NHL Lockout Has Begun

The latest sports lockout began at midnight EDT, Sunday morning.

Hockey is now in it's fourth lockout, since 1992, joining the NBA and NFL in holding lockouts within the last eighteen months.

Owners wish to reduce the amount of shared revenue that the players get, whilst the player's union is seeking to ensure that they maintain the same amount.

Currently players receive fifty-seven percent, and the owners had tried to cut it to forty-three percent, last word was the owners had come back up to forty-seven percent.

Training camps are supposed to open next week, but that now seems highly unlikely.

The season opening of October 11, could easily be in jeopardy due to the lockout.

In 2004-05, a NHL lockout was responsible for the entire season being cancelled.

Biggest Persian Gulf War Games Ever

Ships from the US and twenty-four other countries are taking part in the largest war games to ever be held in the Persian Gulf.

Three of the US's super carriers are going to be taking part in the games, with the fourth active carrier's location unknown.

Amongst the ships is Britain's brand new destroyer, the HMS Diamond, which cost over a billion pounds to make, and is considered to be the best ship in the world.

The twelve day mission is set to simulate a full out invasion of Iran.

Iran is countering by holding their own largest ever war games, next month, focusing on air and coastal defense.

One Dead in Pueblo Airport Crash

At least one person has been killed in Pueblo, Colorado when their airplane crashed.

The crash happened at about 8:45am MDT, Sunday morning.

So far the only description is that it is a small airplane.

There are no reports of on ground injuries.

Presidential candidate Romney had been scheduled to fly into the airport, Sunday afternoon, but the trip was canceled due to the crash.

This will be updated as more information becomes available.

SWAT Called Out in Wheat Ridge

West Metro SWAT has been called out, this morning, due to shots being fired.

Neighbors called about shots coming from a party at 7310 West 48th Street in Wheat Ridge, Colorado.

Police arrived and began to disperse the party and investigate, however that came to a halt when six armed people refused to leave.

SWAT was called in, and the residence was surrounded.

The six men surrendered to police, about an hour after they had shown up.

Tens of Thousands March Against Putin

Tens of thousands massed and marched in an anti Putin rally, in Moscow, on Saturday. It was the first major rally after a mostly quiet summer, which had followed a spring that saw hundreds of thousands march even through freezing temperatures.

The summer was taken up with the drama of a previously little known band and their arrest for a dramatic anti Putin protest. They were eventually sentenced to two years in prison for the act.

Many in Russia, and especially in Moscow, believe that Putin only gained his third term, through fraudulent means. With some districts showing 104% voting for Putin, it's hard not to believe there was at least some messing with ballots.

On Embassies and Consulates Being Unarmed

Burned remnants of US Consulate in Benghazi

It's become more and more apparent that the US Marines guarding the embassy in Cairo and the hired Libyan guards in Benghazi were, in fact, either completely unarmed or not allowed ammunition, which is effectively the same thing.

What good is a guard if they can't even defend what they are guarding? How many other embassies and consulates were, or all forbid, still are facing similar circumstances of not being equipped to defend themselves?

At best, this is a criminally negligent act on the parts of the State Department and the administration. Prosecution should take place. The officials who approved this should be brought to justice as willing accessories to murder. Just as those who put Fast and Furious into effect.

Granted things may not have gone better in Benghazi, their attackers were extremely well armed. However, in Cairo the only thing that saved the embassy's staff was that the crowd didn't push on. Had they gone further, nothing could have stopped them.

Marines and political staff should not have only luck to rely on. They should be equipped as best as is possible to defend themselves. This isn't something that should be debatable, it should be a natural part of having embassies abroad, especially ones in regions of turmoil.

South African Strike Becoming Peaceful

South African police, on Sunday, were able to peacefully halt a protest march, one that was aimed at their own station.

Police blocked the road and faced off five hundred miners, who were armed with sticks.

On Saturday, police fired rubber bullets and tear gas as they went through protesters confiscating machetes, clubs, and spears.

The move was part of the government's decision to disarm the protesters, in hopes that they'll stop striking and get back to work.

Strikes have shut down major mines, as demands are made for huge increases in pay.

