Archive for September, 2010

Underwear Bomber Fires Attorneys And Wants To Plead Guilty

Underwear Bomber Fires Attorneys

Newscast Media — The man dubbed the “Underwear Bomber” who was accused of trying to blow up a plane, has fired his attorneys and requested the judge to advise him on the process of pleading guilty to some of the charges being brought against him.

After suspecting that his attorneys did not have his best interest at heart, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab asked US District Court Judge Nancy Edmunds to let him represent himself. Judge Edmunds strongly urged him not to fire his lawyers, but agreed to allow Abdulmutallab’s request and will appoint new lawyers to act as consultants to him.

Abdulmutallab asked Judge Edmunds, “If I want to plead guilty to some counts, how would that work?”

The judge told him that a standby lawyer would be available to answer that type of question. Abdulmutallab boarded Northwest Airlines Airbus A330 jet after a long flight from Amsterdam, to Detroit last Christmas with explosives strapped around his reproductive organs, and attempted to set them off but he was subdued by passengers and crew members.

He was charged with attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction. If found guilty he could face life in prison. http://newscastmedia.com/underwear-bomber.htm

Farmers Around The World Outraged At Bill Gates’ Investment In Monsanto

Bill and Melinda Gates

Newscast Media — Farmers and civil society organizations around the world are outraged by the recent discovery of further connections between the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and agribusiness giant Monsanto. In August, a financial website published the Gates Foundation’s investment portfolio, including 500,000 hares of Monsanto stock with an estimated worth of $23.1 million purchased in the second quarter of 2010 (see the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission). This marks a substantial increase from its previous holdings, valued at just over US$360,000 (see the Foundation’s 2008 990 Form).

‘The foundation’s direct investment in Monsanto is problematic on two primary levels,’ said Dr Phil Bereano, University of Washington Professor Emeritus and recognized expert on genetic engineering. ‘First, Monsanto has a history of blatant disregard for the interests and well-being of small farmers around the world, as well as an appalling environmental track record. The strong connections to Monsanto cast serious doubt on the foundation’s heavy funding of agricultural development in Africa and purported goal of alleviating poverty and hunger among small-scale farmers. Second, this investment represents an enormous conflict of nterests.’

Monsanto has already negatively impacted agriculture in African countries. For example, in South Africa in 2009, Monsanto’s genetically modified maize failed to produce kernels and hundreds of farmers were devastated. According to Mariam Mayet, environmental attorney and director of the Africa Centre for Biosafety in Johannesburg, some farmers suffered up to an 80 per cent crop failure. While Monsanto compensated the large-scale farmers to whom it directly sold the faulty product, it gave nothing to the small-scale farmers to whom it had handed out free sachets of seeds. ‘When the economic power of Gates is coupled with the irresponsibility of Monsanto, the outlook for African smallholders is not very promising,’ said Mayet. Monsanto’s aggressive patenting practices have also monopolized control over seed in ways that deny farmers control over their own harvest, going so far as to sue – and bankrupt – farmers for ‘patent infringement.’

More recently, the foundation has come under fire in its own hometown. This week, 250 Seattle residents sent postcards expressing their concern that the foundation’s approach to agricultural development, rather than reducing hunger as pledged, would instead ‘increase farmer debt, enrich agribusiness corporations like Monsanto and Syngenta, degrade the environment, and dispossess small farmers.’ In addition to demanding that the foundation instead fund ‘socially and ecologically appropriate practices determined locally by African farmers and scientists’ and support African food sovereignty, they urged the foundation to cut all ties to Monsanto and the biotechnology industry.

Source: AGRA Watch
AGRA Watch, a program of Seattle-based Community Alliance for Global Justice, supports African
initiatives and programs that foster farmers’ self-determination and food sovereignty. AGRA Watch also
supports public engagement in fighting genetic engineering and exploitative agricultural policies, and
demands transparency and accountability on the part of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and AGRA. http://newscastmedia.com/billgates-monsanto.htm

Churches Embrace Pope Benedict XVI’s Visit To England

Pope Benedict XVI

Newscast Media –Across Great Britain, churches are waiting in eager anticipation for the Pope’s four-day visit which begins on Thursday in Edinburgh, where he will meet Scottish Catholic leaders before traveling to Glasgow to hold an open air mass in Bellahouston Park in the evening.

