to provide for her 2-year-old son. Benlolo had moved around in her youth, coming from a military family that brought her to Florida and Colorado before moving to Maryland in 2010.

Within hours of the Mall in Columbia shooting, friends of Brianna Benlolo were still trying to come to grips with what had happened.

Kaela Bugg, a friend of Brianna, described her as a “supermom deserving of a cape and a cool superhero name.”

“She is an amazing person and had such a good head on her shoulders and knew what she wanted and worked her ass off to get it and to make sure her baby boy had everything he could want and need,” added friend Kaitlyn Shank. “She was an incredible mother and friend.”

Other friends feared for Benlolo as soon as the news of the Mall in Columbia shooting broke. Abhishek Rishi, a friend who worked in the mall with Benlolo, posted a panicked message on Facebook trying to see if anyone knew if she was safe. He said he was crushed to learn that she was among those killed.

“She was a very caring, heartwarming person,” said. “She never said anything bad about anybody. She was just one of those people you wanted to be around. She was just genuinely happy.”

Police said the shooting was related to a domestic dispute, but did not elaborate on the relationship between Brianna Benlolo and the shooter. Police added that they also found a crude explosive device next to the shooter, along with a shotgun.

Brianna Benlolo: Mall In Columbia Shooting Victim Remembered As ‘Supermom’ is a post from: The Inquisitr News

The Mall in Columbia shooter has been identified by Maryland police, but investigators said they won’t yet release the name of the man who killed two others and himself on Saturday morning.

The shooting took place inside Columbia Mall in Howard County. Police said the suspect was found dead near ammunition and a gun, which witnesses describe as a shotgun. They also found a “crude” explosive device near the body.

Police said they tentatively identified the Mall in Columbia shooter, but would not release the man’s identity yet. Another media briefing scheduled for Sunday morning at 9:30 am.

Two people were killed in the shooting, who police identified as Brianna Benlolo, 21, of College Park, Maryland, and Tyler Johnson, 25. Both were employees of the Zumiez store where the shooting took place, police said.

The shooting left four other people injured, including one victim with a gunshot wound to the foot and three other people whose injuries were not directly related to the shooting. Police said one was a twisted ankle suffered while shoppers were fleeing the scene, and two other people suffered seizures.

Howard County Police Chief Bill McMahon said he could not speculate on the shooter’s motives and was unsure exactly how many shots were fired.

“We don’t know a motive yet,” McMahon said. “We are very confident that it was a single shooter, and there was not another shooter in the mall.”

But law enforcement sources later told news outlets that the shooting, which took place in a Zumiez store, may have been over domestic issues.

Witnesses said they heard were many gunshots.

“They just kept shooting and it didn’t stop,” said one shopper, who said she helped some children get to safety.

“I work in Cartoon Cuts; I was downstairs getting a tea for my boss,” she said. “And all of a sudden I heard… it sounded like someone dropped something. And all of a sudden I see people fall, three people fall to the ground. And all I see is people going down to the floor and running.

“I just saw everybody run, so I ran.”

Others described a chaotic scene during the shooting inside Columbia Mall.

“We just heard gunshots, and then this lady came into the store and said there’s a guy with a gun… Me and my friend just ran in the back room,” said another witness. “We were crying and we were just scared out of our minds, because our thought was that we were going to get shot.”

Police said Mall in Columbia shooting suspect died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Mall In Columbia Shooting Suspect Identified, But Police Won’t Release Name Yet is a post from: The Inquisitr News

Stockings, a Chicago orange tabby rescued from a hoarder, is not just another cute cat on the internet. He may be the cutest cat ever on the internet. He was born with a terrible birth defect that made his legs grow almost backwards. He couldn’t walk. He could barely stand. But like all kittens, he wanted to play. And play.

Check out the pictures of Stockings below, you can see his hind legs folded into the shape of a “W.” But Stockings didn’t let that stop him.

“He had so much pent up energy! He wanted to run around like other kittens and play,” said Jenny Schlueter of Chicago’s Tree House Humane Society. “He’d jump up and fall on his face. He really wanted to do what he couldn’t do.”

Stockings was a determined little guy who never let his condition get him down. All he wanted to do was play and be like any normal cat. And legs or no legs that’s exactly what he was going to do.

But Stockings was lucky, luckier than untold numbers of cats who never find their way to a place like Tree House, a no-kill and no-cage animal shelter. The group specializes, as it says on its own web site in “rescue and rehabilitation of sick and injured cats.”

