Nikki Haley opened up about her own personal experience with child abuse today as she stressed the importance of the Silent Tears study.

Haley told reporters at a press conference today that she was physically abused by a day care provider when she was a child. The South Carolina Governor said that her family didn’t know how to deal with the issue when they found out that she was being abused.

Haley said: “It doesn’t matter your background, it doesn’t matter your education, it doesn’t matter the wealth of your family. Every child is subject to child abuse … When it happened to me, my parents didn’t know what to do. They didn’t know who to go to. No one knew how to handle it.”

The State reports that Haley’s mother worked a full-time job while raising three kids. In order to juggle all of her obligations she turned to a neighbor to watch her kids during the day. Governor Haley said that she never told her mother about the child abuse but that she eventually figured out something was wrong when Nikki was reluctant to leave her side.

Haley said: “I never wanted to go but she didn’t know quite what it was and didn’t think anything of it … One day I came home and I had a lot of bruises and a lot of issues.”

The governor focused opened up about her past with child abuse during a press conference on the Silent Tears study, a 336 page page report that includes several suggestions for how South Carolina can handle future cases. The report was created by the National Child Protection Training Center of child sex abuse in South Carolina.

Here’s a video of Nikki Haley talking about her past with child abuse.

Nikki Haley Opens Up About Child Abuse [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

It has been months since they spoke, but Carolyn Moos revealed she is still “deeply hurt” by Jason Collins and what could have been. Moos, a former WNBA player, is Collins’ ex-fiance.

Moos explained that she was blindsided by Collins when he called her in April to tell her he was gay. In a blog post in Cosmopolitan, she wrote:

“I was stunned. I managed to say, after a silent moment and then a deep breath, ‘I had no idea. I’m sure a huge weight is off your shoulders.’ ”

But despite her words to Collins, Moos added, “Duruing all the years I had known him, I never would have guessed that he would come out as gay.” But he did. And in retrospect, Moos came to realize that his homosexuality was why the NBA player called off their engagement with almost no explanation in 2009.

Carolyn Moos explained that she had just returned from a road trip with Jason Collins’ twin, Jorran, when the NBA player sat her down and told her it was over. She wrote, “There were no tangible reasons, no explanations.”

Collins later stated in an interview about the couple’s breakup, “It was, deep down, ‘Jason, you can’t go through with this. You’re going to be ruining her life and your life, and leading to a life of unhappiness.’ ” He also expressed regrets over how he tolled Carolyn Moos that he didn’t want to marry her. Collins explained, “I wish I could have told her the complete truth at that time.”

But Moos got those answers four years later, with Collins’ phone call. But while he told her personally, he didn’t add that he also publicly announced the information in a Sports Illustrated article.

And while she said she is proud of him for deciding to come forward and say he is gay, she still remains “deeply hurt.” Moos added, “I empathize with Jason and support him. But at the same time, I remain deeply hurt by him. I wish he could have been honest with me years ago.”

As for what she will do now, Carolyn Moos wrote, “Today, I am 35 years old and dating. I have a great life … I’m writing a book that I hope will help other women.” But she is also still waiting on a call from Jason Collins.

Carolyn Moos Still ‘Deeply Hurt’ By Jason Collins is a post from: The Inquisitr

Edward Snowden is seeking asylum from the United States, but his attempts to reach one of the Latin American nations extending an offer seem up in the air after a retracted tweet from a Russian official.

On Tuesday a Russian government official announced that Snowden had accepted an offer from Venezuela to seek asylum there, appearing to end a stalemate that has lasted for days and kept Snowden trapped in a Moscow airport. But shortly after Russian parliamentary spokesman Alexei Pushkov sent the tweet he deleted it, saying that he got his information from a news report.

The document-sharing organization WikiLeak, which has been helping Edward Snowden in his asylum quest, clarified that Snowden has yet to formally accept any of the offers.

“The Russian lawmaker concerned has deleted the tweet,” the organization said. “The states concerned will make the announcement if and when the appropriate time comes. The announcement will then be confirmed by us.”

