The feds are investigating anonymous threats against Goldman Sachs - but do not consider the warnings to be very credible, officials said yesterday.
The threatening letters, mailed to 20 newspaper offices throughout the nation, were all postmarked June 27 in Queens.
They each contained the hand-printed warning: "Goldman Sachs. Hundreds will die. We are inside. You cannot stop us." They were signed "A.Q. U.S.A."
Goldman Sachs is based in New York City, but the company did not receive any of the letters, according to Tom Boyle, a spokesman for U.S. postal inspectors, who are investigating the threats along with the FBI and NYPD.
"We're not labeling it of high credibility, but it is a federal violation to mail a threat," Boyle said.
Investigators at the FBI and U.S. Postal Service labs were combing the letters and envelopes for forensic clues that could lead to the author. It was not clear if the "A.Q." in the signature was a reference to Al Qaeda.
In the New York metro area, the letters were sent to weekly newspapers in Queens.
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Las Vegas Shooting
What started out as a celebration of a memorable and proud moment turned into a harrowing experience for a group of Marshall residents attending the Dance America National Finals in Las Vegas, Nev., early Friday.
A few hours after Ashley Louwagie and Andrew Frerich received their first and third runner-up awards for national female and male dancers of the year, the Louwagies — Pat, Jackie, Jordan, Ashley and Alyssa — along with Gene, Pam, Eric and Darryl Coudron, Keith Graven and Brittany Kurtenbach, found themselves in the middle of a shooting at the New York-New York casino.
The gunman wounded five people after opening fire from a walkway over the casino floor before he was tackled by a group of off-duty police officers and military personnel, police said.
Police said 16 shots were fired, and twice revised the number of injured in the 12:45 a.m. shooting. All the injuries were described as minor, and none of the victims remained hospitalized Friday morning, authorities said.
No one from the Marshall group was injured.
“At first we thought it was fireworks, because we heard the ‘pop’ ‘pop,’” Jackie Louwagie told the Independent on Friday. “But when we realized what it was, we dove under some tables. I’m surprised he didn’t hit more people.”
“It’s crazy out here and we’re anxious to come home, not that we weren’t having a good time.”
Jackie Louwagie said the group, which was staying at the Riviera Hotel and Casino, was unwinding from Friday’s dance event and decided to take in some of the Vegas nightlife. What they got, after their ride on the hotel’s roller-coaster and some dinner, was a harrowing ordeal they’re not likely to soon forget.
“It was a terrifying experience,” Jackie Louwagie said. “We were eating pizza, and all of a sudden we heard the music stop in the nightclub and someone came in and said ‘take cover.’ My husband dove on top of the girls to protect them. There were people knocking over tables and chairs to use for cover. My girls were screaming, everyone was screaming and running everywhere.
“I saw an exit and we decided to run for it,” she added. “My life flashed before my eyes, and my main thought was, ‘take me, don’t take my kids.’”
Las Vegas police Capt. James Dillon said a woman and a teen-age boy were wounded; a man was grazed by a bullet; a woman was hit by a bullet fragment or shrapnel; and a woman was bruised and scraped when she fell amid the crowd of people exiting the casino.
Steven Zegrean, 51, of Las Vegas, was arrested on felony charges including attempted murder, battery with a deadly weapon and discharging a firearm in an occupied structure, Dillon said.
‘‘It seems like some local guy who snapped and went to the hotel to do it,’’ Denby said.
The casino remained opened, and Denby said investigators were interviewing witnesses.
The 2,000-room casino, which opened in 1997, features a facade replicating the New York City skyline, with a 47-story knockoff of the Empire State Building, a 150-foot Statue of Liberty and a Coney Island-style roller coaster. It is owned by MGM Mirage Inc.
Casino spokeswoman Yvette Monet said its operations had been fully restored Friday morning.
Jackie Louwagie said the shaken group is eager to get back home to Marshall after their big-city experience.
“It was a terrifying experience,” she said. “We had such a great day with Ashley being the first runner-up. To be in something like that is really traumatic. We felt like sitting ducks. I felt so helpless. I mean, what do you do — do you stay there, do you get out? It was like we were in a scene from a movie. It’s been quite a roller-coaster ride out here. We’re thankful to live in Minnesota.”
A few hours after Ashley Louwagie and Andrew Frerich received their first and third runner-up awards for national female and male dancers of the year, the Louwagies — Pat, Jackie, Jordan, Ashley and Alyssa — along with Gene, Pam, Eric and Darryl Coudron, Keith Graven and Brittany Kurtenbach, found themselves in the middle of a shooting at the New York-New York casino.
The gunman wounded five people after opening fire from a walkway over the casino floor before he was tackled by a group of off-duty police officers and military personnel, police said.
