Pope Francis I

Francis I, center, waves to the crowds after being announced.

It only took two days for the College of Cardinals to select a new leader for the Catholic church.

They selected seventy-six year old Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, of Argentina as the two hundredth and sixty-sixth pope.

Pope Francis I, as he has chosen to now be called, brings with him many firsts.

He is the first pope from the Americas, first Latin American pope, and the first Jesuit to hold the office.

Francis I, formerly was the archbishop of Buenos Aires.

US Army: Staff Sergeant Rex Schad

US Army Staff Sergeant Rex Schad, twenty-six of Edmond, Oklahoma, died on Monday from wounds sustained.

He and other allied troops were attacked in Jalrez District, Afghanistan.

It was his second deployment to Afghanistan.

Schad was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Armor Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division out of Fort Stewart, Georgia.

US Army: Captain Andrew Pedersen-Keel

US Amry Captain Andrew Pedersen-Keel, twenty-eight, of Madison, Connecticut, died on Monday from wounds sustained.

He and other allied troops were attacked in Jalrez District, Afghanistan.

It was his second deployment to Afghanistan.

He was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Pedersen-Keel had been a 2006 graduate of West Point and then continued on to other military schools and training: US Army Airborne School, US Army Ranger School, Combat Lifesaver Course, Combatives Level I Course, Sniper Employment Leaders Course, Pathfinder Course, Maneuver Captain's Career Course; The Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape Course; Special Forces Detachment Officer Qualification Course.

Among his awards were: two Bronze Stars, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Air Assault Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, Ranger Tab, Special Forces Tab.

Twinkies Should be Back by Summer

Hostess announced, on Monday, that they will be selling their snack cakes to Metropoulos & Co. and Apollo Global Management.

The two companies made a joint bid of four hundred and ten million dollars.

Dean Metropoulos, CEO and founder of Metropoulos & Co., released a statement saying that the company would have "America's favorite snacks back on the shelf by this summer".

Flowers Foods will be purchasing Hostess' bread brands, such as Wonder.

Both deals should be given final approval on March 19.

Colorado House Passes Civil Unions

On May 1, civil unions will become legal, in Colorado.

Tuesday saw the state House pass the bill which approves them, with a vote of thirty-nine to twenty-six.

Two Republicans voted with the Democrats, to authorize the bill.

Getting the bill through had been a promise that helped see many Democrats elected last fall, giving them control of the House.

The Senate already passed the bill, so it will now head to Governor Hickenlooper's desk, and he has already pledged to sign the bill.

Opponents of the bill had argued that it was an attack upon marriage.

Supporters countered that as civil unions are a legal form only, that it does not effect marriage.

Colorado previously passed a ban on gay marriage.

Cannibal Plotting Cop Found Guilty

On Tuesday, a jury passed a guilty verdict for New York Police Officer Gilberto Valle III.

He was arrested in October, after his wife gave police evidence that he had been plotting kidnapping and cannibalism.

His defense team had argued that as he hadn't carried out his plans, that they were just thoughts and therefore could not be considered a crime.

The prosecution used evidence that he had begun surveillance, on a potential victim, as proof that they were more than thoughts.

In the end, the jury agreed with the prosecution.

Valle's defense attorneys plan to appeal the conviction.

If the conviction stands, he could face life in prison.

Ryan and Republicans Propose a Balanced Budget

Led by Paul Ryan, House Republicans proposed a ten year $4.6 trillion budget for the US.

According to Ryan, his budget "ends cronyism, eliminates waste, fraud, and abuse and returns the federal government to its proper sphere of activity".

The budget focuses on cutting spending, by ending foreign wars and by repealing Obamacare.

It is expected to be approved, within the month, by the Republican controlled house.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, Democrats are working on their own budget proposal, which will rely on tax increases.

The Democrats say their ideas will save $1.85 trillion, over ten years, or less than half of the Republican plan.

A budget has not been passed, since Obama took office, leading to a huge increase in the national debt.

Only 3 Falklanders Vote Against Remaining British

On Monday, the residents of the Falkland Islands voted whether or not they wished to remain British.

The vote was nearly unanimous, with 1,514 voting yes and three voting no.

Residents hope that the vote will help end Argentina's attempts to pressure the islands to switch loyalties.

Unfortunately, the US stated that the vote was not enough for them to back the Falklands, but only stay neutral.

5 US Military Personnel Killed in Helicopter Crash

Five members of the US military were killed when their helicopter crashed, on Monday.

It occurred in the Kandahar province of Afghanistan.

The crash is under investigation, and no further details have yet been released.

Once more information is made available, we will update this article or post a new one.

North Korean Mobile ICBMs Could Be in The Field

At a Senate hearing, on Tuesday, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper suggested that North Korea might have mobile ICBMs in the field.

"Last April it displayed what appears to be a rogue mobile intercontinental ballistic missile. We believe North Korea has already taken initial steps towards fielding this system, although it remains untested."

Over the past weeks, the North has repeatedly threatened war with the US, South Korea, and Japan.

They even stated that after March 11 they would have the right to launch a nuclear strike.

Just a month ago, the North conducted a nuclear test and three months ago were successful in testing a long range rocket.

South Korean and US forces are currently in the midst of war games, set to last until the end of April.