Churches including the Methodist Church, United Reform Church, Church of God of Prophecy, Church of England, Salvation Army, the Baptist Union of Great Britain and many more have opened their arms and spoken of their hope for a renewed common witness, following the Pope’s visit to the UK this week.

In a joint statement, the Presidents of Churches Together in England, Archbishops Rowan Williams and Vincent Nichols, and Salvation Army Commissioner Betty Matear said, “As the Presidents of Churches Together in England, we welcome Pope Benedict XVI to the United Kingdom.

“We rejoice in knowing that many Christians have prayed for him in preparation for his visit, and welcome his ministry amongst us.

“We look forward to joining Pope Benedict in Westminster Abbey for the celebration of Evening Prayer, which will be a significant stage in his pilgrimage.

“We pray that through our celebration of Christian faith the Church, led by the kindly light of Christ, may be renewed in its witness to the unity and hope which is Christ’s will for all people.”

This will be the first visit to Britain by a pontiff since John Paul II in 1989. During his stay, Pope Benedict will also meet the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.

http://newscastmedia.com/benedict.htm

Poll Shows Christine O’Donnell And Mike Castle In Dead Heat

Christine O'Donnell and Mike Castle

Newscast Media –A Public Policy Poling(PPP) survey taken on Sunday shows there might be a surprise in Tuesday’s Delaware Republican Senate primary. The survey shows Christine O’Donnell, the Tea Party’s favorite candidate, leading veteran Rep. Mike Castle by 47 percent to 44 percent. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin endorsed O’Donnell last week which could explain the surge in numbers.

The PPP survey which included 668 likely primary voters shows that Castle’s rising star has taken a serious dip in the past few weeks, which creates concern for the GOP who fear O’Donnell’s potential to displace and replace a veteran politician, similar to what happened in Alaska.

The numbers also highly favor O’Donnell amongst conservatives, who captures 62 percent of their votes, which is sufficient enough for her to win. Castle released a Tsunami of negative attacks against O’Donnell including her personal financial setbacks hoping it would diminish her standing with voters, but it did the opposite and catapulted her numbers above his.

Both sides haven’t commented about the newly released numbers and maintain cautious optimism.
http://newscastmedia.com/christineodonnell.htm

Obama sued Arizona over immigration, ex-DEA says why not sue CA over pot?

Prop 19

Newscast Media– Ever since Obama sued Arizona in an effort to prevent the state from writing its own immigration laws, several Drug Enforcement Administration bosses are now asking if he’ll do the same to stop California from legalizing marijuana.

A letter written by all nine former DEA bosses addressed to Attorney General Eric Holder said legalizing pot presented the same threat to federal authorities as Arizona’s immigration crackdown.

The letter raises questions about when the federal government should wade into debates over state laws. While Obama has made immigration an important issue for his administration, steering the debate over legalizing marijuana has not been a focus of his agenda.

What the former DEA administrators were referring to is Proposition 19, on the November ballot in California, that would allow adults to possess up to one ounce of marijuana. Local governments would be allowed to tax its sales.

Gil Kerlikowske, Obama’s drug czar, has said he opposes the measure, but the former DEA administrators in Democratic and Republican administrations say the Justice Department should forcefully come out against it before the election. And if it passes, the former administrators say, Obama should sue. http://newscastmedia.com/dea.htm

Man Spits Out Cereal After Finding Used Tampon In Cereal Bowl

Man finds tampon in cereal

Newscast Media THOMASTON, Ga. –Save-A-Lot grocery store is being sued by a couple in Macon, on claims that the husband found a used tampon in his cereal bowl.