Even if Edward Snowden does accept one of the asylum offers, he still faces a logistical nightmare in getting there. A flight from Moscow would fly through European airspace, where last week the Bolivian president was denied travel after fears that he had Snowden on board.

Should Snowden be captured, the former National Security Agency contractor faces espionage charges in the United States.

Experts contacted by CNN found ways in which Snowden could travel to Venezuela, considered his best bet for asylum. Kirk Koenig, president of Expert Aviation Consulting, said Snowden would have to find a way to avoid the airspace of European countries.

Former CIA analyst Allen Thompson told Foreign Policy that means a route that is entirely over international water.

“Leave Moscow,” Thompson said. “Fly north to the Barents Sea, thence over to and through the Denmark Strait. Continue south, steering clear of Newfoundland until getting to the east of the Windward Islands. Fly through some convenient gap between islands and continue on to Caracas.”

Should he reach Venezuela, Snowden would be welcomed. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has spoken out against the United States and its plans to prosecute Snowden.

“He has told the truth, in the spirit of rebellion, about the US spying on the whole world,” Maduro said. “Who is the guilty one? A young man… who denounces war plans, or the US government which launches bombs and arms the terrorist Syrian opposition against the people and legitimate president, Bashar al-Assad?”

Edward Snowden is expected to name his asylum pick soon — Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly said that the NSA whisleblower is running out of time to make his decision.

Edward Snowden Asylum Bid Grows Uncertain After Retracted Tweet is a post from: The Inquisitr

The most dangerous kind of man in the world: A black man with a library card.

Thug Notes: Pride & Prejudice [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Revel Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey is offering gamblers the chance to play the slots during the month of July with their commercial slogan “If you lose, we will give it all back!” What they fail to announce is that they are recently emerging from filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy as well as all of the fine print that goes along with the guilt free gambling July 2013 has to offer. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. It is being called Revel 2.0 as this casino is starting to recognize it’s identity as an actual casino and hotel and not as the one word icon, Revel.

Starting July 1 and continuing through the month, Revel Casino will refund 100 percent of slot machine losses to anyone who participates in their players’ club card, as well as the loss from any other Atlantic City casino. What gamblers don’t know while they are filling out their information for their brand new Revel card, is that they will get their rebate over a 20-week time period beginning in August. The amount of money you lost is broken up during those five months and refunded on your Revel club card. Ready for even more fine print?? If you don’t attend in any particular week, you will no longer be allowed to collect that portion of the rebate.

While the Revel Casino is offering gamblers the option, “If you Lose, We Will Give It All Back,” the casino is really just making a marketing attempt to get more people to return and put out more money into their resurfacing business. After climbing out of the bankruptcy hole in May, Revel Casino is hoping its new marketing theme called “Gamblers Wanted” and lifting its ban on smoking inside will bring people from a 2 to 4 hour radius back through its doors.

Revel Casino Offers Gamblers “If You Lose, We Will Give It All Back”: After They Filed for Chapter 11 is a post from: The Inquisitr

Peer pressure can be a dangerous thing, especially when flatulence is involved.

Fart Attack! [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Placido Domingo has been hospitalized with a pulmonary embolism. The embolism was reportedly caused by a blood clot inside his lung. The 72-year-old was treated in Madrid and is currently in recovery.

Domingo’s scheduled performance in Daniel Catan’s Il Postino has been cancelled through July 21.

As reported by ABC News, Domingo is expected to make a full recovery. However, his doctors have encouraged him rest until he regains his strength. Convincing him to remain off stage may prove difficult.

Placido Domingo is notorious for having a strong will and unrelenting work ethic. In 2010 Domingo underwent surgery for colon cancer. He returned to the stage in less than two months and continued his vigorous schedule.

Despite his age, Domingo maintains a full schedule. Throughout his career he has performed over 140 roles. He is best known as one of the Three Tenors. However, he has performed many baritone roles as well.

In addition to his acclaims onstage, Domingo was recently honored with the title of goodwill ambassador for the U.N. Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization for his commitment to music and the arts.

As discussed at PlacidoDomingo.com, Domingo has performed more roles than “any other celebrated tenor in history.” He began singing as a child as both his parents were performers.

