Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. Zooey Deschanel. While these two names might not sound similar to you, they were close enough to confuse one Fox affiliate Friday during the massive Boston manhunt. Not long before authorities captured the Boston bombing suspect , he was erroneously listed by the closed captioning as the beautiful singer-actress. Cross promotion for New Girl ? A welcome moment of levity after what could only be described as a tough week, which ended after police remarkably took Tsarnaev alive last night. Zooey Deschanel, meanwhile, is still at large.
The fugitive Boston Marathon bombing suspect is alive and in custody. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was captured just moments ago following a massive manhunt in Watertown, Mass. He had evaded capture since late Thursday night. The search for Tsarnaev focused on Watertown, a town just a few miles outside Boston. He was eventually discovered hiding in a boat in a residential yard. NBC News reports that the wanted Boston bombing suspect was found pinned down in the boat, the cover of which showed a tear and blood stain. Law enforcement sources said police had seen the suspect moving from a State Police helicopter, then confirmed the report with infrared technology. They were alerted to his presence by a Watertown resident who walked outside when frustrated officials lifted the lockdown order around 6 p.m. The resident saw the blood, and that some of the cords tying down the tarp over it were cut. He observed moment inside the boat, and called 911. Authorities then formed a perimeter around the Watertown property and are believed to have exchanged gunfire with the suspect while it was still daylight. Watch a raw video taken from a neighboring window of that exchange: Boston Bombing Suspect Shootout in Watertown It is not certain if the suspect fired back, but no officers were injured. As they moved in, they observed Dzhokhar Tsarnaev sit up, and after using “flash bang” stun grenades to disorient and distract him, took him into custody. Officers were acting with extreme caution because they remained concerned that the suspect might be wearing a suicide bomb vest, a source said. Within the last hour, NBC News reported that there was a fire in the boat the bombing suspect was hiding in and that the suspect was bleeding heavily. It was widely assumed by many in the press and on social media that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was dead, or soon would be as police surrounded him. Not the case. Tsarnaev, 19, was taken away via ambulance and has left the scene (see below, with boat, on Bing maps). State Police have confirmed he is alive. At a news conference, the Boston Police Chief described his condition as serious. Officials speculate that he was wounded early this morning by police – it is not clear how gravely – and has not had access to food or water since. As the thousands of federal, state and local law enforcement now depart, they are doing so to deafening applause and standing ovations from citizens. The U.S. Attorney’s office would not say if Tsarnaev has been Mirandized. The shootout comes after a violent night in which his brother and alleged co-conspirator, Tamerlan Tsarnaev , died in a separate firefight with police. The brothers are believed to have carried out Monday’s Marathon bombings, which killed three people and wounded more than 180 others, some gravely. Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, also suspected of killing an MIT police officer in his vehicle late Thursday, setting the events of Friday into motion. Authorities in Boston suspended all mass transit and warned close to a million people in the entire city and some of its suburbs to stay indoors today. After it was finally over, law enforcement earned the ultimate hat tip. Obama on Boston Bombing Suspect Arrest President Barack Obama praised authorities and ordinary Bostonians alike in a live press conference from the White House after the massive manhunt. “Tonight, our nation is in debt to the people of Boston,” Obama said, and went on to thank Bostonians as “citizens and partners” in the investigation. The president said this resolution wouldn’t have been possible without close coordination among federal, state and local law enforcement authorities. “They all worked as they should,” Obama said, “as a team.” After promising the victims of the West, Texas fertilizer plant explosion that they weren’t forgotten either, he concluded, in the understatement of all time: “This has been been a tough week.” Story developing … UPDATE, 4/20, 7:00 a.m. : Tsarnaev remains in the hospital, the severity and nature of his condition unclear, according to Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick. Patrick did say that he is “hoping very deeply he survives, because I’ve got a lot of questions and I know investigators have a lot of questions for him.”
