Grace Niemitalo
[
This Day in History for July 8
Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history:
1776 – The first public reading of the Declaration of Independence happens in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, after which the Liberty Bell is rung (More info)
1777 – Vermont becomes the first colony to abolish slavery (More info)
[
Casey Anthony Juror Speaks Out: ‘There Wasn’t Enough Evidence’ [VIDEO]
Jennifer Ford, a juror on the Casey Anthony trial, spoke out Wednesday night on 'Nightline.' While Ford said she felt Anthony "had something to do" with the death of her child, she claimed there simply wasn't enough hard evidence to convict.
"There wasn't enough evidence," she said. "If you're going to charge someone with murder, don't you have to know how they killed someone, or why they might have killed someone, or have ... where/when/why/how? Those are important questions that were not answered."
[
Families of Military Suicide Victims Will Now Receive Presidential Condolences
Overturning a policy that has been in place for many years, the Obama administration announced Wednesday it will now send condolence letters to the families of service members who commit suicide.
"This issue is emotional, painful, and complicated," President Barack Obama said in a statement. "But these Americans served our nation bravely ... They didn't die because they were weak. And the fact that they didn't get the help they needed must change."
[
This Day in History for July 7 – US Annexes Hawaii and More
[
US Government Mandates Fast Food Nutrition Labeling
In an effort to help people make more informed choices when eating away from home, the federal government is introducing mandatory nutrition labeling for fast food menus and vending machines.
Items sold at movie theaters are exempt, which is odd given what calorie bombs those snacks can be.
The problem is that few Americans pay much attention to the nutrition labeling on even the packaged foods brought into their homes.
[
South Korea to Host 2018 Winter Olympics [PHOTOS]
[
‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?’ Soundtrack Gets 10th-Anniversary Reissue
In case you weren't one of the nine million people who purchased it the first time around, UMG is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' soundtrack by reissuing it with a second disc, packed with unreleased tracks.
The Deluxe Edition reissue, due August 16, adds a 17-track bonus disc to the original soundtrack - including 13 songs that were recorded during the original sessions but were, for various reasons, left off the original release, including performances from Van Dyke Parks, T Bone Burnett, Norman Blake, and the Cox Family.
[
This Day in History for June 15 – Twelfth Amendment Ratified and More
[
What Fun-Loving Town Has Been Voted America’s Dirtiest City?
It seems as if New Orleans has a long way to go to clean up after Hurricane Katrina.
New Orleans, where Sunday mornings on Bourbon Street look like a giant frat house after a kegger, has been crowned with the dubious honor of America's dirtiest city in a new survey.
[
What State Has the Most Politicians With College Degrees?
How can a state with so many smart people in charge have so many financial problems?
Nearly 90 percent of all legislators in California have a bachelor's degree or higher, the highest percentage of any state legislature in the US. Of course, considering the well-known money issues plaguing the state, maybe it's time voters elect someone who majored in economics.