Police said 16 shots were fired, and twice revised the number of injured in the 12:45 a.m. shooting. All the injuries were described as minor, and none of the victims remained hospitalized Friday morning, authorities said.
No one from the Marshall group was injured.
“At first we thought it was fireworks, because we heard the ‘pop’ ‘pop,’” Jackie Louwagie told the Independent on Friday. “But when we realized what it was, we dove under some tables. I’m surprised he didn’t hit more people.”
“It’s crazy out here and we’re anxious to come home, not that we weren’t having a good time.”
Jackie Louwagie said the group, which was staying at the Riviera Hotel and Casino, was unwinding from Friday’s dance event and decided to take in some of the Vegas nightlife. What they got, after their ride on the hotel’s roller-coaster and some dinner, was a harrowing ordeal they’re not likely to soon forget.
“It was a terrifying experience,” Jackie Louwagie said. “We were eating pizza, and all of a sudden we heard the music stop in the nightclub and someone came in and said ‘take cover.’ My husband dove on top of the girls to protect them. There were people knocking over tables and chairs to use for cover. My girls were screaming, everyone was screaming and running everywhere.
“I saw an exit and we decided to run for it,” she added. “My life flashed before my eyes, and my main thought was, ‘take me, don’t take my kids.’”
Las Vegas police Capt. James Dillon said a woman and a teen-age boy were wounded; a man was grazed by a bullet; a woman was hit by a bullet fragment or shrapnel; and a woman was bruised and scraped when she fell amid the crowd of people exiting the casino.
Steven Zegrean, 51, of Las Vegas, was arrested on felony charges including attempted murder, battery with a deadly weapon and discharging a firearm in an occupied structure, Dillon said.
‘‘It seems like some local guy who snapped and went to the hotel to do it,’’ Denby said.
The casino remained opened, and Denby said investigators were interviewing witnesses.
The 2,000-room casino, which opened in 1997, features a facade replicating the New York City skyline, with a 47-story knockoff of the Empire State Building, a 150-foot Statue of Liberty and a Coney Island-style roller coaster. It is owned by MGM Mirage Inc.
Casino spokeswoman Yvette Monet said its operations had been fully restored Friday morning.
Jackie Louwagie said the shaken group is eager to get back home to Marshall after their big-city experience.
“It was a terrifying experience,” she said. “We had such a great day with Ashley being the first runner-up. To be in something like that is really traumatic. We felt like sitting ducks. I felt so helpless. I mean, what do you do — do you stay there, do you get out? It was like we were in a scene from a movie. It’s been quite a roller-coaster ride out here. We’re thankful to live in Minnesota.”
Dog fights staged on Vick property "Bad Newz Kennels"
SURRY, Va.—A property owned by Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was used as the "main staging area for housing and training the pit bulls involved" in an alleged dogfighting operation, according to court documents.
The papers, filed by federal authorities, give details for the first time about what authorities contend was a long-running dogfighting venture. Vick is not named in the documents.
On Friday, federal agents searched the property for a second time, using a backhoe to dig in an area about 10 feet wide by 20 feet wide. They finished their work at about 4:30 p.m. and declined to answer reporters' questions as they left.
The documents filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Richmond and obtained Friday
Media satellite trucks camp out in the parking lot of a church across the street from a home owned by Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick in Smithfield, Va., Friday, July 6, 2007. State and Federal officials once again searched the house for evidence in a dog fighting investigation. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
by The Associated Press contain the address of the Vick property that has been at the center of the investigation.
According to the documents, dog fights have been sponsored by "Bad Newz Kennels" at the property since at least 2002. For the events, participants and dogs traveled from South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, New York, Texas and other states.
Members of the venture also knowingly transported, delivered and received dogs for animal fighting, the documents state.
Fifty-four pit bulls were recovered from the property during searches in April, along with a "rape stand," used to hold dogs in place for mating; an electric treadmill modified for dogs; and a bloodied piece of carpeting, the documents said.
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The documents said the fights usually occurred late at night or in the early morning and would last several hours. The winning dog would win from "100's up to 1,000's of dollars," and participants and spectators also bet on the dogfights.
Before fights, the participating dogs of the same sex would be weighed and bathed, according to the filings. Opposing dogs would be washed to remove any poison or narcotic placed on the dog's coat that could affect the other dog's performance. Sometimes
Federal authorities have filed court documents outlining an alleged dogfighting operation at a property owned by Vick as agents searched the property Friday. Vick is not named in the documents
participants would not feed a dog before the fight to "make it more hungry for the other dog," the documents said.
Fights would end when one dog died or with the surrender of the losing dog, which was sometimes put to death by drowning, strangulation, hanging, gun shot, electrocution or some other method, according to the documents. The property has an aboveground swimming pool, and investigators were seen looking into the pool Friday.
