Staffer fired for racist posts
Trump’s campaign fires a staffer for having placed racist posts on Facebook. The terminated worker made numerous inappropriate posts dating as far back as 2007. President Obama and Al Sharpton’s daughter are among the people said to have been mentioned, although the person in question, Nunberg, says he does not remember writing them. One of Trump’s advisers confirms that Nunberg is no longer associated with the Donald J. Trump for president campaign,
Flight diverted
A flight to Boston from Denver is diverted because a man refuses to stop smoking in the lavatory. The flight returns after about a half hour of flying. The man is taken to a hospital for detoxification, and the flight cancelled because the crew would have exceeded the maximum allowable flight hours if they took off again.
Suspended
The NFL suspends Brady for four games for having allegedly participated in a scheme to deflate footballs during the AFC Championship game against the Colts. Brady will miss games against the Steelers, Bills, Jaguars and Cowboys. NFL Executive President Vincent states that Brady’s unwillingness to cooperate factored into his punishment:
The report documents your failure to cooperate fully and candidly with the investigation, including by refusing to produce any relevant electronic evidence (emails, texts, etc.), despite being offered extraordinary safeguards by the investigators to protect unrelated personal information, and by providing testimony that the report concludes was not plausible and contradicted by other evidence.
Reporter caught in drive-thu
Traffic Jam Jimmy (Jimmy Uhrin) orders breakfast while being broadcast live on Fox 45 Baltimore. He first wanted to order off the lunch menu, but since it was too early for that he opted for an Egg McMuffin and a black coffee instead.
Hey, I’ve been in the car since 4 o’clock. I am starving. I’m just getting something real quick.
Troops isolated
About 60 American troops enter isolation at Fort Bragg in North Carolina after returning from Africa. The troops were in an area where the Ebola virus is present. Since nobody had direct contact with infected people, officials believe none of the troops to be infected:
This lets us start the calendar with that confidence, and then as I said we’ll be checking them every twelve hours with the same questions and the same temperature screening to make sure that they have no developing concerns,
Chicken Selects return
McDonald’s announces Chicken Selects are coming back to the menu in American restaurants, after having been absent for two years:
We look forward to bringing back this customer favorite made with chicken tenderloin.
Individual restaurant will determine if the Chicken Selects remain on the menu permanently:
They are limited time offer, however markets have the option to keep them if they want, so some areas may continue to sell them.
Turbulence
Severe turbulence on a flight bound to Hawaii injures seven people, six flight crew and one passenger. Two crew members declined medical attention, while the other people were transported to a hospital. United is investigating the incident:
Our primary focus is helping our passengers and crew, and our flight safety team will review what happened.
Board changes demanded
CtW Investment Group sends a letter to company directors demanding changes are made to the board. They feel that the recent replacement of the CEO is not enough to reverse the problems at the company:
Returning McDonald’s Corp to a path of long-term, profitable growth requires that Mr. Steven Easterbrook’s appointment as CEO is followed by a robust refreshment of the board’s membership and leadership,
Two more accusers
Two additional women accuse Cosby of sexual assault. Linda brown claims that he drugged her when she visited his hotel room in 1969. She does not remember how she came to be undressed.
He flipped me over and sexually assaulted me. I felt like a rag doll,
Lise-Lotte Lublin alleges that Cosby drugged her in 1989, in Las Vegas. She claims that after meeting him she eventually woke up in her home, with no recollection of how she got there.
Manager fired
The manager who was involved in an incident where another employee berated him, which was recorded and posted on YouTube, is fired. Company officials state that Brandon Robertson has been terminated because they did not like the way he handled the situation. Robertson does not believe that he could have done anything differently:
I asked him to leave. What was I supposed to do?
Employee meltdown
An employee at a St. Paul, Minnesota restaurant throws a tantrum after he is fired, in full view of customers. He goes on a profanity laced rant while damaging restaurant property. The worker seems to be upset because he is not being compensated for services rendered:
give me my (expletive) pay!
He eventually leaves the restaurant after having been asked to by the manager.
Suspended for six months
NBC suspends Williams for six months, without pay, for having inaccurately reported he came under fire in Iraq in 2003. The president of NBC News indicates the suspension will take effect immediately:
We let Brian know of our decision earlier today. Lester Holt will continue to substitute Anchor NBC Nightly News.
Admits Helicopter story inaccurate
Williams admits that a report he made in 2003 is not true. At the time he stated that that the helicopter he was flying in came under attack, but he now says that his helicopter never actually came under fire, that he confused his aircraft with another. Williams insists that he did not deliberately lie:
No, we never came under direct enemy fire to the aircraft.
Customer with kangaroo kicked out
Police kick out a customer of a Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, McDonald’s on account of the kangaroo she had with her. Diana Moyer claims the kangaroo is a service animal, and that it has been approved by a doctor. Moyer had been taking the animal to the restaurant for three months previously without incident, but the police were called and she and the animal were removed from the restaurant. Moyer’s husband later admits that it was not actually a service animal but a therapy animal, which is not exempt from rules that prohibit animals:
It’s a friend for her, a companion and we have a little car seat and stroller.
CEO replaced
McDonald’s announces that Don Thompson is leaving the company. Steve Easterbrook will take over as company president and chief executive officer. Thompson feels that Easterbrook is a good choice to succeed him:
It’s tough to say goodbye to the McFamily, but there is a time and season for everything. I am truly confident as I pass the reins over to Steve, that he will continue to move our business and brand forward.
NFL investigates Patriots
The NFL is investigating whether or not the Patriots have intentionally let some air out of footballs which were used by their offense during the AFC Championship Game victory over the Colts. The league has determined that 11 of the 12 balls used by the Patriots were significantly underinflated. The NFL:
We are not commenting at this time.
Employees file law suit
Ten former employees of a restaurant located in a Virginia McDonald’s, have made claims that they were discriminated against while on the job. Nine of the plaintiffs are African-American, and one is Hispanic. The suit alleges that they were wrongfully terminated and replaced with white employees.Plaintiffs were subjected to rampant racial and sexual harassment, committed by the restaurants’ highest-ranking supervisors. Together, these supervisors demeaned African American workers; often complained that:
There are too many black people in the store. Called African-American workers bitch, ghetto, and ratchet; called Hispanic workers dirty Mexican; disciplined African-American employees for rule infractions that were forgiven when committed by white employees; inappropriately touched female employees on their legs and buttocks; sent female employees sexual pictures; and solicited sexual relations from female employees.
Contract extended
Goalkeeper Hart signs a contract, which will have him defending the net for Manchester City through the 2018-2019 season. The England international is pleased to be extending his stay at the Etihad Stadium.
I’m really happy, I’ve been here a long time now and I want to keep that going.
Schedule released
MLS releases the schedule for the first week of play, as well as all home opening games. The first game of the season will take place on March 6, 2015, with the defending champion Galaxy hosting the Fire. MLS feels that:
The opening week of our 20th regular season will be one of the most exciting in recent memory,
Announces retirement
Abidal announces his retirement from professional soccer. The 35-year-old athlete, currently plays for Greek team Olympiacos. He has also played for FC Barcelona and for France. During the press conference announcing his retirement.
I depart for personal reasons, as I have said. Only a professional player knows when and how he has to retire.