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St. Petersburg, FL, United States (AHN) – Jennifer Anne Mee, better known as Hiccup Girl, garnered international attention in 2007 when she had a bout of hiccups that didn’t stop for five weeks at the age of 15. Documented over various visits to NBC’s “Today” show, “Today” had a very different story about Mee on their show Monday. Hiccup Girl, now 19, has been charged with first-degree murder.

Mee, along with two other men Laron Raiford, 20, and Lamont Newton, 22, were arrested and charged with the fatal shooting of a man during an armed robbery in St. Petersburg, Fl.

According to the St. Petersburg Times, the victim, Shannon Griffin, 22, was reportedly lured to the location by Mee, where her cohorts reportedly robbed him. After a struggle with the suspects, Griffin was shot three times in the chest and once on the shoulder with a .38-caliber revolver and was reportedly pronounced dead at the scene.

“Jennifer Mee lured the victim to the address … and Laron Raiford and Lamont Newton robbed him at gunpoint and took miscellaneous items from his person,” said St. Petersburg Police Sgt. T.A. Skinner in a statement. “All three suspects admitted to their involvement and were charged with 1st degree felony murder.”

“I’ve said for a while now, her case of the hiccups wasn’t a case of the hiccups, it was a curse of the hiccups,” said Mee’s mother, Rachel Robidoux, on 93.3 WFLZ’s “MJ Morning Show” on Monday.

Mee has reportedly run away from home twice since the hiccups stint and, according to her mom, hasn’t lived with her in over a year. But her mom says her daughter “wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

“I don’t think she knew what was going to happen because that’s not Jennifer,” Robidoux told the radio hosts. “She’s not out to hurt anyone.”

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Los Angeles, CA, United States (AHN) – Thanks to her strict fitness regimen (and we’re sure her dance-intensive, high-energy sold-out stadium shows never hurt either), Madonna has managed to stay in incredible shape at 52. But now, the queen of pop herself is getting into the business of staying fit by opening gyms across the world.

Madonna is partnering with her longtime manager Guy Oseary and New Evolution Ventures to create “Hard Candy Fitness,” named after her multi-platinum 2008 album. “Hard Candy Fitness” will combine state-of-the-art training facilities with a design and entertainment page out of the pop queen’s handbook.

“Our goal is to create an environment inspired by Madonna’s vision and high standards of what the ideal gym would be,” said NEV Chairman Mark Mastrov, who helped launch 24 Hour Fitness centers around the world. “Hard Candy Fitness will be a reflection of Madonna’s point of view and will reflect her input on every detail including music space, light and other design cues. Madonna’s touch will be everywhere.”

The first Hard Candy Fitness will open in Mexico City in mid-November in the Bosques de las Lomas area. Madonna will be visiting the first Hard Candy Fitness center in Mexico City for its official launch on November 29th.

Hard Candy Fitness centers will include the latest equipment complete with personal viewing screens, a Bike Studio, a Mind Body Studio for Yoga practice, and private and group training.

They’ll also feature new classes designed exclusively for Hard Candy Fitness centers, as well as current gym staples like Cardio Kickboxing and Zumba. Each fitness center will also include sauna and steam rooms, a healthy juice bar, and more.

Additional locations in Argentina, Russia, Brazil, and throughout Europe and Asia are currently in the planning stages. Registration is currently open for its Mexico City site. Let’s hope the cost is less than her ultra-pricey concert tickets.

Madonna also recently launched a clothing line at Macy’s with daughter Lourdes, and directed the film “W.E.” for release next year. She’s also been working on the follow-up to “Hard Candy,” which is also slated for release in 2011.

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Los Angeles, CA, United States (AHN) – President Barack Obama submitted a video for the “It Gets Better” project, which has featured gay and gay-friendly celebrities speaking out to youths about the current bullying and gay suicide epidemic. President Obama wants to fight against discrimination, against LGBT Americans or anyone.

“Like all of you, I was shocked and saddened by the deaths of several young people who were bullied and taunted for being gay, and who ultimately took their own lives,” President Barack Obama said in the video. “As a parent of two daughters, it breaks my heart. It’s something that just shouldn’t happen in this country.”

