Friday 31 August 2018

One of Dota’s Weirdest Heroes Is Becoming One of Artifacts Craziest Cards

Not all existing Dota 2 heroes are guaranteed to make it into Valve’s next game, Artifact, but this crafty Geomancer, Meepo, is confirmed to get a card counterpart, and IGN has the first details on his cards.

In Artifact, almost every known hero card has either a passive or active ability and a signature spell card. Meepo is unique in that his card has both an active and a passive. His active ability, Poof, allows Meepo to move to an allied Meepos lane and deal 2 damage to his new enemy neighbors. His passive or “continuous effect” ability, United We Fall, requires that if Meepo dies, allied Meepos in other lanes die too.

Like in Dota 2, Meepo’s signature spell allows him to summon another Meepo. You can see the spell card and the art for other Meepo in the slideshow below. Each hero comes with three copies of their signature spell card, so there’s potential to have four Meepos across the board at once.

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IGN Plays Fortnite Live Today at 3:05pm PT/6:05pm ET

We're dropping four days of Fortnite livestreams on all of our streaming platforms, so join us today as we continue our quest to see how many Victory Royales we can get in a total of 8 hours of Fortnite streams.

Fortnite_4_YT

Today's action runs from 3:05-5:05pm PT/6:05-8:05pm ET/11:05pm-1:05am UK (Saturday, September 1 from 8:05-10:05am AET). As always, you can watch live right here on the front page of IGN.com, or you can find us on YouTubeTwitch, and Mixer.

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How Valve Won’t Let Artifact’s Marketplace Get Crazy Expensive

Artifact, the next game from Half-Life developer Valve, is decidedly bucking digital card game trends. Not only is it not free-to-play, it’s not going to have any kind of free in-game currency to spend on cards -- a decision Valve tells me is to avoid the grind that can make other CCGs feel like a job instead of a game.

“At its core, we want you to play the game because you enjoy playing the game,” programmer Brandon Reinhart told me when I visited Valve last week. They don’t want you to feel obligated to do daily quests just so you have enough gold to get a pack that might have the card you want. They want you to just play the game.

So instead of the usual digital model, Artifact is following a physical one like that of Magic: The Gathering -- whose creator, Richard Garfield, is also the lead designer of Artifact. It will have a $20 price tag that gets you two full decks and 10 card packs, and all card packs after that cost $2 each.

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Valve Is 'Very Aware of All the Jokes' People Make

It’s hard to go long on the internet without running into a ‘Half-Life 3 confirmed’ joke, the eternal meme as we collectively wait for the third installment of Valve’s legendary FPS series to materialize. And speaking to the development team of Valve’s next game, Artifact, at their office in Seattle last week, Valve clearly hasn’t missed those jokes either.

“I think we're very aware of all the jokes because all of us lurk all the forums and share them around with each other,” says Jeep Barnett, a programmer on Artifact and a member of the original team that made Narbacular Drop, who were all hired to create Portal as a result.

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Why Torchlight Frontiers Is My Most Anticipated ARPG Since Diablo 2

Immediately upon playing Torchlight Frontiers, I was presented with a choice between the two currently playable classes: the Dusk Mage and Forged. The former is a powerful magic user charged with wielding both the immense powers of dark and light in perpetual harmony. The latter is a robot. I chose the robot.

I felt an immediate sense of adoration for my sputtering little steampunk monstrosity, who looked inescapably like Maurice's cast iron furnace contraption from Beauty and the Beast. As Echtra Games CEO Max Schaefer explained, my little automaton wouldn't simply equip gear but would instead integrate it into his body. If I equipped a rare pair of leggings, for example, they might change my four spider-like robot-legs into two sturdy tank treads.

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Survivor of Jacksonville Shooting Sues EA and Venue

One of the survivors of the Jacksonville shooting has officially filed a lawsuit against EA, the venue the tournament took place, and six other potentially liable parties.

The survivor, Jacob Mitich, competed in the tournament and sustained injuries after being shot twice. The lawsuit in question (via The Hollywood Reporter) claims the various parties are liable due to negligence in not providing sufficient security measures, and for hosting the tournament at an unsuitable venue in the first place.

The lawsuit points at The Landing marketplace, which houses the GLHF Game Bar where the shooting took place. It states: “Once a thriving and popular shopping, dining and tourist destination, The Landing has become a hub of dangerous, violent and too often, deadly activity.” It further points to recent violence in the area, including a hit-and-run murder, a stabbing and a double shooting, ultimately questioning EA’s decision in holding the event in this location.

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Gold Mega Man Figure Has a Bomb of a Price Tag

Capcom has officially unveiled a collectible solid gold Mega Man figure, and it only costs $21,624 USD.

As reported by Kotaku (via 4gamer), the figure is 3.9 inches tall, and weighs in at 3.2 ounces. There is also a smaller version of the figure that clocks in at 2.4 inches and weighs a little over an ounce. If you can believe it, the smaller figure costs a mere $6,217 USD - a must-have for fans on a tight budget.

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Rebel Galaxy Outlaw Revealed

Developer Double Damage has revealed Rebel Galaxy Outlaw, the follow-up (or rather, a "sort-of prequel," as the developers put it) to its acclaimed 2015 space combat game. The studio calls Outlaw "a blue-collar space combat adventure packed with outlaws, explosions, gleefully unrealistic spaceflight, and a hell of a soundtrack."

In Outlaw, you play Juno Markev, 34 years before the events of Rebel Galaxy. Markev left her life of crime behind until she got pulled back into the outlaw life.

ABOVE: Watch the awesome animated reveal trailer for Rebel Galaxy Outlaw.

Aiming for release in Q1 2019 on PC, PS4, and Switch, "Rebel Galaxy Outlaw features high-octane space combat, over 20 hours of subspace radio, side activities like billiards and dice poker, plenty of sketchy characters to meet, and sketchy jobs to take on. Nobody’s saving the universe around here - they’d settle for saving a couple of credits." Double Damage co-founder Travis Baldree said, "“We took what worked from the last title, and then went a little crazy. It’s got a stronger focus on story and place, a huge jump in detail, and while it still works great for folks with a HOTAS at home, I think we’ve managed to make space combat accessible and fun for everybody else in a way that nobody has managed before. We’ve got a lot more to share in the months ahead.”

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Divinity: Original Sin 2 Launch Day Livestream

One of the best RPGs released on the PC last year is finally making its console debut! Join us as we stream the first two hours of the game live on PlayStation 4.

IGNPlaysLive-DivinityOriginalSin2_YT (1)

Check out the action today from 1-3pm PT/4-6pm ET/9-11pm UK (Saturday, September 1 from 6-8am AET). As always, you can catch the action right here on the front page of IGN.com, or you can find us on YouTubeTwitch, and Mixer.

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New Fortnite High Stakes Event Announced

A new Fortnite event dubbed High Stakes will begin next week, Epic Games announced on Twitter this morning.

Details about High Stakes are light for the time being, but Epic noted the event will include the new Wild Card outfit (pictured below), a new limited-time mode called Getaway, and its own challenges. Eager Fortnite fans won't have to wait long for more info, however. Epic will offer the first look at gameplay and more tonight at 6 p.m. PDT during a PAX West stream that will be broadcast on Fortnite's Twitch channel.

Fortnite High Stakes

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At Least 7 Die as Greyhound Bus, Semitrailer Collide Head-On

At least seven people were killed, and many of the 49 passengers aboard the Greyhound bus were injured.

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Mourners Gather for Franklin’s Funeral; Diva Dressed in Gold

And it boasts a lineup of speakers and singers that would rival any of the hottest revues, past or present.

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Thursday 30 August 2018

Is the Trump Administration Revoking Passports of U.S. Citizens?

Immigration attorneys we spoke to said they have seen an increase in passport revocations and denials for U.S. citizens whose births were attended by midwives.

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Judge Denies Alex Jones Effort to Dismiss Sandy Hook Lawsuit

A judge has denied conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' request to dismiss a lawsuit surrounding the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre that he has called a hoax.

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Did President Trump Say “Everybody Would Be Very Poor” If He Were Impeached?

The chief executive asserted that if the country were deprived of his thinking, markets would crash and everyone would be poor as a result.

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Man Charged with Making Death Threats Over Trump Editorials

A Los Angeles man upset about The Boston Globe's coordinated editorial response to President Donald Trump's attacks on the news media was arrested for threatening to kill the newspaper's journalists.

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Trump Cancels Pay Raise Due to Federal Workers in January

President Donald Trump is canceling pay raises due in January for most civilian federal employees, he informed Congress, citing budget constraints.

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Did Google Fail to Promote President Trump’s State of the Union Address?

President Trump attempted to show Google's alleged bias by falsely claiming that search engine failed to promote his State of the Union address.

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Did Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Other Tech Billionaire Parents Advocate Limiting Children’s Technology Use?

A number of tech billionaires seemingly agree on at least one piece of parenting advice: Limit your children's use of technology.

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Trump Stands by Warning of ‘Violence’ If Democrats Win Midterms

President Donald Trump urged evangelical leaders to get out the vote ahead of the upcoming midterm elections and warned of "violence" by opponents if they fail.

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Does In-N-Out Burger Donate Money to Republicans?

Some In-N-Out Burger fans were torn after it was revealed the company had donated $25,000 to the California Republican Party.

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After Church Service, McCain to Depart Arizona for Last Time

Arizona residents have been invited to honor Sen. John McCain by lining the route from the Capitol to the North Phoenix Baptist Church.

