Jessica Chasmar

German President Joachim Gauck boycotting Sochi Olympics

German President Joachim Gauck will not attend the Winter Olympics in Russia next year over concerns about human rights. Published December 8, 2013

Twitter Inc. names first female board member

After facing criticism for a lack of diversity, Twitter Inc. has hired the first woman to its board, just a month after it raised $2.09 billion in an initial public offering. Published December 5, 2013

Dad buys $750 Xbox One from eBay, gets photo of the console instead

A teenage father in the U.K. is outraged after he paid an eBay seller roughly $750 for a Day One Edition of the Xbox One, which was supposed to be a gift for his 2-year-old son on Christmas, only to receive in the mail a color photo of the coveted console. Published December 5, 2013

7-year-old chomps down on 2-inch rusty nail baked into Panera Bread cookie

A New York woman had quite the shock when her 7-year-old daughter chomped down on a 2-inch rusty nail baked right into her chocolate chip cookie her mother had bought at Panera Bread. Published December 5, 2013

President Obama acknowledges living with illegal immigrant uncle: report

President Obama acknowledged on Thursday that he briefly roomed with his Kenyan uncle in the 1980s while preparing to study at Harvard, despite a 2011 statement by the White House stating the two had never met. Published December 5, 2013

Justin Bieber, crew detained at Australian airport in drug search

Singer Justin Bieber and his entourage were detained at Brisbane International Airport in Australia on suspicion of smuggling drugs, according to a news report. Published December 5, 2013

Oh my God! Costco lists Bible as fiction, Ron Burgundy memoir as gospel

Costco faces fresh ridicule after a Los Angeles Times columnist caught another Southern California location selling Ron Burgundy's book, a memoir by the fictional "Anchorman" character played by Will Ferrell, in the non-fiction section, just weeks after the wholesaler made headlines for labeling Bibles as fiction. Published December 5, 2013

Sarah Palin responds to Martin Bashir’s resignation, praises media

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin responded Thursday morning to Martin Bashir's resignation from MSNBC, saying it's "refreshing" that so many in the media criticized the former host for inflammatory remarks against her. Published December 5, 2013

Wingate University on lockdown after 2 shot dead

Wingate University in North Carolina is on lockdown after two people were shot and killed and another airlifted to the hospital following a reported shooting near campus Wednesday night. Published December 4, 2013

Principal bans Spanish language in intercom announcement: report

A Houston-area principal has been placed on administrative leave after announcing on her school's intercom that students would no longer be permitted to speak Spanish in class. Published December 4, 2013

10 whales dead, 41 others stranded in Everglades

Ten pilot whales have died and another 41 remain stranded in a remote area of Everglades National Park in Florida, as officials scurry to keep the mammals alive until high tide reaches. Published December 4, 2013

Xbox One, Playstation 4 games penalize users for cursing in their own homes

An Xbox One gamer became a viral hit after posting a video to YouTube showing him being penalized by his Kinect console for cursing in his own home. Published December 4, 2013

Martin Bashir resigns from MSNBC over ‘ill-judged’ comments about Sarah Palin

Just weeks after MSNBC host Martin Bashir issued a foul attack against former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on his show, the outspoken progressive announced he is resigning from the troubled network. Published December 4, 2013

Boston City Council unanimously approves 25 percent pay increase for police

The Boston City Council unanimously backed a 25.4 percent pay increase for police officers Wednesday afternoon, arguing that the increase will help keep the police on par with firefighters, who were given a raise in 2010. Published December 4, 2013

Secret Service arrests suspicious man near White House: report

A Washington, D.C., park near the White House has been cleared and placed on lockdown Wednesday afternoon after a man allegedly threw a package through the White House fence. Published December 4, 2013

Doritos Locos Tacos visionary dies at 41

Todd Mills, a visionary who became part of Taco Bell's billion-dollar Doritos Locos Tacos idea, died on Thanksgiving after battling brain cancer. He was 41. Published December 4, 2013

Georgia father jailed for 15 hours for alleged theft of 5 cents of power for electric car

A Georgia father was arrested and detained for 15 hours for allegedly stealing 5 cents worth of electricity to juice up his car at his son's school. Published December 4, 2013

Puerto Rico caravan honoring Paul Walker ends in 6 drunken-driving arrests, 72 speeding tickets

Six people were arrested for drunk driving and at least 72 others fined as drivers took a caravan through the streets of San Juan, Puerto Rico, to honor "Fast & Furious" star Paul Walker, police said. Published December 4, 2013

Keri Russell: ‘The Americans’ star’s home burglarized as she slept

Keri Russell, who stars in the FX series "The Americans," awoke Wednesday morning to intruders burglarizing her home, police said. Published December 4, 2013