“We’ve got to dispel the myth that bullying is just a normal rite of passage—that it’s some inevitable part of growing up. It’s not,” President Obama continued. “We have an obligation to ensure that our schools are safe for all of our kids.”

Since the “It Gets Better” project launched, from “Savage Love” columnist Dan Savage, the award-winning project has received videos from celebrities like Ellen DeGeneres, Tim Gunn, and Kathy Griffin. In their videos, they all encouraged young LGBT adults and anyone currently affected by bulling to stay strong.

President Obama’s video was posted both by Savage on his blog as well as on the White House website.

“I don’t know what it’s like to be picked on for being gay,” President Obama said.” But I do know what it’s like to grow up feeling that sometimes you don’t belong. It’s tough.”

“But what I want to say is this. You are not alone,” he continued.” You didn’t do anything wrong. You didn’t do anything to deserve being bullied. And there is a whole world waiting for you, filled with possibilities. There are people out there who love you and care about you just the way you are.”

But Savage also challenges President Obama to not just say it gets better, but to make things better. The video comes amidst the administration’s appealing of recent “don’t ask, don’t tell” efforts and the Defense of Marriage Act.

“The president of the United States has the power to do more than assure LGBT kids that it will get better,” Savage said on CNN Friday. “The president of the United States and his administration have the power to make it better.”

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Los Angeles, CA, United States (AHN) – Y100, Miami’s biggest music station and one of the most popular in the country, has assembled the year’s biggest radio chart-toppers for this year’s “2010 Y100 Jingle Ball.” This year’s show will feature headliners Katy Perry and Adam Lambert, among others.

Katy Perry is sure to perform some of her biggest hits from her new “Teenage Dream” album, including the #1 title track and “California Gurls.” She last performed at the Y100 “Jingle Ball” in 2008, in support of her “One of the Boys” album. The “Jingle Ball” is just one of the many appearances she has lined up this year before she kicks off her “California Dreams” world tour in February.

Adam Lambert is currently on his own successful world tour in support of his “For Your Entertainment” album. He’ll take the stage in South Florida for the second time in less than three months as part of the “Jingle Ball,” and by popular demand too. He was #1 on the radio station’s poll as to who listeners wanted to see at the show. He hosted last year’s “Y100 Jingle Ball” along with “Gossip Girl” star Leighton Meester, but did not perform.

Selena Gomez will take the stage for the first time to perform hits from her album “A Year Without Rain,” while B.o.B. will also make his “Jingle Ball” debut performing his smash debut singles from this year, including “Airplanes” with Hayley Williams and “Nothin’ On You” with Bruno Mars.

Taio Cruz also makes his first “Jingle Ball” appearance, thanks to his hit singles off his “Rokstarr” album, including the #1 “Break Your Heart” and “Dynamite.” Jay Sean is also “Down” for the party for the first time, sure to party like its “2012.”

Flo Rida returns for another year, having performed at last year’s concert, while Enrique Iglesias makes his return to the “Jingle Ball” this year. Train and The Script, offering some much-need rock sounds to the proceedings, will also perform.

Tickets for the 2010 “Y100 Jingle Ball” are currently in pre-sales and will go on sale to the general public this weekend.

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If you were playing a word association game, the word “Denny’s,” wouldn’t be confused with “gourmand” or “high of the line.” It’s not a place known for luxurious accomodations, or five famous person cuisine. Denny’s is merely a smart place to urge a meal, when an evening of partying or before daily of fishing. The majority of of their locations are open 24 hours every day/twelve months a year, which them convenient for these purposes. Denny’s has been around since the 50′s, when the first location was opened in California by Harold Butler. They currently have over 1600 locations in the United States, with over one thousand of those being franchised possessed. This suggests that Denny’s is the the majority of important full service family vogue restaurant in the country, and they’re visible in communities on both the East and West coasts. The majority of of them are located off of primary intersections, or by exits on interstates. This typically leads to an interesting clientele, and Denny’s has had issues with how individuals are treated.

