Star Wars Episode VII Cast Announced, Who Might They Be Playing

Tuesday saw the announcement of the cast for Star Wars Episode VII.

Per the press release from the official Star Wars site Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker will be returning for the movie.

It has been known for awhile that they would all return to reprise their roles from the original trilogy of Star Wars movies.

A possibly significant absence is Billy Dee Williams, who played Lando Calrissian, and who has been doing a lot of press to promote the movie.

They will be joined by John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, and Max von Sydow. Here's a bit about them and my thoughts on who they might be playing.

Andy Serkis many will know as the actor who portrayed Smeagol/Gollum in the Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit movies. It will be interesting to see what role he has in Star Wars.

Max von Sydow has been acting for over seventy years in a wide variety of roles and it is yet unclear what part he may be playing. Expect for him to be playing some sort of political leader, in the New Republic.

Adam Driver had already been rumored as the lead villain, for the movie, though with the canon announcement from the weekend, there's little clue to a specific character that he would be playing.

Oscar Isaac has played everything from Joseph, the father of Jesus in the 2006 Nativity Story, to Prince John against Russel Crowe's Robin Hood. Again little clue to who he'll play, but a very possible candidate to play a son of Han and Leia's.

Daisy Ridley is not a very well known actress, however expect her to play Han and Leia's daughter, she definitely has the right look for it.

Domhnall Gleeson is best known as Bill Weasley, from the Harry Potter movies. He is a distinct possibility to play a son of Luke Skywalker, but again just guessing here.

John Boyega, again not a very known actor. However he just happens to look like what we might expect a young Lando Calrissian to appear. Especially with Lando possibly not in the movie, this could be his son.

13 Killed by Tornadoes in Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee

Thirteen people were killed by tornadoes, in the US, on Monday.

This follows the deaths of sixteen, on Sunday, from the same storm system.

Monday's deaths occurred in Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

Louisville and Tupelo, Mississippi and Bessemer, Alabama appeared to be the hardest hit.

Emergency crews were going through rubble, Tuesday morning, searching for survivors and more casualties.

The storm system continued it's way into Alabama, Georgia, and the Carolinas, on Tuesday, with more tornadoes a distinct possibility.

Pro Russia Separatists in Ukraine Seize Government Buildings in Luhansk

Hundreds of pro Russian separatists attacked government buildings in Luhansk, Ukraine, on Tuesday.

They were successful in taking over several buildings, but are being resisted by police, who have holed up inside of their headquarters.

The two sides have exchanged automatic gunfire, but there are no reports of any casualties, so far.

Leading the separatists are the "green men" who are heavily armed men wearing unmarked uniforms, who speak Russian and use Russian equipment.

Ukraine has accused Russia of instigating the crisis there, saying that the "green men" are Russian special forces sent in to cause trouble and give Russia an excuse to invade.

Russia denies involvement in the crisis, stating that the "green men" are local militias.

The Ukrainian government has very slowly been sending troops in to deal with the separatists, but not at a fast enough pace to actually accomplish much.

They are very wary of the fifty thousand or more Russian troops encamped along the border.

North Korea Conducts Fire Exercises Near Disputed Border

On Tueday, North Korean artillery fired near the disputed border with South Korea.

Some fifty shells were fired during the exercise.

Unlike previous exercises, North Korea actually warned South Korea that they would be taking place.

They also kept their shells within their borders, rather than landing them in the disputed area.

As a precaution South Korean residents, on nearby islands, sought shelter

Adams County Sheriff Deputy Attacked and His Patrol Car Stolen Leading to Chase in Denver

An Adams County Sheriff Deputy was attacked and injured, Monday morning, near West 66th Avenue and Knox Court.

His assailant then stole the deputies car and led other officers on a chase which reached over one hundred miles per hour through parts of Denver.

At 72nd Avenue and Pecos Street, an unmarked Colorado State Police vehicle rammed the hijacked car.

The suspect then attempted to flee on foot, but was quickly subdued.