At the age of 18 Domingo made his debut with Mexico’s National Opera. By the age of 20, Domingo was promoted to a leading tenor.

In 1990 Domingo joined Jose Carreras and the late Luciano Pavarotti to form the Three Tenors. The group gained worldwide recognition, introducing thousands of fans to opera music.

Domingo has been called “The King of Opera” and “the greatest operatic artist of modern times.”

Although he has faced some medical issues in recent years, Domingo continues to wow audiences around the world.

Placido Domingo’s representatives state that if his recovery continues as planned he hopes to return to the stage during the Salzburg Festival in August.

[Image via Flickr]

Placido Domingo Hospitalized With Pulmonary Embolism is a post from: The Inquisitr

Cat parasites, the kind found on the poop buried in litter boxes, poses a serious and widespread public health hazard, officials are saying this week.

Scientists studying an infectious parasite called Toxoplasma gondii say they were surprised to find just how widespread the bug’s eggs are. Two researchers at Johns Hopkins Medical Center, Dr. E. Fuller Torrey and Dr. Robert H. Yolken, found that the parasite’s eggs are more common that previously estimated. They found as many as 434 eggs in a square foot of soil, and it only takes one to cause an infection.

That means cat owners likely have the dangerous parasite climbing around near litter boxes and sand boxes.

“It may be a much bigger problem than we realize,” said Torrey, a psychiatrist and head of the Stanley Medical Research Institute in Chevy Chase, Md.

The dangers of T. gondii are well known. Health officials have for years warned pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems to avoid cleaning the litter box because of the dangerous infections the cat parasites can cause.

But now Torrey says the health risks from cat parasites could extend even further, with a link found between high levels of T. gondii antibodies and conditions including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

“Some of us suspect that some of the important transmission may occur in childhood,” Torrey told NBC News.

Another study from last year produced similar findings. Researchers in Denmark found that women infected with T. gondii could be at a higher risk of suicide. And the higher the level of the cat parasites in the woman’s body, the higher the risk of a suicide by violent means, including leaping from a tall building or suicide by gunshot.

Torrey said the risk from the cat parasites is growing as the feline population booms. Every day there are close to one million cats in the United States that can poop up to 50 million parasitic eggs each, and Torrey noted the parasites are particularly difficult to kill.

Cat Parasites In Poop Pose A Growing Health Risk, Researchers Find is a post from: The Inquisitr

Boy Gets Hit By A Car And Lands A Flip [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

Natural gas leaked from a well off the Louisiana coast on Monday evening, forcing the evacuation of a drilling platform. The Coast Guard responded to the leak, which happened  as a crew attempted to temporarily plug the well.

Cuast Guard Lieutenant Lily Zepeda explained that the well didn’t blow out and there was no explosion or fire on the platform, unlike when the Macondo Well blew in 2010, killing 12 oil rig workers and spilling millions of gallons of crude into the Gulf of Mexico.

Zepeda added that all five people working on the platform at the time were safely evacuated. She added that a mixture of water and natural gas was still leaking from the well, which is located in 144 feet of water.

An aerial survey done Tuesday of the leak showed a rainbow sheen four miles wide an three-quarters of a mile long. But there is no indication that the leak will take on the same scale of the 2010 BP oil disaster, which happened about 100 miles east of the new leak.

The crew was working on Monday night to plug the well temporarily when they lost control of it. The well wasn’t producing oil at the time and two other wells producing on the platform were closed off to prevent any further incident.

Talos Energy, a Houston, Texas-based company, explained in a statement on Tuesday that the leak happened while the workers were permanently plugging up the well. Talos added, “We expect that the well will be shut in within the next 24 hours.” Along with the natural gas, the well was leaking some oil.

Despite the well likely being shut off by Wednesday, Jonathan Henderson of the Gulf Restoration Network, an advocacy group in New Orleans, stated that the natural gas leak could still have a toxic effect on marine life in the area.

The Coast Guard has said that the cause of the natural gas leak is under investigation.

