(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

In a statement released by White House Press Secretary Jay Carney,  President Obama doesn’t accept responsibility for high gas prices–even though he shot down the Keystone Pipeline, and has attempted to put the squeeze on American drivers by pushing electric cars.

Carney attempted to tell the press that high gas prices are not Obama’s responsibility, and it’s not like he hasn’t done anything to expand oil production.   The key word here is oil production.   Carney went on to claim that Obama has opened up millions of  acres in the Gulf Of Mexico for oil drilling.  But what he did not say is that while they claim that, their enviornmental restrictions make it virtually impossible for new wells and sources to be tapped.    This subject has popped up again, as Florida drivers are not facing the possibility of $6 a gallon gasoline.  Asked if it’s fair for Americans to blame the Prez, Carney said rising gas prices are a “recurring problem.”     Gee,  a recurring problem because the White House and enviornmentalists will not allow the US to become more energy independent.  Instead, Obama dumps hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars into flawed green companies and electric cars that many consumers don’t want to  buy; all while ignoring the needs of the nation’s infrastructure that depends upon oil.

Relativity Media / Summit Entertainment / Lionsgate / Universal Pictures

We know winter has been long and cold, so duck into a theater this weekend to shake off the doldrums — the four new flicks opening in wide release should have a little something for everyone.

The long-awaited ‘Act of Valor’ stars real active-duty Navy SEALs in a fictionalized account of SEAL operations that takes audiences on an adrenaline-fueled, edge-of-their-seat journey.

In the suspense thriller ‘Gone,’ a woman who escaped from a kidnapper a year before discovers her sister has now been abducted by the same maniac.

‘Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds’ is the story of a man jolted out of his predictable routine when the chance to do a good deed finally sparks the courage to exchange the life that’s expected of him for the life he’s always really wanted.

And in ‘Wanderlust,’ Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd star as a stressed-out couple who move in to a hippie commune, where the change of perspective could cause more problems than it solves.

Here’s a sneak peek:

Act of Valor

Directed by: Scott Waugh
Starring: Roselyn Sanchez, Alex Veadov, Nestor Serrano, Jason Cottle, Rorke, Michael, Dave, Ajay, Sonny, Ray, Van O, Weimy, Emilio Rivera, Gonzalo Menendez
Get Tickets & Showtimes

Gone

Directed by: Heitor Dhalia
Starring: Amanda Seyfried, Daniel Sunjata, Jennifer Carpenter, Sebastian Stan, Wes Bentley
Get Tickets & Showtimes

Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds

Directed by: Tyler Perry
Starring: Tyler Perry, Thandie Newton, Gabrielle Union, Eddie Cibrian, Brian J. White, Jordenn Thompson, Phylicia Rashad, Beverly Johnson, Rebecca Romijn, Jamie Kennedy, Andrew Masset
Get Tickets & Showtimes

Wanderlust

Directed by: David Wain
Starring: Paul Rudd, Jennifer Aniston, Justin Theroux, Alan Alda, Malin Akerman
Get Tickets & Showtimes

(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Unlike election cycles in the past, this year we are seeing a steady stream of GOP contenders coming to the Tri Cities.

Last Friday, Ron Paul’s townhall in Richland,  earlier this week Josh Romney campaigning for dad Mitt, and now Newt Gingrich is popping through Kennewick as part of an Eastern Washington swing that will include Spokane.  His event is slated for Thursday February 23rd at the Columbia Center Red Lion at 11am. While the public is welcome,  his staffers do ask that people register for the event at his website.

(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Valerie Jarret should be tested for drugs.  The White House advisor, speaking at the University Of North Carolina Central Tuesday evening, dropped another nugget of wisdom.

She said folks getting and spending unemployment checks is a healthy thing because it stimulates the economy.  She went on to say (from the Weekly Standard):

 ”And so we need to make sure that we continue to support that important safety net. It not only is good for the family, but it’s good for the economy. People who receive that unemployment check go out and spend it and help stimulate the economy, so that’s healthy as well.”

