WRLTHD: September 2013

Former Steeler L.C. Greenwood dies at 67

By Ray Fittipaldo / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Former Steelers

defensive end

L.C. Greenwood, a member of the Steeler Curtain defense, died this afternoon. He was 67.

Greenwood, who lived in Point Breeze, had been in the hospital for the past couple of days.

Greenwood played for the Steelers from 1969-81 and earned four Super Bowl rings. He was six-time Pro Bowl selection and registered 73 1/2 sacks during his career, which ranks second in franchise history behind Jason Gildon.

Greenwood's sacks are unofficial because the NFL did not officially begin keeping track of sacks until 1982.

Greenwood teamed up with Hall of Fame defensive lineman Joe Greene, Dwight White and Ernie Holmes to become the dominant defensive front four in the NFL in the early 1970s.

He was often at his best in the biggest games. In the Super Bowl X victory against Dallas, Greenwood sacked Roger Staubach four times.

Greenwood was a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005 and 2006 but was not elected either year. There had been a movement in recent years to get Greenwood into the Hall of Fame via the veteran's committee.

Ray Fittipaldo: rfittipaldo@post-gazette.com and Twitter @rayfitt1.

First Published September 29, 2013 2:46 pm

Jon Gosselin Reportedly Pulls a Gun on a Photographer

By K.C. BLUMM

Former reality TV star turned waiter Jon Gosselin reportedly pulled a gun on a photographer in Pennsylvania on Friday.

According to TMZ, the erstwhile Jon & Kate Plus 8 star got upset when a shutterbug followed him home from his new job waiting tables at the Black Dog restaurant in Beckersville, Pa.

She allegedly trailed him off the main roads and onto a dirt road as he headed to his isolated country cabin (where he has no Internet or TV), and when she whipped out her camera and started taking pics, Gosselin, 36, angrily approached her and allegedly pulled a gun out of the back of his pants.

The photographer claims the father of eight yelled at her for trespassing and then fired off a warning shot. He then followed her until she got back on the main road, she says.

Gosselin, meanwhile, acknowledges the incident but insists that he acted well within his rights

"I am licensed to carry a concealed handgun, which I withdrew and used to fire a warning shot away from the paparazza," he tells TMZ.

Gosselin, who split from wife Kate in a contentious 2009 divorce, admitted to Entertainment Tonight Wednesday that he's hit rock bottom "like 20 times" since his divorce, but doesn't regret the way his life has turned out.

"You learn from your mistakes," he said. "That's what builds you to who you are today."

Hong Kong Braces for Super Typhoon Usagi

By
ISABELLA STEGER

HONG KONG—Super Typhoon Usagi continued to make its way toward Hong Kong and China's southern Guangdong province on Saturday, as it swept toward the South China Sea with strong winds and heavy rain battering parts of Taiwan and the Philippines.

Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. 0293.HK -0.13% and its Dragonair unit will halt operations in the city starting Sunday evening, the airline said, with plans "to gradually resume services on Monday when weather conditions permit." Hong Kong Airlines and its Hong Kong Express Airways unit likewise canceled Sunday flights scheduled to take off after 6 p.m. Chu Kong Passenger Transport Co., which operates ferries between Hong Kong and mainland China, also announced service suspensions.

The travel disruptions come during a particularly busy time in the region, with China, Hong Kong and Taiwan all on long weekends for the Mid-Autumn Festival, while South Korea marks the Chuseok holiday. China officially returns to work on Sunday, so many mainland visitors to Hong Kong will be returning home Saturday—ahead of most of the flight and ferry cancellations.

At 7 p.m. local time Saturday, the Hong Kong Observatory said Usagi, one of the strongest storms in the region this year, was about 610 kilometers (379 miles) east-southeast of Hong Kong. Earlier it put maximum sustained winds near the center of the storm at 195 kilometers (121 miles) an hour.

