Boy Safe, Kidnapper Dead After Hidden Camera Tip













A week-long standoff in Alabama, where a retired trucker held a 5-year-old boy hostage in an underground bunker, has ended with the kidnapper dead and the child safe, according to law enforcement.


Officials had been able to insert a high-tech camera into the bunker to monitor the movements of the suspect, Richard Lee Dykes, and they had become increasingly concerned that he might act out, according to a law enforcement source with direct knowledge.


"FBI agents safely recovered the child who's been held hostage for nearly a week," FBI Special Agent Steve Richardson said at a news conference.


The agent said negotiations with Dykes "deteriorated" in the past 24 hours.


"Mr. Dykes was observed holding a gun," Richardson said. "At this point, the FBI agents, fearing the child was in imminent danger, entered the bunker and rescued the child."


The boy, identified only as Ethan, "appears physically unharmed" and is being treated at a hospital, authorities said.






Joe Songer/AL.com/AP Photo













Alabama Hostage Crisis: Boy Held Captive for 7 Days Watch Video









Hostage Standoff: Drones Fly Over Alabama Bunker Watch Video





Dykes, 65, is dead, but officials have not yet provided details on how he died.


"Right now, FBI special agent bomb technicians are in the process of clearing the property for improvised explosive devices," the FBI said in a written statement. "When it is safe to do so, our evidence response teams, paired with state and local crime scene technicians, will process the scene."


PHOTOS: Worst Hostage Situations


Dykes allegedly shot and killed a school bus driver last week and threatened to kill all the children on the bus before taking the boy, one of the students on the bus said.


"He said he was going to kill us, going to kill us all," Tarrica Singletary, 14, told ABC News.


Dykes had been holed up in his underground bunker near Midland City, Ala., with the abducted boy for a week as police tried to negotiate with him through a PVC pipe. Police had used the talks to send the child comfort items, including a red Hot Wheels car, coloring books, cheese crackers, potato chips and medicine.


Dykes was a decorated Vietnam vet who grew up in the area. He lived in Florida until two years ago, the AP reported, and has an adult daughter, but the two lost touch years ago, neighbor Michael Creel said. When he returned to Alabama, neighbors say he once beat a dog with a lead pipe and had threatened to shoot children who set foot on his property.



Read More..

Beyonce brings out Destiny's Child for Super Bowl thrill






NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana: Pop diva Beyonce thrilled the Super Bowl crowd Sunday with a pyrotechnic half-time spectacular that doubled as a much-anticipated Destiny's Child reunion.

Fireworks burst into the sky from the Superdome field just vacated by the game-leading Baltimore Ravens and lagging San Franciso 49s as the 31-year-old chart-topper took the stage with "Crazy in Love".

Blowing a kiss to the live television camera after her opening number, she looked relieved to get the much-hyped, 15-minute show underway, but the real treat came when Destiny's Child bandmates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams joined her on stage.

They appeared in matching Rubin Singer black leather warrior-woman bodysuits and dizzying stilettos as did an ever-growing, all-female army of dancers, with musicians cast off on the sidelines.

"Bootylicious", "Halo", and "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" rounded out the greatest-hits performance with a sci-fi edge that set it apart from Madonna's hyperactive Super Bowl half-time effort last year.

"Thank you for this moment," a beaming Beyonce told the cheering crowd at the conclusion, "God bless you all."

Beyonce had promised to sing live at the Super Bowl, acknowledging that she had sung over a pre-recorded version of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at President Barack Obama's second-term inauguration on January 21.

Singing the pre-game national anthem Sunday was Alicia Keys, performing solo at a grand piano, after Jennifer Hudson and the Sandy Hook Elementary School choir from Newtown, Connecticut sang "America the Beautiful".

The school was the scene of one of the worst mass murders in US history in December when a lone young gunman cut down 20 pupils and six teachers before taking his own life. He had earlier killed his mother at their home.

-AFP/fl



Read More..

Former Navy SEAL is shot dead at Texas gun range






STORY HIGHLIGHTS


  • NEW: The gun range was in a "very remote area" with no witnesses, an official says

  • The two men killed, Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield, worked to help veterans with PTSD

  • The suspect confessed to his sister, but not to police, authorities say

  • Eddie Ray Routh is held on $3 million bond after being arraigned on murder charges




(CNN) -- A former Navy SEAL known for claiming a record number of sniper killings in Iraq was one of two men shot dead at a Texas gun range, allegedly at the hands of a fellow military veteran, officials say.


Chris Kyle, the author of the best-selling "American Sniper," and Chad Littlefield, also a veteran, were gunned down Saturday afternoon on the grounds of the expansive Rough Creek Lodge and Resort in Glen Rose, Texas, southwest of Fort Worth, law enforcement officials said.


About four hours afterward, and 90 miles from where those two men's bodies were found by a hunting guide, authorities arrested suspect Eddie Ray Routh, 25, on a capital murder warrant.


Routh's family members could not be reached immediately for comment Sunday. No attorney has made a public statement on his behalf.




Eddie Ray Routh, a former Marine, is believed to have left the service in 2010



Erath County Sheriff Tommy Bryant said Sunday that he believes the suspect is in the process of seeking a court-appointed attorney.


While Routh's sister said he had admitted shooting Kyle and Littlefield, he didn't explain to her why he did it, Bryant said. Routh isn't believed to have confessed to local authorities about killing the two men. The motive for the killings is unclear.


"I don't know that we'll ever know," Erath County Sheriff's Capt. Jason Upshaw said Sunday. "(Routh) is the only one that knows that."


Sheriff: Suspect spent four years in Marines


The Rough Creek Lodge is a large facility that draws couples getting married, business people using its conference center and families looking for a getaway. Hunting and shooting sports are some of the many recreational options available on its grounds.


