Twitter is really trying to "suck" less at dealing with online abuse. This week Twitter announced that it will let users report threats and other types of harassment to local law enforcement. The new feature is part of Twitter's plan to end online bullying and make Twitter a pleasant social space. Twitter CEO Dick Costolo said himself in an internal memo that The Verge got ahold of that Twitter "sucks at dealing with abuse." Ever since, the company has tried to revamp its blocking tools, abuse-reporting tools and its terms of service to put an end to revenge porn. Twitter suggests that the new feature should only be used if the user fears for their physical safety. Users will be able to file a report by clicking on the ellipsis icon at the bottom of a tweet and then hitting "report." Once the report has been filed, a new "Email report" option will appear. By clicking that button users will send a copy of their reports to the police. "While we take threats of violence … [Read more...] about Twitter makes it easier to report harassment to local law enforcement
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SEE IT: Virginia girl haunted by nightmares of white van as neighbors claim vehicle is terrorizing locals
A vengeful white van is supposedly haunting an entire county in Virginia — particularly one 4-year-old girl whose life was recently touched by tragedy. Little Elisa lost her mother, Natali Castellanos-Tyler, to what police said was a one-car crash caused by bad weather in February. But now her father, Craig Tyler, claims Elisa keeps having nightmares about being hit by a white van — at the same time locals are apparently facing that fear in the real world. “The nightmares were in the nighttime and now they’re coming into the day. She’ll just start walking and she’ll start screaming ‘the van, the white van!’” Tyler told WTVR. “I’ll say, ‘What happened with the white van,’ and she says, ‘It hurt me — it hurt my car!’” Several other residents of Chesterfield County say they were involved in recent accidents caused by a white van, according to WTVR. … [Read more...] about SEE IT: Virginia girl haunted by nightmares of white van as neighbors claim vehicle is terrorizing locals
Kim Kardashian’s visit to Armenian church ruffles local bishop
YEREVAN, Armenia — On a visit to Armenia, Kim Kardashian has seen that stardom's privileges have limits. Kardashian, along with husband Kanye West, their daughter and her sister Khloe on Saturday were in Gyumri, a city 90 kilometers (55 miles) northwest of the capital Yerevan, where records show some Kardashian ancestors lived. When the entourage went into the Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God, bodyguards tried to close its doors to keep journalists and onlookers away. But the local bishop, Mikayel Adjapagian, sharply objected to obstructing worshippers from the church. The bodyguards relented and the doors stayed open. Afterwards, the Kardashians and cameramen shooting footage for their reality show went to a house where ancestors once lived. The house is currently unoccupied. … [Read more...] about Kim Kardashian’s visit to Armenian church ruffles local bishop
NCAA Tournament: Local star JayVaughn Pinkston and Villanova lead East region
BEST ROUND OF 64 MATCH-UP North Carolina State (8) vs. LSU (9) Thursday at Pittsburgh. Wolfpack has wins over Duke and Carolina in the ACC. The Tigers of the SEC have been an enigma, but both teams have size to cause top seed Villanova problems in the third round. The Wolfpack have a slight advantage here if LSU's 6-10 Jordan Mickey, who played limited minutes inside, is limited with a shoulder injury. RELATED: PRINTABLE NCAA TOURNAMENT BRACKET UPSET SPECIAL Wyoming (12) over Northern Iowa (5) Friday at Seattle. Wyoming is coached by Larry Shyatt, who put in the defense on Florida's two national championship teams in 2006 and 2007, is a master at controlling tempo and has a force in Larry Nance Jr., who has made a successful return from a bout with mono. Northern Iowa has a long road trip to the West Coast. First team to 40 wins. BEST DOUBLE-DIGIT SEED Dayton (11). A-10 Flyers may be playing in first four, but have a huge advantage playing at home against Boise State. … [Read more...] about NCAA Tournament: Local star JayVaughn Pinkston and Villanova lead East region
SEE IT: African Moon Moth lays eggs in local news reporter’s ear during live segment
Now that was an egg-cellent interview. An African Moon Moth planted two eggs in WTTG-TV reporter Bob Barnard’s ear while the local Washington, D.C. news man gabbed with a National Museum of Natural History curator on live TV on Monday. During a four-minute video segment highlighting the museum’s butterfly pavillion, the yellow insect makes its way from the Beltway journalist’s fleece vest to the area around his ear. “This African Moon Moth is mating with my earlobe,” Barnard said after a couple of minutes with the exotic species hanging from him. “I’ve done live shots out in hurricanes and thought that was cool but I’ve got an African Moon Moth in my ear.” Barnard had earlier joked about the bug biting his ear, but Insect Zoo manager Dan Babbitt pointed out that adult moon moths “actually don’t have any mouth parts” and can’t eat anything during their few days alive as adults. … [Read more...] about SEE IT: African Moon Moth lays eggs in local news reporter’s ear during live segment
Chuck Schumer, in line to become Congress’ leading Dem, still focusing on local N.Y. issues — like Staten Island Ferry