During a June search of the property, investigators uncovered the graves of seven pit bulls that were killed by members of "Bad Newz Kennels" following sessions to test whether the dogs would be good fighters, the documents said.
Members of "Bad Newz Kennels" also sponsored and exhibited fights in other parts of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, New Jersey and other states, the filings said.
On Vick's Web site, he lists his birthplace as Newport News, Va., "a.k.a. BadNews."
Friday, federal agents used shovels and heavy equipment to search the Vick property, where an informant told authorities as many as 30 dogs could be buried.
A backhoe-front loader was brought in and used to excavate a cleared area on the property. The material found to be of interest was transferred into numerous large, ice-filled coolers and loaded into a rental truck, which left the property.
Some of the investigators wore T-shirts reading: "Federal Agent USDA-OIG."
An Associated Press reporter and photographer viewing the investigation from a helicopter could not clearly identify the evidence being collected.
Investigators were digging in an area about 50 yards behind the large white house on the property. About 15 people could be seen on the property, which includes several kennels surrounded by pens made of metal fencing, other kennels and outbuildings.
Located in southeast Virginia, the expansive property has a metal gate at the entrance and a white plastic fence around the perimeter. The fence and a large two-story building painted black behind the home obscured the work of investigators.
More than 15 vehicles were on the property, including the rental truck and at least one Virginia State Police evidence collection truck.
Corinne Geller, a spokeswoman for the Virginia State Police, said state authorities were working with federal investigators in an "assistance capacity."
Vick has said he rarely visited the property. No charges have been filed.
During an April 25 raid at the property, about half the dogs were tethered to car axles with heavy chains that allowed them to get close to each other, but not to have contact, an arrangement typical for fighting dogs, according to an affidavit.
Later, Surry County officials secured a search warrant based on an informant's information about dogs being buried on the property, but never acted on it because prosecutor Gerald G. Poindexter said he had concerns with the wording of the document.
On June 7, the day that warrant expired, federal officials executed their own with the help of state police investigators.
Poindexter publicly questioned the federal government's interest in a dogfighting case. He suggested Vick's celebrity was the draw and raised race as a possible motivation. Poindexter and Vick are black, as is Sheriff Harold Brown.
Poindexter, on vacation in Louisiana, said by telephone he was unaware of Friday's search and was still pursuing what he called a parallel investigation. He said he assumed Surry County and federal officials eventually will share their evidence.
Vick initially said he had no idea the property might have been used in a criminal enterprise and blamed family members for taking advantage of his generosity. He also put the house up for sale and reportedly sold it quickly, although there is no record that the sale has closed. Vick has since declined to talk about the investigation.
The papers, filed by federal authorities, give details for the first time about what authorities contend was a long-running dogfighting venture. Vick is not named in the documents.
On Friday, federal agents searched the property for a second time, using a backhoe to dig in an area about 10 feet wide by 20 feet wide. They finished their work at about 4:30 p.m. and declined to answer reporters' questions as they left.
The documents filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Richmond and obtained Friday
Media satellite trucks camp out in the parking lot of a church across the street from a home owned by Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick in Smithfield, Va., Friday, July 6, 2007. State and Federal officials once again searched the house for evidence in a dog fighting investigation. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
by The Associated Press contain the address of the Vick property that has been at the center of the investigation.
According to the documents, dog fights have been sponsored by "Bad Newz Kennels" at the property since at least 2002. For the events, participants and dogs traveled from South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, New York, Texas and other states.
Members of the venture also knowingly transported, delivered and received dogs for animal fighting, the documents state.
Fifty-four pit bulls were recovered from the property during searches in April, along with a "rape stand," used to hold dogs in place for mating; an electric treadmill modified for dogs; and a bloodied piece of carpeting, the documents said.
Advertisement
Click Here!
The documents said the fights usually occurred late at night or in the early morning and would last several hours. The winning dog would win from "100's up to 1,000's of dollars," and participants and spectators also bet on the dogfights.
Before fights, the participating dogs of the same sex would be weighed and bathed, according to the filings. Opposing dogs would be washed to remove any poison or narcotic placed on the dog's coat that could affect the other dog's performance. Sometimes
Federal authorities have filed court documents outlining an alleged dogfighting operation at a property owned by Vick as agents searched the property Friday. Vick is not named in the documents
participants would not feed a dog before the fight to "make it more hungry for the other dog," the documents said.
Fights would end when one dog died or with the surrender of the losing dog, which was sometimes put to death by drowning, strangulation, hanging, gun shot, electrocution or some other method, according to the documents. The property has an aboveground swimming pool, and investigators were seen looking into the pool Friday.
During a June search of the property, investigators uncovered the graves of seven pit bulls that were killed by members of "Bad Newz Kennels" following sessions to test whether the dogs would be good fighters, the documents said.
Members of "Bad Newz Kennels" also sponsored and exhibited fights in other parts of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, New Jersey and other states, the filings said.
