Kellan Howell
Articles by Kellan Howell
Baltimore riots sparked not by race but by class tensions between police, poor
As protesters in Baltimore join a national outcry over police brutality that began with the killing of an unarmed black teen by a white officer in Ferguson, Missouri, the latest unrest stems from class tensions between police and impoverished minority communities, proving that more diverse law enforcement is not a panacea. Published April 29, 2015
U.S. government patents could be affected by Innovation Act legislation
The U.S. government's ownership of tens of thousands of patents has thrown an unexpected wrinkle into a congressional effort to alter the system that governs American inventions. Published April 28, 2015
Obama amnesty greater threat to blacks than police brutality, racial profiling, experts say
Economic and civil rights experts say increased immigration spurred by President Obama's executive orders poses a bigger threat to the black community than police brutality or racial profiling, which have sparked protests in black communities across the country. Published April 26, 2015
1 Navy SEAL dead, another injured in Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek accident
One Navy SEAL died Friday and another was in critical condition after an accident in a pool at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek in Virginia. Published April 25, 2015
Michelle Manhart support rally held in Georgia; veteran stopped students’ flag-walking protest
A Georgia college cancelled classes Friday in anticipation of a rally for a military veteran who was arrested for taking an American flag from student protestors. Published April 25, 2015
Zeta Beta Tau fraternity from University of Florida expels 3 for allegedly spitting on wounded vets
A University of Florida fraternity expelled three of its members Friday after reports revealed that the students spat on disabled military veterans at a Panama City resort. Published April 25, 2015
Robert O’Neill, Navy SEAL who killed bin Laden, to shoot weapons with public at $50K per head event
Major contributors to a conservative group have been offered a special invitation to shoot machine guns with Robert O'Neill, the former Navy SEAL credited with killing al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, at a price of $50,000 a ticket. Published April 25, 2015
Brian Williams inquiry expanded at NBC; Arab Spring tale possibly misrepresented
NBC's internal investigation into reporter Brian Williams is said to be expanding after a new tall-tale involving events in Egypt during the Arab Spring was uncovered. Published April 25, 2015
Boomer Esiason blasts University of Maryland’s ‘American Sniper’ snub
Former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason said Friday that he will no longer donate to the University of Maryland after a screenings of "American Sniper" were cancelled to appease a Muslim student group. Published April 25, 2015
Bruce Jenner stuns Diane Sawyer: ‘I’m a Republican and a Christian’
Bruce Jenner, who confirmed Friday night that he is transitioning into a woman, told Diane Sawyer that he is a Republican and a Christian. Published April 25, 2015
Golden Hammer: Medicare overseers waste $251 million by using outdated drug pricing estimates
Ignoring previous cost-cutting recommendations from its own watchdogs, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) wasted nearly $251 million in taxpayer dollars on infusion drugs in just 18 months by using outdated drug pricing estimates, which drove up the cost of prescription injectable drugs for an aging baby boomer population. Published April 23, 2015
ACLU sues feds to force Catholic charities to provide abortions for illegal immigrants
The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government to force religious charities contracted by the government to provide abortions and contraception to illegal immigrants. Published April 23, 2015
Joshua D. Phillips, 82nd Airborne Division paratrooper, killed during training exercise
A 19-year-old paratrooper was killed Thursday during a training exercise at Fort Polk, Louisiana, Fort Bragg officials announced Saturday. Published April 18, 2015
Huckabee suggests military recruits wait until Obama exits office to enlist
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee suggested this week that new recruits hoping to join the U.S. military should wait until President Obama leaves office. Published April 18, 2015
Ben Affleck pushed PBS to censor slave-owning ancestry, leaked email shows
New Sony emails posted by WikiLeaks on Friday reveal that actor Ben Affleck demanded that PBS show "Finding Your Roots" hide one of his ancestor's slave-owning history. Published April 18, 2015
Jeanne Shaheen, N.H. senator: It’s time to replace Andrew Jackson’s face with a woman on $20 bill
New Hampshire Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen is pushing legislation that could lead to the replacement of former president Andrew Jackson's face on the $20 bill with a woman. Published April 18, 2015
Texas set to approve open carry of handguns: ‘We are seeing historic progress’
Texans could soon be allowed to openly carry handguns, a change gun-rights activists have been seeking for years. Published April 18, 2015
‘Chow Train’ Texas food truck owner fined $2K for feeding San Antonio’s homeless
A chef in San Antonio, Texas, has been using her nonprofit food truck, The Chow Train, to feed the homeless for years, but this week local police cited her with a $2,000 fine for breaking the city ordinance. Published April 18, 2015
Army’s first airborne fish: Paratrooper brings ‘Willy Makeit’ on final jump
An Army paratrooper's selfie of his last jump — made while holding his pet fish — is making waves on social media. Published April 17, 2015
GOLDEN HAMMER: Navy civilian workers abuse overtime pay while union supervisors claim ignorance
Civilian workers at Indiana's Naval Weapons Station Crane sought and received nearly $4 million in pay for working with explosives, handling microorganisms or being in dangerous conditions. The only problem was, they never worked under such conditions. Published April 16, 2015