Kyle, Littlefield and Routh were three such visitors, arriving together around 3:15 p.m. (4:15 p.m. ET) Saturday and proceeding to a shooting range within the resort's 11,000 acres, Bryant told reporters Sunday. The range is in a "very remote part" of the sprawling complex, Upshaw explained.








"So there wasn't anybody anywhere close to that," he said, explaining there are no known witnesses.


The first sign something was wrong came when a hunting guide tied to the facility found 38-year-old Kyle and 35-year-old Littlefield -- both unconscious -- around 5 p.m., Bryant said.


He went to the lodge and called 911. Law enforcement officers followed up and found the bodies but no sign of Routh. He had taken off in Kyle's black Ford pickup, the Erath County sheriff said.


Around the time an all-points bulletin went out for that truck, authorities got a call from Routh's sister, who reported that her brother had driven about 65 miles to her home in Midlothian, Texas, and admitted to shooting Kyle and Littlefield.


Routh left his sister's house, and police eventually caught up with him -- and the truck -- shortly before 8 p.m. at his home in Lancaster, a Dallas suburb some 90 miles northeast of the shooting scene. While talking with authorities outside, he'd somehow gotten back in the truck and sped away.


Authorities chased him and finally stopped him, around 9 p.m., after spiking his tires some four to six miles down the road, according to Bryant.


Routh did not struggle with officers as they were arresting him, Bryant said. On Sunday morning, he was arraigned on murder charges and ordered held on $3 million bond.


After that, Routh sat in a jail cell "all by himself," separated from the rest of the inmate population and watched closely by guards, according to Bryant.


So who is Eddie Ray Routh?


The sheriff said that Routh spent four years in the Marines. He is believed to have left the service in 2010, according to a U.S. military official who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation. The official did not have information on where Routh served or whether he took part in combat.


Public records show Routh previously lived at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, though his latest address was in Lancaster, Texas.


At the time of shooting, he was unemployed. Bryant said that Routh's mother, a longtime schoolteacher, "may have reached out to Mr. Kyle to try and help her son."


'He led by example,' Kyle's friend says


Kyle learned to shoot on hunting trips with his father, then went on to serve four combat tours in Iraq with the SEALs, though his official biography notes he also worked with Army and Marine units. He received two Silver Stars and other commendations before leaving the Navy in 2009 -- claiming that, in his years as a sniper, he'd killed more than 150 people, which he called a record for an American.


In the interview with Time magazine (like CNN, a part of Time Warner), Kyle said he did not regret any of his kills. He also said he was "comfortable" with the possibility that that part of his life might be over.


He added, "I'm a better husband and father than I was a killer."


After having worked under the radar for so many years, he became a celebrity with the 2012 release of his book, which became a New York Times best-seller.


Defending his decision to divulge so much detail despite the secretive nature of the SEAL world, Kyle told Time that he was "not trying to glory myself."


"I didn't want to put the number of kills I had in there," he said. "I wanted to get it out about the sacrifices military families have to make."


He said that while killing did not come easy at first, he knew it meant saving lives.


"The first time, you're not even sure you can do it," he said in the interview. "But I'm not over there looking at these people as people. I'm not wondering if he has a family. I'm just trying to keep my guys safe. Every time I kill someone, he can't plant an (improvised explosive device). You don't think twice about it."


At one point, Kyle wrote, he shot a woman who was carrying a grenade while with her toddler. But he did not kill a child in Baghdad's Sadr City area who had a rocket-propelled grenade launcher. "According to the rules of engagement at the time, you could kill anyone with an RPG on sight. That day I just couldn't kill the kid. He'll probably grow up and fight us, but I just didn't want to do it.


He said the American public lives "in a dream world. You have no idea what goes on on the other side of the world. The harsh realities that these people are doing to themselves and then to our guys. And there are certain things that need to be done to take care of them."


After leaving the military, he founded Craft International, a military training company. Kyle also spoke up on current events, including accusing President Barack Obama of being "against the Second Amendment" because of his gun control initiatives, according to a video interview with guns.com.


'Military-style' weapons and the law


The married father of two children established the nonprofit Fitco Cares Foundation to help veterans battling PTSD get access to exercise equipment.


Littlefield, who leaves behind a wife and children, was a friend and another veteran who worked to help people with PTSD, said Fitco Director Travis Cox.


In a statement, the foundation described Kyle as an "American hero" and pledged to carry on his mission.


"What began as a plea for help from Chris looking for in-home fitness equipment for his brothers- and sisters-in-arms" struggling with PTSD turned into an organization that will continue after his death," Cox said in a statement.


"Chris died doing what he filled his heart with passion -- serving soldiers struggling with the fight to overcome PTSD. His service, life and premature death will never be in vain. May God watch over his family and all those who considered Chris a true friend."


His friend, Jason Kos, offered similarly glowing sentiments, telling CNN's "Early Start Weekend" that Kyle was "a man of incredible character."


"He led by example," Kos said. "He always stopped to take time to talk to whoever was around him. Just incredibly humble, very funny as well."


CNN's Susan Candiotti, AnneClaire Stapleton, Barbara Starr, Emily Smith and Nick Valencia contributed to this report.






Read More..

Sandy Hook choir, Hudson delight Super Bowl crowd

NEW ORLEANS As 26 children in white polo shirts excitedly walked to center of the Superdome field and prepared to sing, a packed Super Bowl crowd revved up by a day of partying in the Big Easy fell silent.

The chorus from Sandy Hook Elementary School, nearly two months removed from a deadly shooting rampage, joined Jennifer Hudson to deliver a stirring rendition of "America the Beautiful" on Sunday that had some players on the sideline and countless fans in the stands on the verge of tears.

Judging by the responses on social media, the performance appeared destined to become one of the most poignant memories of the Super Bowl, regardless of what played out in the game.