An angry President Barack Obama blasted the National Rifle Association (NRA) and senators who voted to defeat a bi-partisan bill to expand background checks for…
A Virginia man who stole one of President Obama’s teleprompter, and other equipment, was sentenced to seven years in prison , last Thursday (April 11). Eric Brown cut a deal to serve more time behind bars in order to skip further prosecution for similar crimes…. Continue
This guy ain’t isht. Georgia’s Republican governor has refused to endorse Wilcox, GA’s first integrated prom for one small town, claiming that he doesn’t want to take sides on the issues. Via RawStory reports : Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal (R) has refused through a spokesperson to endorse one town’s first-ever integrated high school prom, saying that he would rather not take sides on the issue. According to Atlanta’s WMAZ Channel 13, politicians from both parties have stated their support for black and white students from Wilcox, Georgia, but Deal declined to join them. Raw Story spoke to activist Bryan Long of the progressive group Better Georgia, whose group has asked Georgia elected officials “to publicly support the students of Wilcox County who are fighting to end a ‘separate-but-equal’ high school prom.” “We thought it would be nice if our elected officials would support these students,” said Long. “They’re taking a great stand in their community. We thought that officials all across the state should send a message to the nation that we’ve moved beyond the racial divisions of the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s.” He added, “We were surprised to read that the governor’s spokesperson said that he wouldn’t be ‘taking sides’ on this issue. I didn’t know that there were sides to take.” Deal spokesperson Brian Robinson told WMAZ on Thursday that Deal is refusing to endorse the integrated prom because of Better Georgia’s bipartisan initiative. “This is a leftist front group for the state Democratic party and we’re not going to lend a hand to their silly publicity stunt,” wrote Robinson. “The kids want to have an integrated prom,” said Better Georgia’s Long. “It’s the 21st Century, Gov. Deal. Get with it.” “The fact that we even have segregated proms in Georgia in 2013 is shocking all buy itself,” he said, “but to have a governor say that he doesn’t want to support the students who are trying to change that horrible tradition? That’s just cowardly.” “We really didn’t think this was going to be a divisive issue,” he concluded. “Plenty of Republicans have already come out to support the kids. So, for the governor, who’s supposedly an opinion leader in the state to just say, ‘I’ll sit this one out,’ well…I didn’t think that was possible.” Wilcox High School was integrated decades ago, but parents have put up their own money for annual private parties rather than have an integrated prom. Students created a Facebook page dedicated to hosting an integrated dance and said they were “embarrassed” that no one had done it before. When is this jerk up for re-election? We sure hope people smarten up and get rid of his azz because he’s clearly not helping the South make any progress. A video posted on YouTube by the Georgia Democratic Party in 2010 shows Deal making a litany of racially-insensitive comments, including, ”We fought against the extension of the Voting Rights Act, you may remember that”; “my wife tells me she can look at her sixth-grade class and tell which one’s going to prison and which one’s going to college”; and that he had “no idea” where President Barack Obama was born. YouTube
Chelone Miller, the brother of Olympic Gold Medal skiier Bode Miller, died on April 7 of a seizure. He was 29 years old. The sad news was announced today, as U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association President Bill Marolt confirmed the passing was a result of a motorcycle accident in 2005 that left Chelone in a coma for 11 days. “Chelone Miller was an aspiring elite athlete who had made great progress as a snowboardcross rider this past season,” Marolt said in a statement. “We are all deeply saddened at the news of his death and extend our condolences to the entire Miller family.” Miller had been focusing on snowboardcross in an effort to qualify for the 2014 Winter Olympics. Just last month he won the Rahlves Banzai Tour overall title with a victory in Sugar Bowl, California. Bode, meanwhile, was crowned the overall World Cup champion in 2005 and 2008 and earned a gold medal in the super combined at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Our thoughts go out to the Miller family.
Sad news to report. According to CBS News: The Southern California church headed by popular evangelical Pastor Rick Warren says his 27-year-old son has committed suicide. Warren’s Saddleback Valley Community Church in Lake Forest, Calif., said in a statement to CBS News and other outlets Saturday that Matthew Warren had struggled with mental illness and deep depression. “Despite the best healthcare available, this was an illness that was never fully controlled and the emotional pain resulted in his decision to take his life,” the statement said. “We ask everyone to join us in praying for the entire Warren family,” the statement continued, “and that God’s comfort and peace will be with them as they deal with this difficult situation.” Warren, the author of “The Purpose Driven Life,” said in an email to church staff that he and his wife had enjoyed a fun Friday evening with their son. But Matthew Warren took his life Saturday after “a momentary wave of despair at his home.” Church spokeswoman Kristin Cole said he died Friday night. Over the years, Matthew Warren had been treated by Americas best doctors, had received counseling and medication and been the recipient of numerous prayers from others, his father said. Still, he struggled over the years. “I’ll never forget how, many years ago, after another approach had failed to give relief, Matthew said `Dad, I know I’m going to heaven. Why can’t I just die and end this pain?”‘ Warren recalled. Warren is the author of numerous books and was named the top newsmaker of the year for 2009 by the Religion Newswriters Association, gaining attention with his invocation at President Barack Obama’s inauguration that year. In 2008, the church sponsored a presidential forum with Obama and Republican Sen. John McCain. Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney had been invited to a similar forum last fall, but Warren canceled it, saying the campaign had become too uncivil. As Saddleback has grown over the years, it has spread out from its Lake Forest headquarters, 65 miles southeast of Los Angeles, adding several other campuses and ministries around Southern California. The church says it now offers more than 200 community ministries and support groups for parents, families, children, couples, prisoners, addicts, and people living with HIV, depression and other illnesses. R.I.P. WENN
