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Kellan Howell

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Kellan Howell

khowell@washingtontimes.com

Kellan Howell is a continuous news writer for The Washington Times, covering defense and national security. Originally from Williamsburg, Virginia, Kellan graduated from James Madison University where she received bachelor's degrees in media arts and design and international affairs with a concentration in western European politics.
During her time at JMU, she interned for British technology and business news website "ITPro" in London and worked as a freelance reporter for The Washington Guardian. She was also an executive editor of 22807, a new student magazine covering arts and culture in the JMU community.
Kellan can be reached at khowell@washingtontimes.com.

Articles by Kellan Howell

FILE - In this Feb. 24, 2011 file photo, Bill Maher, host of the HBO show, "Real Time with Bill Maher," arrives at the The Hollywood Reporter Academy Awards Pre-Party in Los Angeles. The satirist has a deal for "The New New Rules," to be published by Penguin Group (USA) in November. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg, file)

Bill Maher: God a ‘psychotic mass murderer’ who ‘drowns babies’

Comedian Bill Maher recently told his HBO "Real Time" audience that God was a "psychotic mass murderer." He made the comments during a conversation on the biblical story of Noah and the upcoming Hollywood version of it that's about to hit the big screen.

March 15, 2014

Old Enemy: Osama bin Laden told an FBI source in 1993 that he was looking to finance terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. (Associated Press)

Imprisoned Pakistani doctor who helped CIA track bin Laden has sentence reduced

A Pakistani doctor convicted of treason for helping the CIA track Osama bin Laden had his sentence reduced by 10 years to a total of 23 years.

March 15, 2014

Image: Twitter, Sen. Ted Cruz

Image of shirtless, tattooed Ted Cruz smoking gets plastered around Beverly Hills

A tattooed image of Sen. Ted Cruz appeared on posters around Beverly Hills late Thursday night.

March 15, 2014

** FILE ** Former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin addresses the Conservative Political Action Committee annual conference in National Harbor, Md., Saturday, March 8, 2014. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

Sarah Palin plans digital show ‘Rogue TV’: report

Sarah Palin will reportedly launch her own digital video show, "Rogue TV," in early April or May.

March 15, 2014

**FILE** French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian talks Jan. 2, 2014, with French soldiers from Operation Sangaris, at Mpoko Camp in Bangui, Central African Republic. France will broaden its military presence in Africa's turbulent Sahel region with specialized new outposts to better fight the terror threat from extremist groups such as al Qaeda, the defense minister said. (Associated Press)

French take down wanted Islamic militant ‘Red Beard’

French air strikes in the mountains of northern Mali have killed a prominent Jihadist leader with a $3 million U.S. government bounty on his head.

March 14, 2014

Rep. Greg Walden, Oregon Republican. (Associated Press) ** FILE **

Watchdog files complaint over GOP ads

A campaign finance watchdog is raising alarms over what it says were a series of misleading campaign donation websites run by the Republican Party.

March 12, 2014

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts arrives for President Barack Obama's State of Union address before a joint session of Congress in the House chamber Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Larry Downing, Pool)

‘Donor’ trumps ‘constituent’ when calling Congress

Money does buy more clout in Washington — or at least more returned phone calls, according to an ingenious new study released Tuesday.

March 11, 2014

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) supporters applaud as he speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) held at the Gaylord Hotel, National Harbor, Md., Friday, March 7, 2014. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

A Gipper on stilts wows CPAC crowd

This year’s CPAC features big-name speakers and outsized personalities, but none tower higher than Ronald Reagan and Lady Liberty, the two tallest guests at the biggest annual conservative convention.

March 7, 2014

Sen Ted Cruz (R-TY) speaks at the Conservative Political Action Committee annual conference in National Harbor, Md., Thursday, March 6, 2014. Lloyd Villas/The Washington Times

Conservatives debate security at companion conference

While conservatives flocked to CPAC 2014, a handful of conservatives branched off for a discussion about Benghazi, Russia, nuclear sanctions and national security at another conference just down the street.