On Vick's Web site, he lists his birthplace as Newport News, Va., "a.k.a. BadNews."
Friday, federal agents used shovels and heavy equipment to search the Vick property, where an informant told authorities as many as 30 dogs could be buried.
A backhoe-front loader was brought in and used to excavate a cleared area on the property. The material found to be of interest was transferred into numerous large, ice-filled coolers and loaded into a rental truck, which left the property.
Some of the investigators wore T-shirts reading: "Federal Agent USDA-OIG."
An Associated Press reporter and photographer viewing the investigation from a helicopter could not clearly identify the evidence being collected.
Investigators were digging in an area about 50 yards behind the large white house on the property. About 15 people could be seen on the property, which includes several kennels surrounded by pens made of metal fencing, other kennels and outbuildings.
Located in southeast Virginia, the expansive property has a metal gate at the entrance and a white plastic fence around the perimeter. The fence and a large two-story building painted black behind the home obscured the work of investigators.
More than 15 vehicles were on the property, including the rental truck and at least one Virginia State Police evidence collection truck.
Corinne Geller, a spokeswoman for the Virginia State Police, said state authorities were working with federal investigators in an "assistance capacity."
Vick has said he rarely visited the property. No charges have been filed.
During an April 25 raid at the property, about half the dogs were tethered to car axles with heavy chains that allowed them to get close to each other, but not to have contact, an arrangement typical for fighting dogs, according to an affidavit.
Later, Surry County officials secured a search warrant based on an informant's information about dogs being buried on the property, but never acted on it because prosecutor Gerald G. Poindexter said he had concerns with the wording of the document.
On June 7, the day that warrant expired, federal officials executed their own with the help of state police investigators.
Poindexter publicly questioned the federal government's interest in a dogfighting case. He suggested Vick's celebrity was the draw and raised race as a possible motivation. Poindexter and Vick are black, as is Sheriff Harold Brown.
Poindexter, on vacation in Louisiana, said by telephone he was unaware of Friday's search and was still pursuing what he called a parallel investigation. He said he assumed Surry County and federal officials eventually will share their evidence.
Vick initially said he had no idea the property might have been used in a criminal enterprise and blamed family members for taking advantage of his generosity. He also put the house up for sale and reportedly sold it quickly, although there is no record that the sale has closed. Vick has since declined to talk about the investigation.
Jessica Pleads Guilty!!!
The attorney representing Jessica Smith, former star of MTV’s Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County, entered a plea of guilty on misdemeanor DUI charges on behalf of Smith Monday.
Jessica Smith of Laguna Beach Smith was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to attend one MADD meeting and serve 80 hours of community service.
Jessica Smith was charged in March after a car crash in which the vehicle she was driving slammed into the back of an Acura, causing “great bodily injury” to people in both cars.
The CHP report said her high level of intoxication, unsafe speed and wet roadways were conditions that led to the crash. Hey, at least one of the three wasn’t a result of her idiocy.
This sexy Jessica Smith mug shot was released to the public after the incident.
While avoiding the Paris Hilton treatment (we’re talking about getting her whiny ass locked up), Smith nonetheless amassed fines and penalties totaling more than $1,300.
Smith is most famous for dating deadbeat Jason Wahler on the reality hit, and for hooking up with him after they had broken up, ending his romance with Lauren Conrad.
Jessica Smith then officially became “that girl” who didn’t leave town after high school and ended up dating Cameron Brinkman, a junior, during Season 3 of the show.
Jessica Smith of Laguna Beach Smith was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to attend one MADD meeting and serve 80 hours of community service.
Jessica Smith was charged in March after a car crash in which the vehicle she was driving slammed into the back of an Acura, causing “great bodily injury” to people in both cars.
The CHP report said her high level of intoxication, unsafe speed and wet roadways were conditions that led to the crash. Hey, at least one of the three wasn’t a result of her idiocy.
This sexy Jessica Smith mug shot was released to the public after the incident.
While avoiding the Paris Hilton treatment (we’re talking about getting her whiny ass locked up), Smith nonetheless amassed fines and penalties totaling more than $1,300.
Smith is most famous for dating deadbeat Jason Wahler on the reality hit, and for hooking up with him after they had broken up, ending his romance with Lauren Conrad.
Jessica Smith then officially became “that girl” who didn’t leave town after high school and ended up dating Cameron Brinkman, a junior, during Season 3 of the show.
Yahoo is back!!!
UPDATE - Yahoo is back up and running. Yahoo was down early Friday, causing users to be unable to use it's services for about 30 minutes to an hour.
Yahoo and all it's services were down on Friday morning, and it is unknown as to whether or not it was security related.
Yahoo and all it's services were down on Friday morning, and it is unknown as to whether or not it was security related.