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Prince Harry, Meghan Join Lin-Manuel Miranda at ‘Hamilton’

The royal couple sat in the royal circle at Victoria Palace Theater during the performance

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Swedish Study Notes Surge in Automated Twitter Accounts

The study by Sweden's defense research agency comes amid broader concerns over misinformation ahead of the election.

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Germany: Saxony Governor Visits City Shaken by Protests

A man has died and two others were injured in an altercation between several people of "various nationalities" in the eastern German city of Chemnitz.

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Wednesday 29 August 2018

Florida GOP Candidate Under Fire for ‘Monkey This Up’ Comment

In the Florida governor's race both nominees made predictions: The Democrat said voters aren't looking for a misogynist, racist or bigot, while the Republican said voters shouldn't "monkey this up" by choosing his African-American opponent.

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Classmates Can’t Find Time Capsule Buried 30 Years Ago

Former classmates reunited in Michigan to uncover a time capsule buried 30 years ago. The result? They couldn't find it.

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CNN Stands by Story About Whether Trump Knew of Russian Meeting

CNN is sticking by a story casting doubt on President Donald Trump’s claim that he did not have prior knowledge of a June 2016 meeting with a Russian lawyer to get damaging information on Hillary Clinton.

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Google Denies Trump Charge It Rigs “Trump News” Searches

Google is pushing back sharply, saying Trump's claim simply wasn't true: "We never rank search results to manipulate political sentiment."

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Lab: 13 Pounds of White Powder Seized Is Sugar, Not Fentanyl

A North Carolina sheriff's office thought it made a huge drug bust, seizing 13 pounds of fentanyl worth $2 million on the street.

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Did Musician Sean Combs Fail to Buy a Twitter Handle from Comb-Seller ‘Sean’s Combs’?

Screenshots purportedly documenting Puff Daddy's futile attempt to buy a Twitter handle from comb-seller 'Sean's Combs' was created for a humor web site.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2wvQdIq
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Is This a Picture of an Unusually Short Giraffe?

A photograph purportedly showing an unusually short, stocky giraffe was created for a digital image editing contest.

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Were a Couple Unable to Conceive for Four Years Because They Were Having Sex the ‘Wrong’ Way?

A story about a couple's futile attempts to conceive may be nothing more than a recycled joke or legend about sexual ignorance.

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Review Board Says Baltimore Detective Likely Killed Himself

About ten months after Sean Suiter's mysterious death, the board has concluded that he most likely killed himself.

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Boy Swept in Sewer Sticks Finger out of Manhole and is Saved

Deputy Fire Chief Wesley Pompa said the water was rushing so quickly it would have sucked a full-grown man into the culvert.

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Charges Dismissed Against 3 in New Mexico Compound Case

A New Mexico judge has dismissed child neglect charges against three defendants arrested at a remote compound in where 11 children were found living in filth and the body of a 3-year-old boy was discovered.

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Sen. John McCain’s Family Cries Over Flag-Draped Casket

During the service, Gov. Doug Ducey remembered McCain as a senator and internationally known figure as well as a major figure in the history of Arizona.

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Is This a Picture of a Snake Found in a Milk Jug?

A viral image supposedly showing a snake in a milk jug was created for a 2006 Photoshop contest.

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Did Jimmy Carter Announce That His Cancer Is Spreading?

Viral social media posts rehashed a three-year-old announcement about the former president, who has been cancer-free since December 2015.

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Has Saudi Arabia Executed Activist Esra al-Ghamgam?

A prosecutor has requested the death penalty for Shia activist Israa al-Ghomgham, but she has not yet been sentenced or executed.

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Trump: White House Counsel Don McGahn to Depart in the Fall

Trump praised his top White House lawyer, saying he has "worked with Don for a long time and truly appreciate his service!"

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Esports Execs Say Don’t Blame the Games, Blame US Gun Laws

Executives at the Asian Games have expressed sympathy for the victims of the deadly shooting at a video game tournament in a Florida shopping mall.

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Fire Dept: 2 Workers Die in Scaffolding Collapse near Disney

The accident happened just outside Disney property, Orange County Fire Rescue spokesman Mike Jachles said.

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Tuesday 28 August 2018

Immigrant Who Was Arrested Accompanying His Wife to Give Birth Appears in Court

Joel Arrona-Lara attracted widespread attention when his heavily-pregnant wife was left alone at an Arco station en route to the hospital.

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Did a Woman Cancel Her Wedding Because Guests Refused to Pay $1,500 Each to Attend?

Purported screenshots of a Facebook rant by an unhappy ex-bride prompted a global wave of curiosity and schadenfreude in August 2018.

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Is This Dashing Young Man Franklin D. Roosevelt?

A 1930s photograph of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jr., the President’s son, is a popular item online but it is often miscaptioned as a picture of his father.

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Did a Twitter User Jeopardize Her NASA Internship by Insulting a Member of the National Space Council?

A screenshot captures a NASA intern's ill-fated Twitter exchange with a member of the National Space Council.

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Hurricane’s Death Toll in Puerto Rico Put at Nearly 3,000

An independent investigation ordered by Puerto Rico’s government estimates that nearly 3,000 people died as a result of Hurricane Maria.

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Doctor Accused of Killing Family with Gas-Filled Yoga Ball

An anesthesiologist is on trial in Hong Kong charged with killing his wife and daughter by placing a leaking yoga ball filled with carbon monoxide in their car.

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Did a Scientific Study Prove That “Conspiracists” Are “The Most Sane of All?”

A conspiracy theory website drew a series of baseless or incorrect conclusions from a study that looked at the online comments of 9/11 truthers.

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Are Texts Saying ‘A Friend Has Complimented You in IRL’ Linked to Sex Trafficking?

Not every unsolicited communication is an attempt to target victims for sex trafficking rings.

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Ex-Texas Cop Guilty of Murder for Killing Unarmed Black Teen

Roy Oliver was fired from the Balch Springs Police Department days after the April 2017 shooting.

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Were Gatorade Bottles Designed with a Cap Holder on the Bottom?

An image shows a cap neatly nestled into the bottom of a Gatorade bottle, but this is not an intentional design feature.

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Did a Google Exec Admit to Rigging Search Results Against Donald Trump?

A satirical web site published a fictitious article claiming that an exec at Google admitted to rigging search results against President Trump.

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Hundreds of Fish Die in Lagoon in Tony Malibu, California

Scientists believe the massive die-off is very likely caused by unusually warm water temperatures.

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Is Sheriff Joe Arpaio Taking Over John McCain’s Seat in the Senate?

Online reports that the controversial former Maricopa County Sheriff was nominated to replace the late Senator John McCain originated on a junk news website.

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Fans Mourn Aretha Franklin at Gospel-Infused Public Viewing

As they approached, people who came from as far away as Las Vegas and Miami cried, crossed themselves, bowed their heads or blew kisses.

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Trump Takes on Google in Complaints About Social Media

President Donald Trump promised to address what he says is the "very serious situation" of social media companies "suppressing" conservative voices and "hiding information" and good news.

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Did Sen. Lindsey Graham Call Trump a ‘Race-Baiting, Xenophobic Bigot’ in 2015?

An online graphic accurately quoted the South Carolina Republican disparaging his then-opponent on CNN.

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McCain Had a ‘Wicked’ Wit That He Often Aimed at Himself

Even straight-faced Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, often vexed over the years by McCain, lamented the loss of his "wicked sense of humor."

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Berlin Offers Police Help After Violent Far-Right Protest

Footage showed demonstrators performing Nazi salutes and chanting "the national resistance is marching here!"

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Gunman ‘Clearly Targeted Other Gamers’ at Florida Tournament

A gunman opened fire at an online video game tournament killing two people and then fatally shooting himself in a rampage that wounded several others.

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Monday 27 August 2018

Under Pressure, Trump Tersely Recognizes McCain, Lowers Flag

Glowering in public and near-silent for two days, President Donald Trump relented under pressure by tersely recognizing Sen. John McCain's "service to our country" and re-lowering the White House flag.

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Did Mollie Tibbetts’ Family Make a Statement Condemning the Politicization of Her Death?

Various members of Tibbetts' family have weighed in, but none has spoken on behalf of the entire family in an official capacity.

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Coroner: Pantera Drummer Vinnie Paul Died of Heart Disease

Medical examiners found that Vinnie Paul, the 54-year-old co-founder and drummer of the metal band Pantera, died of natural causes including heart disease.

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Did John McCain Launch a Foul-Mouthed Attack on President Trump with His Last Words?

A notorious producer of junk news capitalized on the death of the Arizona senator with a crude and fake piece of "sharebait."

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Has the Medical Term ‘Vagina’ Been Replaced with the Phrase ‘Front Hole?’

The term "front hole" was used in a safe sex guide designed to serve transgender people, but it has not replaced the word "vagina."

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Did Actor Morgan Freeman Call President Trump a ‘Bonafide Sack of Sh*t?’

An expletive-laden tweet excoriating the president in the wake of the Jacksonville shootings was mistaken by some as having been written by actor Morgan Freeman.

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Under Pressure, Trump Re-Lowers White House Flag for McCain

Bowing to pressure, President Donald Trump has ordered American flags at U.S. buildings lowered to half-staff for Sen. John McCain until his burial on Sunday.

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Did President Trump Incorrectly Color the American Flag?

Photographs suggest the 45th president colored one of the flag's stripes blue, though the evidence so far is not definitive.

