Kellan Howell
Articles by Kellan Howell
Azerbaijan warns U.S. will lose Eurasia influence without clear strategy
Leaders from Azerbaijan pressed Tuesday for the Obama administration to articulate a more clear long-term geopolitical strategy for Eurasia, warning that America was in danger of losing influence in the region while its allies risk losing access to energy resources. Published February 3, 2015
Kenji Goto purportedly beheaded by Islamic State group
A new video released Saturday shows Islamic State militants beheading Japanese journalist Kenji Goto. Published January 31, 2015
James Terry: Islamic State pushed out of Kobani in Syria
Kurdish ground forces aided by U.S. and allied air support have retaken the Syrian town of Kobani from Islamic State militants, U.S. Lieutenant-General James Terry said on Saturday. Published January 31, 2015
Whitney Houston’s daughter, Bobbi Kristian Brown, found unresponsive in bathtub
Bobbi Kristina Brown, the daughter of late singer Whitney Houston and Bobbi Brown, was found unresponsive in a bathtub in her Georgia home Saturday, police said. Published January 31, 2015
Pro-Russian separatists for Donetsk People’s Republic claims ‘full support of Texas’
The self-proclaimed foreign minister of the pro-Russian separatists group the Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) said the group plans to host a "summit of unrecognized states" such as Flanders, the Basque country and Texas. Published January 31, 2015
Jordan to Islamic State: Kill our pilot, Muath al-Kase, and we’ll execute all terror group prisoners
Jordan has threatened to execute all of it's Islamic State prisoners if militants kill Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kaseasbeh. Published January 31, 2015
Chuck Hagel: U.S. may need ground troops in Iraq to push back Islamic State
Outgoing Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said Friday that the U.S. might need to send non-combat ground troops to Iraq to help push back Islamic State forces. Published January 31, 2015
Bill Maher: Obama probably the ‘worst’ president on press freedom
Late-night HBO talk show host Bill Maher blasted President Obama on Friday night for clamping down too hard on journalists, calling him the "worst" president on issues of press freedom. Published January 31, 2015
Chris Kyle’s brother blasts Michael Moore for ‘American Sniper’ ‘coward’ remark
Jeff Kyle, the brother of "American Sniper" Chris Kyle, has responded to director Michael Moore's Twitter post calling snipers "cowards." Published January 31, 2015
‘American Sniper’ Chris Kyle defended against MSNBC racism charge by Iraqi interpreter
An Iraqi Muslim interpreter for Chris Kyle spoke out against claims by MSNBC foreign correspondent Ayman Moheldin that the "American Sniper" was a racist and went on "killing sprees," sharing his own experiences with Mr. Kyle whom he considered a dear friend. Published January 31, 2015
Greg Abbott declares ‘Chris Kyle Day’ in Texas
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Friday that Feb. 2 would be declared "Chris Kyle Day" after the Navy SEAL whose autobiography inspired the box-office hit "American Sniper." Published January 30, 2015
Golden Hammer: Gay marriage plays funded by taxpayers regardless of political views
The National Endowment for the Arts awarded a $10,000 taxpayer-funded grant to a theater company in San Francisco to produce and tour a collection of plays advocating same-sex marriage called "Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays." Published January 29, 2015
Illinois attorney general gives pay raises as state goes broke
Over the past four years, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, a Democrat, has handed out roughly $1 million in pay raises to exempt, nonunion employees who don't fall under state wage laws, as Illinois faces bankruptcy. Published January 28, 2015
TSA plan to outsource PreCheck airport program raises security, privacy concerns
The Transportation Security Administration is quietly proposing to outsource to private companies its PreCheck program, which allows enrolled members to skip past security lines at airports — a move some analysts warn may have serious privacy and security implications. Published January 27, 2015
DEA tracks millions of drivers in real time
Less than two weeks after reports revealed that the Justice Department's Drug Enforcement Administration tracked Americans calls for over a decade, new documents show that the same agency has been building a national database to track vehicles in real time around the country. Published January 27, 2015
Taylor Swift Twitter, Instagram hacked by possible ISIS sympathizers
Taylor Swift's Twitter and Instagram accounts were reportedly hacked Tuesday afternoon by a group that might be affiliate with Islamic State terrorists, but were quickly recovered within 15 minutes of the hack. Published January 27, 2015
Pro-marriage activists launch interfaith initiative
A group of pro-marriage activists are launching an interfaith initiative to get more couples married, with a mass wedding ceremony kicking off the movement March 2 in Lanham, Maryland. Published January 25, 2015
Boy Scouts participation off limits to judges, says California Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of California announced Friday that California judges will no longer be permitted to participate in nonprofit youth groups like the Boy Scouts of America due to the groups position on gay rights issues. Published January 24, 2015
Michael Bloomberg interested in buying New York Times
Business magnate and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg reportedly has his sights set on owning the New York Times. Published January 24, 2015
Haruna Yukawa purportedly killed by Islamic State; Shinzo Abe demands release of Kenji Goto
Japanese officials early on Sunday condemned a new video showing the execution of one of its citizens held captive by the Islamic State group. They demanded the immediate release of another captive shown in the video. Published January 24, 2015
