Have you been so busy with #WorkForest that you have not had any time to keep up with the news? Here are some tidbits from this past week to keep you updated and in the know.
*Image from CNN
TSA terror. This Friday, a gunman opened fire on TSA officers working security at Los Angeles International Aiport (LAX). He killed one TSA agent and shot three other people. After shooting officer Gerardo Hernandez at point-blank range, the gunman went through the terminal, hitting two other officers and a passenger. The shooter, Paul Ciancia, remains at the hospital in critical condition and will be charged with two felonies, one for harming a federal officer and another for causing violence at an airport. If convicted, Ciancia will face either the death penalty or life in prison.
Double Down. Journalists Mark Halperin and John Heilemann will release their newest book this week, Double Down, which is a follow-up to their hit Game Change. Their first title was a tell-all about the 2008 Presidential campaign, covering behind the scenes stories for President Obama, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, John McCain, and Sarah Palin. Their newest book covers the 2012 campaign, giving juicy tidbits like President Obama’s consideration of swapping Hillary Clinton for Joe Biden on his ticket. The journalists will discuss in-depth topics like the crazy fight to the Republican nomination, as well as Obama’s eventual victory.
*Image from CNN
Sweet, sweet victory. This Wednesday night, the Boston Red Sox claimed victory in the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. This is the team’s eighth victory in franchise history and third in the last 10 years. The Red Sox won their title on home ground at Fenway Park, with the help of star player David Ortiz. Boston strong!
J’accuse! This past Wednesday, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, testified at a hearing about the launch of Obamacare. Secretary Sebelius has overseen much of its fairly disastrous launch and Republican committee members were eager to do some cross-examining. The Republican-controlled House Energy and Commerce Committee gave Sebelius some tough questions. What they did not expect though was for her to take blame for the healthcare.gov problems. In her opening statement, Secretary Sebelius said that “Access to HealthCare.gov has been a miserably frustrating experience for way too many Americans…So let me say directly to these Americans: You deserve better. I apologize. I’m accountable to you for fixing these problems. And I’m committed to earning your confidence back by fixing the site.”
Many naysayers are calling for Sebelius to resign and using all of the website malfunctions for a greater argument to recall the whole law. President Obama plans to keep up the hard work until the site starts functioning properly and Americans have access to their healthcare. If you can guess, he doesn’t find his critics to be very helpful right now.
*Image from Politico
Slow and steady wins the race. This Tuesday Virginians will go to the polls to vote for their new state governor. The candidates, Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Tea Party conservative Ken Cuccinelli, have been waging a viscous battle for several months now. Cuccinelli currently lags in the polls and is in a much worse position financially. McAuliffe is the former chairman of the Democratic National Committee and has a talent for fundraising. He has been portrayed throughout the race as a “Washington insider,” especially considering his relationship with former President Bill Clinton. Virginia is a historically purple state, not leaning definitively to the left or the right when voting for candidates. Although McAuliffe is ahead now, the race is still tight enough for Cuccinelli to pull a victory in the end. We will see what happens!
Miniature Olivia Pope! Dreams. This week Scandal actress Kerry Washington announced that her and NFL husband, Nnamdi Asomugha, are expecting their first child together. The actress didn’t comment on how this will affect her hit show but we can only hope they will be able to fit a baby into the storyline. What a scandal that would be!