Thomas and Lynn Roddenberry said in a complaint that they bought a box of Chocolate Chip Crunch cereal from the Save-A-Lot store in Thomaston in October 2008. A day after buying the cereal, Thomas Roddenberry says he discovered the tampon in his bowl after taking a bite of the cereal.

Mr. Roddenberry says as he was enjoying his cereal, he stumbled across the tampon and spat out the cereal, which caused him immediate nausea that sent him to an emergency room.

The suit was filed on Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Macon. A spokesman for Save-A-Lot declined to comment on the case on Friday, citing pending litigation. http://newscastmedia.com/cereal.htm

The Architect Karl Rove Says GOP Slated To Capture House

Newscast Media — On Friday, the man who was dubbed “The Architect” and Bush strategist said the GOP is on track to win back the House. In an interview, Karl Rove said, “I think Republicans are likely to take the House; it’s so bad for Democrats.”

Rove also said that the Republicans are approaching the 10-seat count that is necessary for them to recapture the Senate.

He said that getting those necessary 10 seats is contingent upon the Republicans holding on to all their current seats and also capturing seats held by Democrats in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Indiana, North Dakota, Arkansas, Colorado and Illinois and winning three of four in California, Washington, Wisconsin and Nevada — left-leaning or swing states with veteran Democratic incumbents.

In his hald-hour speech to Ralph Reed’s Faith and Freedom Coalition, Rove urged the Republican activists to use the last two months of the midterms to target those voters who are “up in the air.”

The former White House aide warned that if the country kept to its current fiscal course, “We’re going to look like Greece, only on steroids, without a European Union to bail us out.” http://newscastmedia.com/karlrove.htm

Donald Trumps Offers 911 Mosque Investor Buy Out

Donald Trump

Newscast Media NEW YORK, NY– One of the major investors in the 911 mosque has been offered a buy out by Donald Trump, who has also attached a condition to his offer that the backers of the mosque project would have to promise that if they erect the 13-story Islamic center and mosque, the edifice would have to be constructed five or more blocks away from the World Trade Center site.

Trump offered to buy Hisham Elzanaty’s stake in the Lower Manhattan building for 25 percent more than what he paid.

In a letter, Trump said, “I am making this offer as a resident of New York and citizen of the United States, not because I think the location is a spectacular one (because it is not), but because it will end a very serious, inflammatory, and highly divisive situation that is destined, in my opinion, to only get worse.”

Elzanaty’s lawyer did not immediately return a phone message Thursday. But in a pair of interviews with the AP this week, Elzanaty said he had invested in the site with an intention of making a profit and was willing to sell some of it for private development. He also said he supported building a mosque on at least part of the property. http://newscastmedia.com/donaldtrump.htm

Florida pastor calls off Qur’an burning

Newscast Media Gainesville, Fla — Florida Pastor Terry Jones has agreed to call of the burning of the Quran on condition that the Imam agrees to move the location of the 911 mosque. In a press conference, Jones said that he would fly to New York on Saturday to meet with the Imam. http://newscastmedia.com/quranvideo.htm

Lion snaps and attacks trainer in Las Vegas in front of crowd

Newscast Media — Two trainers were in the lions’ den when the male alpha lion all of a sudden snapped and attacked on of the trainers. The second trainer pulled the lion by its mane, and another female lion tried to intervene as the alpha male gripped the trainer with its claws and teeth in an effort to prevent the him from escaping.

The entire moment was captured on video by a couple on their honeymoon. Luckily, the trainer was able to escape the grip of the lion.

Lions are the only know predators that stalk their victims using a frontal assault. The purpose of looking their victims in the eyes is to paralyze them with fear. All other predators stalk their victim by stealth from the rear. http://newscastmedia.com/lionattack.htm

Mexico suffers severe flood displacing over 400,000 residents

Newscast Media — MEXICO CITY, Mexico — According to authorities, the number of residents in east Mexico who have been affected by floods has now been upgraded to one million people.

