Diane Alter – AHN News Reporter
Las Vegas, NV, United States (AHN) – There she is! Laura Kaeppeler, Miss America 2012. The beauty from Wisconsin was crowned Saturday night at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Hosted by Chris Harrison of The Bachelor and Brooke Burke-Charvet of Dancing With the Stars, the event featured blinding pearly white smiles, sparkling floor-length gowns and Barbie-doll figures. Judges included “Dancing With the Stars” pro Mark Ballas; ABC reality honcho Mike Fleiss; Kris Jenner, matriarch of the Kardasian clan; actress Teri Polo; and “Good Morning America” anchor Lara [...] Continue Reading…
Tucson marks one-year annivesary of Giffords shooting
Diane Alter – AHN News Reporter
Tucson, AZ, United States (AHN) – A resounding chorus of bells resonated across Tucson Sunday as the southern Arizona city marked the one-year anniversary of a shooting rampage that claimed six lives and nearly killed Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. Church bells rang at 10:11 a.m., the precise time authorities received the first 911 call reporting the deadly shootings at a local Safeway supermarket on Jan. 8, 2011. The city planned a full day of events to commemorate the tragedy with reverence and respect. Rep. Giffords returned to her hometown Friday with husband Mark [...] Continue Reading…
U2, Taylor Swift lead top grossing tours of 2011
Diane Alter – AHN News Reporter
Los Angeles, CA, United States (AHN) – A little bit of country and lots of rock and roll made up the highest grossing tours of 2011 in North America. U2 took in $156 million from 25 shows in 21 North American cities in 2011, making the band the highest grossing tour act of the year, Pollstar reports. Worldwide, the group raked in $231.9 million for 2011. Taylor Swift just missed breaking the $100 million mark in North America. The pop-country beauty earned $97.7 million over 80 dates in 59 cities on her [...] Continue Reading…
Highest ranking woman plans to leave Pentagon
Diane Alter – AHN News Reporter
Washingotn, D.C., United States (AHN) – Michele Flournoy, the Undersecretary of Defense and the highest ranking female civilian to hold a Defense Department position, announced Monday she will step down. Flournoy said Monday that after serving three years as the top adviser to the Secretary of Defense she is quitting in February to spend more time with her family. Flournoy, who turns 51 on Wednesday, has three children aged 9,12 and 14. Her husband, W. Scott Gould, is deputy secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Flournoy said she will continue [...] Continue Reading…
Heroes of HIV: The prison educator
Port-au-Prince, Haiti (IRIN) – The latest chapter in our Heroes of HIV film series follows former prisoner Jean Julux Alusma as he works to increase awareness and understanding of HIV/AIDS among inmates of Haiti’s jails. “In Haiti, 120,000 people are living with AIDS, of which 67,000 are women, who are always more at risk,” says Alusma. Today, Haiti has the highest HIV/AIDS rate in the Caribbean, with 2.2 percent of adults estimated to be HIV positive. Young women are more than twice as likely to be infected as young men. In Haiti’s only women’s prison, [...] Continue Reading…
J.R. Martinez wins ‘Dancing With The Stars’
Diane Alter – AHN News Reporter
Los Angeles, CA, United States (AHN) – War hero and Army veteran, 28-year-old J.R. Martinez, and his partner Karina Smirnoff were crowned the winners Tuesday night of Dancing With The Stars season 13. The three finalists–Ricki Lake, Rob Kardashian, and Martinez–danced one last time before Martinez was awarded the coveted mirror ball trophy and announced the winner. First to go in the nail-biting elimination was Lake and her partner Derek Hough. That left Martinez and Smirnoff, and Kardashian with his partner Cheryl Burke, to duke it out for the win. Kardashian [...] Continue Reading…
Arnie Palmer sinks 20th hole-in-one
Diane Alter – AHN News Reporter
Orlando, FL, United States (AHN) – Arnold Palmer has done it again. In fact, he now has done it 20 times. The ace golfer sank his 20th hole-in-one Tuesday on the 7th hole of the Charger Course at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, FL. Palmer not only claimed that impressive feat, he also shot 79 for the round, three under his age. Palmer carded his last ace eight years ago, also at Bay Hill, the resort he owns. His first was scored as a mere teenager at Latrobe [...] Continue Reading…
IBM promotes Virginia Rometty as first female chief executive
Vittorio Hernandez – AHN News
New York, NY, United States (AHN) – Virginia Rometty, a senior vice president for International Business Machines, made corporate history on Tuesday by being named the company’s first female chief executive. The IBM board announced Rometty’s appointment to replace current chief executive Samuel Palmisano, 60, who will become chairman in 2012. She is currently senior vice president for sales, marketing and strategy. Known as Ginni, the 54-year-old executive was also elected to join IBM’s board of directors. When she assumes her post in January, Rometty will be the ninth chief executive of the [...] Continue Reading…
Shipwreck of the SS Gairsoppa found with 7 million pounds of silver
Diane Alter – AHN News Reporter
Tampa, FL, United States (AHN) – Hi Ho Silver! The SS Gairsoppa was carrying seven million ounces of silver when it was sunk during World War II. The 412-foot steel-hulled ship was torpedoed while in the service of the Military of War Transport. On Monday, Odyssey Marine Exploration of Tampa, FL, announced it had confirmed the identity and location of the shipwreck site in the North Atlantic, about 300 miles off the coast of Ireland in international waters. It is the largest shipwreck ever found with precious metals on board. In [...] Continue Reading…
Super Songs to Inspire Your Summer Holiday Playlist
For decades, musicians sung their heart out of their favourite destinations, and these great songs over the years are a good source of inspiration for holiday ideas as any other. These top tunes will help you pick your next holiday abroad. Rio – Duran DuranSince Duran Duran captured their feelings about Rio de Janeiro, dancing on the sand has never been the same. The song was written as an ode to band’s experiences while on tour in Brazil in the 80s. Viva Las Vegas – ElvisThe King is very influential that any destination that he would recommend is well [...] Continue Reading…