Breaking News Thread

[Goldeneye]

Still fighting for her life. Earlier reports were wrong.
http://www.kgun9.com/global/story.asp?s=13807722

U.S. Rep Gabrielle Giffords wounded in mass shooting
Posted: Jan 08, 2011 12:31 PM CST Updated: Jan 08, 2011 2:24 PM CST
A medical helicopter evacuates victims from the Ina and Oracle area A medical helicopter evacuates victims from the Ina and Oracle area
More scene video from the shooting area More scene video from the shooting area

Web producer: Sheryl Kornman

Reporter: Tammy Vo

TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - KGUN9 is standing by for the latest on the condition of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and the other victims from Saturday's shooting. A news briefing is scheduled for 1:30pm at University Medical Center.

KGUN9's Jessica Chapin is on the scene at Ina and Oracle roads where three medical helicopters are landing to evacuate shooting victims to local hospitals.

A mass shooting took place Saturday morning at an event hosted by Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.

At least 12 people were wounded and Giffords was one of them. The shooter is in custody, according a law enforcement spokesman.

Various conflicting reports are circulating in the local and national media about whether there were fatalities, and the seriousness of Giffords' condition. There is no official word at this time of any fatalities or of the Congresswoman's condition.

President Obama released this statement:

"This morning, in an unspeakable tragedy, a number of Americans were shot in Tuscon, Arizona, at a constituent meeting with Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. And while we are continuing to receive information, we know that some have passed away, and that Representative Giffords is gravely wounded. We do not yet have all the answers. What we do know is that such a senseless and terrible act of violence has no place in a free society. I ask all Americans to join me and Michelle in keeping Representative Giffords, the victims of this tragedy, and their families in our prayers."

Tune in now to continuing coverage, now airing on KGUN9 News, or watch KGUN9.com for updates.

[Kristatos]

The shooter was named as 22-year-old Jared Laughner. The news reports I've read don't say whether he was a lone nut or part of some extremist group. Congresswoman Giffords was pro-immigration reform, which is a hot topic in Arizona, so I wonder if he was some species of neo-Nazi.

[Dr. No]

They are seeking a second gunman!
What a tragedy I hope the people behind this are quickly caught and punished.

[Kristatos]

They are seeking a second gunman!
What a tragedy I hope the people behind this are quickly caught and punished.

CNN posted a selection of his social media postings. He seems like a garden-variety psycho rather than part of a terrorist group.

[Dr. No]

I knew it was a white guy when Obama came out to denounce it. If it were a Muslim or a Mexican he wouldn't have said a word besides not to rush to judgment.

It is becoming clear this kid was nuts. Thats all nuts. The blankity blank know nothing media first got her death wrong (thankfully), then tries to tie this kid to the Tea Party which would explain why he shot a republican appointed judge Shameful, they hover like vultures.
Now its all about new gun control laws, which are useless, because we have good laws but they state and local people are afraid to label someone a nut or whatever which would disqualify them form buying a firearm. If they don't enforce and use what we have then why is adding another layer of laws a good thing. They want and get special laws for cell phones, but we already have laws against reckless driving.

I have to wonder why this kid was walking around free, then I see that idiot sheriff on tv and don't have to wonder. They could have busted this kid long before he ever bought a gun so he would be flagged in the system.

We need a few more like Gabrielle Giffords in the house and senate I hope she fully recovers and can get back to work.

[Kristatos]

It is becoming clear this kid was nuts. Thats all nuts. The blankity blank know nothing media first got her death wrong (thankfully), then tries to tie this kid to the Tea Party which would explain why he shot a republican appointed judge Shameful, they hover like vultures.

If anything, the MSM has been playing down his ties to the Tea Party movement, pushing the "disturbed loner" angle for all it's worth and making great play of the fact that the Communist Manifesto and Mein Kampf were on his list of favourite books while failing to mention that the list mostly consisted of conservative/Tea Party tracts and that his obsessions (returning to the gold standard, constitutional fundamentalism, government mind control etc.) are also the obsessions of Beck, Limbaugh, Palin et al.

[FormerBondFan]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110116/ap_ ... _obit_york

Oscar-nominated British actress Susannah York dies
By GREGORY KATZ, Associated Press Gregory Katz, Associated Press – Sun Jan 16, 11:20 am ET

LONDON – British actress Susannah York, one of the leading stars of British and Hollywood films in the late 1960s and early 1970s, has died in London. She was 72.