Mexico’s president Felipe Calderon visited the state of Tabasco which he said had suffered the worst rainstorm ever in its history. Thousands of people are now living in emergency shelters, and soldiers are patroling flooded areas to ensure that no looting happens.

The region of eastern Mexico absorbed a walloping by enough tropical storms and a tropical depression, which evolved into a cyclone in the Gulf of Mexico. http://newscastmedia.com/mexicofloods.htm

The Bystander Effect and How It Works

Newscast Media — Society has explored and attempted to explain the correlation between bystanders and their willingness to help victims who find themselves in emergency situations, in public places. The name of this phenomenon has been referred to as the bystander effect or diffusion of responsibility.

People tend to be apprehensive about intervening when cries of help or shouts are heard, in an effort to be safe by following what everyone else is doing and do nothing. Experts have also suggested that bystanders will be influenced to intervene or not to intervene depending on the extent they perceive their fellow bystanders as in-group (one of them) rather than out-group (an outsider).

I raise the subject about the bystander effect because of the economic crisis we face today. Financial gurus have predicted that the U.S. dollar will completely collapse within 12 – 24 months. Companies that could be hiring, are not hiring those who do not already have jobs. In essence, if you currently are
unemployed, it will be a lot tougher for you to get a job than if you are already employed and want to switch professions. Even South Carolina recruiter, Latro Consulting said in an announcement, “THE UNEMPLOYED NEED NOT APPLY”. These companies have jobs available, but won’t hire those who do not already have work. This phenomenon, in Social Psychology, is part of the bystander effect in action. In the bystander effect, even when it is apparent that you need help, those who are able to do so (bystanders) withhold their assistance from you.

The reverse is also true. When one person in the crowd extends his or her help to you, other members of the crowd (bystanders) will then pitch in.

The most cited case regarding the bystander effect is the event that took place in New York City in which a lady by the name of Catherine”Kitty” Genovese was stabbed to death in broad daylight. The shocking event lasted 35 minutes while 38 of her neighbors watched from their apartment windows and did nothing to help her, not even call the police. Even though the media concluded that the reason nobody helped was because we live in a cold and selfish society, Social Psychologists later formulated an explanation and referred to the phenomenon as the bystander effect. http://newscastmedia.com/popculture.htm

Black Widow wins National Buffalo Wing eating contest in New York

Black Widow

Newscast Media BUFFALO, NY — Sonya Thomas, known worldwide as ‘The Black Widow’, ate 4.86lbs (2.2kgs) of chicken wings to win the contest, beating world eating leader Joey Chestnut at the ninth annual National Buffalo Wing Festival. The Black Widow consumed 180 chicken wings in 12 minutes, claiming the national
championship record in Buffalo.

Chestnut, America’s leading professional eater, was favored to win Sunday’s ompetition, but came in second after eating 169 chicken wings. This was the first time Thomas, of Alexandria, Virginia, and Chestnut, of San Jose, California, faced off in a chicken wing eating contest.

They went at it “neck and neck,” said Drew Cerza, the founder of the festival, which was inspired by the 2001 Bill Murray comedy “Osmosis Jones,” about a compulsive eater.

“They pushed each other really hard,” Mr Cerza said. “Joey is so strong. He’s got great jaw strength. But Sonya’s so fast with the hand.”

Thomas who weighs only 105lbs calls herself The Black Widow because she is known for beating much larger male opponents. She also previously set eating records for oysters, hard-boiled eggs, cheesecake and jalapeno peppers. She won her first competitive eating event in 2003.

http://newscastmedia.com/blackwidow.htm

Vatican May Seek Clemency For Iranian Woman Sentenced To Death

Vatican City

Newscast Media VATICAN CITY, Vatican– The press has been assured by The Vatican that “the Holy See” is following the case of the Iranian woman who was sentenced to death by stoning.

Rev Federico Lombardi, the director of the Vatican’s press office said, “When the Holy See is asked, in an appropriate way to intervene in humanitarian issues with the authorities of other countries, as it has happened many times in the past, it does so not in a public way , but through its own diplomatic channels.”