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Deputies: California Man Had 800 Pounds of Stolen Lemons

Authorities say a man has been arrested in Southern California after deputies found about 800 pounds (363 kilograms) of stolen lemons inside his car.

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Judge Blocks Online Plans for Printing Untraceable 3D Guns

U.S. District Judge Robert Lasnik extended a temporary restraining order, and his new decision will last until the case is resolved.

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Slithering Surprise Found Under Hood of SUV in Wisconsin

Police say the snake escaped from its owner more than a month ago.

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Tibbetts’ Father: Hispanic Locals ‘Iowans with Better Food’

"The Hispanic community are Iowans. They have the same values as Iowans," he said. "As far as I'm concerned, they're Iowans with better food."

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Did a Milwaukee Police Officer Say He Pointed His Gun at a Black Driver Because ‘You’re Not White’?

Police say the comment was made, but by a civilian bystander and not by one of their officers.

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Hundreds of Children Taken Under ‘Zero Tolerance’ Policy Await Reunification

The judge overseeing the case has expressed optimism on the ongoing reunification process.

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Nation’s Top Student Loan Official Resigns

Seth Frotman will be stepping down from his position as student loan ombudsman.

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Have Researchers Warned About the Resurgence of a ‘Flesh-Eating STD’?

News reports in the U.S. featured headlines that sensationalized and misled readers about a single diagnosis of a very rare disease on a different continent.

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Does This Photograph Show John McCain with Osama bin Laden?

A doctored photograph purportedly showing John McCain posing with terrorist Osama Bin Laden was widely circulated in the wake of the Arizona senator's death in August 2018.

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Some Kids Killed in Chicago Fire Were There for Sleepover

The cause of the fire remains under investigation but there's no indication that it was deliberately set.

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Neil Simon, Broadway’s Master of Comedy, Dies at 91

Simon died of complications from pneumonia at New York Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan.

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Flags at White House Back at Full Staff after McCain’s Death

The flags at the U.S. Capitol, meanwhile, remained at half-staff to honor the Arizona Republican, who died of brain cancer.

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Few Democrats Favor Liberal Cry to Abolish ICE

But even as they don't want to fully dismantle ICE, 57 percent of Democrats view the agency negatively.

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Sunday 26 August 2018

Is California Gov. Jerry Brown Moving a Veterans Cemetery to Make Way for Low-Income Housing?

A notorious producer of junk news posted a fabricated meme about the relocation of a military cemetery in California.

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Saturday 25 August 2018

War Hero and Presidential Candidate John McCain Has Died

McCain, who spent five years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam, served three decades in Congress, and ran for president, has succumbed to cancer at the age of 81.

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Friday 24 August 2018

Is Colin Kaepernick on the Cover of Time Magazine as the 2018 ‘Person of the Year?’

An image purportedly showing Colin Kaepernick as the "Person of the Year" on the cover of Time Magazine is a hoax.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2P3RNZs
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Did Verizon Wireless Throttle a Fire Department’s Data Service During a Wildfire?

Firefighters in Santa Clara, California, revealed that they were forced to buy a more expensive service package due to a company "mistake."

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Is a ‘Large-Scale Killing’ of White Farmers Underway in South Africa?

Isolated and believed to be wealthy, South African farmers have historically been the targets of attacks in South Africa.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2MQ0OrB
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Did MSNBC Use a ‘Trump Worried About Pecker Leaking’ Chyron?

The chyron 'Trump Worried About Pecker Leaking' was created by an internet prankster, not the graphics team at MSNBC.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2BGHPeI
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Did ‘Liberals’ Set Up a GoFundMe Campaign for Murder Suspect Cristhian Rivera?

A hyperpartisan Facebook page spread a fake and inflammatory meme after the death of Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts.

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Did Ron Paul Call Congress “A Bunch of Psychopathic Authoritarians”?

Ron Paul did use the words "psychopathic authoritarians" in his final address, but not specifically to describe the U.S. Congress or its members specifically.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2o8faFQ
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Did a Judge Order That a White Woman Be Tried As an African-American?

A years-old video created by the satirical Onion website has been mistaken for genuine by some viewers.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2woxr5L
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John Lennon’s Killer Denied Parole for 10th Time

John Lennon's killer has been denied parole for a 10th time and will remain behind bars for at least two more years.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2PwF2YJ
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Georgia County Scraps Plan to Close Most Polling Places

Election officials in a majority black Georgia county has voted to scrap a widely condemned proposal to eliminate most of their polling places.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2wned01
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Thursday 23 August 2018

Did Michael Cohen Tweet at Hillary Clinton That Room and Board Will Be Free When She Goes to Prison?

President Trump's long-time personal attorney deleted the tweet after pleading guilty to multiple counts relating to fraud and campaign finance violations.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2BIlNIM
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Did Bloomington Police Discover Over 200 Penises During Raid at a Mortician’s Home?

The fabricated report of a grisly discovery in Illinois originated on a spoofed Fox News Channel website.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2NcQK9e
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Did the Mayor of Minneapolis Cancel 4th of July Fireworks But Allow a Muslim Animal Sacrifice at Vikings Stadium?

A pinch of fake news, a smidgen of flawed reading comprehension, and a dash of Islamophobic fear-mongering resulted in overblown accusations against the mayor of Minneapolis.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2MNqCEL
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Was Journalist Jen Moore Killed After Contacting Authorities About Bill Clinton?

Conspiracy blogs cited vague "preliminary reports" to suggest that Jen Moore could have been part of the "Clinton body count."

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2o2oPhf
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Did the Man Who Oversaw the Bin Laden Raid Say It Would Be ‘An Honor’ If President Trump Revoked His Security Clearance?

William McRaven wrote "I would consider it an honor if you would revoke my security clearance as well, so I can add my name to the list of men and women who have spoken up against your presidency."

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2BIuJhe
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Did President Trump Pay for Omarosa Manigault Newman’s Wedding?

Scattered social media posts cited no sources for claims about the president's former adviser that were intended to attack her integrity and credibility.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2w95oI6
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Complaint: Migrant Parents Coerced by Officials

U.S. immigration authorities coerced dozens of parents separated from their children at the border to sign documents they did not understand, according to a complaint expected to be filed Thursday.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2MtJTfe
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Democrats Now Say Hacking Attempt Was Test from Within

What the Democratic Party first thought was a malicious attempt to hack the party's massive voter information file turned out to be just a security test.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2OWeMpp
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Wednesday 22 August 2018

Election Law Violations Compared: Obama 2008 vs. Trump 2016

Federal Election Commission violations are a civil matter, while Michael Cohen is guilty of multiple felonies.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2w4NIgI
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Did Fox News Discuss the ‘War on Christmas’ While Other Networks Covered Michael Cohen’s Guilty Pleas?

An old satirical meme, using an edited screenshot of Tomi Lahren, resurfaced in August 2018.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2Lkn5Jf
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Does Chelsea Clinton Wear an Upside-Down ‘Satanic’ Cross?

Low-resolution viral images appear to show Clinton wearing an inverted cross, which some say is a symbol of Satanism.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2w30mgm
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Is This Image an Aerial View of an Airplane Abandoned in a Forest?

A photograph purportedly showing an abandoned plane in the woods was created with digital editing tools.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2o1bxBz
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U.S. Official: No Record Cristhian Bahena Rivera Has Legal Status

Immigration authorities say they have no record of granting admission into the United States to the man suspected of killing an Iowa college student.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2o31tYU
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Bat Signal: Fireflies’ Glow Tells Bats They Taste Awful

Fireflies flash not just for sex, but survival, a new study suggests.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2OXXN63
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Did Vladimir Putin Rescue an Injured Donald Trump from the Viet Cong During the Vietnam War?

An example of how no meme can be so over-the-top ridiculous that it won't at least prompt some questions.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2MurLBR
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Did South Carolina Execute 14-Year-Old George Stinney, Then Declare Him Innocent 70 Years Later?

A viral Facebook post offered an accurate account of the conviction and execution of George Stinney Jr., in 1944.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2BIfAfE
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Massachusetts Zoo on the Lookout for Stork that Flew Away

A Boston-area zoo is looking for a female stork that flew away last week and has evaded experts since.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2MIOAkt
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Did a ‘New Deadly Spider’ Species Kill Several People in the U.S. in the Summer of 2018?

A viral, scare-mongering Facebook post fabricated a series of fatal spider bites and used photographs of the relatively harmless woodlouse spider.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2OUongu
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Low-Number Delaware License Plate Auctioned for $410K

Low-numbered Delaware license plates are in demand.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2Px706G
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License To Spill? Idris Elba Says He’s Not The Next 007

Many Elba fans have campaigned for the star of "The Wire" and "Luther" to be the first black Bond.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2BAsBYT
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Inside Catch and Kill: Cohen, a Porn Star and ‘Individual 1’

Dry legalese and generic aliases could do nothing to tone down the tale of the scheme to protect Trump outlined in court documents.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2MqOFKh
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Trump’s Former Lawyer Pleads Guilty, Implicates President

The back-to-back blows resulted from the work of special counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating Russia's attempts to sway voters in the 2016 election, including hacking Democrats' emails, and whether the Trump campaign may have cooperated.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2BHjXYm
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Tuesday 21 August 2018

Facts Behind the Arrest of an Immigrant Accompanying His Pregnant Wife to the Hospital Remain Unclear

After making a controversial arrest in San Bernardino, ICE said Joel Arrona-Lara was wanted in Mexico for murder.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2w0gGOW
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Did Robert Smalls Steal a Confederate Ship to Rescue Himself and Others from Slavery?