"Sandy hook elementary chorus singing America the beautiful and Alicia keys national anthem makes me proud to be American," model Kate Upton said on her Twitter page.





28 Photos


Super Bowl XLVII highlights




Gerald Rokoff, standing near a portal in the Superdome's upper deck, turned and said, "Beyond beautiful," when the children finished singing.

Sandy Hook is the school in Newtown, Conn., where 20 first-graders and six adults were killed by a gunman on Dec. 14.

An NFL spokesman said no one with the chorus was available for interviews, but a statement was delivered on behalf of the school.

"We have come to New Orleans to represent the Sandy Hook Family and the community of Newtown, Connecticut," the statement said. "Our wish is to demonstrate to America and the world that, `We are Sandy Hook and We Choose Love."'

The children wore green ribbons on their white shirts, which seemed to symbolize the innocence of youth, and stood in two rows of 13 on the NFL's red, white and blue shield logo for the performance. Many smiled excitedly as they sang the first verse. Then Hudson, wearing a black blouse and long, white skirt, fronted them for a second verse that showcased her sterling voice.

Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh watched with his left arm around daughter, Alison, and his right hand over his heart.

Ravens nose tackle Terrence Cody could be seen on the stadium's video board tilting his head back, appearing to hold back tears.

Fans offered a rousing ovation at the finish, and the chorus then trotted to the 20-yard line and turned, with their hands on their hearts, to watch Alicia Keys sing the national anthem.

Caitlin Hamilton, a 22-year-old English teacher from Dodge City, Kansas, said on Twitter she thought the performance would, without a doubt, be the best part of the Super Bowl.

"It just shows that they're still persevering despite what's happened to them," Hamilton said. "It was a great way to lift up the people of Sandy Hook as well, and to let them know that the people of America support them."

Hamilton said that as a teacher, when she thinks about the shooting she thinks of herself in the same situation. She said Hudson did well leading the song, but the kids were the main event.

"I thought the kids were more inspirational that they could get up there and sing despite everything that had happened to them," she said.


During the season, NFL stars including Victor Cruz of the Giants and Chris Johnson of the Titans honored victims of the Sandy Hook rampage during games by writing the names of the victims' on their shoes.


Read More..

Super Bowl XLVII Live Blog: Niners Rising


9:56 p.m. ET: On 1st and goal, Ravens stopped one yard short of the end zone. 2nd and goal.


9:54  p.m. ET: Bernard Pierce not expected to return to the game with a leg injury.


9:51  p.m. ET: First down for the Ravens with an 8-yard gain. Bernard Pierce looks really shaken up after that tackle. Third quarter ends with score still 28-23 Ravens.


9:46  p.m. ET: Scary looking tackle of Jones on the return. Impressive that he kept hold of the ball.


Related: Obama: Safety a Concern for Young Football Players


9:44  p.m. ET: Akers gets a redo, and drills it. 17 unanswered points in a 4:10 drive for the 49ers. 28-23 Ravens.


9:43  p.m. ET: Replay of fourth down on a penalty. Ravens player ran into Akers. 4th and 2 for the Niners.


9:43  p.m. ET:  Akers kick no good, but there’s a flag on the field


9:41  p.m. ET: Superdome representative releases statement apologizing for the incident, and NFL statement says authorities are “investigating the cause of the power outage.”


9:40  p.m. ET: Fumble recovered by the 49ers. Momentum definitely swinging the 49ers way.


9:36  p.m. ET: It’s a one score game as Akers drills the extra point. He’s having a surprisingly good game, considering his dismal season. 28-20 Ravens.


9:34  p.m. ET: Frank Gore gets the ball into the end zone, and there’s a player down on the field. 28-19 Ravens.


9:32  p.m. ET: TOUCHDOWN 49ERS.


9:32  p.m. ET: First down by Vernon Davis – this game suddenly got much more interesting. 1st and goal for the Niners.


9:30  p.m. ET: Sack by Admad Brooks – big change of momentum as Ravens punt (badly) – with a big return by the 49ers.


9:28  p.m. ET: Now it’s up to the 49ers defense to keep San Francisco in this game. Jacoby Jones carried the ball to the Ravens 17. His previous carry, intially listed at 109 yards, has been changed to 108 yards, tying the all-time record, not breaking it.


gty sf touchdown kb 130203 wblog Super Bowl XLVII Live: Score, Commercials and More

Evan Vucci/AP Photo


9:25  p.m. ET: First touchdown for San Francisco this game, after Kaepernick connects with Crabtree, who runs it into the end zone after an 80-yard drive. 28-13 Ravens.


9:24  p.m. ET: TOUCHDOWN 49ERS.


9:21  p.m. ET: Randy Moss has his first grab of the game, and San Francisco takes a timeout.


9:20  p.m. ET: Great throw by Kaepernick, dropped by Crabtree. 3rd and 8.


9:19  p.m. ET: There it is – a scramble for 15 yards – a first down and some. That’s 36 yards rushing for him now.


9:18  p.m. ET: Kaepernick scrambles for a gain of five. For somebody who has used his legs so successfully this season, he seems really hesitant to try it in this game. 2nd and 5 49ers.


9:15  p.m. ET: Touchback – 49ers will start with the ball at their 20-yard line.


9:12  p.m. ET: Game resumes largely as it played out before the delay. Flacco immediately gets a first down with a 15 yard toss.


9:11  p.m. ET: Not a great start after the delay for the 49ers. A gain of 7, but short of a first down. Andy Lee comes out for the punt.


9:10  p.m. ET: That was a 34 minute delay. No statement from the NFL yet, but that must have been really frustrating for both teams.


Read more: Social Media Reacts to the Super Bowl Blackout


9:10  p.m. ET: Apparently, part of the holdup was the electrical equipment on the 49ers side going out with the power. Play set to resume in the next minute or so.


