Mark Memmott

Jobless Claims Drop, But Stay In Recent Range

Mark Memmott — Thu, 23 May 2013 13:02:00 +0000

There were 340,000 first-time claims for unemployment insurance last week, down 23,000 from the week before, the Employment and Training Administration reports.

The decline follows something of a spike. But in reality, the drop just means that claims continue to run at the pace they've been setting since late 2011.

Triple Murder May Link Tsarnaev And Man Killed In Florida

Mark Memmott — Thu, 23 May 2013 12:49:00 +0000

Ibragim Todashev, the 27-year-old man shot and killed after he allegedly attacked an FBI agent Wednesday in Orlando, may have been involved with Boston bombings suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev in a 2011 triple murder.

As NPR's Dina Temple-Raston reported on All Things Considered, "it's still under investigation, but law enforcement authorities told us tha

'We Will Never Give In To Terror,' Britain's Cameron Vows

Mark Memmott — Thu, 23 May 2013 11:45:00 +0000

One day after a British soldier was hacked to death on a busy southeast London street by two men who were heard claiming that they wanted to avenge the deaths of Muslims killed during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Prime Minister David Cameron declared Thursday that "we will never give in to terror or terrorism in any of its forms."

Reuters adds that Cameron also said, "this country will be absolutely resolute in its stand against violent extremism and terror."

We'

Funerals Begin In Tornado-Ravaged Moore, Okla.

Mark Memmott — Thu, 23 May 2013 10:41:00 +0000

Funerals began Thursday for the 24 people known to have been killed by the tornado that devastated Moore, Okla., on Monday.

Nine-year-old Antonia Candelaria, one of the 7 children killed at Plaza Towers Elementary School, was being remembered at a local church.

Male Sergeant May Have Filmed Female Cadets At West Point

Mark Memmott — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:24:00 +0000

A male sergeant at West Point has been accused of secretly videotaping at least a dozen female cadets, sometimes when they were showering, The New York Times reports.

Gen. John F. Campbell, the army's vice chief of staff, tells the Times that "once notified of the violation, a full investigation was launched, followed by swift action to correct the problem."

The accused, Sgt.

Bernanke Hints That The Economy Still Needs Help

Mark Memmott — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:37:00 +0000

In the nearly impenetrable language that comes with his job, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told Congress on Wednesday that even though the economy is doing better, the central bank needs to keep giving it a boost.

The key passage from his prepared testimony:

"Recognizing the drawbacks of persistently low rates, the FOMC actively seeks economic conditions consistent with sustainably higher interest rates.

'I Have Not Done Anything Wrong,' Says Key IRS Official

Mark Memmott — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:50:00 +0000

"I have not done anything wrong. I have not broken any laws.

Man Killed By FBI In Florida Was Linked To Boston Suspect

Mark Memmott — Wed, 22 May 2013 13:29:00 +0000

In Orlando, Fla., early Wednesday "an FBI agent was involved in a deadly shooting connected to the Boston Marathon bombing case," NBC News is reporting. A man who was being questioned by the agent is dead.

Eric Garcetti Wins L.A. Mayor's Race

Mark Memmott — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:33:00 +0000

The next mayor of Los Angeles will be City Councilman Eric Garcetti.

In a race in which the two top contenders were both Democrats, the 42-year-old Garcetti has opened a 7- to 8-percentage-point lead over City Controller Wendy Greuel as Tuesday's votes are being counted.

Early Wednesday, according to the singled out some conservative groups for inappropriate scrutiny while he was head of the agency, former IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman told Congress on Tuesday that "I was dismayed and I was saddened" to learn about what had happened under his watch.

Shulman, an appointee of President George W.

IRS Officials To Be On Hot Seat

Mark Memmott — Tue, 21 May 2013 11:11:00 +0000
Both the former IRS commissioner who was in charge when the agency singled out some conservative groups for extra scrutiny and the man who replaced him will be appearing at a Senate Finance Committee hearing Tuesday morning.
Douglas Shulman, an appointee of President George W. Bush who left the IRS last November, and acting commissioner Steven Miller (who is losing his job because of the scandal) are due at the 10 a.m. ET hearing.
Also set to testify: J.

Death Toll Climbing In Oklahoma Tornado Tragedy

Mark Memmott — Tue, 21 May 2013 10:20:00 +0000
(We're following the news from Oklahoma, where a tornado devastated the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore on Monday. Most recent update: 8:40 p.m. ET.)
A day after a monster EF-5 tornado pummeled Moore, Okla., the focus turned to the victims.
NPR's Wade Goodwyn spent the day in the city talking to survivors.