A meme accurately recounts the life of a man born into slavery who stole a Confederate ship to rescue fellow slaves, became a war hero, and got elected to the U.S. Congress.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2nWvjOv
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Immigrant Charged with Murder of Iowa College Student

A man from Mexico living in the U.S. illegally has confessed to kidnapping college student Mollie Tibbetts while she was running in her small Iowa hometown, killing her and dumping her body in a rural field.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2OVLEia
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Is This ‘Trump Made America the Best Country in the Nation’ Sign Real?

An image purportedly showing a logically challenged sign in support of President Trump is actually a digital creation.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2MD6Zzp
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Were ‘Winnie-the-Pooh’ Characters Created to Represent Different Mental Disorders?

A popular theory holds that the characters in 'Winnie-the-Pooh' stories each represents a different mental disorder, but that was not the intention of author A.A. Milne.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2LhwfX7
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Mississippi Could Re-Examine 1959 Racial Killing of Teenager

The black teen's slaying has never drawn much attention, even as federal and state authorities in the past 15 years have re-opened investigations of racially motivated killings from the civil rights era.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2w2bPwj
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Did African-American Drivers Comprise 100% of the Traffic Arrests in Polk County, Iowa?

An activist organization mistakenly reported a Des Moines police officer's 2017 traffic arrests were of exclusively African-American suspects.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2wiPvhp
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Did a Florida Judge Give Vastly Different Sentences to Two Men, Whose Only Difference Was Their Race?

A viral meme, based on a piece of investigative journalism, left out some important context in the cases of Chase Legleitner and Lamar Lloyd.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2w1j1ZV
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Jon Stewart Helps Aid Goats Found on New York Subway Tracks

A train operator on alerted headquarters about “two very baaaaad boys” along the N Line in Brooklyn.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2OXkN5j
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Logic Stages Immigrant Protest At VMAs with Parents, Kids

The children, including some younger ones who appeared intimidated by the crowd, stood in a line as a "human wall."

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2w4mTsS
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Toddlers Survive Alone for Days After Car Wreck Kills Mother

Investigators believe the wreck happened two days earlier and that the older boy was able to climb out of the wreckage.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2BDlDSG
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Confederate Statue on UNC Campus Toppled by Protesters

Protesters appeared to outwit officers by splitting into two groups.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2OVPkjP
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Officials Believe Body of Iowa Student Mollie Tibbetts Found

No information has been released about where the body was found.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2PsMCU6
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Microsoft Uncovers More Russian Attacks Ahead of Midterms

The company said a hacking group tied to the Russian government created fake internet domains that appeared to spoof two conservative organizations: the Hudson Institute and the International Republican Institute.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2N3ZNsZ
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MTV VMAs Was a Shocking Event, For the Wrong Reasons

MTV seemed to send a message: You're punished for not showing up and rewarded for attending.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2nVLSKL
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Los Angeles Authorities Looking Into Asia Argento Allegation

Authorities said Monday that they are looking into sexual assault allegations by a young actor against Italian actress Asia Argento.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2BvqfKP
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US Deports Former Nazi Camp Guard, 95, to Germany

The White House says that a 95-year-old former Nazi concentration camp guard has been deported to Germany, 14 years after a judge ordered his expulsion.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2nUfo3h
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Monday 20 August 2018

Colorado Man Charged with Murder Says Wife Killed Daughters

A Colorado man told police that he killed his pregnant wife in "a rage" when he discovered she had strangled their two daughters after he sought a separation.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2BviN2e
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Did Chelsea Clinton Say Legalizing Abortion Added Trillions to the Economy?

After defending Roe v. Wade during a pro-choice panel discussion, Clinton was attacked by pro-life pundits who accused her of reducing abortion rights to a "pocketbook issue."

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2MCbDxn
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Does This Video Show a Real Human-Like Robot?

A video showing an amazingly human-like robot walking up a driveway actually features a computer generated image.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2MFp0wQ
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Does the McCarran-Walter Act of 1952 Bar Muslims from Holding Public Office?

Such an interpretation of the 1952 law would not only be incorrect, it would betray an egregious ignorance of the U.S. Constitution.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2BCfRkC
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Did Two Police Officers Cook Dinner for Children After Their Mother Was Taken to the Hospital?

An image of two police officers washing the dishes after they cooked a meal for a sick mother's children is real and was taken in the Netherlands in 2015.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2LaPEJl
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Was William Harvey Carney the First Black Medal of Honor Recipient?

A pro-Trump Facebook group used Carney's real-life military efforts to criticize current NFL player protests.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2vZ0kWr
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Kavanaugh in Memo Pushed Graphic Sex Questions for Clinton

The questions are part of a memo in which Kavanaugh advised Independent Counsel Ken Starr and others not to give the president "any break" during questioning.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2L9R9aJ
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Sources: Prosecutors Preparing Charges Against Cohen

Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer, could be charged before the end of the month with bank fraud.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2MsLa6k
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Does This Video Show an Abnormally Large Leatherback Turtle?

A video of a large leatherback turtle on a beach provided a misleading impression of the animal's true size.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2nTaTpT
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Alligator Kills Woman Trying to Protect Her Dog at Resort

A woman trying to protect her dog was killed by an alligator who pulled her into a lagoon at a private South Carolina resort.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2OLJcug
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Lawsuit Says Arizona Police Supervisor Taped Office Sex on Body Cam

A lawsuit against four Arizona policemen has brought to light a body cam video a sergeant taped of himself having sex in his office.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2nTajIJ
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Was a Giant Blue Whale Spotted Near Jennette’s Pier?

An image purportedly showing a giant blue whale sighted near Jennette's Pier in North Carolina is actually a composite of at least two different images.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2w0NqHD
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Troopers Cite 10 Sports Car Drivers for Going Too Slow

All 10 vehicles were pulled over and the drivers were issued infractions.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2ORbBPD
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Does This Photograph Show a Man Wearing a ‘Make 45 Becomes 46 Again’ T-Shirt?

A photograph purportedly showing a man wearing a ridiculous pro-Trump shirt was a digital manipulation.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2vVL2Ss
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Like a Fish out of Water: Barrels of Bait Spill on Highway

The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office said the 41-year-old truck driver told police he went into the breakdown lane to avoid hitting a vehicle stopped in traffic and lost control of the truck.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2OLmT80
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MTV Launches Drive to Get Young People to Vote

The drive is aimed at urging fans to make voting a communal effort with their friends.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2nTevIp
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Trump Dares Brennan to Sue Because His Clearance Was Revoked

President Donald Trump dared former CIA Director John Brennan to take legal action to try to prevent him from stripping security clearances from other current and former officials.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2OMTfzp
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Did Brett Kavanaugh Argue That People with Disabilities Could Be Forced to Undergo Elective Surgeries, Including Abortions?

Advocates for the disabled community largely oppose Brett Kavanaugh, President Trump's nominee for the Supreme Court.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2N0NFJf
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Cliff House: Unique Swiss Restaurant Looks for New Tenants

Authorities in Appenzell Innerrhoden canton (state) said Monday that the current tenants, Nicole and Bernhard Knechtle-Fritsche, are giving up the lease at the end of the 2018 season.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2BuQEZe
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Restaurant Cites Worldwide Freakout Over Its French Fries

A Maine restaurant says news about the anger surrounding a change in its french fries has reached people all over the world.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2PmkVw6
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Baby Boom at Arizona Hospital with 16 Pregnant Nurses

Nurse Jolene Garrow joked, "We all formulated this plan to have the holidays off!"

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2N0yDmU
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Germany: No Preparations Made in Case of Alien Landing

In a response to questions from opposition Green Party lawmaker Dieter Janecek, the government said "there are no protocols or plans for a possible first contact with alien life."

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2PqFace
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Pope on Sex Abuse: “We Showed No Care for the Little Ones”

Pope Francis has issued a letter to Catholics around the world condemning the "crime" of priestly sexual abuse and cover-up and demanding accountability.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2OPXVEB
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Sunday 19 August 2018

Will ESPN Not Televise the National Anthem During ‘Monday Night Football’ Broadcasts?

The network is hoping to avoid controversy by not changing anything about their “Monday Night Football” broadcasts.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2vWlIf1
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Woman at Staples: I Wasn’t Shoplifting, Just Pregnant with Twins

A manager at an office supply store in North Carolina has been fired after a pregnant woman shopping there was confronted about what she was concealing beneath her shirt: “Twins,” she said.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2Po7mwn
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Saturday 18 August 2018

Migrant Spouse of Pregnant Woman Detained on Way to Hospital

A California woman has said she had to drive herself to the hospital and give birth without her husband after he was detained by immigration agents.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2Pj1fcx
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Friday 17 August 2018

Cancer, Juries, and Scientific Certainty: The Monsanto Roundup Ruling Explained

Juries sometimes render verdicts on scientific questions, but that doesn’t mean their verdict is always accepted by the scientific community at large.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2MjOMr3
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Did Education Secretary Betsy DeVos Register Her Yacht in the Cayman Islands?

Several viral memes made unfounded assumptions based on the complicated inner workings of the DeVos family's business interests.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2MWxHzZ
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Is This Video of a Man Falling Down a Flight of Stairs Real?

A video showing a man falling down a flight of stairs features computer animated graphics and was likely created for a 2008 commercial for Levi's Jeans.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2Myn60Y
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Did Aretha Franklin ‘Work for’ Donald Trump on Numerous Occasions?