[Image via NOAA Photo Library]

Natural Gas Leaking From Well Off Louisiana Coast is a post from: The Inquisitr

It’s been more than three decades since Paulina Porizkova first graced the pages of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in the 1980s but the “accidental supermodel” would still fit right in between Kate Upton and Nina Agdal.

Porizkova, now 48-years-old, recently shared some bikini pictures from her trip to South Beach.

Porizkovais, who is currently married to former Cars frontman Ric Ocasek, posed for a photo for her husband while lounging in the pool of the Raleigh Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida.

The former supermodel writes: “Doing the siren for my hubby in the Raleigh pool.”

This isn’t the only time that the former model has shared a bikini photo on Twitter. Earlier this year the model shared a photo from the Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa, in Iceland.

The 48-year-old beauty writes: “Me at the Blue Lagoon in Iceland yesterday. Total heaven.”

The former Sports Illustrated Model received plenty of compliments after she posted her bikini photos on Twitter but Porizkovais reminded her fans that she doesn’t always look fantastic.

She writes: “Thanks ya’ll for the compliments,” she wrote. “Now I’m just hoping no one else got a shot of what I really look like- cellulite and all.”

Here are Paulina Porizkova’s bikini pictures.

Do you think Paulina Porizkova could still appear in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue? Here’s a look at the model’s SI covers from the 1980s.

Thanks ya’ll for the compliments. Now I’m just hoping no one else got a shot of what I really look like- cellulite and all.

— paulina porizkova (@paulinaporizkov) July 9, 2013

Paulina Porizkova Flaunts 48-Year-Old Bikini Body On Twitter is a post from: The Inquisitr

Raymond Ibrahim, a respected authority on the Middle East and a popular contributor to The Inquisitr has provided a stunning translation from Arabic of the actual conversation between President Morsi and General Sisi informing the President of Egypt he was being removed from office and placed under arrest. During the riveting exchange, General Sisi told President Morsi he will be judged by the courts and the Egyptian people. After advising Morsi to resign with dignity and instruct his supporters to go peacefully to their homes, Morsi responded by saying “Don’t think the Brotherhood is going to stand by if I leave office. They will set the world on fire.”

As promised, Egypt is on fire. Al-Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood have sent armed fighters to regroup in the Sinai and they are rioting and killing across Egypt. The various Islamic groups supporting the deposed President stated they will not bow to the will of the pro-Democracy forces and promised to fight to the death to return Morsi to power.

On Monday alone, 51 Egyptians died in clashes between the army’s Republican Guard and Islamist protesters. Hundreds of Egyptians have been injured since the removal of Morsi on July 2, food supplies are diminishing rapidly, and the Egyptian economy is on the brink of collapse. US President Barack Obama, who was a strong supporter of the Morsi Presidency, remains silent as the Muslim Brotherhood threatens open war and the people of Egypt pay in blood.

Raymond Ibrahim: On July 5, El Watan (“the nation”), one of Egypt’s most popular newspapers, published the final dialogue between General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Dr. Muhammad Morsi, which took place on Tuesday July 2, a few hours before Morsi’s final speech to the Egyptian people. A reporter who was taken to an adjacent room was allowed to witness and transcribe their conversation from a TV screen. I translate the entire speech as it appears on El Watan below:

Exchange Between Morsi and Sisi

Morsi: What’s the military’s position concerning what’s going on? Is it just going to stand by watching? Shouldn’t it protect the legitimacy?

Sisi: What legitimacy? The entire army is with the will of the people, and the overwhelming majority of people, according to documented reports, don’t want you.

Morsi: My supporters are many and they won’t be silent.

Sisi: The army will not allow anyone to destroy the nation, no matter what happens.

Morsi: What if I don’t want to leave?

Sisi: The matter is settled and no longer up to you. Try to leave with your dignity and tell those whom you call supporters to go back to their homes in order to prevent bloodshed, instead of threatening the people through them.

Morsi: But this way it will be a military coup, and America won’t leave you alone.

Sisi: The people concern us, not America. And since you’ve started to talk this way, I’ll talk to you candidly. We have evidence to condemn you and to condemn many governmental officials of compromising Egypt’s national security. The judiciary will have its say and you will all be judged before the whole people.