The observatory issued the No. 1 (standby) signal for Hong Kong at 10:40 a.m. local time and expected to upgrade the warning to No. 3 (strong wind) Saturday night. It said Usagi will come "rather close" Sunday and Monday and "pose a severe threat to Hong Kong."

But for Saturday, the observatory warning in effect was for very hot weather. Under hazy sunshine, the air calm, it was business as usual in Hong Kong. The stores in Tsim Sha Tsui weren't yet taking storm precautions, and they reported no impact on shopping.

In the Philippines, which on Friday raised the storm warning to the highest level for the first time since 2010, the typhoon made landfall in the country's northern tip early Saturday, causing flooding and landslides in the mountainous provinces and knocking out power in the area. Winds increased to 215 kilometers an hour with gusts of up to 250 kilometers an hour, according to the government's weather agency.

It said that Usagi, also known as Odette in the Philippines, had intensified and was "in the vicinity" of the Batanes group of islands in the Luzon Strait, which separates the northern Philippines from southern Taiwan.

The governor of Batanes, Vicente Cato, said in a radio interview Saturday that power was down, making communications more difficult.

Taiwan issued typhoon warnings and heavy-rain advisories Saturday morning for a number of counties in the southern part of the island and along the east coast. Schools and businesses were closed in a dozen counties and cities, according to Taiwan's Central News Agency. The military has mobilized 23,000 servicemen for disaster relief.

Nearly 2,500 people were evacuated from flood-prone areas and remote mountainous regions as the government deployed military personnel into potential disaster zones, the Associated Press reported. In 13 hours the storm system dumped more than 200 millimeters (8 inches) of rain along Taiwan's eastern and southern coasts, with officials warning the total could hit 1,000 millimeters, according to AP. Landslides blocked some mountain highways.

China on Saturday upgraded its storm warning to the highest of its four levels, "red," according to the official Xinhua news agency. Xinhua reported Friday that more than 20,000 fishing boats operating out of Fujian province, which borders Guangdong, had returned to port to seek shelter.

Dragonair had already canceled one flight on Saturday from Taichung, in Taiwan, to Hong Kong. Dragonair and its parent Cathay Pacific warned against nonessential travel on Sunday and Monday. Hong Kong International Airport said it was advising passengers departing the city to check flight information with their airlines or on the airport's website (hongkongairport.com).

—Cris Larano in Manila and Dean Napolitano

Two Shooters May Still be at Large at D.C. Navy Yard; Multiple Victims Dead

D.C. police officer, base security officer among those shot; massive search continues

Police say as many as two gunmen may still be at large near the D.C. Navy Yard Monday after a shooting that began in a heavily secured building and left a number of people dead.

One other gunman has been killed, Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy Lanier said at a midday press conference.

Initial reports had said that 11 people were shot on base and four had died, but Lanier said that information was preliminary. "There are multiple victims inside deceased," Lanier said.

They are seeking two other people as "possible" gunmen, Lanier said. One was a white male, wearing a khaki military-type uniform and a beret hat. He was armed with a handgun, and was last seen about 8:30 a.m., Lanier said.

Lanier also said police were seeking a black man, aged about 50, who was wearing olive drab and was armed with a "long gun," though she did not give any other details about the weapon.

President Obama mentioned the shooting in remarks from the White House Monday. "We do know that several people have been shot and some have been killed," he said. "We are facing another mass shooting."

Though Lanier stressed that the scene was contined, people near the base are being asked to stay in their homes, and eight D.C. public schools and one private school nearby have been locked down.

A large search, including from helicopters, continues. "It's a large piece of land with many buildings," Assistant D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham told News4. "It's going to take a while to determine that it is safe."

Tactical teams have entered at least two buildings on the Navy Base to search for the shooter, and News4's Mark Segraves reported that three helicopters were seen tightly circling part of the base earlier.