9:08  p.m. ET: Luckily, so far there have been no disturbances reported in the crowd during this blackout delay.


9:05  p.m. ET: Obviously, how each team reacts in the first drive right after this power outage and long delay will be huge. In case you forgot, the 49ers will get the ball at the SF 40 after a Kaepernick sack. 3rd and 13 for the Niners.


9:00  p.m. ET: And there’s already a @SuperbowlLights twitter account.


8:59  p.m. ET: Law enforcement source tells ABC News the power outage is just a technical issue, nothing nefarious. Reporters at the game say they heard a boom in the stadium before the lights went out. Lights slowly coming back on, and players still on the field.


ap dark stadium kb 130203 wblog Super Bowl XLVII Live: Score, Commercials and More

Matt Slocum/AP Photo


8:54  p.m. ET: The AC is apparently also out at the closed stadium, and people say it’s getting hot in there with such a huge crowd and the lights that are on.


8:51  p.m. ET: Considering the score, the fact that this power outage delay may last as long as 20 minutes, and the fact that the halftime show is over, I wonder how many people are tuning out right about now.


8:51  p.m. ET: Power surge to blame, apparently.


8:48  p.m. ET: “Bring Beyonce Back” trending on Twitter now.


Read more: The Internet Love Beyonce


8:45  p.m. ET: Players trying to stay warmed up on the field, and fans sound like they’re getting really antsy.


8:44  p.m. ET: Commercials cost around $4 million for a 30-second spot, and with these extra commercial breaks, some of them might really be getting their money’s worth.


8:40  p.m. ET:  Sideline reporter says half the lights in the stadium are out, including the scoreboard.


8:40  p.m. ET: 100 million people are expected to be watching the game today…a game that is suddenly not happening as the power cut out during the third quarter.


8:38  p.m. ET: Cut to commercial as the power goes out at the stadium. The game just got even stranger.


8:38  p.m. ET: And the power is out at the Super Dome.


Read more: New Orleans in the Spotlight for the Super Bowl


8:37  p.m. ET: Kaepernick sacked for a loss of 6. 3rd and 13.


8:35  p.m. ET: 49ers to start their drive at the 13-yard line.


8:34  p.m. ET:  The biggest deficit ever overcome in the Super Bowl is ten points. It’s been done twice.


gty jacoby kb 130203 wblog Super Bowl XLVII Live: Score, Commercials and More

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images


8:32  p.m. ET: That was fast (11 seconds to be exact) – a 109-yard kickoff return touchdown by Jacoby Jones. An all-time NFL record. 28-6 Ravens.


8:32  p.m. ET: TOUCHDOWN RAVENS.


8:31  p.m. ET: Back to football. Ravens to receive to start off.


Read more: Beyonce Sings Biggest Hits with Surprise Guests


8:27  p.m. ET: First Lady Michelle Obama liked the halftime show. She just tweeted “Watching the #SuperBowl with family & friends.@Beyonce was phenomenal! I am so proud of her! -mo” from her FLOTUS twitter account.


8:22  p.m. ET: And Beyonce ends an impressive and energetic halftime performance with “Halo.”


8:19  p.m. ET: Looks like the DC reunion is over – it was fun while it laster!


ap bey destinys kb 130203 wblog Super Bowl XLVII Live: Score, Commercials and More

Gerald Herbert/AP Photo


8:16  p.m. ET: Destiny’s Child reunion for “Bootylicious!”


8:14  p.m. ET: So many Beyonces!


8:12  p.m. ET: For the halftime performance, there are 135 dancers on the field, and 2,000 fans. And really cool visuals on the stage.


8:10  p.m. ET: Beyonce kicks off the halftime show with “Love on Top” followed by “Crazy in Love.”


8:07  p.m. ET: Here’s what the President and First Lady are eating at their Super Bowl party: Chesapeake Crab Cakes and San Francisco Cioppino Stew with Sourdough Toast. There are also wings, and they’re drinking Anchor Steam and Clipper City beers.


Related: Obama Hoping for Close Match in Super Bowl


8:05  p.m. ET: Still, the 49ers rallied from a 17-0 deficit to make it to the Super Bowl so it’s tough to count them out just halfway through.


8:04  p.m. ET: Ravens dominating so far, and it’s not even really close. While the teams take a breather, Beyonce heads to the field for the half time show.


8:00  p.m. ET: First half ends with a Ray Lewis sack. The likely future Hall of Famer is retiring after this game. Strangely enough, his first NFL sack was of Jim Harbaugh – who is currently coaching the 49ers. Also in that game? Randy Moss, who is currently having a rough game for the 49ers.


7:59  p.m. ET: Field goal is Good. 21-6 Ravens at the half.


7:58  p.m. ET: Really looks like the big game jitters are getting to Kaepernick. Ray Lewis sack brings out Akers for a field goal attempt.


7:55  p.m. ET: Fun Fact – Kaepernick was drafted by the Chicago Cubs as a pitcher in 2009. You can see the pitcher still in him with some of these throws.


7:54  p.m. ET: 49ers back in the red zone after a few big gains. They still have two timeouts with less than one minute left in the second quarter.


7:52  p.m. ET: 15-yard penalty and automatic first down for the 49ers on a roughing the passer call.


7:50  p.m. ET: That’s Flacco’s 11th touchdown pass this postseason.


ap 3 td kb 130203 wblog Super Bowl XLVII Live: Score, Commercials and More

Dave Martin/AP Photo


7:49  p.m. ET: 21 – 3 Baltimore as incredible throw, catch and run lead to a touchdown for the Ravens. 49ers have A LOT of  work to do in the second half.


7:48  p.m. ET: TOUCHDOWN RAVENS.