Remarking on the Queen of Soul's passing in August 2018, President Trump said, "She worked for me on numerous occasions."

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2MnJWcg
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Did Fox News Use an Image of Patti LaBelle During Their Aretha Franklin Tribute?

Fox News accidentally included a photograph of singer Patti LaBelle instead of Aretha Franklin as they reported on the latter's passing.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2OKf0zY
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US Newspapers to Trump: We’re Not Enemies of the People

Newspapers from Maine to Hawaii pushed back against President Donald Trump's attacks on "fake news" with a coordinated series of editorials in defense of a free press — and, not surprisingly, Trump didn't take it silently.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2OKnyqq
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Satanic Temple Unveils Baphomet Statue at Arkansas Capitol

The Satanic Temple has unveiled its statue of a goat-headed, winged creature called Baphomet in a rally at the Arkansas State Capitol to protest a Ten Commandments monument already on the Capitol grounds.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2nMefuJ
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Kohl’s ‘$150 Back-to-School’ Coupon’ Scam

Kohl's department stores are not distributing $150 "Back to School" coupons as part of an online promotion.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2MUHmGW
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Jill Janus, Singer of the Metal Band Huntress, Dies at 43

Jill Janus, lead singer of the heavy metal band Huntress, has died at age 43, her family and band said.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2OM29xd
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President Trump Says He Has Cancelled Military Parade

Trump on Twitter accused local politicians of price-gouging, although much of the projected $92 million price was attributed to Pentagon costs for aircraft, equipment and personnel.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2BkbdaD
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Thursday 16 August 2018

Were an American Couple Killed by Isis While Trying to ‘Prove Humans Are Kind’?

A widely-shared article potentially confused some readers about the motives of a couple murdered in Tajikistan in July 2018.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2MSWF31
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Los Angeles Mayor: Trump Doing ‘Racist Things’

The two-term Democratic mayor says his party needs to show the president is thin-skinned and ineffective.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2MmUTLc
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The Thrill and the Truth of Aretha Franklin

Like the best actors and poets, nothing came between how Aretha Franklin felt and what she could express, between what she expressed and how we responded.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2OHuOmT
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Suspect Says Smashing Trump’s Star Was ‘Right and Just Act’

He says he wanted to "bring about positive political change" and doesn't believe prosecutors should have brought charges against him.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2PeOkbu
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Official Says Trump’s Military Parade Would Cost About $92M

The White House budget office earlier estimated to Congress the parade would cost between $10 million and $30 million.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2OHyllc
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Trump Wants Federal Suit Against Opioid Manufacturers

Trump said he's directing Sessions to file a separate lawsuit, rather than joining existing lawsuits filed by states affected by the spread of the often-lethal, highly-addictive drugs.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2PdglA9
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Does This Video Show Refugees Looting a Café in Spain?

A video purportedly showing refugees looting a café in Spain actually captures an incident from 2015 involving students at a university in South Africa.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2Phm2xh
via IFTTT

Colombian City Urges a Break From Sex to Fight Heat Wave

Temperatures in Santa Marta have soared past 40 degrees Celsius.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2OGtKzD
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Bodies Of Pregnant Colorado Woman, 2 Daughters Likely Found

"As horrible as this outcome is, our role now is to do everything we can to determine exactly what occurred," said John Camper, director of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2vObAFl
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Did Ohio’s 12th Congressional District Have 170 Fraudulent ‘Voters’ Over 116 Years Old?

Right-wing web sites published misleading allegations of voter fraud in Ohio, based on very obviously flawed evidence.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2MqnCOJ
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Was Mount Rushmore Defaced with Political Graffiti?

A meme showing political graffiti scrawled on Mount Rushmore originated with a Facebook trolling page.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2L31t42
via IFTTT

Did President Trump Say If Soldiers Were ‘Real Patriots,’ They Wouldn’t Take a Pay Raise?

While speaking to U.S. troops about an upcoming military pay increase, Trump joked that he knew they didn't really want a raise because they're "very patriotic."

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2MQTlWe
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Van Damme’s Son Pleads Guilty in Arizona Knife Incident

Nicholas Van Varenberg has pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct for holding his roommate at knifepoint at their Tempe, Ariz., apartment.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2MkeuMl
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‘Queen of Soul’ Aretha Franklin Has Died

Funeral arrangements will be announced in the coming days.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2MPehN7
via IFTTT

FCC Shuts Down Alex Jones’ Pirate Flagship Radio Station

Court documents show the FCC had tracked the transmissions to a 50-foot tower at an Austin apartment complex.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2nH9imP
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‘Weaponization of Faith’: Examples from Clergy Abuse Report

At a parish rectory, four priests made a boy strip and pose as Jesus on the cross while they took photos.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2vLgmU6
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Wednesday 15 August 2018

Was a ‘Muslim Extremist’ Granted Bail by a ‘Liberal Democrat’ Judge After Training Children to Shoot Up Schools?

Despite Internet outrage saying otherwise, New Mexico "compound" defendant Siraj Ibn Wahhaj has not been released on bond, because he is being held on an out-of-state warrant.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2BgUiFO
via IFTTT

Senate Study Faults Government Care of Migrant Children

Some 200,000 of these children have entered the U.S. over the past six years.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2nN6IMl
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Church Helped Former Priest Accused of Abuse Get Disney Job

Church officials gave a former priest a positive reference to work at Disney World, even though they'd fielded at least one allegation about him sexually abusing a boy.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2KVvJhf
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Relative: Family of 7 on Vacation Died in Oregon Collision

Erika Carter Boquet, 29, was driving her 2016 Toyota 4 Runner eastbound on Oregon Highway 78 when an oncoming vehicle veered into her lane, authorities said.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2vLOBux
via IFTTT

Colorado Baker Who Refused to Make Cake for Gays Sues Again

Lawyers for Masterpiece Cakeshop owner Jack Phillips allege in a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday that Colorado is on a "crusade to crush" Phillips because of his religious beliefs.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2nEjmNt
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Twitter Muzzles Conspiracy Theorist Alex Jones for a Week

Twitter says it is suspending the account of the far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones for one week after he violated the company’s rules against inciting violence.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2vNZsUx
via IFTTT

Trump Makes Good on Threat to Revoke John Brennan’s Security Clearance

President Donald Trump is revoking the security clearance of former CIA director John Brennan, who served in the Obama administration.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2OEtTng
via IFTTT

Westminster Pharmaceuticals Voluntarily Recalls Thyroid Tablets

No adverse events have reported from the affected pills, but some ingredients were produced in a factory that the FDA has since cited for lax laboratory protocols.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2PcJIT7
via IFTTT

Did 600 Murders Take Place in Chicago Last Weekend?

Omarosa Manigault said that 600 murders took place in Chicago during the second weekend of August 2018, but the actual number was one.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2OEjhon
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Republicans Blast Pearl Jam Poster of Burning White House

The band was traveling and not immediately available to confirm whether a depicted skeleton is meant to be Trump.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2MfLrJI
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Does Public Law 92-313 Allow Americans to Claim ‘Federal Rent Checks’?

An author's online financial pitch is based upon existing information, but experts caution that it is no "hidden pot of money."

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2wbSDeS
via IFTTT

Did an Audience Member Scare Trump by Shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ at a Rally?

A video showing Secret Service surrounding Donald Trump at a 2016 rally is real, but the audio portion was manipulated.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2OxKBVa
via IFTTT

ASPCA Says More Than 600 Birds Removed from Home

The ASPCA says the birds were living in extremely overcrowded conditions in a home in a Columbus neighborhood.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2nCPlNQ
via IFTTT

Vermont Nominates 1st US Transgender Candidate for Governor

GOP Gov. Phil Scott will face Christine Hallquist, who won the Democratic primary.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2MQDR4m
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Vigil Held at Detroit Church for Aretha Franklin

Franklin canceled planned concerts earlier this year after she was ordered by her doctor to stay off the road and rest up.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2nFVBVn
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Black Americans Aren’t Buying Omarosa’s Turn Against Trump

Too little, too late, many said.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2MSRVKA
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Tuesday 14 August 2018

Was a ‘My Little Pony’ Animator Arrested for Possession of Child Pornography Part of ‘#PedoGate’?

An animator for the children's cartoon has been sentenced to prison for possessing child pornography, but the case is not part of a "#PedoGate" conspiracy.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2Bcmv0z
via IFTTT

Did a Science Textbook Mistake Africa for South America?

An image of a shockingly inaccurate map may have once appeared in a textbook, but the current version of that work is correct.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2MpDiSk
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Did Fired FBI Agent Peter Strzok Tweet That President Trump is a ‘Dictator,’ a ‘Russian Asset,’ and an ‘Unhinged Madman?’

A parody account in Strzok's name issued the combative tweet in the wake of the FBI agent's firing for sending text messages critical of President Trump.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2Bb7MCX
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Did a Little Leaguer List a Porn Star as His Favorite Actor?

This was one of the more unusual "amusing" factoids associated with the young players of the Little League World Series.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2OAJKTL
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The Death of John Crawford III

President Donald Trump's renewed criticism of NFL protests prompted the re-emergence on social media of a controversy regarding the 2014 police shooting of a black man in Ohio.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2MqYCXq
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Alex Jones’s InfoWars Conspiracy Website Is Down

The page infamous for spreading "crisis actor" conspiracy theories has been offline for as yet unexplained reasons.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2KSEvN5
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Is the Trump Administration Denying Citizenship to a 4-Year-Old Adopted Peruvian Girl?

