Maduro Accuses Obama of Conspiracy

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro accused the United States government, and specifically President Obama, of orchestrating a conspiracy to remove President Hugo Chavez from office.

This conspiracy involves plans to instigate street violence and according to Maduro goes as far as plotting a coup against Chavez. "At this moment it's difficult to consider an improvement in the relations with the United States due to this conspiracy," he said on Venezuelan TV.

Maduro also stated that the United States is increasingly isolated from it's other American neighbors. He warns that there will not be another Summit of the Americas, if the US does not back down on issues regarding Cuba.

The Foreign Minister also took shots at Great Britain, making it clear that Venezuela will back Argentina in any continued conflict over the Falkland Islands. Argentina has been increasingly vocal and belligerent with it's demands that the islands be handed over to them.

Remembering: Benjamin Franklin

On April 17, 1790, America and the world lose one of the greatest treasures when Benjamin Franklin died.

Under British rule, Franklin became a prominent leader in the New World. In Philadelphia, where he had chosen to reside, he helped found the first public library, police force, fire brigade, and an academy that later became the University of Pennsylvania. He helped grow and improve the local, and then later regional, postal system.

Franklin began Poor Richard's Almanack, filling it with useful and humorous information. In it he coined what have become some of the most famous phrases. He also the Pennsylvania Gazette, which even in Europe became known as one of the most reliable colonial newspapers.

His fascination with science, is still well known. He invented many things, including bifocals and the Franklin stove. He experimented with electricity, and greatly moved man's knowledge of it forward. In his scientific papers, Franklin created many terms in the field of electrical study, including battery, conductor, positive, and negative. Franklin became the first American scientist to be respected by Europe.

Throughout all this time he was active in colonial affairs as well. In 1754, he proposed a union of colonies, that would've established a joint parliament for the colonies. Even though that parliament would've still been subservient to the crown, such a move would've given the colonies partial independence, and so was quickly rejected by England.

Until 1775, he was often in England, arguing before Parliament for colonial rights. But in 1775, he did return to America, as he saw that war must come. In 1776, he was on the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence. Afterwards, he became the ambassador to France, and succeeded in gaining treaties that brought France into the war as an American ally. Franklin would be one of the three Americans to sign the Treaty of Paris, which ended the war with Britain, and recognized American independence.

In 1785, he returned home and by 1787 was a member of the Constitutional Convention. He believed deeply in the Constitution and fought hard for it. Benjamin Franklin was without a doubt one of the greatest and most important Founding Fathers of America.

Real Life Sweeney Todd

Three people in Garanhuns, Brazil have been arrested on charges they killed people, and then used their bodies as meat for pies.

To make it more interesting, they all confessed. One of them saying he did it because the voices in his head, told him to.

The pies were famous throughout the town, for how tasty they were. Neighbors, schools, businesses, and hospitals all purchased the pies.

Police found two bodies, and believe that the cannibals were responsible for at least ten murders.

Millennium Falcon High School

Parkland High School, in Allentown, Pennsylvania opened in 1999. Recently however it's gotten a certain kind of notice.

Seen from above it has a striking resemblance to none other than the Millennium Falcon from Star Wars.

Officials at the school say that it wasn't planned, but clearly the force is strong with some engineer or architect.

Man Drowned by Swan

An Illinois man drowned Sunday after being attacked by a swan.

Part of the man's job is to ensure that geese are kept away from the condos he works for.

The condos brought in the swan to help chase geese away, and he was checking on the swan.

Apparently he got too close, and witnesses say it attacked him, he resurfaced but then went under again and did not resurface.

Sudan Bombs UN Camp

The UN is condemning a bombing raid by the Sudanese air force, which dropped bombs on parts of South Sudan, including a UN peacekeepers camp. The bombs that fell on the camp, injured none, but destroyed a radio and generator.

Per the South Sudan's information minister, Gideon Gatpan, bombing over the last few days has killed sixteen and injured a score more. Most of the bombings have targeted bridges and other routes that people use to cross the border from Sudan to South Sudan.

For the last week, the African Union and the UN have been condemning a raid by South Sudanese troops, that captured the Sudanese town of Heglig. The town is a center for oilfields, and fighting has been raging over it since.

Violence Continues in Syria

Violence continues in Syria, despite the UN's promise of a cease fire. Government forces have reportedly began an intense assault upon Idlib, and at least 45 are reported dead.

Syrian state news reported that "armed terrorists" were behind the violence. That has been their claim since violence began over a year ago.

Kofi Annan's brokered cease fire, never gave a single day without violence and death. While the UN, US, and others refuse to admit it, it is rather clear that the cease fire was a total failure, that accomplished nothing.

Meanwhile, Syrian opposition groups, such as the Free Syrian Army, have reported that they have gained weapons deals from Iraq and are working on the possibility with other countries.

UN Responds to North Korean Rocket Launch

The United Nations Security Council released a strong condemnation of North Korea's failed rocket launch. Even China, long time supporter and defender of North Korea, backed the statement.


"The Security Council strongly condemns the 13 April 2012 (local time) launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). The Security Council demands that the DPRK (North Korea) not proceed with any further launches using ballistic missile technology and comply with (Security Council) resolutions by suspending all activities related to its ballistic missile program. The Security Council demands that North Korea abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner and not conduct any further launches that use ballistic missile technology, nuclear tests or any further provocation. The Security Council expresses its determination to take action accordingly in the event of a further DPRK launch or nuclear test."

