Douglas Ernst
Articles by Douglas Ernst
Gun charges stand for N.J. man without use of his arms
A spinal condition that prevents Marcus Hubbard from using his arms hasn't exempted him from gun possession charges in New Jersey. Published December 16, 2014
Pentagon sending 250 MRAPs to Iraq at no charge for Islamic State fight
Iraq will receive roughly 250 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles from the U.S. in 2015 — for free — to deal with roadside bombs set by the Islamic State group. Published December 16, 2014
Iraq’s ‘ghost soldiers’ collected tens-of-millions of dollars from government
"Ghost soldiers" collected tens-of-millions of dollars in payments from the Iraqi government before Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi could put a stop to some of the corruption. Published December 16, 2014
U.S.-Russia locked in Cold War race to deploy submarine drones
The U.S. Navy's Pacific Command's recent announcement that it has successfully completed tests on its GhostSwimmer unmanned underwater vehicle prompted an immediate rebuttal from Russia: They, too, are close to unmanned submarine drones. Published December 16, 2014
‘Selma’ director Ava DuVernay calls leaked Sony emails on Obama ‘sickening’
"Selma" director Ava DuVernay weighed in on Thursday regarding the Sony email hacking that revealed a racial conversation between producer Scott Rudin and Sony Pictures Entertainment co-chair Amy Pascal. Published December 12, 2014
Antonin Scalia enters CIA torture debate: ‘You think it’s an easy question?’
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has waded into the CIA torture debate after Democrats on the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee released a report on the interrogation techniques used after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Published December 12, 2014
Scott Stapp said he was CIA-trained to kill Obama, 911 call alleges of Creed singer
Creed frontman Scott Stapp believes the CIA trained him for a mission to assassinate President Obama, family members claim in a 911 call to get help for the singer. Published December 12, 2014
Navy submarine shower scandal nets 12 suspects
A U.S. Navy investigation into the shower scandal aboard the ballistic missile submarine Wyoming Gold Crew has netted 12 suspects. Published December 12, 2014
Angelina Jolie’s ‘Unbroken’ sparks Japanese boycott calls due to WWII torture claims
Angelina Jolie's film "Unbroken," which depicts the life of World War II hero and U.S. Olympian Louis Zamperini, is facing a boycott campaign in Japan over claims made in the 2010 Laura Hillenbrand book it used for inspiration. Published December 12, 2014
Samuel Adams and Paul Revere time capsule unearthed in Boston
Samuel Adams and Paul Revere buried a time capsule in 1795. Now, a Boston crew at the Massachusetts State House are digging it up. Published December 11, 2014
Princeton students start ‘microaggressions’ page to combat ‘papercuts of oppression’
The Princeton Tigers not just worried about aggression — they're worried about "microaggression." Students have relaunched a Facebook page dedicated to the "the paper cuts of oppression." Published December 11, 2014
Navy’s new Laser Weapon System delivers in the Persian Gulf
The U.S. Navy successfully tested its new Laser Weapon System (LaWS) in the Persian Gulf. Published December 11, 2014
Greenpeace’s Nazca lines stunt prompts Peru to seek criminal charges
Greenpeace is facing legal action after its activists disturbed the Nazca lines constructed in Peru's desert roughly 1,500 years ago. Published December 11, 2014
Teen blows himself up during Kabul play condemning suicide bombers
A teenage bomber in Kabul, Afghanistan, reportedly blew himself up Thursday during a play condemning suicide bombers, killing a German man and wounding 16 others. Published December 11, 2014
Russian jets intercepted by Dutch F-16s over Baltic Sea refused to identify themselves
Russian jets flying over the Baltic Sea on last weekend had to be intercepted by Dutch F-16s after they refused to identify themselves. Published December 11, 2014
FAA grants commercial drone permits to four companies
The commercial drone industry just got a boost from the Federal Aviation Administration — four companies have been granted permission to use the technology. Published December 11, 2014
Army building giant 150-acre drone airport in Texas
The U.S. Army is moving forward with a plan to build a giant airport for drones in Fort Worth, Texas. Published December 11, 2014
Seth Rogen blasted Sony CEO’s ‘The Interview’ edits as attempt ‘to make North Koreans happy’
Leaked emails from Sony Pictures Entertainment show that Sony Corp. Chief Executive Kazuo Hirai demanded changes to key scene involving Kim Jong-un. Writer and co-director Seth Rogen resisted the edits. Published December 10, 2014
Pablo Vega Cuevas, alleged head of Mexican drug cartel in Chicago, arrested
Prosecutors in Chicago said they arrested an alleged Mexico drug cartel boss who oversaw cocaine shipments into the area. Published December 10, 2014
Chris Matthews: Salon editor’s views on CIA report, al Qaeda are ‘crazy’
MSNBC's Chris Matthews is torn over the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee's report on CIA interrogation techniques, but he is certain Salon editor Joan Walsh's interpretation of it is "crazy." Published December 10, 2014