7:45  p.m. ET: No flag on what looked like offensive pass interference as Culliver breaks up a Flacco long throw, and we hit the two-minute warning.


7:44  p.m. ET: 2nd and 10 for the Ravens with 2 minutes left in the second quarter. The Ravens will be receiving the ball at the beginning of the second half.


7:41  p.m. ET: Kaepernick, who had been noted for his great decision making calls under pressure, is having a rough game so far. At 25 years old, this start is only the tenth pro start of his career.


7:39  p.m. ET: Awesome 9-year-old girl football player Sam Gordon is in the house!


abc volkswagen ad kb 130201 wblog Super Bowl XLVII Live: Score, Commercials and More

Obtained by ABC News


7:37  p.m. ET: Volkswagen’s controversial ad just aired – here’s Jamaica’s reaction to it.


Related: Controversial Volkswagen Super Bowl Ad Gets Viewer Approval


gty fake field goal kb 130203 wblog Super Bowl XLVII Live: Score, Commercials and More

Harry How/Getty Images


7:37  p.m. ET: Gutsy fake field goal call considering the Ravens’ rookie kicker is about as sure a thing as there is for points.


7:36  p.m. ET: Tricky – fake field goal by the Ravens, but short of a first down.


7:34  p.m. ET: Almost an interception by the Niners, but it’s just an incomplete pass by Flacco. 3rd and 9.


7:31  p.m. ET: Another first down for the Ravens.


7:30  p.m. ET: Personal fouls by both teams cancel each other out. Ravens first down at 49ers 38.


7:29  p.m. ET: That interception is evidently the first time a 49ers quarterback has ever been intercepted in the Super Bowl (that’s five previous games). And Reed ties the record with his 9th postseason interception.


gty rough game kb 130203 wblog Super Bowl XLVII Live: Score, Commercials and More

Jamie Squire/Getty Images


7:28  p.m. ET: Interception by Baltimore but flag is down and teams fighting on the field.


7:24  p.m. ET: After that commercial about sports fans’ superstitions – here’s an interesting article about when those superstitions cross the line into OCD.


7:22  p.m. ET: Penalties and that fumble killing San Francisco so far. 14-3 Ravens. Ten touchdowns and no interceptions so far this postseason for Flacco.


gty 2 td kb 130203 wblog Super Bowl XLVII Live: Score, Commercials and More

Harry How/Getty Images


7:22  p.m. ET: TOUCHDOWN BALTIMORE.


7:21  p.m. ET: Automatic first and goal for Ravens after another penalty – a personal foul on 49ers’ Whitner.


7:20  p.m. ET: Flacco connects with Dickson, and a flag is down.


7:19  p.m. ET: While they’re on the subject of Patrick Willis, here’s an interesting story about him and his “brother for life,” the Baltimore’s Michael Oher.


7:17  p.m. ET: Another first down for the Ravens. That’s 4/5 third down conversions for the Ravens so far.


7:16  p.m. ET: Major change of momentum, as Ravens get gain of about 5 after 49ers fumble.


7:12  p.m. ET: Fumble recovered by Ravens. First down for Baltimore.


7:12  p.m. ET: Another first down for the Niners.


7:11  p.m. ET: Another first down on gain of eleven with reception by Davis. Another another small scuffle breaks out. Teams clearly (obviously) passionate.


7:10  p.m. ET: Looks like Davis is okay – gain of 29 yards on great throw from Kaepernick.


7:08  p.m. ET: First Harbaugh parent sightings of the night! They’ve said tonight will be really bittersweet for them.


Read more: Super Bowl Bittersweet for Harbaugh Family


7:08  p.m. ET: They may be brothers, but side-by-side comparison of the Harbaugh brothers’ reactions to last play show totally different styles.


7:05  p.m. ET: Flacco sacked with 12 seconds left in quarter.


7:04  p.m. ET: Incomplete throw by Flacco with 17 seconds left in the 1st quarter.


7:03  p.m. ET: Unbelievable throw and catch by Boldin for 31-yards.


7:02  p.m. ET: 3rd and 7 for Ravens after incomplete pass by Flacco.


7:00  p.m. ET: 9-yard gain for the Ravens. Ed Reed in locker room for evaluation.


6:57  p.m. ET: Jacoby Jones returns kick to the 22-yard line. Ravens’ Ed Reed and 49ers’ Vernon Davis both apparently being checked out after Reed hit Davis on previous drive.


gty field goal kb 130203 wblog Super Bowl XLVII Live: Score, Commercials and More

Harry How/Getty Images


6:55  p.m. ET: And to the relief of 49ers fans, David Akers field goal attempt is good. 7-3 Ravens.


6:54  p.m. ET: Kaepernick sacked. 49ers going for field goal.


6:53  p.m. ET: Davis out and being worked on by trainers. Second and goal, incomplete in the end zone, off of Crabtree’s hands.


6:52  p.m. ET: Vernon Davis, a super speedy tight end, with another first down on a 24-yard reception from Kaepernick. 1st and goal.


6:51 p.m. ET: And Gore with another first down.


6:50 p.m. ET: Kaepernick scrambles for a gain of seven, 2nd and 3.


6:50 p.m. ET: Kaepernick, who shocked the league with his legs when he took over from Alex Smith, gets a 1st down and then some.


6:49 p.m. ET: Gore gains nine, after having a rough few carries early.


6:48 p.m. ET: Huge, 19-yard game for Michael Crabtree, who broke out this season once Kaepernick took over the starting QB job.


6:46 p.m. ET: Already looking to be a really physical game as scuffle between players breaks out after 49ers loss of two yards.


6:45 p.m. ET: And here’s the GoDaddy commercial everybody has already been talking about – supermodel makes out with Hollywood’s favorite extra.


