US Army: Specialist Christopher R. Drake

Specialist Christopher R. Drake, twenty of Tickfaw, Louisiana, died on May 26.

He was killed when the vehicle he was in was struck by a rocket propelled grenade, in Bagram, Afghanistan.

Drake was assigned to the 1084th Transportation Company, 165th Combat Support Sustainment Battalion, 139th Regional Support Group out of Reserve, Louisiana.

Sangster's Thoughts on McCain Spending Memorial Day With Syria's Rebels

With Monday being Memorial Day, many Americans spent it remembering the sacrifices that US troops have made in the past and continue to do.

However, Senator John McCain spent the day with Syrian rebel forces.

Let us not forget that Al Qaeda is a known part of the rebel forces, and that Al Qaeda was responsible for the September 11, 2001 hijacking attacks.

Al Qadea is also responsible for the deaths of hundreds of US troops since then, as well as troops from allied nations and thousands of civilians, and we are still at war with the terrorist organization.

Instead of honoring American troops, on Memorial Day, McCain instead chose to spend it with Syrian rebels, who are linked to one of the worst enemies that the US has ever had.

Senator McCain, it seems it is time to retire, if that is the regard you have for our troops that you would rather spend it in camps that our enemy has a presence in.

You have made many mistakes in your career as a politician and it is time for them to come to an end.

Mr. McCain you have shown that you no longer have the honor which should be expected of any elected official in the United States of America.

Resigning would at least show a bit of remorse for your actions.

Take the actions required of you and be at least a shadow of the great man you used to be.

EU Ends Weapons Embargo on Syria

The European Union voted to lift the weapons embargo on Syria's rebels, on Monday.

Member states may now sell weapons to the rebel forces.

Austria, Czech Republic, and Sweden all voted against the removal of the embargo.

Some nations worried that Russia will now more openly send even more weapons, to the Syrian government, than they already do.

At the same time, the EU voted to renew all economic sanctions against the Syrian government.

Copahue Volcano Active Again

Officials in Argentina and Chile began evacuations around the Copahue Volcano, on Monday.

The volcano has shown a lot of activity lately, causing authorities to be quite worried.

About twenty-two hundred people live inside the evacuation zone.

Authorities believe that the volcano will have calmed down within the next forty-eight hours, allowing for the evacuation to be lifted.

Copahue lies right along the border between Argentina and Chile.

The volcano last erupted in 1991 and showed a lot of activity in 2001 and last December.

Over 70 Killed in Baghdad Bombings

More than seventy people were killed in a series of thirteen bombings in Baghdad, on Monday.

Markets and shopping areas in Shiite neighborhoods were hit.

Most of the bombings were done by car bomb.

No one has claimed responsibility for any of the attacks.

That Shiite areas were hit definitely suggests that Sunni groups, like Al Qaeda, were involved.

3 Dead From San Antonio Flooding

Three people have died in San Antonio's flooding.

Several straight days of torrential downpours led to record levels of water, all around southern Texas.

The worst of the flooding came on Saturday, when as many as ten inches fell in just a few short hours.

One hundred and thirty people required rescuing from the raging waters.

Damage from the water is in the millions of dollars.

A tornado accompanied the storm, in Live Oak, causing minor damage, but no injuries.

6 Killed 11 Wounded in Chicago Violence

Six people were killed and eleven wounded in gun violence, in Chicago, over the weekend.

So far, during 2013, one hundred and six have been killed and five hundred and thirty-four wounded in shootings, in the Chicago area.

Despite having the strictest gun laws, the city remains the US city with the most gun violence.

Almost all of the gun violence is gang related.

For nearly thirty years, Chicago had a total gun ban, but it was struck down by the Supreme Court, in 2010, as violating the Constitution.

Since then, the city has passed multiple ordinances, which stop just short of coming to a full ban.

The city regularly brags about how many guns it confiscates, weekly displaying the confiscations.

During 2012, Chicago confiscated nearly 7,500 guns.

Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy is asking for stricter laws and stronger punishment, for anyone who violates the gun laws.

Opponents of the laws say that the problem isn't a lack of gun laws, but too many.

They believe that if the public had freer access to guns then they could defend themselves, and gangs would be more wary.

In support of this, they point to stats from other states that have more gun access, but less gun violence.

Towards this, the Illinois state house is working towards allowing for concealed carry permits.

Lebanese Rocket Launched at Israel

A rocket was fired at Israel out of Marjayoun, Lebanon, on Sunday.

It landed in Israel, a couple miles outside of a northern town, but did not cause any damage.

Israeli officials say they are investigating the incident.

The rocket launch came on the same day that two rockets hit near Hezbollah's headquarters, in Beirut.

Rocket Attack in Lebanon

Hezbollah's headquarters in Beirut was struck by two rockets, on Sunday.

Leaders of the terrorist group had reiterated their plans to support Syria's government, in the Syrian civil war.

The attack furthered showed how the Syrian civil war is spreading into other countries.

Lebanon has seen multiple episodes of violence spilling over into it's cities, especially in Beirut, were many native Syrians have moved to.

7 Injured at Missouri Train Crash

On Saturday morning, two freight trains collided in Missouri.

The collision caused both trains to derail, sending freight cars into bridge supports.

Two cars crashed into each other when they came upon the collapsed bridge.

In total, seven people were injured, two one of the trains, and five in the car accident.

None of the injuries were serious.

Officials are investigating the cause of the train's colliding into each other.