So Tree House brought in a veterinary orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Steven Neihaus, who was willing to take on Stockings’ case. Neihaus, of Chicago Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Center, often works with Tree House cats.

“If we did nothing, this cat would most likely have been euthanized,” Neihaus told ABC 7 Eyewitness News in Chicago.

Neihaus had an idea for a type of surgery that could turn Stockings’ legs, and his life, back around.

“We knew it was risky. We knew there were no guarantees it would work,” Schlueter said.

It took not one, not two, but three surgeries to give Stockings the legs he was meant to have. But the procedures were successful. After six weeks of healing, Stockings is walking — and playing — like a normal kitten.

He even has a new home. Priscilla Cherry, a veterinary technician at Chicago Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Center, normally fosters cats, giving them a temporary home as the recover from surgery. But Stockings was something special.

“I saw him trying to grab people through the bars of his kennel without a care about his malformed legs, and I knew he was for me,” Cherry said. She is now Stockings full-time mommy.

Check out these photos of Stockings from the way he was when he first came to Tree House, with his malformed back legs, through the recovery from his surgery — to the way he is today, learning to walk on his repaired legs.

Now here’s another video of Stockings with the woman who adopted him and gave him the home where he will grow up — with legs that actually work.

Stockings The Cat Will Cute-Bomb You With His Backward Legs And Inspirational Story [Photos & Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr News

The Powerball numbers for January 25 are in, and for the ninth consecutive drawing, no one matched all five numbers plus the final Powerball number. That means that Wednesday’s jackpot is currently estimated at $171 million, according to the multi-state Powerball lottery’s own web site.

The total will probably rise as Powerball fever picks up and more people buy tickets, adding to the prize pool.

Even though no one matched the numbers, which were 8, 12, 18, 55 and 57 plus the Powerball number of 2, more than half-a-million people took home at least some sort of cash prize from Saturday’s drawing. Total prize money dished out from the January 25 Powerball numbers drawing comes to about $11.2 million.

Of those 593,440 winners, three were especially lucky. One ticket buyer in Florida and another in Texas matched all five regular numbers, but not the Powerball, each earning a payout of $1 million.

And one person in Arizona who thought to pay the extra dollar to activate the Powerball Power Play option took home $2 million for matching the first five numbers.

The Power Play option comes into effect when a player pays $3 for a ticket instead of the normal $2. That extra dollar doubles the prize money for prizes other than the game’s big jackpot.

The last time anyone won that big jackpot was exactly a month before the January 25 drawing. Because Christmas fell on a Wednesday last year, the Powerball lottery picked its numbers on the holiday itself. And it turned into an extremely merry Christmas for one Kansas City, Missouri man and his wife of 29 years.

Plus, two days after the drawing and one day after learning he was the winner of a $71.5 million payout, Kevin Carlson celebrated his 49th birthday. And then, he quit his job a mechanic. So you could say that he had a good holiday season.

“Now that I don’t work, I plan to use my time to figure out what to do with the money,” Carlson said, quoted in The Kansas City Star.

Powerball is a nationwide lottery with tickets sold in 43 of the 50 states plus Washington D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The next drawing of Powerball numbers comes Wednesday, January 29 at 10:59 Eastern time. But you must pick your numbers no later than 10 pm, or earlier in some states.

Powerball Numbers Again Produce No Big Winners, Jackpot Hits $171 Million is a post from: The Inquisitr News

Thomas Perkins founded a venture capital company that CNN has called “the most storied VC firm in Silicon Valley.” His personal worth is estimated at $8 billion. He was once married to the bestselling romance novelist Danielle Steele. This is a guy who, at 81 years old, would seem to have the world at his feet.

And yet, Thomas Perkins feels oppressed. In fact, he says Americans are so oppressive toward their wealthiest citizens that the way America treats its top one percent of income earners is no different from the way Nazis persecuted Jews in the Holocaust.

Perkins, founder of the 40-year-old venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, aired his thoughts and made what The Atlantic Magazine called “the worst historical analogy you will read for a long, long time.”

In a puzzling, seemingly apropos of nothing letter to The Wall Street Journal Friday, this is what he said:

“I would call attention to the parallels of fascist Nazi Germany to its war on its ‘one percent,’ namely its Jews, to the progressive war on the American one percent, namely the ‘rich,’” the former member of Hewlett-Packard’s board of directors wrote, drawing a comparison that The Atlantic‘s Jordan Weissmann called “the reductio ad absurdum of a rich-guy’s persecution complex.”

As Weissmann explained Perkins’ logic, “The Jews were a minority. The rich are a minority. Therefore, criticizing the rich is akin to committing genocide against the Jews. QED.”