Gateway City
Newly Announced Host of 2014 Olympic Games Sochi, Russia Taps Helios Partners Olympic Expertise
GUATEMALA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sochi Russia, has emerged triumphant as the host city for the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, following the two year consulting support of Atlanta-based Helios Partners.
Up against two previous bid cities, Salzburg, Austria, and Pyeongchang, South Korea, Sochi had long been considered the underdog in the race. In the middle of 2005, Helios joined the fledgling Sochi bid committee and helped craft a highly competitive bid. By pulling together an extensive network of leading Olympic Games experts and tapping into the wealth of its internal bid city experience, the team succeeded in elevating the worldwide awareness of Sochi as a “Gateway to the Future.” The Sochi Olympic effort will now serve as the catalyst that transforms this dramatic region into a global centre for tourism, commerce and sports training.
“We are absolutely thrilled with the victory and honoured to have been a part of this massive effort to bring the first Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to Russia,” said Terrence Burns, President of Helios Partners. Reflecting on the victory, Dmitry Chernyshenko, the leader of the Sochi bid, commented, “We knew we needed the best team working behind the scenes to have a chance of winning and that is exactly what we had. Helios was critical to the success of this effort. We would not have won without their experience and leadership.”
As part of their vital role, Helios designed, developed and wrote what some Olympic bid followers have said is the best candidature file created to date. This three volume document, also known as the bid book, serves as the all encompassing programme for the hosting of an Olympic and Paralympic Games. The engagement also included design of the Sochi logo and look of the bid, oversight of the critical IOC Evaluation Commission visit, and development, management and training for Sochi’s winning final presentation to the IOC. With the Sochi victory, and previous wins for Beijing, and Vancouver, Helios has now been an integral part of three of the last four successful bids for Olympic host city status.
A picturesque resort city, Sochi lies on the Black Sea Coast in the shadow of the spectacular Caucasus Mountains and Krasnaya Polyana, the area that will host alpine and sliding events. Sochi now looks ahead with excitement as they begin preparations to bring the world to their doorstep in 2014. For more information about Sochi, visit www.sochi2014.com
Helios Partners, Inc. with offices in Atlanta, Beijing, London and Washington D.C., specializes in sports marketing, brand assessment and integration, sponsorship negotiation and management, and bid city consulting. To learn more about Helios, visit www.heliospartners.com
GUATEMALA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sochi Russia, has emerged triumphant as the host city for the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, following the two year consulting support of Atlanta-based Helios Partners.
Up against two previous bid cities, Salzburg, Austria, and Pyeongchang, South Korea, Sochi had long been considered the underdog in the race. In the middle of 2005, Helios joined the fledgling Sochi bid committee and helped craft a highly competitive bid. By pulling together an extensive network of leading Olympic Games experts and tapping into the wealth of its internal bid city experience, the team succeeded in elevating the worldwide awareness of Sochi as a “Gateway to the Future.” The Sochi Olympic effort will now serve as the catalyst that transforms this dramatic region into a global centre for tourism, commerce and sports training.
“We are absolutely thrilled with the victory and honoured to have been a part of this massive effort to bring the first Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to Russia,” said Terrence Burns, President of Helios Partners. Reflecting on the victory, Dmitry Chernyshenko, the leader of the Sochi bid, commented, “We knew we needed the best team working behind the scenes to have a chance of winning and that is exactly what we had. Helios was critical to the success of this effort. We would not have won without their experience and leadership.”
As part of their vital role, Helios designed, developed and wrote what some Olympic bid followers have said is the best candidature file created to date. This three volume document, also known as the bid book, serves as the all encompassing programme for the hosting of an Olympic and Paralympic Games. The engagement also included design of the Sochi logo and look of the bid, oversight of the critical IOC Evaluation Commission visit, and development, management and training for Sochi’s winning final presentation to the IOC. With the Sochi victory, and previous wins for Beijing, and Vancouver, Helios has now been an integral part of three of the last four successful bids for Olympic host city status.
A picturesque resort city, Sochi lies on the Black Sea Coast in the shadow of the spectacular Caucasus Mountains and Krasnaya Polyana, the area that will host alpine and sliding events. Sochi now looks ahead with excitement as they begin preparations to bring the world to their doorstep in 2014. For more information about Sochi, visit www.sochi2014.com
Helios Partners, Inc. with offices in Atlanta, Beijing, London and Washington D.C., specializes in sports marketing, brand assessment and integration, sponsorship negotiation and management, and bid city consulting. To learn more about Helios, visit www.heliospartners.com
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
PBS' "A Capitol Fourth" — Hosted by Tony Danza — Airs July 4; Neuwirth Performs
Tony Danza, who will join the Las Vegas company of Mel Brooks' The Producers in August, hosts PBS' annual "A Capitol Fourth" celebration July 4.