They also called for the furthering of sanctions against North Korea, but did not actually propose any. China would have the option to veto any attempt to do so, which they would likely do. Russia might block such a move as well.

Best Buy Closing 50 Stores

As the government tells us that the economy is improving, Best Buy has announced that it will be closing fifty stores across the country by 2013.

Seven stores in California, and six each in both Illinois and Minnesota, mark those states as the hardest hit. Two stores already closed, in February. They were: Kansas City, MO (Metro North) and Scottsdale, AZ (Shea).

One of the next to do so, will be one of the Aurora, Colorado locations, at Arapahoe and Parker. That store will be closing May 12. Employees of that store, were just informed this Saturday.

Best Buy is working to find positions for their employees at other nearby Best Buy locations. If a position is not available, creatable, or won't work location wise for the employee, they are offering severance packages.

The full list of the forty-eight stores yet to close includes:

Casa Grande	1004 N Promenade Pwy	Casa Grande	AZ
Lake Pleasant	10134 W Happy Valley Rd	Peoria	AZ
East Palo Alto	1751 E Bayshore Rd	East Palo Alto	CA
Westwood	10861 Weyburn Ave	Los Angeles	CA
Manteca	934 Perimeter Dr	Manteca	CA
Moreno Valley East	27220 Eucalyptus	Moreno Valley	CA
Ontario	4120 E 4th St	Ontario	CA
Pittsburg	4405 Century Blvd	Pittsburg	CA
Jamboree	2857 Park Ave	Tustin	CA
Arapahoe & Parker	15800 E Briarwood Cir	Aurora	CO
The Forum	9370 Dynasty Dr	Fort Myers	FL
Oldsmar	11655 W Hillsborough Ave	Tampa	FL
Fayetteville	128 Pavilion Pkwy	Fayetteville	GA
Loganville	4014 Atlanta Hwy	Loganville	GA
Addison	1038 N Rohlwing Rd	Addison	IL
87th & Dan Ryan	8900 S Lafayette Ave	Chicago	IL
Deerfield	200 S Waukegan Rd	Deerfield	IL
Matteson	4707 Lincoln Mall Dr	Matteson	IL
Mundelein	1100 N Rt 83	Mundelein	IL
West Dundee	979 W Main St	West Dundee	IL
Speedway	10500 Parallel Pkwy	Kansas City	KS
Back Bay	360 Newbury St	Boston	MA
Wareham	2421 Cranberry Hwy	Wareham	MA
Inner Harbor	600 E Pratt St	Baltimore	MD
Hunt Valley	118 Shawan Rd	Hunt Valley	MD
Biddeford	405 Mariner Way	Biddeford	ME
Brooklyn Center	5925 Earle Brown Dr	Brooklyn Center	MN
Edina	3200 Southdale Cir	Edina	MN
Hutchinson	1350 Hwy 15 S	Hutchinson	MN
Lakeville	18350 Orchard Trl	Lakeville	MN
Rochester South	4540 Maine Ave Se	Rochester	MN
Rogers	20870 Rogers Dr	Rogers	MN
Ellisville	15678 Manchester Rd	Ellisville	MO
Monroe	3151 W Highway 74	Monroe	NC
Rocky Mount	1100 N Wesleyan Blvd	Rocky Mount	NC
Millard	12210 K Plz	Omaha	NE
East River Plaza	517 E 117th St	New York	NY
Steelyard Commons	3506 Steelyard Dr	Cleveland	OH
Salem Mall	5031 Salem Ave	Dayton	OH
Caguas	Las Americas Expry PR52 Zafiro	Caguas	PR
Middletown	890 W Main Rd	Middletown	RI
Hickory Hollow	5255 Hickory Hollow Pkwy	Antioch	TN
Techridge	12901 North I-35	Austin	TX
Woodlake Parkway	6218 Woodglen	San Antonio	TX
Landmark Mall	5901 Stevenson Ave	Alexandria	VA
Cosner's Corner	9745 Jefferson Davis Hwy	Fredericksburg	VA
East Richmond	4410 S Laburnum Ave	Richmond	VA
Mill Plain	16611 Se Mill Plain Blvd	Vancouver	WA

Another Weekend of Tornadoes in US

Storms ravaged parts of the central United States on Saturday and the early hours of Sunday morning. Specifically hit were Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. Reports came in of up to ninety-seven tornadoes.

Woodward, Oklahoma took a direct hit from a tornado just after midnight. Five people are reported dead there, with others in serious to critical condition. Eighty-nine houses and thirteen business were destroyed.

Another twister struck near Wichita, Kansas. Damage is reported at McConnell Air Force Base and the Spirit AeroSystems and Boeing plants. Luckily no one was badly hurt.

Around seventy-five percent of Thurman, Iowa was destroyed by a tornado. The rest of the town of 250 has been evacuated due to the damages. Only minor injuries were reported there.

In Petersburg, Nebraska cars looked as if they had been shot up. Baseball sized hail struck the town overnight. Again, luckily no one was killed or seriously injured.

The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma began issuing warnings for that time, two days in advance. Tornadoes may still be individually hard to predict, but storms that will produce the deadly storms are predicted further and further in advance, thanks to the advances in technology.