In the letter headlined “Progressive Kristallnacht Coming?” Perkins complained, “I perceive a rising tide of hatred of the successful one percent.” This is a trend that Perkins sees as dangerous because it apparently could lead to mass extermination of wealthy people.

“Kristallnacht was unthinkable in 1930,” wrote Thomas Perkins. “Is its descendent ‘progressive’ radicalism unthinkable now?”

Kristallnacht, or “Night of Broken Glass,” was a watershed event in the Nazi persecution of Jews. On November 9 and 10, 1938, instigated by Nazi Party Stormtroopers, thousands of ordinary German citizens went on a rampage of rioting, looting and murder throughout the country — all directed at the Jewish population in Germany and Austria, as well as in other areas occupied by the Nazis.

About 7,500 Jewish-owned businesses were attacked, 267 synagogues burned, and many Jewish cemeteries were desecrated — and 91 Jews were killed during the rioting, which was designed to appear spontaneous, but was actually well-organized by top Nazi officials, according to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum account of Kristallnacht.

Another Kristallnacht. That is the fate that Thomas Perkins feels awaits America’s richest citizens if people who are not as “successful” don’t stop criticizing them.

The Wall Street Journal letter was not Thomas Perkins’ first awkward literary venture. He is also the author of the 2006 novel, Sex and the Single Zillionaire.

Capitalist Thomas Perkins Says The Rich Are Persecuted Like Jews In Nazi Germany is a post from: The Inquisitr News

Katy Perry is completely devastated by the recent string of shootings in the US.

No less than five separate gun-related incidents took place across the country last week, including a shooting spree at a mall in Maryland that left three people dead. Perry, who seemed shaken and disturbed by the news, took her fears to Twitter.

The “Roar” singer said she was extremely disgusted and deeply embarrassed by the sudden explosion of violence that took place last week. Since the incidents have terrified her to the bone, Katy Perry is ready for “actual change” to take place.

Check out the Grammy-nominated performer’s tweets below.

Is anyone else really sad about the constant stream of shootings and how normal it’s becoming to see these headlines on a weekly basis?

— Katy Perry (@katyperry) January 25, 2014

Scared to go to school? Scared to go to the mall? Scared to go to the movies? Me too. When will there be ACTUAL change? How many more?!

— Katy Perry (@katyperry) January 25, 2014

You and I both know this is getting embarrassing…My heart goes out to ALL the victims & their families this week. I pray for change.

— Katy Perry (@katyperry) January 25, 2014

It didn’t take very long for Katy Perry’s thoughts on the subject to catch the attention of Piers Morgan. After responding to Perry’s tweets, he invited the singer to appear on his show.

Not sad, furious > RT @katyperry Is anyone else really sad about constant stream of shootings and how normal it’s becoming

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) January 25, 2014

When Americans say ‘ENOUGH’ > RT @katyperry Scared to go to school.. to the mall… to the movies? Me too. When will there be ACTUAL change?

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) January 25, 2014

Come and talk about guns on my CNN show @katyperry – need voices like you to effect change.

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) January 25, 2014

No word yet if Katy Perry intends to take Morgan up on his offer. Judging from the singer’s recent comments on Twitter, it would appear that she has plenty to say on the subject of gun control. While we’re waiting to see what happens with Katy Perry and Piers Morgan, fans of the singer can watch her perform at the 2014 Grammy Awards tonight (January 26). The event is presently scheduled to kick off at 8 pm ET on CBS.

Are you a fan of Katy Perry? What do you think about the “Roar” singer’s recent tweets about the shootings that took place in the US last week?

Katy Perry Responds To Recent Shootings: ‘I Pray For Change’ is a post from: The Inquisitr News

NFL jerseys are a way for fans everywhere to support their favorite team. But what happens when you are invited to a Super Bowl party and your favorite team isn’t playing? We suggest picking one of the bestselling NFL jerseys this season and becoming either a Seahawks or Broncos fan for one night.

The Seattle Seahawks are emerging as the most popular team in America heading into the Super Bowl. At Super Bowl parties around the country next Sunday, the Seahawks jerseys are sure to be well represented. But if you are going to be joining the 12th man as a Seahawks fan next weekend, which NFL jerseys should you get?

If you prefer to be the leader in the room, go with Seattle Quarterback Russell Wilson’s jersey. He ranks number two on the hottest selling NFL jerseys, according to data from NFL.com’s shop. With a sleek number three on your chest, the jersey will be simple, and everyone will know who you are when the game comes on.