Morsi: Okay, can you permit me to make a few phone calls and then afterwards I’ll decide on what to do?

Sisi: You are not permitted; but we can let you check up on your family only.

Morsi: Am I imprisoned or what?

Sisi: You are under arrest from this moment.

Morsi: Don’t think the Brotherhood is going to stand by if I leave office. They will set the world on fire.

Sisi: Just let them try something and you’ll see the reaction of the army. Whoever among them wants to live in peace, he’s more than welcome; otherwise, [if they try anything] we will not leave them alone. We will not single anyone out, and the Brotherhood is from the Egyptian people, so don’t try to use them as fuel for your disgusting war. If you truly love them, leave office and let them go to their homes.

Morsi: Anyway, I’m not going, and the people outside of Egypt are all with me, and my supporters are not going.

Sisi: Anyway, I’ve advised you.

Morsi: Okay, but take care—I’m the one who hired you as minister and can remove you.

Sisi: I became minister of defense due to the military’s will and not yours—and you know this very well. Moreover, you can’t remove me; that’s it—you no longer have any legitimacy.

Morsi: Okay, if I agree to be removed, will you allow me to travel abroad and promise not to imprison me?

Sisi: I can’t offer you any promises. It’s the justice [department] that will pass its verdict.

Morsi: Okay, if that’s the case, I’ll make it war, and we’ll see who will prevail in the end.

Sisi: Naturally the people will win.

More articles by Raymond Ibrahim can be found on his website. His new book, Crucified Again: Exposing Islam’s New War on Christians, can be ordered through Amazon.

Morsi’s Fall From Power: Stunning Translation Of General Sisi Ordering President Morsi to Resign is a post from: The Inquisitr

The “state secrets defense” offered up by the Obama administration has been rejected by a federal judge hearing a lawsuit that alleges illegal surveillance by the National Security Agency.

The case, Jewel v. NSA, is a lawsuit filed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation on behalf of a group of AT&T customers who claim that Americans’ private electronic data was unconstitutionally collected by the government without a warrant. The state secrets defense is a legal doctrine dating back to the 1950s that allows cases to be tossed out of court “when the government claims litigation threatens national security and might expose state secrets,” Wired explained.

In this instance, the judge determined that the subject matter of the lawsuit does not qualify as a state secret, allowing the case to move forward rather than being dismissed as the Obama administration lawyers wanted. “Given the multiple public disclosures of information regarding the surveillance program, the court does not find that the very subject matter of the suits constitutes a state secret,” US District Judge Jeffrey White asserted.

Reacting to Judge Jeffrey White’s ruling that tossed out the government’s state secrets claim, EFF Legal Director Cindy Cohn had this to say: “The court rightly found that the traditional legal system can determine the legality of the mass, dragnet surveillance of innocent Americans and rejected the government’s invocation of the state secrets privilege to have the case dismissed. Over the last month, we came face-to-face with new details of mass, untargeted collection of phone and Internet records, substantially confirmed by the Director of National Intelligence. Today’s decision sets the stage for finally getting a ruling that can stop the dragnet surveillance and restore Americans’ constitutional rights.”

Even given that the judge has the thrown out the government’s state secrets defense, there is still no certainty that the case — originally filed in 2008 during the Bush administration — will get to a full-blown trial on the merits, however, as Reuters reports: “While U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White in San Francisco did not end the lawsuit on Monday on state secrets grounds, he did narrow the plaintiffs’ claims and raised several issues that may ultimately prevent the case from reaching trial following several years of litigation.”

The judge has set a further hearing date as to whether whether the alleged data mining violated the First and Fourth Amendments.

In June, Edward Snowden, the former Booz Allen contractor, publicly revealed the previously unknown scope of the massive National Security Agency PRISM domestic spying program. The extent of the domestic surveillance program was obviously unknown when this particular lawsuit was originally filed.

State Secrets Defense Rejected In Anti-NSA lawsuit is a post from: The Inquisitr

New details are emerging in the crash of flight 214 after the pilots were interviewed by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

The plane crashed in the San Francisco airport on Sunday killing two teenagers from China and injuring many others, including two flight attendants who were ejected upon impact.

