Jessica Chasmar

Smithsonian director wants Trayvon Martin’s hoodie

Trayvon Martin's hoodie became a nationwide symbol following his fatal shooting, and now the director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History wants the original.

July 31, 2013

Welcome to Miracle Village — the Fla. community where half of residents are sex offenders

A small Florida community that sits on the edge of the everglades is called home to more than 100 parents, teachers and coaches — all of whom are registered sex offenders.

July 31, 2013

Aloha means goodbye: Hawaii to buy homeless one-way tickets to mainland

Hawaii has set aside $100,000 for a "return-to-home" program to send non-native Hawaiians back to their home states.

July 31, 2013

Oakland activists upset over law banning weapons at protests

The Oakland City Council moved closer on Tuesday to banning hammers, wrenches, shields, sling shots, paint projectiles and other "tools of violence and vandalism" at protests, raising concerns by the American Civil Liberties Union and local activists.

July 31, 2013

Jihad on baked goods: Syrian rebels issued fatwa on croissants

A Sharia committee in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo issued a fatwa banning croissants because of the crescent shape's offensive link to colonialism, according to the Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat.

July 31, 2013

Petition demanding Muslim Brotherhood be declared a ‘terrorist group’ gains 124K signatures

A "We the People" petition demanding the Obama administration declare the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group has gathered nearly 124,000 signatures.

July 30, 2013

Sen. Marco Rubio compares Obamacare to New Coke, Ford Pinto

Speaking on the Senate floor Tuesday, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio railed against Obamacare, comparing it to marketing flops like New Coke and the Ford Pinto.

July 30, 2013

Rep. Frank Wolf on Guantanamo tour: ‘There is no torture’

As lawmakers on Capitol Hill battle over whether to close the detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, a four-member congressional delegation from Virginia, led by Democratic Rep. Jim Moran, traveled there Friday. Rep. Frank Wolf, a Republican, released a statement Tuesday saying that upon touring the facility, he has determined there is no torture or abuse going to warrant its closure.

July 30, 2013

San Diego City Council to sue mayor to recover sexual harassment lawsuit costs

The San Diego City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to file a lawsuit against Mayor Bob Filner, the Democrat facing fire from at least seven women who’ve come forward and accused him of sexual harassment, to recover any money the city has to pay in legal fees due to the sexual harassment lawsuit filed against the mayor.

July 30, 2013

Obama’s former chief of staff Bill Daley to run for Ill. governor

Former U.S. Commerce Secretary and President Obama's former White House chief of staff Bill Daley confirmed Monday that he's definitely running for governor of Illinois next year.

July 30, 2013

Cars crash into Kansas City daycare; at least 3 children critically injured

Fire and emergency crews are responding to a Kansas City, Mo., daycare after two vehicles crashed into the building, local media reported.

July 30, 2013

Debt stuck at $25M below legal limit for 70 straight days: report

According to the Daily Treasury Statement for July 26 released Monday, the federal debt has been stuck at exactly $16,699,396,000,000.00 for 70 straight days, CNS News reported.

July 30, 2013

Guantanamo detainees can’t get enough ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’

Fifty Shades of Grey, the salacious best-selling E. L. James novel often referred to as "Mommy Porn," is the most popular reading material among Guantanamo detainees in the secretive Camp Seven, Rep. Jim Moran learned last week.

July 30, 2013

‘Weinerizer’ music video, adult film and breast implants lined up for Sydney Leathers

Sydney Leathers, the 23-year-old at the heart of the new Anthony Weiner sexting scandal, was seen meeting with porn industry giant Vivid Video last weekend as agencies grapple to cash in on the online mistress' Weiner connection.

July 30, 2013

‘Easiest job ever’: Weiner’s sexting partner Sydney Leathers brags about being a prostitute

Sydney Leathers, the 23-year-old high school dropout at the heart of the new Anthony Weiner sexting scandal, bragged online to having earned thousands of dollars by having sex with older men and offering "dates for dollars," The Daily Mail first reported.

July 30, 2013

Al Jazeera America announces 12 new bureaus, correspondents in massive expansion

Al Jazeera America, the new Qatar-based news channel set to launch in the U.S. on Aug. 20, announced Tuesday its massive expansion of new bureaus in 12 major cities and the correspondents who will report from them.

July 30, 2013

It’s a girl! Pakistani game show gives away babies as prizes

Forget a brand new convertible or a Caribbean getaway for two. TV host Aamir Liaquat Hussain in Pakistan is giving away babies.

July 30, 2013

Allen West: ‘The nature of conservatism is that it sees no color’

Allen West headed to Amsterdam Tuesday to embark on National Review's conservative summer cruise, saying he owes his success as a "young black man" to the nature of his character.

July 30, 2013

NYC appeals court upholds ruling against Mayor Bloomberg’s soda ban

An appeals court Tuesday ruled against New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposed soda ban, saying the controversial regulation violates "the principle of separation of powers."

July 30, 2013

CBC recommends Sheila Jackson Lee for Homeland Security post

Just two weeks after Janet Napolitano announced her resignation as Secretary of Homeland Security, the Congressional Black Caucus has suggested Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Houston fill her spot.

July 29, 2013