Maybe you’re more of the “ground and pound” type who likes to eat skittles. Then perhaps Marshawn Lynch’s number 24 is more your type. Make sure you have bulging biceps to go with your new NFL jersey if you decide to go “Beast Mode”. Be warned, if you do decide to wear number 24 and eat skittles, you might have a strange urge to run people over at your Super Bowl party. Not a good idea if you want to be invited back next year.

The number ten best selling jersey on NFL.com might be for you if you like to talk smack, yell at nice ladies, and have a chip on your shoulder. That’s right, you could be sporting Richard Sherman’s colorful number 25 next Sunday. But if you do, be prepared to talk, a lot. Make sure you get in the face of every Broncos fan, swat slices of pizza out of people’s mouth, and walk around confidently proclaiming, “I’m the greatest!”

Deciding to go with the Seattle Seahawks for your Super Bowl jersey may seem like a good idea on the surface, because they are so popular. But buyers should also consider that everyone else will likely be jumping on the bandwagon. Why not play the villain and go a different route? That’s right, get the number one selling NFL jersey in the league right now, Peyton Manning.

If you talk with a southern drawl, like the city of Omaha, and laugh at the corniest commercials, then by all means go ahead and pick up Manning’s jersey. All the Seahawk bandwagon fans will boo you, and the guy wearing the Richard Sherman jersey will be trying to intercept all of your conversations, food, and probably your girlfriend, as well. But at the end of the night, when the Broncos win the Super Bowl, you will be left standing and smiling. And just before your leave, hold your index finger high in the air, look at all the Seahawks jerseys in the room, and simply say, “Omaha”. Then fade off into the sunset.

So which NFL jerseys will you be wearing next Sunday?

NFL Jerseys: Choosing The Right Jersey For Your Super Bowl Party is a post from: The Inquisitr News

Jessica Ciencin Henriquez has split from her husband of 22 months, actor Josh Lucas.

The couple have a 19 month old son named Noah Rev Maurer, so Jessica was well and truly pregnant at the time of the marriage. While that fact may have absolutely no relevance to the breakup, it is a factor that people speculate about when trying to understand what happened – in the absence of any firm reasons being given at this time.

Josh, 42, whose most recent role was in the movie Big Sur, met Jessica, 28, at a New York dog park in 2011.

Jessica Ciencin Henriquez is a New York City based freelance writer, best known for her novel, “Lies I’ve Told My Therapist.” She once described her first meeting with Josh in an interview with the Huffington Post: “It was one of those weird… classic New York meetings. I don’t believe in love at first sight at all, but lightning definitely struck.”

Jessica and Josh had only been dating for a relatively short time when she told him that she had cervical cancer. Josh replied: “Well that’s going to be a problem for me… Because I’m already in this.”

She recalled that they were at his apartment, and she remembers thinking, “I have to tell him or I have to walk away, because this is something big and this could be a relationship. I just blurted out, ‘I’m sick,’ and he was the first person I told.”

During an appearance on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno in January 2012, Lucas revealed he knew Henriquez was “the one” when the couple encountered a mountain lion on a retreat. “I see the very slight glint of the eyes of a huge [mountain lion] and I literally proceed to do what I had just read in the instructions.”

He added: “And I started screaming and yelling and literally being as crazy as I could be, it padded off and just slowly went away and I worked my way into the trailer and I got in and I decided at that moment that this woman was the woman for me.”

They got married in March 2012, in a small ceremony in the Conservatory Garden in New York City.

Jessica spoke about how the relationship developed throughout the treatment of her illness: “I felt like there was a 100 percent commitment and support during the whole thing. I was falling in love with him while I was starting treatment.”

Baby Noah came along just 4 months into the marriage, and, at that time, Lucas gushed to People Magazine about the joys of fatherhood: “Everyone says it’s the greatest adventure you’ll ever have and I’m amazed at how much I’m loving it,” he said.

So, on the surface, an idyllic partnership. What changed?

Sadly, Jessica Ciencin Henriquez and Josh Lucas now become yet another divorce statistic.

Still, by Hollywood standards, 22 months is par for the course!

Image: Anthony Behar/Rex

Jessica Ciencin Henriquez Splits From Josh Lucas After 22 Months, Why? is a post from: The Inquisitr News

Liam Payne recently revealed the next single from One Direction’s latest album.

If you and your buddies around the office put money on which song the popular group would release next, then here’s hoping you put all of your hard-earned cash on “Midnight Memories.” The tune is officially the next single off their most recent batch of songs, which also happens to carry the title Midnight Memories.