Earlier Monday morning, the one known gunman walked into Building #197 at the Naval Sea Systems Command Headquarters, 1336 Isaac Hull Ave. in the Southeast section of the District. He shot a security guard in the head, killing him, sources confirmed to News4's Jackie Bensen.

The gunman then walked through the building, and seemed to target victims, Bensen reported. Some reports indicate he was armed with an AR-15, a military-style assault weapon.

D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department and several other law enforcement agencies responded, Bensen said. During that response, a MPD officer was shot in the leg.

That gunman was then shot by a FBI hostage response team, Bensen said.

MedStar Washington Hospital Center said the MPD officer was among three victims that had been transported to that hospital. The officer was shot in the legs; one other victim was shot in the shoulder and one was shot in the head and hand.

All are alert and speaking at this time, and there is a "very good chance they will survive," said Dr. Janis Orlowski, chief medical officer at the hospital.

However, the hospital has been prepared to expect more victims.

George Washington University Hospital said they had also received a victim, a man in his 60s who had been shot in the temple. Despite efforts at CPR, he was prounounced dead at the hospital.

One victim was evacuated from the roof of a building, reported News4's Tony Tull. A U.S. Park Police helicopter hovering above the scene around 9:50 a.m. lowered a basket to a building and lifted what appeared to be a shooting victim from the roof. The helicopter came back to the scene just after 10 a.m. to retrieve another victim.

But other details were sketchy from the scene, which continued to evolve through the morning. Shots rang out several times, including a volley that Tull reported at about 9:20 a.m. and another volley that News4's Mark Segraves heard at about 11 a.m.

Federal and local emergency personnel converged on the scene, and a shelter in place order has been issued for Navy Yard personnel, the Navy said.

Obama continues to get frequent briefings about the deadly shooting from senior aides. The White House says Obama directed his team to stay in touch with the Navy, FBI and local officials as the events unfold.

The Navy Yard is located in southeast Washington on the Anacostia River. The Navy says 3,000 people work inside the building, including command staff, headquarters directorates and field activities. They coordinate the Naval Sea Systems Command, or NAVSEA, the largest of the Navy's five system commands.

Stay with NBCWashington on-air and online for more on this developing story.

Copyright Associated Press / NBC4 Washington

Matt Drudge Eviscerates Dianne Feinstein “Declaring who qualifies for freedom of press is ridiculous!”

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved a measure late Thursday that would establish a federal shield law for reporters or journalists in the United States.

“I can’t support it if everyone who has a blog has a special privilege … or if Edward Snowden were to sit down and write this stuff, he would have a privilege. I’m not going to go there,” said Feinstein during the committee meeting.

The original amendment, as proposed by Feinstein, had limited the definition of a “journalist” to someone employed by or in contract with “an entity or service that disseminates news and information.”

Under that definition, a student working for a tiny college newspaper would get protection, but Drudge and his new-media brethren might not.

“The fundamental issue behind this amendment is, should this privilege apply to anyone, to a 17-year-old who drops out of high school, buys a website for five dollars and starts a blog? Or should it apply to journalists, to reporters, who have bona fide credentials?” Feinstein asked.

The legislation was amended, before passing out of committee, to define who would be a “covered journalist.” That definition had been an obstacle to broader legislation designed to “protect” reporters and the news media from having to reveal their sources.

New-media pioneer Matt Drudge called Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., a “fascist” after she suggested only “real reporters” deserved protection under a new media-shield law.

“Comments from Sen. Feinstein yesterday on who’s a reporter were disgusting,” Drudge tweeted, adding that a “17-year old ‘blogger’ is as important as Wolf Blitzer.”

“Fascist!” he declared.

Drudge, the owner and operator of the most successful news site on the Internet, took to Twitter to defend bloggers and to hammer the senator.

Feinstein worked with Sens. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., a chief proponent of the media-shield legislation, and Dick Durbin, D-Ill., as well as representatives from news organizations, on the compromise.

The bill would protect reporters and news media organizations from being required to reveal the identities of confidential sources, but it does not grant an absolute privilege for journalists.

Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., complained that the definition of a journalist was too broad.

Pushing back, Feinstein said the intent was to set up a test to determine a bona fide journalist.

“I think journalism has a certain tradecraft. It’s a profession. I recognize that everyone can think they’re a journalist,” Feinstein said.

The bill now on the Senate floor would define a journalist as someone employed by or in contract with a media outlet for at least one year within the last 20 years or three months within the last five years; someone with a substantial track record of freelancing in the last five years; or a student journalist. A federal judge also would have the discretion to declare an individual a “covered journalist,” who would be granted the privileges of the law.

Drudge pointed out that a federal judge once ruled that he was “not a reporter, a journalist, or a newsgatherer.”

“Millions of readers a day come for cooking recipes??!” he asked incredulously.

“Gov’t declaring who qualifies for freedom of press in digital age is ridiculous!” Drudge added. “It belongs to anyone for any reason. No amendment necessary.”

2 Million Bikers’ roar into D.C. to honor 9/11, protest Muslim rally

By Meredith Somers
Thousands of bikers from around the country roared into the D.C. area on Wednesday in a show of support for Sept. 11 victims and in solidarity against a controversial Muslim rally on the Mall.

The bikers began departing from the store at about 10:30 in staggered groups of 50, stopped for traffic lights and taking an hour or so to get on the road.

The 2 Million Bikers to DC ride might have fallen short of 2 million strong, but the numbers were impressive. A line of shining chrome and steel bikes stretched about a third of a mile from the starting point at the Harley Davidson of Washington store just outside the District in Prince George’s County.

The ride was complicated by the fact that federal and local authorities denied a permit that would have offered the riders a police escort through traffic — a sore spot with organizers who thought the denial was for political purposes.

“We’re here for 9-11,” said national ride coordinator Belinda Bee.

“We are going to have a peaceful ride. … But there are people who are sick and tired of their rights and liberties being taken away.”

The National Park Service has denied any political motivation for refusing the permit, which ride organizers sought last month. The Park Service earlier this year granted a permit to a Muslim group planning a rally Wednesday to call attention to social justice issues.

The American Muslim Political Action Committee has scheduled a rally to draw attention to what they call unfair fear of Muslims after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Ms. Bee said the ride was originally set up to counter the rally and show respect for the victims of that day.

Dan O’Brien, 54, of Mansfield, Ohio, said he had been “looking for a ride like this” to honor the Sept. 11 victims, but the rally also spurred him to join.

“This is very disgraceful,” he said. “They picked a day precious to the United States and its citizens.”

Johnny Cash documentary promises lots of new insights

BY DOUG CAMILLI, POSTMEDIA NEWS
Saul Holiff, who managed Johnny Cash’s career, killed himself in 2005, just before the release of the Joaquin Phoenix biopic about Cash, Walk the Line.

Now Saul’s son Jonathan Holiff has made a documentary, My Father and the Man in Black, which promises lots of new insights (read: “dirt”) on Cash.

“This is the anti-Walk the Line”, Jonathan told Fox411. “This is never-before-seen-or-told information that will shock and surprise. This isn’t spoon fed by a studio or the Cash estate. Johnny was the original bad boy.”

Miley Cyrus: Naked, Riding Wrecking Ball in New Music Video

by Hilton Hater

For her latest music video, Miley Cyrus has left her foam finger and her Twerking teddy bears at home.

Also, her clothes.

Yes, the "We Can't Stop" singer keeps things simple and very naked in the official video for "Wrecking Ball," riding around in her birthday suit while straddling the apparatus after which the track is titled.

The footage starts with an extreme close-up of an emotional Miley - but as the single speeds up and the words pour out, there's Cyrus, ditching her clothing and scarcely cover up her private parts with a giant chain.

Prepare for many more days' worth of headlines and controversy over a 20-year old exposing her body in such a manner and react to the "Wrecking Ball" music video now: