US Army: Specialist Angel L. Lopez

Specialist Angel L. Lopez, twenty-seven of Parma, Ohio, died on October 5.

He was killed in combat, in Zabul province, Afghanistan.

Lopez was assigned to the 201st Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division out of Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Denver Police Looking For Sexual Offender Who Escaped Custody

Denver Police are looking for forty-eight year old Eugene Martinez.

He was last seen just after noon, on Wednesday.

Martinez had been arrested for failing to register as a sex offender, after being paroled.

According to police he escaped from a secure room, while handcuffed, and they are not sure how he managed to do so.

Eugene is described as five foot four, one hundred and twenty pounds, with black hair, brown eyes, and a scar on his forehead.

When last seen, he was wearing a black zip up hoodie and black jeans.

The public is advised that Martinez is considered dangerous and anyone who sees him should call 911 immediately.

Anyone with information should call the Denver Police Department at 720-913-7867.

Man Voluntarily Mows Lincoln Memorial Lawn

For some Chris Cox has become a national hero.

The South Carolinian was spotted, on Wednesday, mowing the Lincoln Memorial's lawn and was ordered to stop, by police.

According to Cox, he has spent the last several days cleaning up the area around the memorial.

He took it upon himself to rake up leaves, clear a broken branch, empty trash cans, and now mow using his own supplies and equipment he purchased for the job.

Cox said he feels it is his duty to ensure that the monument is kept clean and that it would be a disgrace if the area slowly was covered with trash and unkempt growth.

His hopes are that other Americans will follow his example and take up the jobs of cleaning up other memorials, in DC and across the country.

1 Killed 44 Injured in Pennsylvania Bus Accident

One person was killed and forty-four injured in a Pennsylvania bus accident, early Wednesday morning.

Four of the injured are in critical condition.

It happened on westbound Interstate 80, near Williamsport.

According to witnesses, the bus rear ended a tractor trailer, impaling the front of the bus on to the back of the truck.

An investigation is underway to determine why the bus hit the semi.

Obama Agrees to Meet With House Republicans

President Obama has agreed to meet with House Republicans, on Thursday.

This meeting marks a change from his repeated statements that he will not negotiate with the Republicans.

Of course a meeting does not guarantee that he will actually try and work with the Republicans, only that he's feeling political pressure for refusing to talk with them.

It is unlikely that he will back down further, at least quickly, meaning that the government shutdown will continue.

However, this is the first time that Obama has shown he might actually consider one of the many Republican offers to get the government going again.

Obama's stubbornness in refusing to talk to Republicans has certainly ensured that the shutdown continued.

Aliyev Wins Third Term in Azerbaijan

Ilham Aliyev won a third term as president of Azerbaijan, on Wednesday.

Facing nine opponents Aliyev took eighty-five percent of the vote, with only one other candidate taking more than five percent.

The opposition is accusing Aliyev's government of fixing the election, adding to their usual accusations of corruption.

In 2003, Ilham followed his father as president, after Heydar Aliyev had served two terms of his own.

Until 2009, after Aliyev was in his second term, the Azerbijan constitution did not allow for third terms, but he pushed through a referendum removing term limits.

US Army: Private First Class Cody J. Patterson

Private First Class Cody J. Patterson, twenty-four of Philomath, Oregon, died on October 6.

He and three others were killed when their unit was struck by an improvised explosive device, in Zhari District, Afghanistan.

Patterson was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment out of Fort Benning, Georgia. 

His decorations include: Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal, Purple Heart, NATO Medal, Parachutist Badge, Expert Rifle Marksmanship Badge, National Defense Service Medal.

US Army: Sergeant Patrick C. Hawkins

Sergeant Patrick C. Hawkins, twenty-five of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, died on October 6.

He and three others were killed when their unit was struck by an improvised explosive device, in Zhari District, Afghanistan.

It was his fourth deployment to Afghanistan.

Hawkins was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment out of Fort Benning, Georgia.


His decorations include: Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, Expert Rifle Marksmanship Badge, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct 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, Presidential Unit Citation.

US Army: Sergeant Joseph M. Peters

Sergeant Joseph M. Peters, twenty-four of Springfield, Missouri, died on October 6.

He and three others were killed when their unit was hit by an improvised explosive device, in Zhari District, Afghanistan.

Peters was assigned to the 5th Military Police Battalion out of Vicenza, Italy.

His decorations include: Combat Action Badge, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, two Army Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Iran Campaign Medal with Arrow Device, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Driver's Badge.

US Army: First Lieutenant Jennifer M. Moreno

First Lieutenant Jennifer M. Moreno, twenty-five of San Diego, California, died on October 6.

She and three others were killed when their unit was struck by an improvised explosive device, in Zhari District, Afghanistan.

Moreno was assigned to the Madigan Army Medical Center out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

Her decorations include: Bronze Star, Combat Action Badge, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, NATO Medal, Parachutist Badge, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, and Army Service Ribbon.