Explosive Substance Mailed to German President

Guack

An explosive substance was mailed to the office of German president Joachim Guack, on Friday.

Police intercepted the letter during routine screening.

A bomb squad was called in and they safely disposed of it.

Federal police are working to determine who sent the letter.

President Guack was not at the office during the time of the incident.

Germany's presidential position is largely ceremonial, but the president is seen to have moral authority.

Serbia Begins Acknowledging Kosvo's Independence

Kosovo and Serbia agreed on details that are the first steps in the recognition of Kosovo's independence.

Under the new agreement Kosovo is recognized as having it's own police force and judicial system.

They had been trying to gain full recognition, but Serbia won't have that.

Serbia still denies that they are independent, but the independence has been enforced by NATO and the UN.

Both countries are trying to gain entry into the EU, and hope that a show of working together will help them in the quest.

Pakistani Police Arrest Former President Musharraf

Pakistani police arrested former president Pervez Musharraf, on Friday.

Thursday saw him flee court after he was charged with treason.

The High Court said he committed treason by violating the Constitution, in 2007.

In 2007, Musharraf suspended the Constitution and put the country under emergency rule.

Musharraf's lawyers are appealing to the Supreme Court, over the matter.

Remarkably, Pakistan's military has remained silent, as they watch their former chief brought up on charges.

In May, Pakistan will have an election that will see the first transition ever between civilian governments.

Texas Explosion Death Toll Rises to 35

Officials in Texas are now saying thirty-five people died from the fertilizer plant explosion, in West.

Ten of the dead were first responders, two more are still missing, and presumed dead.

At least one hundred and sixty people were injured when the blast occurred.

Seventy-five buildings, including homes, businesses, a nursing home, and schools were destroyed by the force of the explosion.

The cause of the fire and explosion are under investigation. At this point it is being treated as a crime scene, as is standard protocol when there is any doubt.

Seismographs registered the explosion as a 2.1 earthquake, residents in Dallas, eighty miles away, felt the shaking.

FBI Releases Video and Photos of Boston Bombing Suspects

The FBI has officially stated that they have two suspects in the Boston Marathon bombings.

They released photos and surveillance videos of the suspects.



According to the FBI, the suspects are considered armed and extremely dangerous.

Anyone who recognizes either of the men is asked to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or go to their website.

Three people were killed and one hundred and seventy-six injured in the terrorist attack.

Sangster's Thoughts: Senate Votes Against Expanding Background Checks, Let's Thank Them

On Wednesday, the US Senate voted fifty-four to forty-six against a bill that would have expanded background checks for gun buyers.

Such an expansion would've been a greater infringement upon the constitutional rights given us by the Second Amendment.

Senate majority leader Harry Reid voted no, not to join those opposed, but due to what he called procedural grounds.

Below are the Twitter handles of those who voted no, so that you can thank them for standing up for your rights, at least in this instance.

If you'd like to see the full roll call vote, head over to the Senate's website.