 Just in case you don’t believe it, or are recovering from blood shooting from your eyes, here is the video clip of part of her address.  So, we’re guessing in the eyes of the WH,  it’s a good thing unemployment is hovering around 10 percent or higher (Real unemployment figures).

Virgin Galactic

Last month Virgin Galactic announced it would begin offering commercial space flights later this year.

The two-and-a-half hour trip just cracks the space barrier and offers about five minutes of weightlessness. It also comes with a fairly prohibitive price tag of $200,000 a pop.

But let’s say money was no object. Would you want to be among the first commercial space travelers?

Poll Position asked 1,145 adults that very question and found that only 23 percent thought the thrill of the great beyond outweighed the risks. Fifty-two percent said they would not be willing to take such a flight and 26 percent had no opinion.

[Poll Position]

Paul Morigi, Getty Images

State lawmakers in Indiana were recently presented with a resolution to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scouts organization and honor the positive influence the group has had on American women. Representative Bob Morris, a Republican from Fort Wayne, was the only representative to refuse to sign, citing a belief that the Girl Scouts is a “radicalized organization.”

The Indiana lawmaker sent a letter to his colleagues saying he plans to pull his daughters from their Girl Scout troop after he found information online claiming that the group “sexualizes” girls and promotes homosexuality. One source he cited was a conservative “news” website called World Net Daily.

In his letter, he claimed to have found allegations that the Girl Scouts are actually a tactical arm of Planned Parenthood that encourages the girls to have sex. He continued to say that the people who the Girl Scouts consider to be role models are all “feminists, lesbians, or Communists.”

He also mentioned an allegation that the organization allows transgender females to join. This misstatement of the facts was most likely based on a situation that arose last fall when a transgender male child was refused membership in a Colorado troop, but then allowed to join by the national organization, which encourages inclusiveness.

The scouts have received criticism for this inclusiveness and many groups and websites have been working very hard to “expose” them. Diane Tipton, president of the Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital said in response, “Misinformation is passing as fact. The Girl Scout organization does not take a position on abortion or birth control, and these topics are not part of the Girl Scout program or our materials. We believe these matters are best discussed by girls with their families.”

At this time, the Girl Scouts are not planning any changes in policy, but they have released a statement explaining where they stand on sensitive issues.

[via Huffington Post]

Thinkstock

A new Nielsen poll finds smartphones are becoming less of a luxury and more of a so-called necessity — at least for younger people.

Nielsen gathered data to learn more about the age, income and demographics of the typical US smartphone user. Specifically, the firm wanted to know if lower prices are making the devices more popular among those who earn less money.

Turns out more than half of people between 18 and 24 who make less than $15,000 per year are smartphone owners, compared to 43 percent of those aged 25 to 34 and just 31 percent of folks between 35 and 44 years old.

While researchers don’t know if the people surveyed, especially those in the younger group, have outside financial help (parents, spouses, etc.), it’s clear that even the respondents on limited budgets are making room for smartphone ownership.

But what researchers found most interesting is that although the younger set deems the devices a necessity, older people consider them more of a luxury — which is valuable information for developers, publishers and advertisers.

[TechCrunch]

(courtesy Washington sports network)

Following the announcement a few weeks ago that Walla Walla and the 7 Tri City High Schools are leaving the Big 9 conference,  school officials today unveiled the name of the new 8 team league they will be competing in.

The new league will be called “The Mid Columbia Conference,”  consisting of Walla Walla, and Richland, Hanford,  Pasco, Chiawana,  Kennewick, Kamiakin, and Southridge.    Citing economic issues that have been bubbling for years,  the Big 9 Athletic Directors and officials tried to work out a way to cut travel costs, but it just didn’t pan out. Last fall, the Big 9 originally split into a North and South format, but the North Schools said that really didn’t help their travel issues to WW and Tri Cities.