WASHINGTON — Chuck Schumer, poised to become the most powerful Democrat in Congress, stood Thursday on a platform by the Staten Island Ferry Terminal brandishing a model boat for four reporters and several passers-by. In line to become the Senate’s Democratic Leader in 2017, the New York senator has bigger fish to fry. Colleagues consider his support for a Senate bill that could block a nuclear framework deal with Iran critical. The White House is working to soften his view. After his ferry terminal appearance, Schumer received a personal briefing from Undersecretary of State Wendy Sherman, a lead negotiator of the framework, the first of what he said will be many briefings. He refuses to discuss his position on the Senate measure. Schumer, 64, oversees Senate Democrats’ messaging and policy, deciding what measures they push on the Senate floor. He stays involved in recruiting candidates to run in 2016, when Democrats hope to recapture the Senate, which would … [Read more...] about Chuck Schumer, in line to become Congress’ leading Dem, still focusing on local N.Y. issues — like Staten Island Ferry
Town of Elmira, N.Y., debating whether to keep hometown boy Brian Williams on local billboard
NBC News is trying to move on from its Brian Williams debacle. But the town of Elmira is just getting started with its debate. Since 2003, Williams’ mug has adorned a large billboard greeting visitors to the upstate hamlet, found about an hour’s drive west of Binghamton. The anchor even turned up back when the sign was dedicated. After NBC suspended Williams last winter for falsely claiming he was in a military helicopter that was shot down over Iraq, some in Elmira demanded that town officials remove the disgraced anchor from their sign. The town’s mayor resisted, but she now says the entire sign might have to go. The reason: wear and tear. “After examining our sign in its entirety, I find that it is showing its age,” Elmira Mayor Sue Skidmore tells us. “So it is possible that the whole sign may come down for that reason only.” The billboard greets visitors when they exit the highway. The sign features images of Williams and other … [Read more...] about Town of Elmira, N.Y., debating whether to keep hometown boy Brian Williams on local billboard
Local legend mountain lion free after getting stuck under Los Angeles house
This lion kept his pride. A mountain lion freed himself from a Los Angeles house crawlspace Tuesday, leaving on his own terms after authorities spent hours trying to rescue him. The wild cat, named P-22 by local scientists, had gotten caught under the house and refused to leave Monday. Authorities tried to coax him out all day, using a pole to poke him and tennis balls to get his attention, and finally fired beanbag rounds at him. Still, P-22 did not budge, forcing rescuers to suspend the operation at 1 a.m. When authorities came back in the morning, P-22 was gone, the Los Angeles Times reported. The mountain lion is a local legend that has been seen wandering around Los Angeles, even getting photographed with the landmark Hollywood sign behind him. He gained notoriety three years ago when he left the mountains, crossed two freeways and entered Griffith Park. Workers discovered his new hideout Monday worning while … [Read more...] about Local legend mountain lion free after getting stuck under Los Angeles house
EXCLUSIVE: Local officials warn moving New York’s presidential primary will cause state to lose delegates
Some irate local officials are warning New York will lose dozens of delegates to the 2016 Democratic convention following a successful push by former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to move the party’s primary from Passover week. Moving the primary from April 26 to April 19 would deprive New York of bonus delegates, which the Democratic National Committee doles out to states that cluster their primaries on one day. The bonus delegates typically boost the base number that a state receives by 15%. FOLLOW THE DAILY NEWS ON FACEBOOK. CLICK HERE TO "LIKE" The number of delegates a state is entitled to changes every year, based on a complicated formula that includes how many voters took part in the last three presidential elections. New York typically has more than 250 delegates as a base. Democrats want to have as many delegates as possible, for reasons of status and extra clout. The likely loss upset some Democrats, who thought Silver should have … [Read more...] about EXCLUSIVE: Local officials warn moving New York’s presidential primary will cause state to lose delegates
EXCLUSIVE: More parents seeking seats on local school boards, education officials say
More than twice as many parents are seeking seats on local school boards this year compared to the last elections in 2013, city Education Department officials told the Daily News. The increase in parents looking to serve on the city’s 36 Community Education Councils is thanks to boosted outreach efforts, the agency’s director for Family and Community Engagement Jesse Mojica said. “We are encouraged by the numbers but we want more parents to apply,” said Mojica. “Parent councils are the voices of their districts and we’re listening.” The deadline to apply for a seat is March 11. Elections end May 8. The city’s volunteer Community Education Councils have the power to create or alter school zones and make non-binding policy recommendations to the Education Department. Around this time in 2013, the city had 159 applicants for seats. As of Friday, 406 parents had applied. City schools boss … [Read more...] about EXCLUSIVE: More parents seeking seats on local school boards, education officials say