• Lamar Alexander, Republican, Tennessee, @SenAlexander
• Kelly Ayotte, Republican, New Hampshire, @KellyAyotte
• John Barrasso, Republican, Wyoming, @SenJohnBarrasso
• Max Baucus, Democrat, Montana, @MaxBaucus
• Mark Begich, Democrat, Alaska, @SenatorBegich
• Roy Blunt, Republican, Missouri, @RoyBlunt
• John Boozman, Republican, Arkansas, @JohnBoozeman
• Richard Burr, Republican, North Carolina, @SenatorBurr
• Saxby Chambliss, Republican, Georgia, @SaxbyChambliss
• Dan Coats, Republican, Indiana, @SenDanCoats
• Tom Coburn, Republican, Oklahoma, @TomCoburn
• Thad Cochran Republican, Mississippi, @SenThadCochran
• Bob Corker, Republican, Tennessee, @SenBobCorker
• Jon Cornyn, Republican, Texas, @JohnCornyn
• Mike Crapo, Republican, Idaho, @MikeCrapo
• Ted Cruz, Republican, Texas, @SenTedCruz
• Mike Enzi, Republican, Wyoming, @SenatorEnzi
• Deb Fischer, Republican, Nebraska, @SenatorFischer
• Jeff Flake, Republican, Arizonam @JeffFlake
• Lindsey Graham, Republican, South Carolina, @GrahamBlog
• Chuck Grassley, Republican, Iowa, @ChuckGrassley
• Orrin Hatch, Republican, Utah, @SenOrrinHatch
• Heidi Heitkamp, Democrat, North Dakota, @SenatorHeitkamp
• Dean Heller, Republican, Nevada, @SenDeanHeller
• John Hoeven, Republican, North Dakota, @SenJohnHoeven
• James Inhofe, Republican, Oklahoma, @jiminhofe
• Johnny Isakson, Republian, Georgia, @SenatorIsakson
• Mike Johanns, Republican, Nebraska, @Mike_Johanns
• Ron Johnson, Republican, Wisconsin, @SenRonJohnson
• Mike Lee, Republican, Utah, @SenMikeLee
• Mitch McConnell, Republican, Kentucky, @McConnellPress
• Jerry Moran, Republican, Kansas, @JerryMoran
• Lisa Murkowski, Republican, Alaska, @lisamurkowski
• Rand Paul, Republican, Kentucky, @SenRandPaul
• Rob Portman, Republican, Ohio, @robportman
• Mark Pryor, Democrat, Arkansas, @SenMarkPryor
• Jim Risch, Republican, Idaho, @SenatorRisch
• Pat Roberts, Republican, Kansas, @SenPatRoberts
• Marco Rubio, Republican, Florida, @marcorubio
• Tim Scott, Republican, South Carolina, @SenatorTimScott
• Jeff Sessions, Republican, Alabama, @SenatorSessions
• Richard Shelby, Republican, Alabama, @SenShelbyPress
• John Thune, Republican, South Dakota, @SenJohnThune
• David Vitter, Republican, Louisiana, @DavidVitter
• Roger Wicker, Republican, Mississippi, @SenatorWicker

Chicago Sinkhole Injures 1 as it Takes 3 Vehicles

A sinkhole opened up around 05:00 CDT, in South Derring, Illinois, Thursday morning.

As it quickly spread to about forty feet by twenty it claimed three vehicles.

One man was in one of the vehicles when it fell into the hole.

Officials say that iron water main, that had been in place since 1915, broke due to heavy rains and caused the sink hole to form.

Areas in Chicago have seen six inches of rain, with in the last thirty hours.

US 1st Armored Division Being Sent to Jordan

Two hundred members of the 1st Armored Division will be sent to Jordan.

US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel made the announcement, on Thursday.

Their mission will be assist Jordan in securing it's border against violence over flowing from the Syrian Civil War.

They will also work with Jordanians on planning how to make sure that Syria's chemical weapons are safe and unused.

Former Pakistani President Flees From Court After Being Charged With Treason

Former Pakistani president Musharraf fled from court in Islamabad, on Thursday.

He fled immediately after the High Court ordered he be arrested on charges of committing treason in 2007.

Musharraf and his entourage holed up in his large farm and estate, at the edge of town.

Police have surrounded the compound, but do not appear to be planning on taking him by force.

Before becoming president, Musharraf was the head of Pakistan's military, and any move against him might provoke the military to act in his behalf.

At this point, the military has made no comment about the situation.

Mohammad Amjad, Musharraf's spokesman, stated that they will appeal to Pakistan's Supreme Court on the matter, on Friday.

Fertilizer Plant Explodes in West, Texas Killing 5

Wednesday night firefighters were called out to fight a blaze at a fertilizer plant in West, Texas. About twenty minutes after they had begun fighting the flames, an explosion occurred.

The explosion devastated the area, effectively demolishing nearby buildings. Five people were killed, one hundred and sixty injured, and at least ten are still missing. Most of the missing are firefighters who were engaged in battling the blaze.

Firefighters and police had ordered an evacuation of the surrounding area, due to worries over toxic fumes. Thanks to the evacuation, some people who would've been inside the blast area, were out of it.

Texas emergency management teams and the Texas National Guard were sent to the scene to help with the search and rescue. Other Texas agencies are working on everything else the town of West might need.

The cause of the fire and explosion are under investigation. At this point it is being treated as a crime scene, as is standard protocol when there is any doubt.

Seismographs registered the explosion as a 2.1 earthquake. Residents in Dallas, eighty miles away, felt the shaking.