The Vatican has voiced the Church’s opposition of the death penalty especially stoning which it considers a brutal aspect of it.

Four years ago, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani was convicted of adultery four years ago after having pled to the crime of “illicit relationship” with two men, though the incident occurred after the death of her husband. The mother of two later retracted her confession to the crime, claiming it was made under duress and that she does not speak Farsi, but instead only Azeri, an Azerbaijani language more closely related to Turkish.

After an international outcry about the nature of punishment, the Iranian government put the sentence on hold, but Ashtiani’s lawyer believes she could be stoned anytime soon.
http://newscastmedia.com/iranianwoman.htm

Woman Throws Acid In Pretty Girl’s Face Out Of Jealousy

Bethany Storro

VANCOUVER, Wash –A woman in Vancouver, Washington was walking to a coffee shop when a stranger approached her and said, “Hey pretty girl, do you want to drink this?” The attacker then threw a cup full of acid in her face, and is said to be African-American.

Bethany Storro, the victim, who is recovering in hospital in Portland, Oregon, after undergoing surgery for second-degree burns told reporters that the random attack would not ruin her life.

Her mother, Nancy Neuwelt revealed how a pair of sunglasses purchased just 20 minutes before the attack had saved her daughter’s eyesight. Covered in bandages, Miss Storro said, “It was the most painful thing ever. My heart stopped. It ripped through my clothing the instant it touched my shirt; I could feel it burning through my second layer of skin. I had never, ever seen this girl in my entire life. When I first saw her, [the attacker] had this weirdness about her. Like jealousy, rage.”

Storro continued to say, “Was it a dare, or did the woman wake up Monday morning and tell herself that today, she was going to ‘carry some acid in a cup and throw it on the first person I see’.”

Miss Storro, who lost most of her hearing as a child, added that she would eventually forgive her attacker.

“If I don’t it’s hard to move on. I have an amazing family and friends that love me and I’m blessed,” she said.

Mrs Neuwelt referred to the fact that her daughter was wearing sunglasses, something she doesn’t normally do, as the “hand of God protecting her eyes”.

Police have described the attacker as being an African-American female between 25 and 35 years old. Witnesses said she was wearing a green shirt and khaki trousers at the time of the attack.

http://newscastmedia.com/acidattack.htm

Chicago Dentist finances ad encouraging a Hillary Clinton run in 2012

A Clinton supporter from Chicago, is financing a new ad encouraging Hillary Clinton to run for president in 2012. William DeJean, a Chicago dentist, run the ad on Wednesday in New Orleans, according to CNN. The ad has a rather straightforward message that plays on the psyches of Democrats who failed to vote for her in 2008 and may now have buyer’s remorse.

The message in the ad says, “She has more experience working in and with the White House than most living presidents. She is one of the most admired women in our nation’s history. Let’s make sure the president we should have elected in 2008 will be on the ballot in 2012.”

The ad wraps up with the phrase: “Hillary 2012: Hillary Clinton for President. Start now. Where there’s a Hill there’s a way.”

DeJean told CNN that he hopes to run the ad on the East and West coasts to increase its impact. The ad however has gone viral on the Web and is already reaching critical mass.

http://newscastmedia.com/clinton2012.htm

Sherrif Joe Arpaio Sued By Department Of Justice For Alleged Racial Profiling

Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Newscast Media PHOENIX, Arizona – Arizona’s toughest sheriff has been sued by the Department of Justice because he has not given federal investigators documents needed for their probe into allegations the lawman’s department discriminates against Hispanics. Arpaio has refused to hand over the records for 15 months, the Justice Department said.

“The actions of the sheriff’s office are unprecedented,” Thomas Perez, assistant attorney general for the department’s civil rights division, told The Associated Press. Illegal searches and discrimination against people with poor English language skills are among the allegations the feds have been investigating since 2009.