The pilots told investigators that they were relying on automated cockpit equipment to control their speed. These revelations change the focus of the accident investigation toward whether a mistake was made setting the autothrottle or if it malfunctioned.

One of the aspects of the crash that is bothering investigators is why the jet 777 came in too slow and too low while approaching the runway in the fatal landing.

The plane clipped the landing gear and tail on a rocky seawall just off of the runway. The pilots then lost control of the aircraft which careened to the ground.

NTSB chairman Deborah Hersman said Tuesday the training captain who was instructing the pilot flying the Boeing 777 has told investigators he thought the autothrottle was programmed for a speed of 137 knots, the speed the pilots had selected for approach. Instead, investigators say the plane reached speeds as low as 103 knots and was in danger of stalling because it was losing lift before landing.

The autothrottle is similar to a cruise control, and the pilot stated that he realizes it was not engaged just before they crashed, but they attempted to abort the landing.

Hersman said that investigators are collecting information from flight 214′s data recorders recovered from the scene. The focus now it to determine whether a mistake was made while programming the instruments.

Hersman said the pilot at the controls was only about halfway done with his training on the Boeing 777 and was landing the triple seven at the San Francisco airport for the first time ever. The co-pilot was on his first trip as a flight instructor as well.

The NTSB chair warned against arriving to early conclusion based on the evidence collected so far since they yet to examine thousands of data.

There has been speculation that language was an issue with the Asian pilots who are heard talking in Korean while requesting assistance from the control tower. But investigators speculate the they were talking between themselves.

The FAA enforces the “Sterile Rule”, which requires that all chatter and distractions that are not related to landing or taking off cease once aircraft are below 10,000 feet, so the pilots can concentrate on their tasks.

South Korean officials say that 39 passengers remain hospitalized, some in critical condition in seven different San Francisco hospitals.

What do you think happened in the last moments of flight 214?

Flight 214: New Details Emerge From Interview With Pilots is a post from: The Inquisitr

April Jones’ killer, Mark Bridger, was brutally attacked by a fellow inmate on Sunday. He was slashed across the face with a knife and was taken to the hospital for stitches.

Mark Bridger was attacked after he walked along a gangway and is badly scarred from the incident. A lot of people supported the prisoner who attacked Bridger.

“No one has any sympathy for him,” Julie Williams, a mother-of-two, said. “He is so evil for not saying where her body is. Other prisoners may lay off him if he lets the authorities know what he did with April. It’s the least he should do – this attack may frighten him into doing the right thing. But it won’t bring April back to her family.”

April Jones’ family doesn’t have any sympathy for Mark Bridger either. “Hopefully he will live in fear for his life every day. Imagine little April’s fear and terror,” Carole Davies said.

The 47-year-old was given a life sentence in prison in May for the murder of 5-year-old April Jones. After he kidnapped her from her home, he sexually abused her, killed her and dismembered her body.

He never revealed what he did with her remains, but police believe that he dumped her body parts in the rivers, hills and forests surrounding his home.

After the child killer was sentenced, April’s mother, Coral Jones, said she was relieved.

“We are relieved that Mark Bridger has today been found guilty of the murder of our beautiful daughter April,” she said. “April will be forever in our hearts and we are so moved by the overwhelming support we have had from so many people all over the world.”

What do you think of the prisoner who attacked Mark Bridger? Do you think that the convicted killer deserved to be slashed in the face?

[Image via Shuttershock]

April Jones’ Killer, Mark Bridger, Attacked With Knife In Prison is a post from: The Inquisitr

Annie Meyer went missing in February after she felt sick and left work early, and now police in Colorado have found the body of the 52-year-old woman.

The woman’s remains were found in Park County after a group of people camping found what they believed to be human remains near their cabin. Police have not yet confirmed that the body belongs to Annie Meyer, but the woman’s family said they have been notified that it is her.

“It’s just unbelievable,” Mark Meyer, Annie Meyer’s brother, told 7NEWS. “There is some relief now.”