Turnabout Is Fair Play: Senators Have Many Questions For IRS

Mark Memmott — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:35:00 +0000
The Internal Revenue Service is under fire for improperly singling out some conservative groups for extra scrutiny — putting them through months (or longer) of questions that delayed or derailed the organizations' requests for tax-exempt status.
Well, now the chairman and ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee have some questions and requests — actually dozens of them — for the IRS.
As senators Max Baucus, D-Mont., and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, say, "targeting applicants for tax-exempt

ABC's Karl Expresses Regret, But Stands By Benghazi Story

Mark Memmott — Mon, 20 May 2013 17:46:00 +0000
ABC News White House correspondent Jonathan Karl now says he regrets that some key parts of a major story he reported on May 10 were wrong.
The story sent off a political uproar. As we said last week, it made it appear that in a Sept.

VIDEO: Look Inside A Grizzly Bear's Mouth

Mark Memmott — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:56:00 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvzQCipwr6Q

Supreme Court Takes Case On Prayer At Government Meetings

Mark Memmott — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:00:00 +0000
A challenge to the way a western New York State town board has had prayers read before its public meetings has made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The justices announced Monday morning that they will hear oral arguments in the case of Greece, N.Y. v.

Top Stories: Yahoo Buys Tumblr; Latest On IRS Scandal

Mark Memmott — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:01:00 +0000
Good morning.
Our early headlines:
-- Pledging Not To 'Screw It Up,' Yahoo Seals Deal For Tumblr.
-- FBI Agents Killed In Training Accident Worked In Elite Unit.
-- Natio

Pledging Not To 'Screw It Up,' Yahoo Seals Deal For Tumblr

Mark Memmott — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:50:00 +0000
The news that broke Sunday is now official.
Yahoo confirmed early Monday morning that it is buying Tumblr in a deal worth about $1.1 billion.

FBI Agents Killed In Training Accident Worked In Elite Unit

Mark Memmott — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:08:00 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxZ6-67mS8I

Nation's Midsection Braces For More Severe Storms

Mark Memmott — Mon, 20 May 2013 10:52:00 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qlIyoZj9j4

Aw-Inspiring Video: Sea Lion Worries When Little Girl Falls

Mark Memmott — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:05:00 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owkdOWdEMU8

Washington Green? State Creates Logo For Legal Pot

Mark Memmott — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:41:00 +0000
T-shirts will surely be made:
Along with draft rules for how to become a licensed grower or seller of marijuana, the Washington State Liquor Control Board this week released the official "icon logo" that will need to be put on packages of pot and "marijuana-infused products sold at retail."
A marijuana leaf inside a circle, and centered over a map of the state, the logo comes in black or green.

Famed Race Driver Dick Trickle Dies, Suicide Suspected

Mark Memmott — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:52:00 +0000
Dick Trickle, a "short-track hero" in the '70s and '80s who moved to the NASCAR circuit later in his career, died Thursday.
According to The Charlotte Observer, the 71-year-old was killed by "an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, Lincoln County [N.C.] deputies said."
The Observer adds that "in 2001, Trickle's granddaughter Nicole Ann Bowman was killed in a car accident in front of East Lincoln High School.

Gingrich Cautions GOP About 'Overreach' On Scandals

Mark Memmott — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:54:00 +0000
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who was front-and-center during the Republican-led impeachment of President Clinton in 1998, is cautioning his GOP colleagues about the risk of appearing to be too eager as they dig into the scandals now dogging the Obama administration.
"I think we overreached in '98 — how's that for a quote you can use?" Gingrich told NPR's Mara Liasson for a story on Friday's broa

Kai The 'Hatchet Hitchhiker' Is Accused Of Murder

Mark Memmott — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:57:00 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16oUKdOUstU

Reports: Russia Sends More Missiles, Has Ships Near Syria

Mark Memmott — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:08:00 +0000
Friday's major news about the conflict in Syria:
-- "Russia Sends More Advanced Missiles to Aid Assad in Syria."
According to The New York Times, "Russia has sent advanced antiship cruise missiles to Syria, a move that illustrates the depth of its support for the Syrian government led by President Bashar al-Assad, American officials said Thursday."
-- "Russia Raises Stakes In Syria: Assad Ally Bolsters Warships In Reg

Congress Due To Grill Ousted IRS Chief

Mark Memmott — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:34:00 +0000
(Most recent update: 12:50 p.m.