The bombastic Arpaio, famous for erecting tent cities to hold the hundreds of people his department picks up in illegal immigration sweeps, refuted the accusations.

“I think this is just a ruse,” he said. He told the Arizona Republic the government knows his department does not racially profile Hispanics and that he was cooperating with the investigation.

“I thought we were really close to getting this resolved,” he said, calling the lawsuit harassment. The Justice Department claims that when Arpaio’s office accepted $16.5 million from the government, it agreed to cooperate with civil-rights related investigations.

Arpaio said that of the 1,032 people picked up in raids dating back to March 2009, half were illegal immigrants. The lawsuit is the latest chapter in the federal government’s tussle over immigration policy with the state. http://newscastmedia.com/sherrifjoe.htm

Private Equity Firm Buys Burger King For $3.26bn

Burger King

Newscast Media – Burger King, the fast food chain is being aqcuired by private equity firm 3G Capital in a deal valued at $3.26bn, it has been announced. The group – TPG Capital, Bain Capital and Goldman Sachs Funds – still own 31% of Burger King shares. The deal, worth $24 a share, comes after Burger King’s stock price surged more than 15% on Wednesday and opened on Thursday up 23% at $23.25.

In a statement, the companies said that the deal represented a 46% premium to Burger King’s share price before news of a possible takeover surfaced. 3G will also take on Burger King’s debt, valuing the deal at $4bn in total. Burger King, the second largest hamburger chain behind McDonald’s, has struggled during the recession and last week forecast weak demand for the rest of the year. However, it is unclear what plans 3G has for Burger King, and there was no mention of strategy in its takeover announcement.

New York-based 3G is backed by Brazilian billionaire Jorge Paulo Lemann and two of his longtime business partners Marcel Telles and Carlos Alberto Sicupira. Under the terms of the deal with 3G, Burger King’s chairman and chief executive John Chidsey will become co-chairman of the board. Alex Behring, managing partner of US-based 3G, will be the other co-chairman. http://newscastmedia.com/burgerking.htm

Barack Obama oversees Mideast peace talks

Mideast peace talks

Newscast Media – US President Barack Obama has urged Israeli and Palestinian leaders not to let the chance of a permanent peace deal “slip away”.

“This moment of opportunity may not soon come again,” he said, pledging the US would support the new negotiations.

Mr Obama spoke the day before a new round of direct talks between Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas was due to begin.Earlier, he condemned the “senseless slaughter” of four Israeli settlers. They were shot dead by gunmen in the West Bank on Tuesday.

Mr Obama spoke at the White House on Wednesday evening after meetings with Mr Netanyahu, Mr Abbas, Jordan’s King Abdullah and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

His remarks came on the eve of the first direct negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian leaders in 20 months, which he said were “intended to resolve all final status issues”.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Wednesday called Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas “my partner in peace” and said he was seeking a peace to end the Middle East conflict “once and for all.”

Barack Obama opened a new round of Mideast peacemaking Wednesday, bringing Israeli and Palestinian leaders to the White House for talks aimed at forging agreement within one year on a two-state solution.

“Our goal is to forge a secure and durable peace between Israel and the Palestinians. We do not seek a brief interlude between two wars. We do not seek a temporary respite between outbursts of terror,” Netanyahu said.

But a row over settlements threatened to derail the fragile talks, as a top Palestinian official said that any resumption of Israeli settlement construction would spell the end of the peace talks.

“The settlements must be halted and continuing them will signal the end of the peace process,” said Palestinian spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina. http://newscastmedia.com/peacetalks.htm

Discovery Channel gunman hostage update

Discovery Communications

Newscast Media – UPDATE 5:00 PM: Police shot the suspect. His condition is not known. The three hostages are safe. Officers shot the suspect at 4:48 p.m., Chief Tom Manger said. The gunman’s condition was not immediately known. He hasn’t been removed from the building. Manger said the gunman had a device or devices strapped to his body, and the “device appeared to go off,” Manger said.