York received an Oscar nomination in 1970 for her role in "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" and also appeared in the classic "A Man For All Seasons" before going on to play Christopher Reeve's biological mother in the Superman series of movies.

She died of cancer Saturday at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London. Her son, the actor Orlando Wells, said York was an incredibly brave woman who did not complain about her illness and a "truly wonderful mother." He said she went into the hospital on Jan. 6 after experiencing shoulder pain.

York had a long, distinguished career on film, television and on stage, but she is best remembered for her early roles, when she had an immediate impact that started with her 1963 role as Albert Finney's love interest in the memorable period piece romp "Tom Jones."

With its tongue-in-cheek sensuality and gentle send-up of the British aristocracy, the film is remembered as an early landmark in 1960s cinema, and York's unmistakable presence added to its appeal. Her long blond hair, stunning blue eyes and quick-witted repartee brought her a string of excellent roles.

York acted with major stars like Sean Connery, Elizabeth Taylor, Marlon Brando, George C. Scott and many others, stirring some controversy with her daring portrayal of a lesbian in the 1968 drama "The Killing of Sister George."

In 1972, York won the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival. Her film work tailed off as London's "Swinging Sixties" era faded into cultural history, but she returned to play Superman's mother.

Actress and politician Glenda Jackson, who starred with York in the 1975 film version of "The Maids," said York's death "came as a shock."

Jackson said York had been a pleasure to work with and was "too young to go."

York branched out into television and stage work, earning a number of accolades and awards throughout her long career. She made appearances in several successful TV shows including "The Love Boat" in the U.S. and "Holby City" in Britain.

Her stage work continued for much of her career and included several one-woman shows.

British director Richard Bracewell, who worked with York later in her career, described her as "electrifying" once the cameras started to roll.

Wells said his mother was incredibly versatile throughout her working life.

"There was the glamorous Hollywood aspect — she has worked with everyone from John Huston to Sydney Pollack — as well as the big commercial films like Superman," he said.

Wells, an accomplished television actor, said his mother also had a passion for writing.

"She wrote two children's books, which is great for her grandchildren and something we will pass on to them," said Wells.

York was born in London and studied at the storied Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, which has tutored many of Britain's top actors throughout the years.

York had two children — son Orlando and daughter Sasha — with her husband, Michael Wells, before they divorced. She is survived by her children and several grandchildren.

[Capt. Sir Dominic Flandry]

This thread is a bit quiet: no celebrity deaths lately?

It looks as if Colonel Gaddafi may be ousted.

[Dr. No]

Gaddafi? My god is he still there. He was a problem when I was a kid, hell I think he was in the airwolf pilot.

You what bothers me is all these dictators cutting off internet and cell phones the same kind of power we just gave to our government.

Off politics my god has it been a bad cold season, all our kids are very sick started off as a cold and they got better then a second stomach flu came on.

[katied]

There has been something going around in Southern California-a head cold/cough thing. I didn't feel too bad, but then 2 Fridays ago it hit me like a ton of bricks.Nasty stuff.

[Capt. Sir Dominic Flandry]

Horrible earthquake in New Zealand has smashed up the lovely Christchurch.

[bjmdds]

I ship standardbred racehorses from there to here in the USA and my friend who is my agent there was in town as it happened. He has a horse farm 3 miles from Christchurch. He is lucky he is OK as are his horses. It was their second major earthquake in less than 1 year.

[Dr. No]

What a shocking disaster, it could have been worse but seeing those building topel was a shock.

I am actually embarrassed by Obama. The world in ins crisis, our citizens need resucing and we sit on our hands. We are doing nothing to help the situations where one word for teh US would encourage the people fighting for liberty. the Uk and the EU are doing a much better job with these stiuations and it is embarrassing for a super power to be stuck in neutral waiting for polling data to tell them what to do. Clinton and Bush for all their faults knew how to react to a crisis.

[Alessandra]

What a shocking disaster, it could have been worse but seeing those building topel was a shock.

I am actually embarrassed by Obama. The world in ins crisis, our citizens need resucing and we sit on our hands. We are doing nothing to help the situations where one word for teh US would encourage the people fighting for liberty. the Uk and the EU are doing a much better job with these stiuations and it is embarrassing for a super power to be stuck in neutral waiting for polling data to tell them what to do. Clinton and Bush for all their faults knew how to react to a crisis.