Finding Meyer’s body has done nothing to answer the questions about her death. Annie’s Toyota pickup truck was found about three miles from her home, after it had been sold to a man, but Meyer’s family didn’t know if Annie sold it or someone else did.

Annie’s other vehicle, a 2009 RAV4 was recovered a few days later.

Family members believe that foul play was involved in the death, that Annie must have been taken by force.

“It is bittersweet,” said Annie’s friend, Tammy Haselhorst. “I’m glad we’ll have some closure, but…there’s all the unanswered questions. How long has she been laying up there? Who did this to her?”

“To say it’s over is not true. Because the person that’s done this to Annie, when that ‘s closed, then maybe the final closure will happen,” Haselhorst added.

Police said they want to question Meyer’s roommate, Melissa Miller, but she has refused to talk to police. Miller’s mother, Mary Trounce, has denied that her daughter was involved but did say Melissa hiked in the area where the body was found.

Police in Park County said they are treating the death of Annie Meyer as a homicide investigation.

Annie Meyer: Body Found Of Woman Who Disappeared After Leaving Work Early is a post from: The Inquisitr

Smoke from two massive wildfires was visible from Las Vegas on Tuesday. Firefighters are battling the pair of blazes, which are currently burning in mountainous terrain.

The smoke caused the Clark County Department of air Quality to issue a health advisory for the city, which will remain in effect until Sunday.

Both fires were sparked by lightning. While the Carpenter 1 fire, 25 miles northwest of the city, was started on July 1, the Pine Nut mountain range fire broke out on July 4.

Carpenter 1 spread out to 19,757 acres on Tuesday. It has spread quickly into a rugged terrain that has limited accessibility. While the blaze has evacuated 500 people so far, officials have been forced to close two state highways into the canyons.

Almost 900 firefighters are battling the wildfire, which is only 15 percent contained. However, fire spokeswoman Madonna Lengerich stated that officials are optimistic the blaze will head into more manageable terrain.

While the air quality warning was issued, winds coming from the south and southwest so far have worked to keep the smoke out of Law Vegas. Russell Roberts of the Clark County Department of Air Quality, added:

“We’re keeping our fingers crossed, we hope the winds don’t change. The worst that could happen is that the winds come out of the north and smoke the whole valley out.”

Thankfully, that hasn’t happened yet. And the only people who seem to be affected by the wildfires’ smoke are children. Dr. Craig Nakamura, a pediatric pulmonologist, stated, “Our phones are lighting up a little more from families whose children are particularly sensitive to fine particles in the air.”

For the second fire, officials have had to close roads over the mountains. They have also asked the public to stay away from the area while more than 700 firefighters battle the blaze. Fire spokeswoman Elayne Briggs explained that crews made progress on Monday by forming hard lines around the fire.

Meanwhile, Las Vegas residents and tourists continue to hope that the winds keep the wildfires’ smoke away from the city.

[Image via Twitter]

Massive Wildfires’ Smoke Visible From Las Vegas is a post from: The Inquisitr

Walmart is threatening to cancel three planned stores over a living wage bill in Washington, D.C. The megastore chain all but threatened District lawmakers on Tuesday with the ultimatum.

While the city’s minimum wage is currently $8.25 per hour, the bill would require retailers with more than $1 billion in corporate sales and an operating space of over 75,000 square feet to pay their employees at least $12.50 per hour.

Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, previously promised to open six stores in the area, which will employ up to 1,800 people. But if the bill passes, the retailer made it clear three of those stores will not happen.

Along with informing lawmakers in person, Alex Barron, a regional general manager for the retailer, also wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post, saying that the living wage bill “would clearly inject unforeseen costs into the equation that will create an uneven playing field and challenge the fiscal health of our planned D.C. stores.”

While it had hinted in the past that it opposed the living wage bill, Walmart’s statements on Tuesday were the first saying the company would withdraw from its planned stores.

Walmart has used similar tactics in the past with stores in Chicago and New York. While Mayor Richard M. Daley vetoed the Chicago bill for a similar “living wage” requirement, New York only raised its minimum wage after it agreed to offer tax subsidies to stores like Walmart that hire workers seasonally.