REVIEW
4:33: Police are negotiating with a suspected gunman who police say is
holding “a small number of hostages” in the Discovery Channel headquarters
building in downtown Silver Spring.
They have identified the gunman as longtime Discovery Channel protester James
Jay Lee, who was arrested in 2008.

Lee apparently opened fire in the lobby, said “Nobody is going anywhere.”
Watch continuing coverage of the story on TBD TV.

UPDATE 4:03: MoCo police are having a briefing, and said little except that they
will have another update by 5 p.m. Police said some details “may affect how
we’re treating this situation.”

UPDATE 3:41 P.M.: The St. Michael School at 824 Wayne Avenue has been
placed on lockdown, ABC 7 News has confirmed.

MoCo POLICE UPDATE 3:20 p.m.: Montgomery County police chief Tom Manger
said negotiations with the gunman are ongoing, and that there are a “small
number of hostages” but an exact number had not been established. Manger said
there had been no reports of injuries as of yet.
He also declined to say whether the gunman had made any demands.
“I’m not going to discuss the nature of our conservations with him,” Manger said.
As for reports that the gunman may have a bomb, Manger said, “We’re going with
the assumption they could be explosive devices.”

Manger declined to identify the gunman publicly, saying police would have to
meet with him face to face first. Sources have identified him as James Jay Lee.
Capt. Paul Starks said police would have another update before 4 p.m.

UPDATES ON SUSPECT: Lee was arrested outside the Discovery Channel
headquarters on Feb. 21, 2008. The arrest was captured in a story by ABC 7
News. During his arrest, Lee listed a homeless shelter in Silver Spring as his
address. A case manager at the shelter told TBD on Wednesday that they did not
have a James Lee on file, but added that many people list them as an address.

UPDATE 2:52: Justice Department correspondent for NBC News, Pete Williams,
confirms names of suspect as James Jay Lee, a longtime protester of Discovery.
ABC News is also confirming. Here’s an old DCist post on Lee.

UPDATE 2:33 p.m. This was an e-mail sent to Discovery employees
Subject: URGENT: Employees Should Go Home – Don’t Return to 1DP
Until Further Notice Employees at 1DP should go home for the
remainder of the day. No employee should return to 1DP for any
reason. Employees with cars at 1DP should not return to the office,
but instead use an alternate mode of transportation.
The children from Discovery Kids Place are safe and with their
teachers at the McDonald’s at the intersection of Colesville and
Second Aves. Parents should meet their children there and go home
for the remainder of the day.

UPDATE 2:25 All workers in building were evacuated. Many told to go home
though they left personal items in the building.

UPDATE 2:21: Police are saying there is at least one hostage.

UPDATE 2:15 p.m. Angela Gates, a Metro spokeswoman, said the Silver Spring
Metro station remains open, though the south entrance is closed. Buses that
service the Silver Spring Transit Center are being detoured around closed streets,
she said. Colesville Road is blocked off.

UPDATE: 2:02 p.m.: The Discovery Channel day care has been evacuated to the
nearby McDonald’s. The day care had about 100 kids. They are reported to be
safe.

UPDATE: 1:50 p.m.: According to Cpl. Dan Friz, a Montgomery County police
spokesman, a tactical team is trying to get in touch with the gunman, who is
being monitored on closed circuit TV.
The “tactical team has put together a plan for dealing with this individual,” Friz
told ABC 7 News.

Friz was unable to confirm reports that multiple shots have been fired, but he
said no shots had been fired by police as of 1:40 p.m.
Police were initially dispatched to the building for the report of shots fired at
about 1 p.m. Police are reporting the suspect is an Asian male.
“Some sort of device on him that may be explosive in nature…” Friz said.

ORIGINAL
Montgomery County police have confirmed the Discovery Communications
headquarters on Georgia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring has been evacuated
after the report of a man possibly with explosives inside the building.
A man entered the lobby and may have fired a weapon and declared, “Nobody is
going anywhere,” Montgomery County police said.
Source ABC 7 News