Well as a European and Italian, I can safely tell you that instead Obama did very well with the Libya situation. He was firm and he didn't rush things, and he has already repeatedly told Gaddafi to get the hell out of there and that the US will back the rebels. Something that the EU has not even DREAMED about doing yet, which is shameful. I won't even get into the mockery that my government is right now with that douchebag as a Prime Minister, but trust me, all Europeans feel like AS USUAL the US have had a much better and much stronger reaction to something that WE were supposed to fix. My country is supposed to be the one first and foremost telling them to stop it immediately and calling off all treaties with them, but since we have a douchebag as a Prime Minister, not to mention someone who is just out of his mind completely and only thinking about his own personal affairs (much like a dictator would do), that is out of question. Obama is handling the matter perfectly. The problem is that the UN needs reform because as long as China and Russia have vetoing powers, NOTHING is ever going to be done quickly and in the right direction when situations like these arise. They should establish a no-fly zone over Libya immediately, but that still hasn't been done because of the way the UN works.

Unbelievable how Gaddafi has been a threat to Western World ever since I was a CHILD. Yet he's still here and still killing as if nothing was.

[bjmdds]

I now have to part ways with you Ale on the Oh-bama. He is a disgrace, pure and simple. He cannot make his mind up on ANY issue, as the good Dr. No pointed out. He cannot handle a crisis, be it the Gulf oil spill, the economy, Egypt, Wisconsin, etc. He is NOT a leader and he is definitely a socialist. He has all of Clinton's goons advising him with Defense Secretary Gates remaining from the Bush administration, after slamming Bush's defense strategies! Gitmo is still open, as it should be, yet Oh-bama vowed to close it. He is a fake and a poor president who was elected because of only one thing; the USA wanted to show the world we could elect a half African president. Look at the results. This guy is as bad a president as Cr-egg is as Bond. You elect someone based on abilities, not ethnicities, and he had NO experience in business, no foreign policy experience, aligned himself with the corrupt Chicago poitical machine, and this is the result. Do not believe the liberal polls either showing him with a favorable approval rating. He had better be destroyed in the 2012 election and the Republican party had better get their rears in gear and nominate a viable candidate to defeat this loser. Would you associate yourself with Bill Ayers or Reverend Wright? He did, and did so for a long time. A disgrace. Colin Powell could have been the first successful African-American president but he chose not to run. Clinton, both Bushes, and now Oh-bama are lame excuses for a leader. Look out for Chris Christie to run on the ticket in 2012 as the Vice President. He is very popular with the anti-union crowds in this country and tells it like it is. This video is why I despise the USA media: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DnW4Wcv ... re=related

[Dr. No]

Well he may loko good over there to some I am looking at teh Uk and dutch flying out there people and getting them out on warships calling for no fly zones and the US is too scared to do anything. Clinton would have had a carrier in the Mediterranean.
There was somthing today about we didn't want to use our military because some bloggers in the arab world might say we are tyring to steal the Libyan oil riiiight if we didn't take the Iraq's oil and we haven't invaded Canada our biggest source of oil then maybe we want a terrorist asshole who has been a probelm for over 30 years arrested and put on trial.

Obama is squeamish when dealing wiht Islamic countries and people.

[Capt. Sir Dominic Flandry]

Well he may loko good over there to some I am looking at teh Uk and dutch flying out there people and getting them out on warships calling for no fly zones and the US is too scared to do anything. Clinton would have had a carrier in the Mediterranean.
There was somthing today about we didn't want to use our military because some bloggers in the arab world might say we are tyring to steal the Libyan oil riiiight if we didn't take the Iraq's oil and we haven't invaded Canada our biggest source of oil then maybe we want a terrorist asshole who has been a probelm for over 30 years arrested and put on trial.

Obama is squeamish when dealing wiht Islamic countries and people.

Ronnie Reagan would have sorted Colonel Gaddafi out.

The UK government were criticised or their slow response in evacuating British workers in Libya.

[Capt. Sir Dominic Flandry]

Another massive earthquake- this time in Japan.

[katied]

Yeah-we got big waves and a tsunami warning here(San Diego area) because of it.

[Dr. No]

I can't stop watching news. It is incredible. And that nuke reactor going towards critical! I watched a show about that reactor 15 or more years ago and strong earthquakes was one of thier concerns although to hand it to the Japaneses they over engineered much of the area which probably saved a lot of lives today.

We will keep the Japanese people in our prayers the weekend and continue ot hope for the best. I know we and the rest of teh world will be rushing whatever aid they can use.