According to authorities, the injured deputy was taken to the hospital for treatment, but is expected to be released soon.

16 Killed by Tornadoes in Arkansas, Iowa, and Oklahoma

Sixteen people were killed by tornadoes, in the US, on Sunday.

Fourteen of the deaths took place in Arkansas, with one each in Iowa and Oklahoma. Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska also dealt with destruction and injuries from tornadoes.

Vilonia and Mayflower, Arkansas, just to the north of Little Rock, were extremely hard hit by a twister which was at least an EF3, if not higher.

Ten of the deaths happened in those towns and the surrounding area. Search and rescue efforts are underway, and officials expect the death toll will rise, while the rubble is explored.

In Quapaw, Oklahoma, one person was killed and six were injured by the tornado that struck there. Damage is "extensive" throughout the town.

That same tornado the crossed into Kansas and injured thirty-four people in Baxter Springs. Over one hundred homes and businesses were damaged there.

The damage in Iowa covered several towns, with a death in Kinross and injuries in Ottumwa.

Members of the National Guard are helping with cleanup efforts in both Arkansas and Kansas.

Powerful tornado producing storms continued to hit parts of the US, on Monday.

Sunday was also the third anniversary of three hundred and sixteen people being killed by tornadoes, in the southern US, during a day which saw one hundred and twenty-two tornadoes.

North Carolina University Put on Lockdown

North Carolina A&T State University, in Greensboro, was placed under lockdown, on Monday morning.

Police received a report of a man with a rifle in the General Classroom Building, just before 10:00 EDT.

That prompted a lockdown of the campus, which includes not just the university but two public high schools as well.

Campus police and the Greensboro Police Department responded and searched the campus, but found nothing.

The lockdown was lifted just before 13:00 EDT and classes resumed at 14:00 EDT.

Assad Applies For Candidacy in Syria's Next Election

With Syria's elections approaching on June 3, candidates have begun applying for candidacy.

On Monday, President Bashar al-Assad made his candidacy announcement, asking for the country's parliament to approve it.

He became the seventh candidate, for the elections, though it is unexpected for any of the others to actually show a real challenge to his third term.

This comes as the country is in it's third year of civil war, with the other side's main goal being the removal of Assad from power.

The Syrian National Coalition, the government in exile of the rebels, has declared the upcoming election to be illegitimate.

Assad's government has not yet made it clear how the elections will take place, as much of the country is not under their control.

2 Planes Collide Over San Fransisco Bay

Cessna 210, top, Hawker Sea Fury, bottom

Two planes collided over San Fransisco Bay, on Sunday afternoon.

Officials say that the collision involved a Cessna 210 and a Hawker Sea Fury TMK 20.

The pilot of the Hawker was able to successfully land at nearby small airport, without injury.

Unfortunately, the Cessna crashed into the Bay, and it's pilot is missing.

A search was conducted through Sunday evening, without success in finding the pilot.

An investigation is underway to determine what led to the collision.

OSCE Observers Seized in Ukraine by Pro Russia Separatists

A bus carrying members of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe was seized by Pro Russian separatists near Sloviansk, Ukraine.

Seven international observers belonging to the OSCE, five members of the Ukrainian military, and their driver were aboard the bus.

They have been taken to an undisclosed location, with the separatists accusing them of being spies.

International observer missions had been agreed to by the US, EU, Ukraine, and Russia, in Geneva, however not been agreed to by the separatists.

The detaining of the international observers is but one more addition to the high tensions in eastern Ukraine.

Separatists have seized several towns in the area, while Ukrainian troops have begun slowly reclaiming territory.

However, Russia continues it's threats to invade Ukraine if things aren't done peacefully.

Backing those threats are fifty thousand Russian troops who are conducting maneuvers just east of the border.

NATO nations are on increasing alert due to the deteriorating situation, which has not been helped by Russia's continued belligerence.

As part of the increased preparedness, US troops have arrived in Poland to take part in exercises with NATO nations.