The announcement arrived courtesy of One Direction singer Niall Horan, who revealed on Twitter that Liam Payne had some very exciting news for fans of the band. The tweet included a link to a YouTube video of Payne discussing the new single.

Here is the Payno with some BIG news for you all! http://t.co/uOljzDnwQG

— Niall Horan (@NiallOfficial) January 24, 2014

Here’s the Liam Payne video in case you missed it.

If you’re unable to watch that video at the moment, then here’s what Liam Payne had to say about the new single. In short: “Midnight Memories” is about — you guessed it — midnight memories. Judging from some behind-the-scenes pics, they’re very curious memories.

The singer said:

“‘Midnight Memories’ is going to be our new single, which is actually one of the songs I wrote with Louis. It’s all about the midnight memories, everyone’s got them. I hope you enjoy it.”

Not surprisingly, One Direction fans around the globe could barely contain themselves once Liam Payne’s announcement started making the rounds online. Horan’s post was retweeted over 70,000 times within the span of just a few days. In fact, some fans are already planning their very own cover of the tune.

YES!!! my cover is to "midnight memories" by @onedirection! im uploading it Feb 1st to kick off my collab month! RT IF YOU'RE EXCITED!!

— Ricky Dillon (@RickyPDillon) January 25, 2014

Check out some fan reactions to Liam Payne’s video below.

*me after watching the midnight memories music video* pic.twitter.com/2Hpl4GXE3w

— 1D Updates Manila (@1DInfectionMNL) January 26, 2014

'midnight memories music video will be released on friday" 'refresh not replay' 'vevo did you miss us' pic.twitter.com/8aK1zRAbRy

— narry's bum (@1DSEDUCEME) January 26, 2014

Midnight Memories video premieres Friday January 31st. Directioners be like… pic.twitter.com/a5UX1POfMZ

— – (@hotstuffboyband) January 26, 2014

Some fans seemed concerned about what kind of midnight memories the guys are recalling.

i feel like harry was the one who suggested old ladies on hover rounds to be in the midnight memories music video

— ☼dAni☼ (@lemoniall) January 26, 2014

but seRIOUSLY WHAT KIND OF MIDNIGHT MEMORIES ARE THESE pic.twitter.com/za2dGSQlzV

— ashton please (@royaltystylesx) January 26, 2014

How many times did you watch the Liam Payne “Midnight Memories” announcement video? Are you planning to watch the official music video countless times when it’s finally released?

[Image via JStone / Shutterstock.com]

Liam Payne Reveals One Direction’s New Single, Twitter Is Obviously Excited [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr News

Nintendo World Championships is the Holy Grail for game collectors, and now one collector has snagged a copy for a small fortune.

Made in 1990 for a special competition of Super Mario, Rad Racer, and Tetris, the game was never commercially available. As time went on, a handful of copies have made their way into circulation, and now one of those is for sale.

An eBay seller offered a copy of Nintendo World Championships, with the bidding ending Saturday at just a hair under $100,000.

If the winning bid is legitimate, it would mark a huge increase in price for the rare game. A previous auction of Nintendo World Championships fetched $11,000 for a copy in much better condition. The one for sale on eBay is tattered, with the front sticker ripped almost completely off.

The owner explained that the game was defaced by someone who had no idea of its value.

“This is known as the infamous ‘Mario’ NWC cart that someone probably wrote on there long ago not having a clue what they actually had,” the seller wrote. “Still, case in point, this is an authentic, original NWC cart from the championship back in the early 90s.”

Still, the game is seen as an amazing find.

“It’s like finding the rarest Ferrari but with a scratch — you’d still buy it,” said Chris Scullion, games editor for Computer and Video Games. “They are considered the holy grail among Nintendo collectors.”

Nintendo games have become quite a collector’s item, especially some of the rare titles published for the Nintendo Entertainment System. Last year, a North Carolina woman picked up a copy of the game Stadium Events at a Goodwill store for $7.99, later learning that the game was one of the most sought-after titles for the system.

There were only an estimated 200 copies of Stadium Events published, and experts think that only ten complete editions of the game remain. And some of those owners didn’t know exactly how valuable that game is — an unsuspecting mother accidentally put her son’s copy on eBay and was shocked to see the bidding top $15,000.

Oddly enough, the Nintendo World Championship auction also came from North Carolina, not far from where the Goodwill game was discovered.

Nintendo World Championships: ‘Holy Grail’ Of Video Games Sold For $100K is a post from: The Inquisitr News