    While nothing is official,  it is assumed Wenatchee,  Eastmont,  Davis, Eisenhower and West Valley Yakima,  Moses Lake and possibly Sunnyside will be all that is left of the old Big 9.   The league had it’s origins back to the late 1960′s, with the original 9 teams being Richland, Pasco, Kennewick and Kamiakin; Davis and Ike,  WW, Moses Lake and Wenatchee.   The new Mid Columbia Conference will officially begin play for the 2012-13 school year.

Several thousand people attended the Ron Paul Townhall February 17th in Richland.  Send us your pictures of the event!

We’ve created the Newstalk 870 listener slideshow, a gallery of photos taken from the event by our listeners.   Send in your photos, and be a part of election history in the Tri Cities!

Photo by ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images)

The National Weather Service is calling for a high wind warning through Wednesday.

Steady winds between 30-40 mph, increasing to 50 by Wednesday,  as well as gusts expected to reach 65mph in some areas.   Residents are advised to take care traveling-especially in outlying areas due to blowing dust.  And a tip from Newstalk 870, keep an eye on the roof shingles, and make sure your patio furniture and dumpsters dont’ go strolling down the streets!   National Weather Service information here.

(Photo by Carsten Koall/Getty Images)

Just in time for your return to work Tuesday, we present a list of people that no matter what EOE says, you would NOT hire to work in your business.
Despite hiring laws, EOE, and other factors that make it practically impossible NOT to hire someone for a job (unless transitioning from fast food to NASA),  we present a list of people who would only qualify for a gig in a fun house, or haunted house.    When you see these folks, just remember–it’s because of our free country that people are allowed to do this to themselves…oh-and one more warning.  Don’t eat lunch before you see some of them.  Happy Viewing!  Click here for the slideshow courtesy of buzzfeed.com.

(Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images)

The mother of a man charged with the horriffic slaying of his grandmother feared for her safety years ago.

According to court reports, Peggy Lou Williams, mother of 28 year old Adam Williams, sought a protection order from her son in December 2001.  She feared for her safety, indicating when he got high on drugs she had no idea how he would react.  Williams is being evaluated by Eastern State Hospital after he claims God told him to kill his 87 year old grandmother Viola Williams.  He beat, strangled and stabbed the elderly woman in her Sun Meadows home in Kennewick  January 27th.  At the time his mother requested protection, Adam Williams was 18.  She found out he had an outstanding arrest warrant and had been doing meth.

Universal Pictures

The Denzel Washington/Ryan Reynolds thriller ‘Safe House’ kept movie-goers on the edge of their seats this holiday weekend, earning $28.4 million to land at the top of the charts in its second week of release.

‘The Vow’ took in $26.6 million for the runner-up spot, barely squeaking past ‘Journey 2: The Mysterious Island,’ which sold $26.4 million in tickets for third.

Rounding out the top five? Nicolas Cage’s ‘Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance’ and the Reese Witherspoon rom-com ‘This Means War,’ which netted $25.7 million and $20.4 million, respectively.

Here’s a list of the top 10 movies at the box office Friday through Monday with estimated grosses, along with how much each movie has made since its release:

1. ‘Safe House’ – $28.4 million, $82.6 million total
2. ‘The Vow’ – $26.6 million, $88.5 million total
3. ‘Journey 2: The Mysterious Island’ – $26.4 million, $59.5 million total
4. ‘Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance’ – $25.7 million, new release
5. ‘This Means War’ – $20.4 million, $22 million total
6. ‘Star Wars: Episode I – Phantom Menace’ – $10.1 million, $36 million total
7. ‘Chronicle’ – $9.2 million, $52.6 million total
8. ‘The Secret World Of Arrietty’ – $8.1 million, new release
9. ‘The Woman in Black’ – $7.9 million, $46.5 million total
10. ‘The Grey’ – $3.7 million, $48.6 million total

[Box Office Mojo]

(Photo by Johannes Simon/Getty Images)

Three people are confirmed dead after a Stevens Pass avalanche roared through the Tunnel Creek Canyon Road area.

