Douglas Ernst

Santa Claus, kids get Pentagon promise: ‘Airspace is safe for sleigh travel’

The Pentagon wants all children to know that Santa Claus can fly safely through American airspace during the holiday season.

December 19, 2014

Al Sharpton goes to Hollywood: Amy Pascal meeting nets clout in Sony creative process

Hollywood has just joined forces with Al Sharpton and his National Action Network after a meeting with Sony Pictures Entertainment co-Chairman Amy Pascal.

December 19, 2014

Harvard’s SodaStream products pulled by dining hall after ‘microaggression’ worries

Harvard's dining hall pulled SodaStream machines after members of the college's Palestine Solidarity Committee and other activists deemed the product a "microaggression."

December 19, 2014

George Clooney’s free speech petition gets zero Hollywood support after Sony hacking

Hollywood star George Clooney circulated a petition supporting free speech rights within the industry as Sony Entertainment was dealing with a cyberattack from a group linked to North Korea — and no one signed it.

December 19, 2014

Naval Academy to receive $120M for classified cyber warfare center

The U.S. Naval Academy will receive $120 million in federal funds for a new center for teaching midshipmen cyber warfare skills.

December 19, 2014

Taliban hit list for young boys used at Pakistan school massacre

The Taliban had a very specific hit list of young boy that it used for its Dec. 16 attack on a Peshawar school that killed 141 people.

December 18, 2014

John W. Henry, Red Sox owner, faces lawsuit over woman who fell down Fenway Park elevator shaft

Boston Red Sox owner John W. Henry is facing a lawsuit over a woman who fell down an elevator shaft at Fenway Park.

December 18, 2014

Gen. James Terry: Training Iraqis for Islamic State fight will take ‘three years minimum’

U.S. troops will be needed to train Iraq's security forces for the next three years — at a minimum — Army Lt. Gen. James Terry said Thursday.

December 18, 2014

‘Team America’ showings reportedly banned by Paramount in response to Sony hacking

Paramount Pictures has reportedly banned movie theaters from showing of 2004's "Team America: World Police" as a replacement for Sony Entertainment's "The Interview."

December 18, 2014

3 Islamic State leaders killed in airstrikes, say U.S. officials

U.S.-led coalition airstrikes in Iraq have killed three top leaders of the Islamic State group in the past month and a half.

December 18, 2014

Wal-Mart Barbie Christmas toys stolen during fake heart attack; two men charged

Two Florida men face grand theft charges for engineering a fake heart attack in Wal-Mart so that expensive Barbie toys could be stolen during the confusion.

December 18, 2014

Amy Pascal to meet with Al Sharpton in the wake of Obama ‘Django’ emails

The Rev. Al Sharpton and Sony Pictures Entertainment co-Chairman Amy Pascal will meet face-to-face for the first time since her racial emails regarding President Obama were leaked by the hacking group "Guardians of Peace."

December 18, 2014

Shepard Smith reacts to Obama’s Cuba decision, asks if U.S. will ‘ruin’ Havana

Fox News anchor Shepard Smith reacted to news that the U.S. was restoring diplomatic relations with Cuba by asking if American capitalism would "ruin" the nation with fast-food restaurants and home improvement businesses.

December 17, 2014

Blind Mo. boy’s cane replaced with pool noodle by school as punishment

A blind boy from Kansas City, Missouri, had his cane taken away by school officials, who then replaced it with a pool noodle when he was accused of acting up on the bus.

December 17, 2014

Army surveillance over Maryland: Giant blimps to begin three-year test

One of the U.S. Army's giant surveillance blimps will rise to 10,000 feet above Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland on Friday for a three-year test. A second aircraft will begin testing in January.

December 17, 2014

Amir Hekmati, held in Iran, begs Obama to ‘end the nightmare,’ begins hunger strike

A Marine veteran who has been imprisoned in Iran since 2011 has started a hunger strike and pleaded with President Obama to "end the nightmare."

December 17, 2014

New Year’s Eve in Russia: State-run show says not to drink with Asians for health reasons

Russia's state-run First Channel featured a segment on "Live Healthfully" with a panel that said not to drink with Asians on New Year's Eve — for their own good.

December 17, 2014

Islamic State uses Texas plumber’s old truck in Syrian terror campaign

A Texas plumber's old truck has come back to haunt him after appearing in the Islamic State group's Twitter feed.

December 17, 2014

Andrew Luck: Colts star confuses opponents with Jedi Master trash talk

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck has seemingly reached a Jedi Master level of trash talk by confusing the men who tackle him the hardest with compliments.

December 17, 2014

Jesse Ventura follows up Chris Kyle ‘American Sniper’ lawsuit by suing HarperCollins

Jesse Ventura is following up his successful "American Sniper" lawsuit against the estate of late Navy SEAL Chris Kyle by suing publisher HarperCollins.

December 16, 2014