6:44 p.m. ET: Penalties already hurting the 49ers – big game jitters?


gty ravens td kb 130203 wblog Super Bowl XLVII Live: Score, Commercials and More

McNamee/Getty Images


6:41 p.m. ET: And the extra point is good. 7-0 Ravens


6:40 p.m. ET: TOUCHDOWN BALTIMORE. Ravens take an early lead with a reception by Anquan Boldin.


6:39 p.m. ET: On 3rd and 9, same thing happens, but flag is down for defensive offsides – five yard penalty and replay of 3rd down.


6:39 p.m. ET: Given some time, Flacco throws ball beyond end zone for an incompletion on 2nd and 9.


6:38 p.m. ET: Ravens QB, Joe Flacco, known for his exceptionally strong arm, gets the ball to Torrey Jones at the SF 19.


6:37 p.m. ET: And a first down for the Ravens from SF 39.


6:36 p.m. ET: Better start for the Ravens, who pick up eight yards on their first down of the game.


6:36 p.m. ET: And the first drive of the game goes nowhere; Andy Lee punts on 4th down, and Jacoby Jones returns to near the 50-yard line.


6:34 p.m. ET: On first and 15, no gain for 49ers all-time leading rusher, Frank Gore.


6:33 p.m. ET: Five yard penalty for the 49ers for illegal formation.


6:32 p.m. ET: Kaepernick connects with Vernon Davis for a gain of 20, but a flag is down.


6:31 p.m. ET: Here we go – 49ers start the first drive at the 20-yard line.


6:28 p.m. ET: Ravens chose heads, and elected to defer their choice until the second half. 49ers to receive at kickoff.


6:27 p.m. ET: Newest members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame join the team captains for the coin toss.


6:22 p.m. ET: Alicia Keys performs the Star Spangled Banner, wearing a red dress and playing a white piano at the 50-yard line.


6:21 p.m. ET: Joint Armed Forces Color Guard present the flags.


6:20 p.m. ET: Hudson wearing a green ribbon in honor of the victims of the Sandy Hook school shooting while performing with the students.


gty jennifer hudson kb 130203 wblog Super Bowl XLVII Live: Score, Commercials and More

Jamie Squire/Getty Images


6:19 p.m. ET: In a touching performance, Sandy Hook Elementary School students perform “America the Beautiful,” with Jennifer Hudson.


6:18 p.m. ET: Jason Witten wins the 2012 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.


6:12 p.m. ET: And out come the 49ers.


6:11 p.m. ET: The Ravens players are introduced in the stadium to a raucous crowd.


6:09 p.m. ET: And another historic first tonight – the two head coaches are brothers, born just 15 months apart. John Harbaugh, 50, is in his fifth season as the Baltimore Ravens head coach, and has won playoff games in each of his previous seasons. Jim Harbaugh, 49, is in his second season as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, leading his team to the playoffs both seasons.


6:05 p.m. ET: The San Francisco 49ers are going for their 6th Lombardi trophy, which would tie them for the most championships ever with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Baltimore Ravens are trying for their second Super Bowl victory. Neither team has ever lost a Super Bowl game – and at the end of the night, there will only be one team left in the NFL to have never lost a Super Bowl game.


6:00 p.m. ET: It’s here – the biggest spectacle in American sports, the Super Bowl. We’ll be covering the game, performances and, of course, the commercials right here.


It’s been an incredible season so far, and everything has led up to tonight’s game in New Orleans, where the NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers face the AFC Champion Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII. Keep refreshing for the latest updates throughout what promises to be a great game.

Read More..

Hillary: Secretary of empowerment




Girls hug U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during a 2010 tour of a shelter run for sex trafficking victims in Cambodia.




STORY HIGHLIGHTS


  • Donna Brazile: Clinton stepping down as Secretary of State. Maybe she'll run for president

  • She says as secretary she expanded foreign policy to include effect on regular people

  • She says she was first secretary of state to focus on empowering women and girls

  • Brazile: Clinton has fought for education and inclusion in politics for women and girls




Editor's note: Donna Brazile, a CNN contributor and a Democratic strategist, is vice chairwoman for voter registration and participation at the Democratic National Committee. She is a nationally syndicated columnist, an adjunct professor at Georgetown University and author of "Cooking with Grease." She was manager for the Gore-Lieberman presidential campaign in 2000.


(CNN) -- As Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton steps down from her job Friday, many are assuming she will run for president. And she may. In fact, five of the first eight presidents first served their predecessors as secretary of state.


It hasn't happened in more than a century, though that may change should Clinton decide to run. After all, she has been a game changer her entire life.


But before we look ahead, I think we should appreciate what she's done as secretary of state; it's a high profile, high pressure job. You have to deal with the routine as if it is critical and with crisis as if it's routine. You have to manage egos, protocols, customs and Congress. You have to be rhetorical and blunt, diplomatic and direct.



CNN Contributor Donna Brazile

CNN Contributor Donna Brazile



As secretary of state you are dealing with heads of state and with we the people. And the president of the United States has to trust you -- implicitly.


On the road with Hillary Clinton


Of all Clinton's accomplishments -- and I will mention just a few -- this may be the most underappreciated. During the election, pundits were puzzled and amazed not only at how much energy former President Bill Clinton poured into Obama's campaign, but even more at how genuine and close the friendship was.


Obama was given a lot of well-deserved credit for reaching out to the Clintons by appointing then-Sen. Hillary Clinton as his secretary of state in the first place. But trust is a two-way street and has to be earned. We should not underestimate or forget how much Clinton did and how hard she worked. She deserved that trust, as she deserved to be in the war room when Osama bin Laden was killed.


By the way, is there any other leader in the last 50 years whom we routinely refer to by a first name, and do so more out of respect than familiarity? The last person I can think of was Ike -- the elder family member who we revere with affection. Hillary is Hillary.


It's not surprising that we feel we know her. She has been part of our public life for more than 20 years. She's been a model of dignity, diplomacy, empathy and toughness. She also has done something no other secretary of state has done -- including the two women who preceded her in the Cabinet post.


Rothkopf: President Hillary Clinton? If she wants it



Hillary has transformed our understanding -- no, our definition -- of foreign affairs. Diplomacy is no longer just the skill of managing relations with other countries. The big issues -- war and peace, terror, economic stability, etc. -- remain, and she has handled them with firmness and authority, with poise and confidence, and with good will, when appropriate.


But it is not the praise of diplomats or dictators that will be her legacy. She dealt with plenipotentiaries, but her focus was on people. Foreign affairs isn't just about treaties, she taught us, it's about the suffering and aspirations of those affected by the treaties, made or unmade.








Most of all, diplomacy should refocus attention on the powerless.


Of course, Hillary wasn't the first secretary of state to advocate for human rights or use the post to raise awareness of abuses or negotiate humanitarian relief or pressure oppressors. But she was the first to focus on empowerment, particularly of women and girls.


She created the first Office of Global Women's Issues. That office fought to highlight the plight of women around the world. Rape of women has been a weapon of war for centuries. Though civilized countries condemn it, the fight against it has in a sense only really begun.


Ghitis: Hillary Clinton's global legacy on gay rights


The office has worked to hold governments accountable for the systematic oppression of girls and women and fought for their education in emerging countries. As Hillary said when the office was established: "When the Security Council passed Resolution 1325, we tried to make a very clear statement, that women are still largely shut out of the negotiations that seek to end conflicts, even though women and children are the primary victims of 21st century conflict."


Hillary also included the United States in the Trafficking in Person report. Human Trafficking, a form of modern, mainly sexual, slavery, victimizes mostly women and girls. The annual report reviews the state of global efforts to eliminate the practice. "We believe it is important to keep the spotlight on ourselves," she said. "Human trafficking is not someone else's problem. Involuntary servitude is not something we can ignore or hope doesn't exist in our own communities."


She also created the office of Global Partnerships. And there is much more.


She has held her own in palaces and held the hands of hungry children in mud-hut villages, pursuing an agenda that empowers women, children, the poor and helpless.


We shouldn't have been surprised. Her book "It Takes a Village" focused on the impact that those outside the family have, for better or worse, on a child's well-being.


As secretary of state, she did all she could to make sure our impact as a nation would be for the better.


Follow us on Twitter @CNNOpinion


Join us on Facebook/CNNOpinion


The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Donna Brazile.






Read More..

Three injured as plane veers off Rome runway






ROME: A Romanian plane carrying 50 passengers veered off the runway while landing at Rome's Fiumicino airport on Saturday, injuring three people who were rushed to hospital, authorities said.

The ATR 72 turboprop plane of the Romanian airline Carpatair arriving from Pisa finished up at an angle on grass with its landing gear damaged, emergency services and airport officials said.

One of the three people hospitalised, a Romanian flight crew member, was said to have suffered spinal injuries but his condition was not life-threatening.

Another of those hurt had pelvic injuries.

Investigators were attempting to establish the cause of the accident, with bad weather -- winds and rain may have made the landing difficult -- or pilot error suspected.

A passenger on the plane told Ansa that the plane had touched down twice. "The second time the landing gear was bent out of shape and we ended up off the runway."

He described scenes of panic and screaming.

The Rome airport remained open though one of its runways was closed.

According to Italian media, several recent incidents have shed an unfavourable light on the partnership between Alitalia and Carpatair.

The Carpatair plane involved in Saturday's accident was carrying out an Alitalia flight.

In a statement Alitalia said that "strong winds" had forced the plane off the runway and announced the suspension of all its flights operated by Carpatair from Pisa and Bologna.

Last month, a Carpatair flight between Ancona and Rome made an emergency landing soon after take-off.

Earlier in January, another of the Romanian company's planes was forced to make a U-turn following cabin pressure problems which obliged passengers to use oxygen masks.

On January 10 the company issued a statement, denying any reliability problems and denouncing a "media campaign" against it fuelled by "Italian trade unions and pilots" unhappy with Carpatair's partnership with Alitalia.

Carpatair signed the flight-sharing deal with Alitalia last September.

-AFP/ac



Read More..

Captor is caring for boy, Alabama sheriff says






STORY HIGHLIGHTS


  • NEW: "Ethan's innocent ... let him go home," a Midland City resident says about the child

  • The suspect has been identified as 65-year-old Jimmy Lee Dykes

  • Dykes is accused of killing a school bus driver and abducting a 5-year-old

  • Authorities have said there is no connection between Dykes and the boy




Midland City, Alabama (CNN) -- As an armed standoff dragged into its fifth day Saturday, authorities negotiated through a ventilation pipe with a man accused of barricading himself and a 5-year-old hostage in an underground bunker in southeastern Alabama.


Police have been tight-lipped about a possible motive since the hostage drama began unfolding in Midland City with the shooting of school bus driver and the abduction of the 5-year-old, Ethan.


In a sign of perhaps how tense negotiations are between authorities and the suspect, officials have refused to detail what, if any, demands have been made by the suspect.


Michelle Riley, a resident of Midland City, pleaded for the suspect to let the boy go.


"He just needs to know that ... everybody makes mistakes. Everybody's been through life events that changes them, but Ethan's innocent. You know, let him go home to his mother. Let him go home to his grandparents. Let him come out to the community. Let him go back to school and be with his friends," she said.


On Friday, the Dale County sheriff confirmed what neighbors have been saying and local news outlets have been reporting since the standoff began -- the suspected gunman's identity.




Charles Poland was fatally shot in Alabama on Tuesday.





Suspect Jimmy Lee Dykes, 65, is a Vietnam War veteran and retired truck driver.