Information is still being assembled, but authorities say three people died in the slide.  It is not known what triggered the massive snow spill, but police say several other people who were missing are now accounted for.  Officials issued an avalanche warning for above 5,000 feet throughout much of the area, and the Cascades in general.   Heavy snowfall has left unstable snow in less traveled areas.  This slide did not affect Highway 2, it occured just outside of Skykomish.

(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

With the Bud Shootout kicking off SpeedWeeks at Daytona, and the 500 next Sunday, the subject of cheating has already reared it’s ugly head.

Former NASCAR champ Jimmy Johnson, driver of the Lowe’s #48 Chevrolet,  is probably going to lose his crew chief Chad Knauss post Daytona for a few races after Johnson’s car was found to have flagrant, blatantly illegal parts.  

   The cars go thru multiple inspections where NASCAR officials use templates, or master patterns, to make sure every square inch of the car is within the rules.  Johnson’s car had illegally modified C-posts.  On your car, it’s the narrow part that joins the body to the roof, the “post” between the back window and side windows.   It is one of the four places the roof is attached to the body.

   Today’s NASCAR stock cars are so highly engineered even the slightly variation can result in increased speed due to aerodynamics.  Johnson’s car was so beyond the rules that NASCAR inspectors noticed it in line even before his inspection began.  The parts were confiscated, and the Hendrick Motorsports team will be given a chance to fix it.  Assuming they meet tech, the car will be allowed to qualify for the 500 next week.    Here’s the rub:  unlike other professional sports, NASCAR will not assess the situation and hand down any fines or punishment until after Daytona is over!  Knauss will probably be looking at a suspension and Hendrick Motorsports a six figure fine; but to the big teams (Hendrick, Rousch, Childress, Joe Gibbs) that’s a drop in the bucket.

 Most cheating in the stick and ball sports (NFL, MLB etc) is from performance enhancing drugs. Equipment violations are the big thing in NASCAR obviously.  But in other pro sports, players who cheat are usually suspended for at least a game or more.  Repeated violations of, for example, performance enhancing drug rules, results in BIG suspensions.  Manny Ramierez retired from the MLB Tampa Bay Rays last year rather than serve a 100 game suspension for PED’s.  Players have even been kicked out of leagues for illegal drug use-coke, heroin etc.

  Why doesn’t NASCAR suspend the driver for cheating?  For ‘deliberate’ violations-cheating-NASCAR has suspended crew chiefs, fined the team, and rarely, takes away points.  But suspending or parking the driver will get their attention.  It would cause the team to fall behind and serve as a real deterrent.   Despite Johnson’s five NASCAR titles, Knauss is the most heavily penalized crew chief in the last ten years, getting kicked out of Speedweeks 5 years ago for violations;  a few years ago at Sears Point he cut the wheel well fenders two inches for an aerodynamic edge and was suspended.  The team was docked 100 points, but Johnson was the points leader by 180 at that time; it really didn’t hurt him.   Knauss was also dinged for another violation and suspended for 3 weeks two years ago.  In the NFL, repeated violations of drug policy, for example, can result in players being kicked out for an entire season!

  Every year, many teams make minor mistakes that NASCAR can tell are unintentional; the team gets a small fine, it’s fixed, they move on.  But for flagrant cheating, it won’t end until the driver and car are pulled out of a few races.  Missing a race or two destroys your chance at winning a title, and would solve the problem.  By comparison, the only other major team crew chief to recently receive a multi-race suspension was Todd Berrier, Kevin  Harvick’s lead man, who tried to tinker with the size of the #29 car’s fuel cell a few years ago.  Hendrick Motorsports says they push the rules; we call it cheating and it will continue because the penalties are not stiff enough to deter them.   The perception of the #48 team with many fans, and inside the NASCAR garages, is that they are so big and powerful that they are ‘above’ the rules, and can afford any penalties taken for deliberately trying to skirt the rules.

  Take our poll:  Should NASCAR suspend a driver for a race (or races) for obvious cheating?

(Photo by Steadicopter/Getty Images)

A remote controlled private surveillance drone being used by an animal rights group to monitor a hunting event ended up just like the birds.

The group SHARK (Showing Animals Respect and Kindness) was using the drone to film a pidgeon shoot taking place on the private Broxton Bridge Plantation near Orangeburg South Carolina, when it was shot down by unidentified individuals, believed to be involved in the hunt.   Owners of the plantation regularly hold bird shoots, where participants are allowed to shoot down birds once they are released from a hold.

  The SHARK group disrupted the event to the point where most of the shooters got in their cars and left.  They decided to send up the drone anyway, and just seconds after it gained altitude and began to fly towards the plantation, it was shot down by a series of well placed rifle rounds.  It sustained considerable damage.  Law enforcement officials plan to pursue the case because they say the shots were fired in the direction of a busy nearby highway.   While we don’t advocate shooting down surveillance drones,  we are sure that many people who read this will at least crack a wide smile.   The drone was a relatively simple helicopter style unit, not the sophisticated machines we are used to seeing with the military on television.

Mars Inc.

Mars Inc., makers of Snickers and M&Ms, announced Thursday it will phase out the king-size version of its candy bars, the Chicago Tribune reports.

The candymaker will stop shipping bars that contain more than 250 calories by the end of 2013. The company’s chocolate brands include Snickers, Twix, 3 Musketeers, Milky Way, M&Ms and Galaxy.

The king-size version of Snickers racks up a whopping 510 calories; king-size M&M have 470 calories. A regular-size Snickers has 280 calories; a regular-size peanut M&Ms boasts 250 calories per package.

Mars also plans to reduce their sodium levels in all products by 25 percent by 2015.

Source: TheCheckup.com

Sean Gallup, Getty Images

Cisco’s annual Global Mobile Data Traffic Forecast makes some interesting (some may say frightening) predictions, including the fact that the number of mobile-connected devices will exceed the world’s population sometime this year.

The study, which looked at worldwide mobile networks, also found mobile data traffic went up 133 percent in 2011 and will likely grow another 110 percent this year.

It’s not a surprising trend, given all the mobile devices on the market — the number of wireless subscriber connections in the US already outnumbers our population.

As for who’s using all that data, blame those with Android devices — they use 29 percent more than Apple’s iOS devotees.

But overall, Cisco reports that by 2017, some 60 percent of mobile users will gobble up more than a gigabyte of monthly mobile data, compared to the only 0.5 percent who did last year.

[PC Magazine]

(courtesy KVEW 42 ABC TV )

GOP Candidate Ron Paul visited the Tri Cities Friday, holding a brief Townhall meeting at the Richland Red Lion Hotel.

The crowd had to be moved to the outside because the maximum occupancy allowances were reached, and Richland fire officials had many move outside the hotel.  Paul addressed the inside and outside crowds, and reiterated his positions on a variety of issues.   He is the first Presidential candidate to visit the Tri-Cities, and the first in many years.   Depending upon sources, various estimates put the crowd at between 1,500 and 2,000 people.   BIG thanks to our friends at KVEW 42 ABC for their assistance and help with video.   See more at their website as well.

(chad kramer photo-Newstalk 870)

A big congrats to Chad Kramer, our latest TC Americans fan of the week winner!

Chad was randomly chosen from all our great entries, and grabs a pair of tix for an upcoming game.  He will also go into the drawing at the end of the regular season for a shot at a pair of tickets for EVERY home playoff game, as far as the Am’s go into the post season.  Keep sending entries if you haven’t entered, and if you HAVE,  you are still eligible each week!   PLUS–this just in.  Besides each weekly winner,  at season’s end, we will throw in one more name randomly drawn from the rest of the entries.

  Thanks to all our great Ams fans from Newstalk 870!