In case you have not heard, here is a list of the top news stories you should be aware of:
1. Heartbleed
A bug, which is being called Heartbleed, was found in security software used by majority of the Internet. Basically, cybercriminals can use this bug to acquire information that should be encrypted. This has been going on for the last two years… and we are just now finding out about it. Scary stuff.
2. Doctor Billing & Medicare
For the first time, the government released information concerning doctors’ billing methods. It turns out that 1 percent of the included medical providers were earning a lot of money off Medicare. Oh yeah, there were also gaps in the released records.
3. Happenings in North Korea
The isolated country’s leader, Kim Jong Un, was re-elected. What a surprise. In other news, rumors about “The Teletubbies” venturing to North Korea’s television programming might be true. The rumors began circulation in January, The Independent and Fox News are reporting the state is considering showing three British television programs: “Dr. Who”, “Top Gear” and “Teletubbies.”
4. Derrick Gordon
The University of Massachusetts men’s basketball player came out Wednesday. He is the first player in Division I men’s college basketball to do so. Gordon said Jason Collins, who became the first openly gay NBA active player last year, was his inspiration to make his sexuality publicly known.
5. Ex-IRS Officer is in Trouble
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee voted to hold Lois Lerner, who used to work as an Internal Revenue Service official, in contempt of Congress on Thursday. Apparently, she would not answer questions and exercised her rights under the Fifth Amendment at the hearings regarding supposed political targeting by the IRS. The committee is investigating alleged unfair treatment to the Tea Party and other conservative groups that applied for tax-exempt status.
6. More Trouble: Albuquerque Police
The Justice Department announced the Albuquerque Police Department has habits of excessive force.
7. Seriously Pakistan?
Pakistan charged a 9-month-old baby with murder.
8. More Bad News
A 16-year-old in Pennsylvania student stabbed some of his high school peers. Twenty-two were injured. There were no fatalities. A driver crashed into a Florida day care an a 4-year-old girl was killed; 14 other people were injured. The police are searching for the suspect.
9. David Letterman Replacement
CBS announced Stephen Colbert — known for “The Colbert Report” on Comedy Central — will be replacing David Letterman on the “Late Show” in 2015. Letterman announced his plans to retire last week.
10. Continued News
The Oscar Pistorius murder trial continues. The search for the Malaysian Airlines plane also continues — apparently there is some more small nuggets of information. There are still problems between Russia and Ukraine.
About Alicia Keene