Hillary Clinton fans looking to the stage of NYC’s Lincoln Center for signs of a 2016 presidential bid should probably lower their expectations … not that they will. Her speech at the Women in the World Summit was her second speaking appearance this week, reviving rumors that she will again seek the White House. In 2016. That’s Hillary Clinton for you, strong enough to cast a shadow over an election almost four years away, even as she denies any plans to run in it. “I get all the enthusiasm there is for her to run,” Mo Elleithee, a spokesman for Clinton’s 2008 bid, said. “But my advice to everyone is to calm down.” “If she decides to look at the race, I think she’ll do so at the appropriate time.” Clinton has said she has no plans to run … and also hasn’t ruled it out. She was narrowly defeated by Barack Obama in the 2008 Democratic primary, going on to serve as U.S. Secretary of State under President Obama. Her body language will be closely watched by the political community in the coming months, and years, for any signal that she’s approaching a decision. Supporters have already formed a Super PAC to back a possible bid. Since it was created in January, the Ready for Hillary PAC is seeing about 1,000 grassroots supporters a day sign up to back the effort to get Clinton to run in 2016. Ready for Hillary has more than 54,000 followers on Twitter and more than 100,000 e- mail addresses in its database, a clear sign of voter support. The Super PAC was ready to hold a rally today outside the Lincoln Center and carry signs in support of a potential candidacy, the group’s spokesman said. A 2016 presidential poll released last month by Quinnipiac University, showed Clinton dominating in match-ups against hypothetical GOP opponents. What do you think: Hillary in 2016? Gosh yes! Please run, Hill! We’ll see who else runs. Gosh, no! UGH. View Poll »
U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) said Thursday that it’s time to repeal Obamacare before it literally kills women, children and senior citizens. “That’s why we’re here: Because we’re saying repeal this failure before it literally kills women , kills children, kills senior citizens,” she said on the House floor. “Let’s not do that. Let’s love people. Let’s care about people. Let’s repeal it now while we can,” added the controversial 2012 presidential candidate. The outspoken tea party congresswoman is no stranger to hyperbole, especially when it comes to President Obama’s landmark health care bill. Her comments harken back to 2009, when the bill was still being debated, or last year, when the GOP vowed to repeal it if President Obama lost. He didn’t, of course, but don’t think that will stop symbolic efforts to overturn it. The Republican-led House has passed bills to do so 30-plus times. Despite zero chance of success – the Democratic-controlled Senate and White House would also have to sign off – repeal efforts keep on coming. Michele Bachmann certainly isn’t sounding like she’s moved on. Should she? Have you? What do you think of Obamacare? Uphold the law, it’s clearly constitutional! Repeal the law, it’s so unconstitutional! View Poll »
As mediocre as Identity Thief is, it didn’t cool my appreciation for Jason Bateman . For one thing, his work on Arrested Development was Sofa King good that he’d have to suck for a long time to lose me. For another, I don’t think we’ve seen the full extent of this guy’s talent, and, in GQ’s April-issue Q&A with Bateman, the actor lets drop that, in addition to a fruitful career as a director, he’d like to have a New York-based talk show down the road. Here’s what he tells GQ writer Brendan Vaughan: GQ: Jeffrey Tambor [who plays George Bluth in Arrested Development ] once compared you to Johnny Carson in the way that you play the straight man but with this dark center . When I read that, it occurred to me that you might be a good talk-show host. Have you ever thought about that? Jason Bateman: That’s interesting, I was just talking about that. Without getting too specific about it, because I can’t, I’ve thought seriously about it as recently as last year. Having just come back from doing a week of talk shows last week [to promote Identity Thief ], I was talking to Amanda about, in twenty years—when the girls go to college and we can finally move to New York, which is what I’ve been wanting to do forever—if television will have me, I would love to do that. Regis retired at what, 80? So in twenty years I’ll be 64. To host a talk show then, that would be a fun way to do the last bit. I like that idea. Bateman is quick-witted and outrageous — when Vaughan requests Hazelnut-flavored Coffee-Mate in his cup of joe, the actor tells him, “I think your vagina’s bleeding” — he’s thoughtful and, as an actor, he’s able to easily shift from funny to serious without grinding his gears. He’s also that rare child performer who carved out a successful second act for himself in adulthood, and that tells me he’ll be great at interviewing celebrities because he understands the brutality of show business. If he’s serious, he’d make a fine talk-show host some day, and NBC will probably be looking for one once it burns through all the talent it currently has. In the meantime, Bateman is working on his directorial debut, Bad Words , and when Vaughan asks him how he sees his career evolving as a hyphenate, he replies: “As opposed to Ron Howard’s career, which is exclusively directing and producing, no acting, and like [Jon] Favreau’s career and Pete Berg’s career, where it’s mostly directing—I think, more realistically, I’d like it to be more like George Clooney’s career or Ben Stiller’s career or Ben Affleck’s career as far as splitting the time between acting and directing. I’m so… I just vibrate at how excited I am about the complexity of the process, of making a fake world for an audience. It’s not a God complex, but that’s what directors are doing: They’re creating a fake world, and it is four-walled. It’s 360 degrees. When a movie is great, you don’t notice the effort. It is a real world that you’ve just watched. There’s no better job in the world than directing a film. I’m convinced of it.” Who’s bleeding now, Mr. Bateman? Photo credits: Peggy Sirota/ GQ [ GQ ] Follow Frank DiGiacomo on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.
