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Does the NRA’s Ad Featuring Obama’s Children Go Too Far?
On Wednesday President Obama announced a series of proposals to address gun violence. The day before, the National Rifle Association, which opposes the president's ideas, released a Web ad that stoked controversy, particularly because the ad focuses on Obama's daughters.
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Wal-Mart Plans to Hire 100,000 Veterans
The national unemployment rate spiked following the 2008 financial crash, and it has remained stubbornly high ever since. Unfortunately, it has been even worse for returning American servicemembers. Today, though, Wal-Mart announced a plan to hire 100,000 veterans over the next five years.
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Celebrity Birthdays for January 3 — Mel Gibson and More
Here's a look at some notable birthdays being celebrated today:
Mel Gibson
Age: 58
Occupation: Actor, Director and Tabloid Moneymaker
Known For: Appearing in the 'Mad Max' and 'Lethal Weapon' movie franchises, winning an Oscar for directing 'Braveheart,' repeatedly spewing homophobic, anti-Semitic, racist and misogynistic comments, and losing $400 million in possibly the most expensive divorce in Hollywood history
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New Movies This Week — ‘Django Unchained,’ ‘Les Miserables,’ ‘Parental Guidance’ and More
It's a busy time at the movies these days. Studios are trying to get all their releases in before the December 31 Oscar deadline, and they're also vying for your precious holiday dollar. This week's offerings include a few that came out on Christmas—Quentin Tarantino's latest, an adaptation of a much loved musical, a family comedy, and a documentary about the justice system—and the first collaboration between Matt Damon and Gus Van Sant since 'Good Will Hunting,' due out Friday.
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President Bush Moved to Intensive Care Unit
Former President George H.W. Bush has been moved to the intensive care unit at Methodist Hospital in Houston, due to a fever that is not responding to treatment.
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Celebrity Birthdays for December 27 — Hayley Williams and More
Here's a look at some notable birthdays being celebrated today:
Hayley Williams
Age: 24
Occupation: Singer and Songwriter
Known For: Being the lead vocalist for the band Paramore, routinely being named one of rock's sexiest women, and appearing on rapper B.o.B's hit 'Airplanes'
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2 Firefighters Shot and Killed at Scene of Fire in Webster, N.Y.; Gunman Dead (UPDATED)
UPDATE 4:07 p.m. EST: Authorities have identified the gunman as William Spengler, an ex-convict who spent 17 years in prison for murdering his 92-year-old grandmother in 1980.
Spengler was paroled for the crime in 1998.
Police also have not located Spengler's 67-year-old sister, who lived in the house with Spengler.
Authorities also report that a total of seven houses were destroyed in the blaze.
UPDATE 12:40 p.m. EST: Police chief Gerald Pickering says that the gunman, who was killed at the scene, either by police or from a self-inflicted wound, may have set a trap for first responders.
UPDATE 12:15 p.m. EST: The Associated Press is reporting that the gunman who killed the two firefighters is also dead. His body was found at the scene. The names of the two deceased firefighters, according to the Democrat and Chronicle, are Mike Chiapperini, 43, a volunteer firefighter and the Webster Police Department’s public information officer, and Tomasz Kaczowka. The names of the wounded firefighters are Joseph Hofsetter and Theodore Scardino.
Early Monday morning two firefighters were shot and killed when responding to a call in Webster, New York, just outside Rochester. After the firefighters arrived at 191 Lake Road, an unknown shooter fired at them as they left their truck, killing two of them and wounding two others. The wounded men are at a nearby hospital; one is in stable condition, the other is in guarded condition.
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NRA Breaks Silence, Plans Press Conference on Friday
The National Rifle Association went quiet after last week's shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, and many have been wondering what the gun-advocacy group would have to say. On Tuesday, the NRA released an official statement:
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Celebrity Birthdays for December 19 — Jake Gyllenhaal and More
Here's a look at some notable birthdays being celebrated today:
Jake Gyllenhaal
Age: 32
Occupation: Actor
Known For: Roles in films like 'Donnie Darko,' 'The Day After Tomorrow' and 'Jarhead,' earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor as Jack Twist in the film 'Brokeback Mountain,' being the little brother of actress Maggie Gyllenhaal, and previous relationships with Kirsten Dunst and Reese Witherspoon
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Celebrity Birthdays for December 17 — Milla Jovovich and More
Here's a look at some notable birthdays being celebrated today:
Milla Jovovich
Age: 37
Occupation: Actress and Model
Known For: Appearing in 'Dazed and Confused,' 'The Fifth Element,' and 'The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc,' starring in the film adaptation of the video game 'Resident Evil,' and founding the production company Creature Entertainment
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27 Dead, Including 20 Children, in Connecticut Elementary School Shooting (UPDATED)
NOTE: This post will be continually updated as new information comes in. Video and photos are below. All times Eastern.
UPDATE 6:30 p.m.: Originally it was thought that Adam Lanza, the gunman, shot his mother at the Sandy Hook Elementary school, where she was a teacher's aide. ABC has learned that, in fact, Nancy Lanza was killed at her home (by her son) prior to the massacre. He then drove to the school, where he killed 20 children and six adults, before killing himself.
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Celebrity Birthdays for December 14 — Vanessa Hudgens and More
Here's a look at some notable birthdays being celebrated today:
Vanessa Hudgens
Age: 24
Occupation: Actress and Singer
Known For: Her portrayal of Gabriella Montez in the 'High School Musical' franchise, roles in other films like 'Thirteen' and 'Bandslam,' a previous relationship with her 'HSM' co-star Zac Efron, and a scandal caused by self-taken nudie shots being leaked on the Internet without her knowledge