Although Denny’s is known for its positive commercials,including the one where the woman refers to it as “Lenny’s”, this chain has had some valid issues in the last decade. There were various incidents of poor service involving minorities, including a well publicized 1 with a cluster of United States Secret Service agents. When lawsuits and boycotts, Denny’s finally set to increase its diversity training. They have a zero tolerance policy for any sort of discrimination, and have signed charters with African Yank and Hispanic advocacy teams to increase opportunities for minorities in the company. Additionally, Denny’s has been a good corporate citizen towards underprivileged youngsters, as they’re a serious sponsor of the organization “Save the Children.” Every year they donate some of their proceeds to the present, and even sell merchandise like ties,shirts, and hats to bring it required funding. I have been in Denny’s many times, and at a heap of their locations in the Mid Atlantic Region. I’ve got never seen any activity that would seem to be discriminatory, and my acquaintances are diverse and eclectic. Service could be a serious issue with Denny’s, as all locations have a ton of inconsistency. It is either outstanding, or bottom of the barrel. I have been striveing to find a contented medium for years in this regard, but it is just not possible. A heap of this is often due to the dimensions of the crowds, and how fast they’re arriving at the restaurant. On Friday and Saturday nights, there is invariably a substantial anticipate a table in non-smoking or the smoking sections.

The neat half concerning Denny’s, is that you’ll order breakfast at any time of day. But, when a night of drinking at my local bar, I usually opt for the appetizer/dinner menu. Denny’s lunch/dinner menu encompasses a lot of alternatives also, and their menu things include: Chicken Strips, Turkey and Stuffing, Steak Dinner, Fish and Chips, Country Fried Chicken, Steak and Shrimp, Classic Burger, Bacon Double Cheese Burger, Mushroom Burger, BLT, Boca Burger(Vegetarian), Club Sandwiches, Super Birds, Delidingers, Chicken Melts, etc. Their burgers are to be avoided. Although the Boca Burger may be a Soy Burger, I’m convinced the rest of their line has that as a additive. I can not prove this, but they’re disgusting.

The standard is at the lowest common demoninator, and it does not matter if you raise for it charred. You will still style how nasty it’s. For all of my vegetarian acquaintances(I am sorry, I am unable to do it), there are more options to settle on from then the Boca Burger. There’re salads which include: garden salad. They do not provide much, I’m sorry! If you like salad with meat, then you’ll be able to select from their Chef, Taco, Fried Chicken Strip, and Grilled Chicken Breast varieties. I can not say how smart they are, since I have never ordered any of them. However, their soups are quite decent, and style recent and yummy. Their soups are chicken noodle, broccoli and cheddar, clam chowder, and vegetable beef. Whoever created their Clam Chowder is from Spanking new England-it is very good.

Denny’s Restaurant – How Is It? Dennys Food and Facilities – A Review
Dennys – A Reviewer’s Opinion Dennys – A Reviewer’s Opinion

San Francisco, CA, United States (AHN) – California’s commuter train service, Caltrain, has approved a proposal to raise fares and cut service to address a $2.3 million budget shortfall.

The rail service’s board of directors voted Thursday to charge 25 cents more for each zone. The increase means a rider traveling from San Francisco to Atherton stations will pay $6.50 instead of $6.00. Caltrain has six zones beginning in San Francisco and ending in Gilroy.

The price of the annual Go Pass will be $155, up from $140.

The board also decided to stop midday trains 236, 237, 256 and 257. The four trains ply the San Francisco-San Jose route.

The changes take effect on Jan. 1.

Caltrain expects to earn an additional $1.4 million from the zone fare hike, and $150,000 from the Go Pass increase.

The agency has received more than 1,500 comments from riders during a month-long public comment period. Some groups had put forth formal proposals, such as the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition.

Caltrain had been considering more cuts but decided against reducing weekday early morning and evening service since many commuters would be left without a means to get to work.

Agency executive director Michael Scanlon made clear last month the changes would be the first of many because of a projected budget deficit of nearly $30 million in fiscal year 2012.

“These will be the good old days compared to what we will face in July,” Scanlon had said.

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Buena Park, CA, United States (AHN) – Ten people were injured Thursday night at Knott’s Berry Farm during a collision between two roller coasters.

A train on the Pony Express failed to climb a hill and crashed into another when it rolled backward, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The ride in the Buena Park theme park opened two years ago and has never had any accidents, a Knott’s Berry Farm spokesman told the newspaper.