March 6, 2014

changed man: Charlie Christ is seeking to regain his seat as Florida governor after switching parties and going back and forth on key issues over the years. (Associated Press)

It’s Crist vs. Crist in campaign for Florida governor

While most political candidates are fiercely competing for votes against opponents across the aisle, one gubernatorial candidate is fighting in the ring against himself.

March 4, 2014

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) shakes hands before taking the stage to speak at the Tea Party Patriots 5th Anniversary Celebration at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C., Thursday, February 27, 2014. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

IRS flooded with comments on nonprofit rule

The IRS is getting an earful as it weighs new rules on how to treat so-called "dark-money" non-profit groups that are flooding the political scene.

March 4, 2014

** FILE ** (YouTube)

Steven Seagal: Obama would be impeached if the truth about Benghazi came out

Actor Steven Seagal says that President Obama would be impeached if the truth about Benghazi came out.

March 1, 2014

Associated Press
Garry Kasparov, former chess champion and Russian opposition leader, was at the helm of a movement of people who refused to vote in Sunday's elections.

Chess champion Garry Kasparov blasts Obama admin. reaction to Russian military move

Former World Chess champion and political activist, Garry Kasparov, took to social media to express his outrage over Obama administrator's assessment of Russia's presence in the Ukraine as a "uncontested arrival."

March 1, 2014

(Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Hollywood funds ‘dark money’ groups to increase political influence

While Hollywood gears up to celebrate itself at this weekend's Oscars, the movie industry has also been increasing its political influence and lobbying efforts on the other coast, according to a new report from a campaign finance watchdog group.

February 27, 2014

**FILE** Virginia state Delegate Barbara Comstock addresses the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Aug. 28, 2012. (Associated Press)

VA GOP official makes vulgar Facebook comment about opponent, apologizes

A Virginia GOP official is taking heat over a Facebook comment that used vulgar language in reference to a female Republican legislator.

February 26, 2014

** FILE ** Rep. Greg Walden, Oregon Republican. (Screenshot from http://walden.house.gov/)

Key GOP lawmaker targets FCC media study

The Federal Communications Commission says a controversial study of the nation's newsrooms is being reworked, but House Republicans aren't taking any chances.

February 25, 2014

Report: Delays in providing hearing aids put veterans at risk

The Veterans Affairs Department is taking weeks to provide or repair hearing aids for its patients, leaving hearing-impaired veterans at risk in the latest failure by the agency charged with caring for America's war heroes.

February 23, 2014

** FILE ** In this July 27, 2011, file photo, a wounded warrior walks along a sidewalk at Walter Reed during the ceremony to "case the colors" as the wounded and the staff moved to Bethesda or Fort Belvoir. American soldiers "lost their arms and limbs, but thanks to you they never lost themselves." Secretary of the Army John McHugh told the staff. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)

DOD watchdog: Medication management policy puts wounded warriors at risk for overdose

A new report from a Department of Defense watchdog concludes that wounded warriors may be at risk for accidental prescription drug over dosage.

February 22, 2014

** FILE ** (Associated Press)

Veterans forced to wait weeks for hearing aids from Veterans Affairs

The Veterans Affairs Department is taking weeks to provide or repair hearing aids for its patients, leaving hearing-impaired veterans at risk in the latest failure by the agency charged with caring for America's war heroes.

February 21, 2014

Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., waits to speak during a campaign stop at Badgett Supply in Madisonville, Ky., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2014. McConnell is being challenged by Louisville businessman Matt Bevin in the republican primary. (AP Photo/Stephen Lance Dennee)

FreedomWorks’ ‘Retire McConnell’ signs under fire in Louisville

City officials in Louisville have contacted FreedomWorks, which has endorsed McConnell opponent Matt Bevin, asking the group to take down the hundreds of signs posted all over Jefferson County.

February 21, 2014