'We don't want to make any mistakes,' Ala. governor says


He is Jimmy Lee Dykes, 65, a Vietnam veteran and retired truck driver who moved to the area about five years ago.


The sheriff's department released a photo of a gray-bearded, unsmiling Dykes and brief physical description: white male, 6 feet tall, weighing 170 pounds with brown eyes and gray hair.


Officials have been in "constant communication" with Dykes, Sheriff Wally Olson said Saturday. Dykes has told police that he has an electric heater and blankets for the boy. The sheriff publicly thanked Dykes for taking care of the child.


This much is known, according to police and witness statements: On Tuesday at about 3:40 p.m., bus driver Charles Poland Jr. was shuttling children from school to their homes when he dropped children off and the gunman boarded the bus.


The gunman demanded that Poland, 66, hand over two children. Poland refused, blocking access to the bus's narrow aisle as at least 21 children escaped out of the back emergency door, according to police.


The gunman shot Poland four times, killing him; grabbed the boy and then barricaded the two of them inside a nearby bunker.










It's unclear whether the gunman was after a specific child on the bus. Police have said there is no connection between the suspect and the abducted boy, whose identity is being withheld.


The suspect, who police have identified as Dykes, is holed up in a bunker 4 feet underground and built at least partially out of PVC pipe, authorities have said.


A hostage negotiator has been communicating with the alleged gunman through a 60-foot-long plastic ventilation pipe in an effort to end the standoff.


Authorities believe the boy is physically unharmed.


The suspect agreed to let police send down coloring books, crayons and prescription medication that the boy needs for treatment for Asperger's syndrome and attention deficit disorder, State Rep. Steve Clouse told CNN.


Neighbors have said the bunker has electricity, and Dykes has been known to stay in it for up to eight days, said James Arrington, the police chief in nearby Pinckard.


Dykes has been described as a self-styled survivalist with "anti-government" views, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center's Hatewatch.


As negotiations continue, preparations were under way for Poland's funeral.


The late school bus driver will be memorialized Saturday night at a visitation service, followed by a funeral service Sunday at the Ozark Civic Center.


Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley praised Poland for protecting the children on his bus.


"He stood in that place, and when that man came to take two children, he said no. And he lost his life because of that ... he did his job, and I'm proud of him as the governor but I'm just proud of him as a human being," he said.


CNN's George Howell reported from Midland City and Chelsea J. Carter wrote from Atlanta. CNN's Joe Sutton, Greg Botelho and Tristan Smith contributed to this report.






Read More..

Bus hits overpass in Boston, injuring passengers

In this photo released by the Boston Fire Department via Twitter, firemen work to remove injured passengers from a bus that hit an bridge as it traveled along Soldiers Field Road in the Allston neighborhood of Boston Saturday night, Feb. 2, 2013. / AP Photo/Boston Fire Department

Updated 9:33 PM ET

BOSTON A charter bus full of passengers struck a bridge in Boston on Saturday night, injuring several people, authorities said.

The bus carrying 42 people was coming from Harvard University and was heading back to Pennsylvania when it struck an overpass in the Allston neighborhood shortly before 8 p.m., according to the Boston Fire Department.

Massachusetts State Police said several people aboard the bus were injured, though it had no immediate details on the nature of the injuries.

State Police said the Calvary Coach Bus out of Philadelphia was too high for the roadway. A spokesman for the bus company said he had no immediate information on the crash.

Photos posted on the Fire Department's website showed firefighters extracting people from the bus.

The accident happened on Soldiers Field Road, a major crosstown roadway in Boston that curves along the Charles River and passes by Harvard and Boston University. It is a major roadway to the Massachusetts Turnpike

Read More..

Body of Missing Mom Reportedly Found in Turkey













The body of an American woman who went missing while on a solo trip to Turkey has been pulled from a bay in Istanbul, and nine people have been held for questioning, according to local media.


Sarai Sierra, 33, was last heard from on Jan. 21, the day she was due to board a flight home to New York City.


The state-run Andolu Agency reported that residents found a woman's body today near the ruins of some ancient city walls in a low-income district, and police identified the body as Sierra.


Rep. Michael Grimm, R-NY, who with his staff had been assisting the Sierra family in the search, said he was "deeply saddened" to hear the news of her death.


"I urge Turkish officials to move quickly to identify whomever is responsible for her tragic death and ensure that any guilty parties are punished to the fullest extent of the law," he said in a statement.






Courtesy Sarai Sierra's family











Footage Shows Missing New York Mom in Turkish Mall Watch Video









NYC Woman Goes Missing While Traveling In Turkey Watch Video









New York Mother Goes Missing on Turkish Vacation Watch Video





The New York City mother, who has two young boys, traveled to Turkey alone on Jan. 7 after a friend had to cancel. Sierra, who is an avid photographer with a popular Instagram stream, planned to document her dream vacation with her camera.


"It was her first time outside of the United States, and every day while she was there she pretty much kept in contact with us, letting us know what she was up to, where she was going, whether it be through texting or whether it be through video chat, she was touching base with us," Steven Sierra told ABC News before he departed for Istanbul last Sunday to aid in the search.


Steven Sierra has been in the country, meeting with U.S. officials and local authorities, as they searched for his wife.


On Friday, Turkish authorities detained a man who had spoken with Sierra online before her disappearance. The identity of the man and the details of his arrest were not disclosed, The Associated Press reported.


The family said it is completely out of character for the happily married mother, who met her husband in church youth group, to disappear.


She took two side trips, to Amsterdam and Munich, before returning to Turkey, but kept in contact with her family the entire time, a family friend told ABC News.


Further investigation revealed she had left her passport, clothes, phone chargers and medical cards in her room at a hostel in Beyoglu, Turkey.



Read More..