According to the Orange County Fire Department, the victims suffered minor injuries and included teens as well as elderly people.

Officials are investigating the cause of the collision.

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Sacramento, CA, United States (AHN) – California has made changes to its driver’s licenses and identification cards, the first such revamp in nearly a decade.

The state Department of Motor Vehicles began issuing new cards this week to those with expired licenses and ID cards.

The cards have new security features to prevent fraud, such as a laser-engraved signature of the driver that can be felt by touch. An image of the cardholder also appears under ultraviolet light, and an outline of a brown bear can be seen when a flashlight is pressed against the back of the card.

Drivers under 21 will receive a vertically-formatted license to make it easier for businesses and law enforcement officers to identify the age of a cardholder.

“The new security features, coupled with advanced technology, make California driver licenses and identification cards one of the most secure identification documents in the country,” DMV Director George Valverde said in a statement.

The California DMV issues more than 8.25 million driver license and ID cards annually. The new cards are issued only to drivers with expired licenses.

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Los Angeles, CA, United States (AHN) – With four suicides related to gay bullying making national news this month, Ellen DeGeneres recorded a tearful video message urging that something must be done about the current crisis of bullying amongst teenagers which has lead to four deaths just this month.

In the video, DeGeneres express her devastation with the deaths of 18-year-old Tyler Clementi, a Rutgers University student who killed himself after being outed online after his roommates recorded him in a sexual act with another male, as well as 13-year-old Seth Walsh in Tehachapi, California, 13-year-old Asher Brown of Cypress, Texas and 15-year-old Billy Lucas in Greensberg, Indiana.

“This needs to be a wake-up call to everyone: teenage bullying and teasing is an epidemic in this country, and the death rate is climbing,” DeGeneres said. “One life lost in this senseless way is tragic. Four lives lost is a crisis.

“My heart is breaking for their families, their friends and for a society that continues to let this happen,” DeGeneres continued. “These kids needed us. We have an obligation to change this. There are messages everywhere that validate this kind of bullying and taunting and we have to make it stop. We can’t let intolerance and ignorance take another kid’s life.”

DeGeneres also lists ways to help stop bullying and also ways to seek out help for those who are being bullied. Among them are the Trevor Project, a 24-hour national help line for gay and questioning teens, the National Center for Bullying Prevention, Matthew’s Place run by the Matthew Shepherd Foundation, and Angels and Doves.

“Things will get easier, people’s minds will change, and you should be alive to see it,” DeGeneres said.

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Washington, DC, United States (AHN) – Burdened by a weak economy and the use of electronic communications, the Postal Service is studying options to keep itself viable after its request for a 2 cent increase in rates was denied.

The agency wanted to raise the price of first class mail to 46 cents, and that of postcards to 30 cents by next year. The Postal Regulatory Commission, however, unanimously ruled Thursday against a rate hike, saying there were no exigent circumstances to justify it.

The Postal Service has the power, under a 2006 law, to implement rate increases higher than the annual cap but only during exigent situations such as a natural disaster or terror attack.

“The Postal Service’s cash flow problem is not a result of the recession and would have occurred whether or not the recession took place. lt is the result of other, unrelated structural problems and the proposed exigent rate adjustments would neither solve nor delay those problems,” the commission said.

The author of the 2006 law, Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), had opposed the request for a price increase.

“In addition to not meeting the criteria set forth in the law, the exigent rate case is simply a bad business decision,” she said in a statement. “Rather than help restore postal solvency, an exigent rate increase will worsen the Postal Service’s crisis by further driving down mail volumes and thus revenues.”

The Postal Service expects a budget gap of about $7 billion next year despite cost cutting measures worth $10 billion in the last three years.

The agency receives no federal funds for its operations and depends only on revenues from postage and other services. It wants Congress to restructure its $5.5 billion annual payment to the Retiree Health Benefit Fund, an obligation it said it was able to pay for this fiscal year.

“The financial risk remains,” said postmaster general John Potter. “We will carefully manage every dollar we spend in the upcoming fiscal year. Our current forecast shows that we will not have sufficient cash to make the $5.5 billion payment due on Sept. 30, 2011.”

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