Broadcast live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., the 8 PM concert is scheduled to feature performances from Tony Award winner Bebe Neuwirth, former "American Idol" contestant Elliott Yamin, Grammy Award winner Yolanda Adams, recording legend Little Richard, country music star Dierks Bentley and actress-singer Hayden Panettiere. The performers will be backed by the National Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Erich Kunzel.
The Independence Day celebration also boasts a rendition of Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" that features the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets with live cannon fire provided by the United States Army Presidential Salute Battery.
"A Capitol Fourth" airs in the metropolitan area on WNET/Channel 13 from 8-9:30 PM ET; check local listings.
For more information visit www.pbs.org/capitolfourth.
Broadcast live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., the 8 PM concert is scheduled to feature performances from Tony Award winner Bebe Neuwirth, former "American Idol" contestant Elliott Yamin, Grammy Award winner Yolanda Adams, recording legend Little Richard, country music star Dierks Bentley and actress-singer Hayden Panettiere. The performers will be backed by the National Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Erich Kunzel.
The Independence Day celebration also boasts a rendition of Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" that features the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets with live cannon fire provided by the United States Army Presidential Salute Battery.
"A Capitol Fourth" airs in the metropolitan area on WNET/Channel 13 from 8-9:30 PM ET; check local listings.
For more information visit www.pbs.org/capitolfourth.
Massachusetts Lottery finds itself in a bind -- $40m in prizes, but few are buying
The Massachusetts Lottery, already struggling to reach this year's revenue targets, is having trouble selling tickets for its new $20 sweepstakes.
With nine days left before the sales window closes, lottery officials estimate only 30 percent of the 4 million tickets have been sold. The tickets went on sale May 1 and the prize drawing is scheduled for July 4.
Lottery officials say they need to sell half the tickets to break even on the game, called the Star Spangled Sweepstakes. But the full $40 million in prize money will be paid out no matter how many tickets are sold, officials said.
The sweepstakes was seen as a way to help narrow the lottery's revenue gap before the end of the state's fiscal year on June 30. In early promotional materials, officials predicted the new game would sell out quickly because it will produce more millionaires in a single drawing than any other game in United States lottery history.
But now, state lottery officials are worried about meeting the sales target of $80 million. As an added incentive, the lottery has started a special daily drawing for those who purchase sweepstakes tickets this month. Winners receive $1,000 if their number is picked.
"We're so accustomed to instant gratification that people are holding off to purchase the ticket," said Beth Bresnahan , a lottery spokeswoman.
Lottery officials have struggled this year to keep sales growing and keep revenues flowing to cities and towns. Last year, the lottery had its best year ever, with sales of $4.52 billion. State legislators set a target of a 2 percent increase this year, but as of yesterday sales were off 1.66 percent, or about $73 million, from last year's pace.
Bresnahan said sales this year have been hurt by high gas prices, a dearth of large Mega Millions jackpots, and competition from casino and Internet gambling.
Robyn Chiminiello , owner of Hub Video in South Boston, one of the largest sellers of lottery products in the state, said the sweepstakes tickets are selling slowly, although she said sales have increased lately. Chiminiello said the game would be more popular if customers had the chance to win some money instantly even if a big pay-off was awarded later.
"They don't want to wait around," she said of lottery players. Chiminiello said she has sold 23 of the store's 53 sweepstakes ticket books. Each book contains 20 tickets.
Chiminiello said she doubts the lottery will be able to sell all 4 million tickets. "If I'm an indicator, I don't think so," she said. "I hope so."
Bresnahan said lottery officials expect sales of the sweepstakes tickets will pick up markedly as the June 30 deadline approaches. He said that if fewer than 4 million tickets are sold, the odds of winning will increase because winning numbers will be drawn only from the pool of tickets that have been sold.
The $40 million in prize money includes one $20 million award, 10 $1 million prizes, and 40 prizes of $250,000. All prizes will be paid in lump sums rather than in installment payments.
In Michigan, similar raffle-style games have been a runaway success. The Michigan lottery sells a limited number of tickets for each game and holds a drawing only after all the tickets have been sold. The first game, featuring $20 tickets, sold out in 11 days, according to a spokeswoman. The second game, with a $20 ticket, sold out in seven days. The last game featured a $50 ticket and sold out in just 2 1/2 days.
With nine days left before the sales window closes, lottery officials estimate only 30 percent of the 4 million tickets have been sold. The tickets went on sale May 1 and the prize drawing is scheduled for July 4.
Lottery officials say they need to sell half the tickets to break even on the game, called the Star Spangled Sweepstakes. But the full $40 million in prize money will be paid out no matter how many tickets are sold, officials said.
The sweepstakes was seen as a way to help narrow the lottery's revenue gap before the end of the state's fiscal year on June 30. In early promotional materials, officials predicted the new game would sell out quickly because it will produce more millionaires in a single drawing than any other game in United States lottery history.