Negotiators are attempting to reach a settlement, but there's a large gap between demands and what the government is willing to pay.

From the beginning of the strike there was deadly violence, culminating on August 16, when thirty-four were killed by police.

Eleven Year Old Accidentaly Shot and Killed by Brother

Friday evening, in Weld County, Colorado an eleven year old boy was shot.

He was later pronounced dead at North Colorado Medical Center.

To make matters worse, he was shot in a playful struggle with his eighteen year old brother over the gun.

The eighteen year old is now in Weld County jail facing charges of negligent homicide.

Remembering: The Tank

September 15, 1916 saw something that had never been seen before.

At the Battle of the Somme, in France, between the British and German lines, forty machines crawled across the field with the infantry.

They were called tanks and their indestructible nature sent fear into the hearts of infantry, who watched bullets and shells bounce off the armored surfaces.

Unfortunately, for the British, they were also extremely slow, easily bogged down, and broke down often.

It wouldn't be until near the end of the war when an American named Patton would actually have success with them.

When World War II began tanks were shown for all that they could be worth.

Since then they've been a main stay for any industrialized military.

Blue to Gold: ARMY Sgt. Kyle B. Osborn

ARMY Sgt. Kyle B. Osborn, 26, of Lafayette, IN, died Sep. 13 in Muqer, Afghanistan.

Several years ago Kyle Osborn, a McCutcheon High School alumnus and Clarks Hill native, returned to his alma mater to visit with a handful of his favorite teachers.

Having just made the decision to forgo a college wrestling career for a stint with the U.S. Army, the 2005 McCutcheon graduate was beaming with pride. "He was so enthusiastic about what he was doing," physics teacher Cheryl McLean said. "It was such a warm moment."

Osborn, who served in the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, was reported Friday as having been killed in Afghanistan. He is Greater Lafayette’s 12th member of the military to die in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan since the conflicts began following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001.

According to the Associated Press, as of Tuesday at least 1,980 members of the U.S. military have died in Afghanistan as a result of the US led invasion.

McCutcheon Principal John Beeker met with members of Osborn's family Friday and said he anticipates that the school will do something to commemorate Osborn's life and service. "We're going to do something, but we've got to let the parents guide that a little," Beeker said. "We're going to do something when the time is right." Beeker praised Osborn’s intelligence. He said he often chose Osborn for leadership roles due to his outspokenness. "He'd always give a nice perspective on things. Just a fun kid. Fun to be around."

Osborn was a member of the football and wrestling teams at McCutcheon. He was an individual state qualifier at 152 pounds as a senior and captain of the Mavericks' 2005 regional championship wrestling team. He planned to pursue wrestling in college until he shifted to the military. His teammates called him "Ozzy."

Kathy Dale, whose son Travis wrestled with Osborn at McCutcheon, remembered him as a great leader and positive person. "It's just a tragic loss," she said. "He was very close with both his parents. My thoughts go out to them. He was very loved here."

Graphic arts teacher Ed Tilley, who coached Osborn in football, said, "He's a short guy but, man, he played like he was 10 feet tall."  Tilley clearly remembers the day Osborn came strolling back into McCutcheon's hallways to update his teachers on his life. "He said, 'Hey, coach Tilley,' and (gave) that smile," Tilley recalled. "I said 'Just be careful. Keep your head down.' You always want to make sure they're safe. I’m sad he's gone, but I know he died doing something he loved to do."

Ryan Walden, director of athletics at McCutcheon, said Friday: "The McCutcheon Athletic Department is saddened by the loss of a great Maverick, outstanding leader from our community, and a true American. We are thankful for everything that Kyle has done for our community and country, and cherish the memories from when he wore a McCutcheon uniform."

McLean, who Osborn once identified as his favorite teacher, described Osborn as "mischievous" but inquisitive and brimming with contagious enthusiasm. Osborn, she said, kept her on her toes. "I am a better teacher because of his input in my classroom, and I am a better person because I knew him," McLean said.

In McLean's class, at least, Osborn's legacy will live on. "I will forever share stories of Kyle in my physics class," McLean said. "He knew how to strike a perfect balance between the hard work of learning and having fun"