Two American citizens adopted a Peruvian toddler legally under Peruvian law, but the United States has so far denied the girl U.S. citizenship status.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2MJ6PDq
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Police Look Into Video of Man Spanking Hippo at LA Zoo

The zoo has posted a "No Trespassing" sign on the exhibit for the first time.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2OAWObI
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Did a Harvard Study Prove That “Unvaccinated Children Pose No Risk” to Other Kids?

A deceptive and factually challenged blog post on an anti-vaccine website is not a “Harvard study,” yet its false conclusions are popular on social media.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2nCgosM
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Did ‘VeggieTales’ Introduce a New Cannabis Character?

For the time being, at least, 'VeggieTales' characters remain based on things mothers would approve of their kids consuming.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2KRhYjO
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Did the Supreme Court Rule in 1943 That No One Can Be Forced to Participate in Patriotic Rituals?

The Supreme Court's 1943 ruling applied to school board officials and other government entities, not private sector enterprises such as the NFL.

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Bear Makes an Unlikely Stop in a Liquor Store

The bear eventually figured out how to leave, and the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection was notified.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2KSv7c8
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Beyoncé Honors Ailing Aretha Franklin at Detroit Concert

Beyoncé dedicated her performance with husband Jay Z to the Queen of Soul drawing a thunderous roar from Aretha Franklin’s hometown of Detroit.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2P7eIE8
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Actor Liev Schreiber Set to Answer Harassment Charge

The Rockland County district attorney's office says the star of Showtime's "Ray Donovan" is due for arraignment.

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Trump Lashes Out at Omarosa, Calls Her ‘That Dog’

President Donald Trump escalated his messy clash with former aide Omarosa Manigault Newman.

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Monday 13 August 2018

Former WWE Star Jim ‘The Anvil’ Neidhart Dies at 63

Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart, who joined with brother-in-law Bret Hart to form one of the top tag teams in the 1980s with the WWE, has died.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2P3gq9s
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Does This Video Show Six Antifa Members Beating Up a Person During an August 2018 Rally?

A year-old video showing a group of Antifascists beating up a right-wing activists in Berkeley, California, was reshared as if it showed a recent incident in Washington D.C.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2MqdJAk
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Trump’s Harley Boycott Call Roils Wisconsin Primary

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Republican U.S. Senate candidate Kevin Nicholson both came out against boycotting Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson, the day after President Donald Trump said it would be "great" if there was a boycott.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2MlUhou
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Did President Trump Share a Photo of a ‘Bikers for Trump’ Member with a Nazi Tattoo?

President Trump may have greeted the 'Bikers for Trump' at one of his golf courses, but he didn't tweet a photograph of one of them bearing an 'SS' tattoo.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2MenYZm
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Did Astronaut Mark Kelly Say the ‘Space Force’ Was a ‘Dumb Idea?’

A man who flew on several NASA Space Shuttle missions is not a supporter of the proposed Space Force.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2P6xhs7
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Male Model Convicted of Murdering Rival After Online Feud

The 25-year-old victim was signed to London's Premier Model Management agency and had modeled for GQ and Zara.

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Utah Man Sues McDonald’s Alleging His Drink Was Drugged

Trevor Walker said he suddenly lost feeling in his arms and legs and his vision became distorted.

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Rhode Island Alone Celebrates Victory Day, Debate Lingers

Every few years, state residents debate changing the name of Victory Day or doing away with it entirely.

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Man Donates to Firefighter Drive, Leaves Wedding Ring Behind

Massachusetts firefighters say a man who donated to their muscular dystrophy drive accidentally dropped his wedding ring into their boot.

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Does This Graphic Accurately Show ‘Trump and Obama by the Numbers’?

Donald Trump, Jr. shared a doctored graphic which falsely showed his father with a higher job approval rating than his predecessor, Barack Obama.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2nBKcpe
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Woman, 81, Busted with $870K of Heroin at US-Mexico Border

Authorities seized 92 pounds of heroin valued at more than $870,000 from an 81-year-old woman attempting to smuggle the drugs across the U.S.-Mexico border.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2P6rrXV
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FBI Fires Peter Strzok in Wake of Anti-Trump Text Messages

The FBI had been reviewing his employment.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2B8WIqa
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Missouri Republicans Slam House GOP Primary Winner Who Said ‘Hitler Was Right’

Steve West, who also has a YouTube channel and a website where he has expressed homophobia, Islamophobia and racism, won a primary for a Clay County House seat.

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Crocs to Outsource Manufacturing of Clogs, Other Footwear

Crocs is also closing less productive retail stores as leases expire and focusing more on online sales.

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Did Uninsured Medal of Honor Recipient ‘Duane Devane’ Die After Being Refused Treatment?

A notorious producer of junk news posted a fake meme about veterans with a reference to a video game character.

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Morning Surprise: Boa Constrictor Found Under Car Hood

The Stoughton Police Department says a local resident called their office Saturday morning after finding the snake.

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Heat Wave Put Flamingos in the Mood for 1st Time in 15 Years

The birds are long-lived and can breed into old age.

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Residents Split in Goose Dispute in Long Island Village

Resident Jonathan Landon sees the geese as a part of the habitat and urges humane treatment of them.

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His Name is Idris Elba, But Will He Be First Black Bond?

British actor Idris Elba has stoked speculation he may take over the role of James Bond when Daniel Craig steps aside.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2B9lDtC
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Minnesota Deputies Rescue Women Stranded on Unicorn Raft

KMSP-TV reports the deputies pulled their squad car over and asked the women for a photo, but noticed the raft was stuck in weeds.

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Toxins Turning Up in Dozens of Public Water Systems

Earlier this year, federal toxicologists decided that even the EPA's 2016 advisory levels for the two phased-out versions of the compound were several times too high for safety.

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Omarosa Releases Another Recording, Threatens to Say More

Omarosa suggested there was more to come, saying: "There's a lot of very corrupt things happening in the White House and I am going to blow the whistle on a lot of them."

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2vACnVt
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Omarosa Says She Secretly Taped Her Firing, Plays Audio

Omarosa Manigault Newman said she viewed the conversation as a "threat" and defended her decision to covertly record it and other White House conversations.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2B3cjHA
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‘Unite the Right 2’ Rally Whisked Away Before Scheduled Start Time

White supremacist rally-goers attempting to hold a Charlottesville anniversary event in D.C. were vastly outnumbered by counter-demonstrators.

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Aretha Franklin is Seriously Ill

The Queen of Soul canceled planned concerts earlier this year after she was ordered by her doctor to stay off the road and rest up.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2BhUkNZ
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Saturday 11 August 2018

Was the Father of the Man Accused of Training School Shooters the Keynote Speaker at Obama’s Democratic National Convention?

Hyperpartisan websites published false reports that Imam Siraj Wahhaj, who is the father of New Mexico child abuse suspect Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, was keynote speaker at the 2012 Democratic convention.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2vyO2E8
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Is This a Photograph of 8.6-Kilogram Baby?

News reports and photographs abound documenting the birth of children weighing upwards of 17 pounds at delivery.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2vA1Kqo
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Facing Indictment, GOP Rep. Chris Collins Stepping Down

n an about-face, U.S. Rep. Chris Collins is ending his re-election bid days after the Republican was charged with insider trading.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2vD1neB
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Authorities Probe How ‘Suicidal’ Employee Could Steal Plane

Investigators worked to find out how a "suicidal" airline employee stole an empty Horizon Air turboprop plane, took off from Sea-Tac International Airport and crashed into a small island in the Puget Sound after being chased by military jets that were quickly scrambled to intercept the aircraft.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2M7TI2i
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Friday 10 August 2018

Jury Awards $289 Million to Man Who Claims Roundup Weed Killer Caused Terminal Cancer

A San Francisco jury has ordered agribusiness giant Monsanto to pay $289 million to a former school groundskeeper dying of cancer, saying the company's popular Roundup weed killer contributed to his disease.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2nst8lC
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In Book, Omarosa Says Trump Is a Bigot, Behaved ‘Like a Dog’

Former White House staffer Omarosa Manigault Newman claims in a new book that there are tapes of President Donald Trump using racial slurs and that she saw him behaving "like a dog off the leash" at numerous events he attended.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2vzWjYD
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Newspaper Calls for War of Words Against Trump Media Attacks

A Boston newspaper is proposing a coordinated editorial response from publications across the U.S. to President Donald Trump's frequent attacks on the news media.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2Mcn93l
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Devastating Toxic Algae Bloom Plagues Florida’s Gulf Coast

A toxic algae bloom has overrun Florida's southern Gulf Coast this summer, devastating sea life and driving people from the water.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2KJV51x
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Does This Photograph Show the Cooking Instructions on a Bacon Package?

The instructions on the back label of a bacon package advised consumers to "complain to elected officials" if they "don't know how to cook bacon."

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Roger Stone Associate Held in Contempt in Russia Probe

The move also spotlighted a growing focus by Mueller on Stone.

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Appeals Court Tells EPA to Stop Sales of Harmful Pesticide Chlorpyrifos

A federal appeals court has ruled that the Trump administration endangered public health by keeping a top-selling pesticide chlorpyrifos on the market.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2B1lto9
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Has a Michigan ‘Sharia Zone’ Banned Bacon and Required the Wearing of Burqas in Public?