But now, state lottery officials are worried about meeting the sales target of $80 million. As an added incentive, the lottery has started a special daily drawing for those who purchase sweepstakes tickets this month. Winners receive $1,000 if their number is picked.
"We're so accustomed to instant gratification that people are holding off to purchase the ticket," said Beth Bresnahan , a lottery spokeswoman.
Lottery officials have struggled this year to keep sales growing and keep revenues flowing to cities and towns. Last year, the lottery had its best year ever, with sales of $4.52 billion. State legislators set a target of a 2 percent increase this year, but as of yesterday sales were off 1.66 percent, or about $73 million, from last year's pace.
Bresnahan said sales this year have been hurt by high gas prices, a dearth of large Mega Millions jackpots, and competition from casino and Internet gambling.
Robyn Chiminiello , owner of Hub Video in South Boston, one of the largest sellers of lottery products in the state, said the sweepstakes tickets are selling slowly, although she said sales have increased lately. Chiminiello said the game would be more popular if customers had the chance to win some money instantly even if a big pay-off was awarded later.
"They don't want to wait around," she said of lottery players. Chiminiello said she has sold 23 of the store's 53 sweepstakes ticket books. Each book contains 20 tickets.
Chiminiello said she doubts the lottery will be able to sell all 4 million tickets. "If I'm an indicator, I don't think so," she said. "I hope so."
Bresnahan said lottery officials expect sales of the sweepstakes tickets will pick up markedly as the June 30 deadline approaches. He said that if fewer than 4 million tickets are sold, the odds of winning will increase because winning numbers will be drawn only from the pool of tickets that have been sold.
The $40 million in prize money includes one $20 million award, 10 $1 million prizes, and 40 prizes of $250,000. All prizes will be paid in lump sums rather than in installment payments.
In Michigan, similar raffle-style games have been a runaway success. The Michigan lottery sells a limited number of tickets for each game and holds a drawing only after all the tickets have been sold. The first game, featuring $20 tickets, sold out in 11 days, according to a spokeswoman. The second game, with a $20 ticket, sold out in seven days. The last game featured a $50 ticket and sold out in just 2 1/2 days.
Playmate Jennifer Lynn Jackson arrested on DUI
The former playmate Jennifer Lynn Jackson was booked on DUI charges, some weed found, as well.
Playmate Jennifer Lynn Jackson arrested on DUI Following the age-old axiom "beauty is temporary, stupid is forever", the 1989 Playmate Jennifer Lynn Jackson went from the cover of Playboy to the cover of a rap sheet, again. Jackson was arrested over the weekend for driving while intoxicated. While searching the beauty, the cops also found a bag of marijuana. On top of all these charges, she also allegedly stole cigarettes from a local store.
Jennifer Lynn Jackson went to court yesterday and was charged with DUI and theft, to which she filed a not guilty plea.
A dash cam on the cruiser caught Jennifer Lynn Jackson taking the sobriety test, and almost getting hit by the oncoming traffic, after an unsuccessful attempt to prove her innocence to the trouper.
In 2005 the former Playboy Playmate was arrested on suspicion of receiving stolen property resulting from a burglary investigation.
Playmate Jennifer Lynn Jackson arrested on DUI Following the age-old axiom "beauty is temporary, stupid is forever", the 1989 Playmate Jennifer Lynn Jackson went from the cover of Playboy to the cover of a rap sheet, again. Jackson was arrested over the weekend for driving while intoxicated. While searching the beauty, the cops also found a bag of marijuana. On top of all these charges, she also allegedly stole cigarettes from a local store.
Jennifer Lynn Jackson went to court yesterday and was charged with DUI and theft, to which she filed a not guilty plea.
A dash cam on the cruiser caught Jennifer Lynn Jackson taking the sobriety test, and almost getting hit by the oncoming traffic, after an unsuccessful attempt to prove her innocence to the trouper.
In 2005 the former Playboy Playmate was arrested on suspicion of receiving stolen property resulting from a burglary investigation.
Sochi, Russia, to host 2014 Games!!!!
It beats Pyeongchang, South Korea after Salzburg, Austria, is eliminated on the first ballot.
By Philip Hersh, Special to The Times
4:53 PM PDT, July 4, 2007
GUATEMALA CITY — Would the International Olympic Committee choose a 2014 Winter Olympic host, Salzburg, Austria, that pledged to serve sport and the IOC?
Or would it choose one of the two, Sochi, Russia and Pyeongchang, South Korea, that want the Winter Olympics to serve themselves as engines for economic or geopolitical change?
The answer? Sochi.
But in a competition where corporate might and clout also were said to be playing a significant role, the only clear-cut part of the secret ballot decision was the result of the IOC's Wednesday vote.