One of the bill’s backers, Vincent B. Orange, stated that the announcement by Walmart revealed the company’s “true character.” He added, “For them to now stick guns to council members’ heads is unfortunate and regrettable.”

But despite Mayor Vincent C. Gray’s support of the bill, he indicated that he may consider vetoing it. He called Walmart’s move “immensely discouraging.” However, he added, “The cancellation of three planned stores will surely set us back. I strongly urge the Council to consider whether this legislation will actually promote strong economic development in the District and expand job opportunities for District residents.”

It is unclear whether or not the living wage bill in Washington, D.C., will continue with Walmart’s announcement that the legislation could cancel plans for three new stores.

[Image via Wikimedia Commons]

Walmart Could Cancel Planned Stores Over Living Wage Bill is a post from: The Inquisitr

Elisabeth Hasselbeck is set to leave ABC’s The View to take on the same role on Fox News Channel’s Fox & Friends. Her last day with The View will be Wednesday after they confirmed the news that she would be leaving the popular show.

“I have been a long-time fan of Fox & Friends and am excited to be joining their team in September as it is an honor to call the Fox News Channel my new television home,” Hasselbeck said in a written announcement.

She’s been rumored to be leaving ABC for some time and her run will now end after joining the show in November of 2003. Before getting her start as a co-host, Hasselbeck was recognized as the runner-up on the second season of the Survivor show.

Since her decision to leave was released, ABC has gone on to praise the 36-year-old for her dedication to the show.

“For a decade, Elisabeth Hasselbeck has brought her passion and strong beliefs to ‘The View,’” ABC said in a statement of their own. “We watched her journey from newlywed to motherhood, an Emmy Award-winning talk show host, author, entrepreneur and activist. She stood behind her political views even if they were not the most popular opinions at the table never shying away from voicing a difficult question.  We thank Elisabeth and wish her luck as she begins this new chapter of her career.”

She will now join Steve Doocy and Brian Kilmeade on Fox & Friends, while Gretchen Carlson will move to her own one-hour daytime show.

The View, on the other hand, will need a major overhaul as Barbara Walters announced in May that she would be retiring in the summer of 2014. Co-host Joy Behar is also set to leave the show after the current season ends on August 9.

Do you think Elisabeth Hasselbeck is making the right decision by leaving The View for Fox & Friends?

Elisabeth Hasselbeck Receives Praise After Leaving ‘The View’ is a post from: The Inquisitr

The San Francisco 49ers have officially signed their first-round draft pick in Eric Reid. The 22-year-old has signed a four-year deal with the 49ers, but the financial terms haven’t been disclosed.

Reid was the 18th overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft after becoming a standout safety at LSU. In 39 games during his college career, Reid finished with 109 tackles, six interceptions, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. He was just the second LSU safety to be drafted in the first round of the NFL draft.

The 49ers have now signed all of their 11 draft picks from 2013 and Reid is expected to be a key contributor out of the gates. He’s regularly spent time on the 49ers’ first-team defense and he’s continued to impress during offseason workouts.

In 2012, Eric Reid had a breakout year with the Tigers before leaving for the NFL. He finished as an All-American in his final college season and his talent is expected to translate well with the San Francisco 49ers.

Pro Bowl safety Donte Whitner has been with the 49ers since 2011 and he’s quite impressed by Reid’s play so far.

“You see him flying around, hitting people, getting his hands on the football,” Whitner said, according to the team’s website. “We’re eager to see what he can do at the pro level.”

With training camp closing in, Eric Reid has already started adjusting to the NFL and he’s excited to have great players around him.

“I’m on a great team to be a part of being a rookie,” the rookie said. “There’s a ton of guys around here I can learn from. It’s going to set the tone for my whole career. I’m just trying to be a sponge right now and absorb as much information as I can.”

Without a single game under his belt, it looks like Reid is taking the professional game in stride.

Do you think Eric Reid will become a force in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers during his rookie season?

[Image via Sam Pullara]

San Francisco 49ers Sign First-Round Draft Pick Eric Reid is a post from: The Inquisitr