More false claims about Islamic sharia law taking over in the state of Michigan originated with a so-called "satirical" web site.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2MgjbG8
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Fox’s Ingraham: I Wasn’t Talking About Race

The Fox News personality responded to critics of her commentary that massive demographic changes that most Americans don't like have been forced upon the country by legal and illegal immigration.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2Oot0iC
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Were Additional Donald Trump ‘Stars’ Placed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?

A group of right-wing street artists called "The Faction" posted a video claiming responsibility for the stunt in August 2018.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2Mgj9hu
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Chicago Chain Faces Backlash Over ‘Aloha Poke’ Trademark

A Chicago-based chain that trademarked “Aloha Poke” has faced backlash with calls for boycott after sending cease-and-desist letters to businesses with similar names.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2MEgStv
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Photographer Says Bill Murray Harassed Him at Restaurant

Photographer Peter Simon, brother of Carly Simon, said actor Bill Murray slammed him against a door and poured a glass of water over him while he was taking photos.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2MaOdjh
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Does This Photograph Show ICE Arresting Small Children?

Although a photograph of handcuffed children is shared with the claim the youngsters were arrested by ICE, the image is unrelated to immigration.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2OnBPJx
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St. Louis DA Win Latest Victory for Black Lives Matter

"We must always vote for issues and not just candidates," said Charlene Carruthers, national director of BYP100, a Chicago-based group.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2MaOaUD
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Did Vice President Mike Pence Warn Against ‘Gay Aliens’?

A report about proposed uses for the Trump administration's recently announced "Space Force" was satire from a well-known humorist.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2Oo5GS6
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Actress Sean Young Wanted for Questioning in Burglary

Police say Young is wanted for questioning after she was caught on surveillance video stealing laptops and video production software from a store in New York City.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2noXjtQ
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Texas Lockup is Epicenter of Family Immigration Detention

Currently housing 1,520 mothers and their children, about 10 percent are families who were temporarily separated and then reunited under a “zero tolerance policy” that has since been reversed.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2vRec4m
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Canadian Police Say at Least 4 Dead in Shooting

In 2014, a shooting in Moncton, New Brunswick left three Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers dead and two wounded.

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Thursday 9 August 2018

Did Chicago Police Use a ‘Bait Truck’ to Generate Arrests?

Three people, including a 36-year-old deaf man allegedly looking for food, were arrested as part of the sting.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2vx3DEh
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Did Saudi Arabia Crucify a Man During a Human Rights Dispute with Canada?

News accounts juxtaposed the grisly form of punishment with Saudi Arabia's umbrage over Canadian criticism of human rights violations.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2MdSQIz
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Did Major News Networks Ignore a Story About Korean War Remains Returning to the U.S.?

A widely shared meme suggested that mainstream American news outlets largely ignored North Korea's return of the remains of U.S. soldiers killed during the 1950-53 war.

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Meet the Newest US Citizens: Melania Trump’s Parents

First lady Melania Trump's parents have been sworn in as U.S. citizens.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2OqLUp8
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Does This Photograph Show a Woman About to Be Stoned to Death in Iran?

A picture from a 2003 protest in Colombia has been posted multiple times with the false claim that it shows a woman about to be stoned in Iran.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2M571Ap
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Grandfather: Remains at New Mexico Compound Are Missing Boy

New Mexico authorities, however, said they had yet to identify the remains.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2KC1SKJ
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Texas Opens Investigation of Reported Immigrant Child Death

A report that a child died shortly after being released from a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Texas has inflamed the debate over the detention of immigrant families.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2AXUNob
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Do Curved Fingernails Indicate Serious Health Problems?

Curved or “clubbed” fingernails have been used as an indicator of health since the time of Hippocrates, but their utility as a diagnostic is limited.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2M76fmz
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Court Upholds Ex-Stanford Swimmer Brock Turner’s Sex Assault Conviction

The three judge panel of the 6th District Court of Appeal ruled unanimously that Brock Turner received a fair trial.

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Pence Outlines Plan for New Space Force by 2020

The White House said it will create the U.S. Space Force as a sixth, separate military service by 2020.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2vUAtOH
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Marilyn Monroe Dresses, Personal Photos Going up for Auction

Born Norma Jeane Mortenson, Monroe changed her name after coming to Hollywood. She used her mother's maiden name Monroe, while Lyon provided the "Marilyn."

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2B2HylY
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Compound Suspects Built in Tiny Off-the-Grid Community

Authorities say another resident of the compound near the Colorado state line was conducting weapons training with assault rifles.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2nqOsrM
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New Russia Sanctions over Poisoning of Former Spy, Daughter

The United States will impose sanctions on Russia for the country’s use of a nerve agent in an assassination attempt on a former Russian spy and his daughter.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2MvR16I
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Puerto Rico Concedes Hurricane Maria Deaths More Than 1,400

Puerto Rico has conceded that Hurricane Maria killed more than 1,400 people on the island last year and not just the 64 in the official death toll.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2Mg5p6f
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Wednesday 8 August 2018

Trump Administration Proposal Could Punish Legal Immigrants If Their Family Members Use Public Assistance

The proposed change to "public charge" rules would assess members of "immigrant households" in determining whether a person qualifies for permanent status.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2OVHVC3
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‘Superman’ Actress Margot Kidder’s Death Ruled a Suicide

A statement released by Park County coroner Richard Wood said the 69-year-old Kidder "died as a result of a self-inflicted drug and alcohol overdose" and that no further details would be released.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2AQjpz4
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Indiana Man Charged After 8-Year-Old Son Dies from Inadvertently Eating Meth

Police say Curtis Collman pulled a gun on a friend instead of contacting help for the boy.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2vu3H7P
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Deputies: Arrest Made in Lemonade Stand Stickup

North Carolina authorities arrested a juvenile they say robbed a 9-year-old lemonade vendor of $17 at gunpoint.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2OVxC0P
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Advocacy Group Finds Traces of Asbestos in “Playskool” Crayons

Of the six kinds of crayons the U.S. Public Interest Research Group tested, one brand contained traces of the asbestos mineral tremolite.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2ATgTbg
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Was the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Scrutinized After Posting a Photograph of a Deputy Praying?

A small number of people complained after the department posted a photograph of a deputy praying, but the vast majority of responses were positive.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2vxfEJI
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Prosecutor: Man at Compound Trained Kids for School Shooting

The father of a missing Georgia boy was training children at a New Mexico compound to commit school shootings, prosecutors said.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2nnSFN1
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Father Blames ‘Stand Your Ground’ in Son’s Parking-Lot Death

Michael McGlockton is convinced that two things killed his son in a Florida parking lot: The man who pulled the trigger and the state's polarizing "stand your ground" self-defense law.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2OVd0pt
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Did John F. Kennedy Ask ‘Suppose God is Black?’

A speculative question about God's being black originated with one of the Kennedys, but it wasn't President John F. Kennedy.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2OmkjoR
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Twitter CEO Defends Decision Not to Ban Alex Jones, Infowars

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey defended his company's decision not to ban right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and his "Infowars" show, as many other social media platforms have done, saying he did not break any rules.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2Ms2tQY
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Woman Tells Police She’s a ‘Clean, Thoroughbred, White Girl’

A woman seen speeding through a stop sign at 60 mph (97 kph) told officers they shouldn't arrest her because she's a "very clean, thoroughbred, white girl," police said.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2nkRzS3
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Tuesday 7 August 2018

Did the Soviet Union Require “Shopper ID” Cards for Buying Groceries?

During the tumultuous collapse of the Soviet Union, some Russian cities did require “buyer’s cards” for grocery shopping as a way to deal with food shortages.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2vv5qcQ
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Did JFK Jr. Write in 1999 That Trump ‘Would Be an Unstoppable Force for Ultimate Justice’?

Whatever John F. Kennedy, Jr. might have thought about Donald Trump, he likely wouldn't have described anyone as "an unstoppable force for ultimate justice."

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2KwOojn
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Did Thomas Jefferson Say ‘When the Speech Condemns a Free Press, You Are Hearing the Words of a Tyrant’?

One of the most famous of America's Founding Fathers might have agreed with this sentiment, but we found no evidence that he wrote it.

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Does This Image Show a ‘Firenado’ in California?

A "firenado" truly formed during the Carr fire in California, but this photograph likely does not document that event.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2MvZ5Vi
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Remains of Boy Found at New Mexico Compound

A New Mexico sheriff says searchers have found the remains of a boy on property where authorities raided a makeshift compound.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2vouW3I
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Did Winston Churchill Say ‘The Fascists of the Future Will Call Themselves Anti-Fascists?’

A quote incorrectly attributed to the former British prime minister was spread on social media by Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2OfXmUi
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Is It ‘Censorship’ for Platforms to Delete InfoWars Content? Not According to InfoWars.

Critics of Alex Jones and InfoWars took delight in pointing out the host's seeming double standard in his complaints about "censorship."

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2M0PmKm
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Study: 1 in 7 Children of Zika-Infected Moms Have Problems

In the first long-term look at what happened to children of U.S. mothers who were infected with Zika during pregnancy, one in seven developed some kind of health problem.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2KCNWjz
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Paper Faces Contempt for Story on School Shooting Suspect

The material two judges had ordered kept secret shows that Broward County school officials failed to follow state and federal laws that provide for disabled students.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2nilN8f
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Musk Tweets He May Take Tesla Private and Shares Soar

Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that he is considering taking the electric car maker private, causing the company's stock to spike.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2KCsX0b
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Did Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Say There’s No Difference Between Billions and Trillions?