Pyeongchang led the first round with 36 votes, followed by Sochi with 34 and Salzburg with 25, eliminating Salzburg. Sochi picked up 17 votes in the second round to secure the victory, 51-47.
Salzburg had the embarrassment of being eliminated in the first round for the second straight time.
Sochi's victory brings the Winter Games to winter sports power Russia for the first time and rewards Russian president Vladimir Putin's steadfast support of the bid. In his Wednesday speech to IOC members during the Sochi presentation, Putin went so far as to give a guarantee of "real snow" in the mountains above the Black Sea resort.
Just as importantly, Putin assuaged the primary concern about the Sochi bid by guaranteeing all 11 venues would be built. None exist today.
Putin left for Moscow before the result was announced, but his 36 hours in Guatemala obviously had the impact Sochi wanted.
Russia athletes have been the leading medal-winners at the Winter Olympics in the half-century since they have competed, first for the Soviet Union and then the Russian Republic.
"Russia has contributed a lot to the development of the Olympics and especially to winter sports," Putin said during a Tuesday press conference with Guatemalan president Oscar Berger. "Unfortunately, we have never had the opportunity to host the Winter Olympics."
No longer. Now the Games are going to a city with palm trees and a warm, humid climate that provides the catalyst for heavy snow in mountains just 25 miles away.
A Sochi victory will make many think the IOC's gray eminence, former president Juan Antonio Samaranch, still was wielding the clout he developed during a 20 year presidential reign that ended six years ago.
Samaranch, a Russophile since his days as Spain's ambassador to the Soviet Union, ruled the IOC by decree and still has influence over the older IOC members.
Korea's Samsung Corporation, one of the IOC's global sponsors, loomed behind (and above) the Pyeongchang bid in many minds. The result either backed the Koreans' assertion Samsung had done nothing untoward or showed that whatever lobbying Samsung did may have grated on many IOC members.
Sochi saw the Winter Games as a way to build facilities in the Black Sea resort and nearby mountains that would serve both tourism and Russian athletes. Pyeongchang pushed the idea that a Winter Games in Korea could serve the cause of reunification in the divided peninsula.
By Philip Hersh, Special to The Times
4:53 PM PDT, July 4, 2007
GUATEMALA CITY — Would the International Olympic Committee choose a 2014 Winter Olympic host, Salzburg, Austria, that pledged to serve sport and the IOC?
Or would it choose one of the two, Sochi, Russia and Pyeongchang, South Korea, that want the Winter Olympics to serve themselves as engines for economic or geopolitical change?
The answer? Sochi.
But in a competition where corporate might and clout also were said to be playing a significant role, the only clear-cut part of the secret ballot decision was the result of the IOC's Wednesday vote.
Pyeongchang led the first round with 36 votes, followed by Sochi with 34 and Salzburg with 25, eliminating Salzburg. Sochi picked up 17 votes in the second round to secure the victory, 51-47.
Salzburg had the embarrassment of being eliminated in the first round for the second straight time.
Sochi's victory brings the Winter Games to winter sports power Russia for the first time and rewards Russian president Vladimir Putin's steadfast support of the bid. In his Wednesday speech to IOC members during the Sochi presentation, Putin went so far as to give a guarantee of "real snow" in the mountains above the Black Sea resort.
Just as importantly, Putin assuaged the primary concern about the Sochi bid by guaranteeing all 11 venues would be built. None exist today.
Putin left for Moscow before the result was announced, but his 36 hours in Guatemala obviously had the impact Sochi wanted.
Russia athletes have been the leading medal-winners at the Winter Olympics in the half-century since they have competed, first for the Soviet Union and then the Russian Republic.
"Russia has contributed a lot to the development of the Olympics and especially to winter sports," Putin said during a Tuesday press conference with Guatemalan president Oscar Berger. "Unfortunately, we have never had the opportunity to host the Winter Olympics."
No longer. Now the Games are going to a city with palm trees and a warm, humid climate that provides the catalyst for heavy snow in mountains just 25 miles away.
A Sochi victory will make many think the IOC's gray eminence, former president Juan Antonio Samaranch, still was wielding the clout he developed during a 20 year presidential reign that ended six years ago.
Samaranch, a Russophile since his days as Spain's ambassador to the Soviet Union, ruled the IOC by decree and still has influence over the older IOC members.
Korea's Samsung Corporation, one of the IOC's global sponsors, loomed behind (and above) the Pyeongchang bid in many minds. The result either backed the Koreans' assertion Samsung had done nothing untoward or showed that whatever lobbying Samsung did may have grated on many IOC members.
Sochi saw the Winter Games as a way to build facilities in the Black Sea resort and nearby mountains that would serve both tourism and Russian athletes. Pyeongchang pushed the idea that a Winter Games in Korea could serve the cause of reunification in the divided peninsula.
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