The young congressional candidate has already become the focus of satire and parody, not always in an obvious way.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2OQ2jo1
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Major Tech Companies Remove Alex Jones for Hate, Bullying

Over the past several days, Apple, YouTube and Spotify have also removed material published by Jones.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2AWZSxc
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Janet Jackson, John Legend Headline Global Citizen Event

Jackson, John Legend, The Weeknd and Shawn Mendes are among the artists slated to appear at the 2018 Global Citizen Festival.

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UConn’s Mascot Becomes Part of Wedding Party

The Siberian Husky that serves as the mascot for the University of Connecticut is taking on another role: assistant ring bearer for two university alumni.

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‘The Bachelorette’ Makes Choice, and Its Garrett Yrigoyen

"The Bachelorette" has chosen.

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‘Charmed’ Makers Defend Reboot, Tout Its Ethnic Diversity

The cast and producer of CW's new "Charmed" are defending the reboot as a story for its time.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2M9DvZz
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Police: 2 Men Escape Care Home to Party in German Town

The story making social media rounds of two elderly men escaping their retirement home to attend Germany's largest heavy metal festival seemed too good to be true.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2OfdSUy
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‘Mighty Ducks’ Star Shaun Weiss Arrested on Intoxication Charge

Weiss was arrested for “being under the influence of drugs” according to law enforcement in Oroville, California.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2vnv7MG
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Transgender Hollywood Seeks Recognition, and Not Just Roles

Advocates are hoping that the current focus on transgender Hollywood will help.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2OfdMwa
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Lady Gaga to Launch Las Vegas Residency in December

“Lady Gaga Enigma” will highlight the pop star’s biggest and upbeat hits, while “Lady Gaga Jazz & Piano” will feature more stripped-down songs.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2vrU0GP
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Rosie O’Donnell, Broadway Stars, Protest Outside White House

O’Donnell and cast members from some of Broadway's biggest musicals led a sing-along protest against Trump outside the White House.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2OkewQz
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Council Wants to Remove Trump Star from Walk of Fame

The West Hollywood City Council has unanimously approved a resolution seeking to remove President Donald Trump's star from the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2nhWhjx
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Monday 6 August 2018

Arpaio Speaks to Toy Doughnut in New Baron Cohen’s Show

U.S. Senate candidate Joe Arpaio argued the benefits of gun ownership to a tiny toy doughnut in the latest episode of comedian Sacha Baron Cohen's new prank show.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2M9AhFm
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Did France Pass a Law Saying That ‘Children Can Consent to Sex with Adults’?

A disreputable web site distorted and misled readers on the subject of a new French law on sexual violence.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2niJvkQ
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Did a Michigan School District Ban Students from Wearing the American Flag?

A year-old Facebook post about a school dress code became a source of reanimated outrage in 2018.

from Snopes.com http://bit.ly/2M51YiJ
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Does This Photograph Show Clouds Over the California Wildfires?

A spectacular image of red-tinted clouds at sunset was repurposed to falsely connect it with 2018 wildfires in California.

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8th Graders Can See R-rated ‘Eighth Grade’ Free This Week

The Motion Picture Association of America gave the film an R-rating for some language and sexual material.

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Is This a 1950s Women’s Magazine Ad for a Handgun to Shoot ‘Depraved Creeps’?

A vintage women's magazine advertisement for a Colt Cobra revolver for use against 'that strange, depraved creep who won't leave you alone' is a recent fabrication.

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NASCAR Chairman Arrested for DWI, Oxycodone Possession

NASCAR chairman Brian France has been arrested in New York's Hamptons for driving while intoxicated and criminal possession of oxycodone.

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Did Nancy Pelosi Say the ‘Plastic Straw Ban Is Important for Gun Control?’

The House Minority Leader did not argue that the plastic straw ban would prevent "gateway guns" such as pea shooters and spitballers.

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Beyonce Reveals She Had Emergency C-Section

Beyonce says she has a "little mommy pouch" and she's in no rush to get rid of it.

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Are These ‘I’d Rather Be a Russian Than a Democrat’ Shirts Real?

A photograph of two men wearing "I'd Rather Be a Russian Than a Democrat" t-shirts was taken at a rally for President Trump in Ohio.

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Police Seek Info for Dead Baby Floating Near Brooklyn Bridge

No parent or guardian was present at the scene and the child showed no signs of trauma, police said.

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San Francisco’s Wild Parrots Branching Out Throughout City

They can be seen flying in formation in small flocks throughout the city now and have been sighted as far south as Brisbane, about 15 miles south of the city.

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Iran’s Ahmadinejad Opines on Trump, James Spat

Ahmadinejad's quest to return to the spotlight now includes weighing in on a spat between President Donald Trump and basketball star LeBron James.

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Michelin-Starred French Master Chef Joel Robuchon Dies at 73

French master chef Joel Robuchon has died at the age of 73.

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Is Justice Blind at a Courthouse With a Confederate Statue?

Ronnie Anderson is asking for his case to be moved to another location because the courthouse where he’s being tried has a Confederate monument in front of it.

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5 Killed When Small Plane Crashes in California Parking Lot

The pilot of the Cessna 414 and all four passengers were killed but nobody on the ground was hurt, authorities said.

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Is Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Holding a Facebook Giveaway?

Despite the prevalence of numerous social media come-ons, Dwayne Johnson is not giving away money, cars, or anything else on Facebook.

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Promoter Says Pink Admitted to Sydney Hospital, Cancels Show

"Pink will remain in hospital overnight, continuing her treatment and recovery," the tweet said.

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NRA Sues New York Officials Over ‘Blacklisting’ Campaign

The NRA is suffering grave financial harm that threatens its ability to pursue its advocacy mission because of a "blacklisting" campaign by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York regulators, the gun rights group said in a federal lawsuit.

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Sunday 5 August 2018

Actress Charlotte Rae of ‘Facts of Life’ Fame Dies at 92

Charlotte Rae, who played affable Mrs. Garrett on the long-running NBC sitcom 'The Facts of Life,' died at her home in Los Angeles.

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Trump Changes Story on Purpose of Meeting with Russian Lawyer

President Trump appeared to change his story about a 2016 meeting at Trump Tower that is pivotal to the special counsel's investigation.

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Michael J. Fox Death Hoax

The popular actor has not passed away at 57 from complications related to Parkinson's disease.

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Saturday 4 August 2018

Trump Rips LeBron James’ Smarts Hours Before Rally in Ohio

Trump tweeted that James was interviewed "by the dumbest man on television," CNN anchor Don Lemon, but that he "made Lebron look smart, which isn't easy to do."

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Should You Feed ‘Starving Bees’ Sugar Water?

Experts urge that no one other than trained beekeepers maintaining colonies during a dearth of nectar should provide bees with sugar water.

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Did Bank of America Freeze a Customer’s Account to Demand Proof of Citizenship?

A Kansas City news photographer said his account was suspended until he told a bank representative he was a U.S. citizen.

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Election Crackdown Runs Into Speed-Tweeting Human ‘Bots’

Twitter and other sites have targeted automated or robot-like accounts known as bots, which authorities say were used to cloak efforts by foreign governments and political bad actors in the 2016 elections.

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Friday 3 August 2018

Supreme Court Orders New Hearing for Kansas Woman Ordered Not to Pray

The high court said that it was "impossible to analyze" Mary Anne Sause's claim that police restricted her First Amendment rights.

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Report: Trump Commission Did Not Find Widespread Voter Fraud

The now-disbanded voting integrity commission launched by the Trump administration uncovered no evidence to support claims of widespread voter fraud, according to an analysis of administration documents.

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Man Who Harassed Yellowstone Bison Arrested at Glacier Park

An Oregon man who was caught on video harassing a bison in Yellowstone National Park was arrested in Glacier National Park.

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Beauty Queen Resigns Title Rather Than Cover Tattoos

A beauty queen in the Southern California desert community of Phelan has given up her crown rather than cover up her tattoos.

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Did President Donald Trump Donate His Entire $400,000 Salary to Rebuild Military Cemeteries?

Prominent conservative commentators boosted a false, mathematically impossible rumor about the president's salary donations, taking aim at the news media along the way.

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Spontaneous Office Pool Wins $543 Million Lottery Jackpot

A group of California co-workers who decided to play the lottery on a whim won last month's $543 million Mega Millions jackpot.

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Was a ‘Large Cat’ Spotted at Lake of the Ozarks?

A report about a tiger lurking near the shores of the Lake of the Ozarks originated with a prank website.

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Did Eleven U.S. Marines Give Their Lives This Week?

A long-circulated message offers prayers on behalf of servicemen killed in Afghanistan several years ago.

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Did Barack Obama Mock President Trump’s ‘IDs for Groceries’ Speech on Twitter?

A seeming tweet circulated online was designed to mimic the former president's social media account.

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Police: Suspect in Bush’s Doctor’s Death Killed Himself

A man accused of killing one of former President George H.W. Bush's doctors killed himself when confronted by authorities.

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Montreal Model Known as Zombie Boy Dead at 32

Dulcedo Management confirmed the passing of Rick Genest, who was better known as Zombie Boy.

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Is Facebook Taking Down a Photograph Showing the Burial of Korean War Remains?

Facebook is not taking down a picture of the interment of Korean War dead in order to minimize an achievement of President Trump's.

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Documents: Youth Care Worker Sexually Abused Immigrant Boys

Federal authorities allege that a former youth care worker at a Phoenix-area facility for immigrant youths sexually abused eight teenage boys.

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