Nevada Earthquake Swarm Increases Chance Of Larger Quake

Nov 8 (Reuters) – An earthquake swarm that began in a secluded northwest Nevada region this summer has grown more intense in recent days, increasing the chance of a large quake occurring, geology officials said.

The activity is centered just off the state’s northwest border, some 40 miles (64 km) southeast of Lakeview, Oregon, and started July 12, the Nevada Seismological Laboratory said on Wednesday.

Over the past three months, the laboratory has recorded some 550 incidents of seismic activity of a magnitude of 2.0 or larger, while there have been three magnitude 4.0 or higher quakes since Oct. 30.

On Tuesday, the area was rocked by a magnitude 4.6 earthquake, the laboratory said.

The U.S. Geological Survey said that roughly a dozen quakes between magnitude 2.5 and 3.6 shook the area on Friday.

The laboratory said that following swarms like these there is a slight increase in the likelihood that a larger earthquake will happen.

The current swarm resembles one that occurred in Reno, Nevada, in 2008 that shook the area over a two-month stretch with increasingly strong temblors leading to a magnitude 5 quake that caused moderate damage in the area, the Laboratory said

Hurricane Odile Updates: Unprecedented Tropical Cyclone Slams Cabo San Lucas, Los Cabos, La Paz

Hurricane Odile made landfall early Monday with an intensity unprecedented for Mexico’s Baja California peninsula. The Category 3 storm made a direct hit on Cabo San Lucas, a popular tourist destination, bringing 125 mph winds and six hours of rain.

According to Luis Felipe Puente, national coordinator of Mexico’s Civil Protection agency, there have been no confirmed deaths as of Monday afternoon. However, he said 135 people have been treated for injuries in the state of Baja California Sur.

Widespread power outages, flooding and wind damage were reported as some residents and tourists emerged late Monday morning to assess the damage the powerful storm left behind.

Room windows at the Westin were blown out, mud and rock blocked the entrance to the Club Regina and workers said the Hilton was seriously damaged.

The newspaper Tribuna de los Cabos reported people being injured by flying glass, power lines and traffic signals down throughout the city.

(MORE: Hurricane Odile Forecast)

The hurricane’s most severe impacts have been in the municipalities of Los Cabos, which includes both Cabo San Lucas and San Jose Del Cabo, and La Paz, which lies north of Los Cabos and is the capital of Baja California Sur.

The storm is continuing to move north-northwest roughly along the axis of Baja California.

Below are the latest updates, including photos and videos as they come in to The Weather Channel.

 

Sneaker entrepreneur Antonio Brown is suing Louis Vuitton

               Antonio Brown is the chief executive officer and founder of LVL XIII Brands, a luxury footwear brand that is alleging in a lawsuit that Louis Vuitton infringed upon its trademark. Here he appears on the cover of Krave magazine, a fashion and lifestyle publication for men of color. Click ahead to see a pair of his sneakers, and a pair by Louis Vuitton. 

                    

After Antonio Brown launched his luxury men’s footwear brand LVL XIII, his gamble on entrepreneurship paid off in a way that other fashion entrepreneurs only dream about. Fueled by social media and a red-hot debut party hosted by model Tyson Beckford, a slew of celebrities from rappers Nas and Jim Jones to actors like Nick Cannon, Tracey Morgan and Jason Sudeikis were wearing his shoes. Fashion bloggers were enraptured, and editors from Details and Ebony came calling.

Brown was still enjoying his success earlier this year, with plans to expand the brand into apparel and women’s sizes. But in June, everything came to a halt. That’s when the Atlanta-based startup whose name is pronounced Level 13 filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against another firm that it claims copied its distinctive trademark. But not just any alleged copycat. The defendant in the suit is the most valuable luxury brand in the world: Louis Vuitton, worth $28.4 billion, and its similarly Paris-based parent companyLVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the biggest luxury conglomerate in the world.

“I took everything I had financially to build this brand, and there were days that I didn’t eat, couldn’t pay my rent,” Brown told me in an interview. “I had to build the brand and I did. For someone like Louis Vuitton to come along and do this, it’s not right.”

Brown, a former accountant, decided after he was laid off from luxury doll maker Alexander Doll Co. to use the opportunity to start his own company, and he came up with some very audacious designs for high-top sneakers. Each pair is made of high-end leather and exotic skins with flashy details and names like “Spartacus” and “Dark Rising.” Knowing he was up against major fashion brands with a lot more marketing money at their disposal, Brown also devised his own trademark: a distinctive metal plate with “LVL XIII” engraved on it which he submitted to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. When singer-dancer Jason Derulo wore a pair on “Good Morning America” in June 2013, the telltale metal plates glinted in the spotlight as he did acrobatics on the stage. The patent was approved in August 2013, and after the brand launched in stores in November 2013, it sold $500,000 worth of shoes within two months.

In March 2014, Louis Vuitton released the “On the Road” sneaker that the lawsuit claims infringes upon the brand’s trademark. It features metal toe plates attached to the front sole of the shoe, as well as the back. It doesn’t have the screws, and obviously, it doesn’t have LVL XIII engraved on it either, but LVL XIII had sought and was granted a trademark for that signature metal plate on the front of the shoe feature, Brown says, and the suit argues that the Louis Vuitton shoe’s plates are “confusingly similar to the LVL XIII Toe Plate” and “impinges” on the goodwill associated with the brand.

The suit was filed June 30 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in Manhattan, where LVL XIII has its showroom and where Louis Vuitton has its North America office (it and its parent company LVMH are headquartered in Paris). It accused Louis Vuitton of trademark infringement and unfair competition, claiming the company acted in a “deliberate attempt to divert sales away from LVL XIII” and “benefiting unlawfully from the goodwill LVL XIII has built” in the toe plate trademark nationally.

It seeks an injunction to keep Louis Vuitton from producing and selling any shoes that use the toe plate, and seeks damages and profits from the shoes that Louis Vuitton has already sold with its toe plate. Brown says that he and his New York-based patent attorney, Ronald Coleman of Goetz Fitzpatrick, had approached Louis Vuitton to resolve the issue outside of court, but the brand refused.

“I’ve always been the type of person to give the benefit of the doubt, and considering they’re a company that is built on integrity and that they’ve been around for decades, I had hopes that it was done by mistake,” Brown said.

After I contacted officials with Louis Vuitton North America, they sent this statement: “The lawsuit is entirely without merit, and the company will vigorously defend itself.”

Brown, who said he has always greatly admired the Louis Vuitton brand, found out about the sneakers while he was at a shoe factory in Brazil. His attorney, retained to make sure no one violates his copyright, told him about it.

“Honestly, I was shocked, I needed to see it for myself,” Brown said. “Out of all the brands, the largest luxury conglomerate in the world. I would have thought that they wouldn’t have made that mistake, would have done their research.”

Since the release of the Louis Vuitton shoes, customers have accused his brand of being the copycats on social media. “They’d ask ‘are you collaborating with Louis Vuitton’ on my social media pages,” Brown says.

In the fashion industry, such cases involving shoes that consider a particular design feature their trademark have gone to court before, and they can be tricky. In 2011, Christian Louboutin, which holds a trademark for the red soles of its shoes, sued Yves St. Laurent over shoes that it made that featured red soles.It took three years before a ruling came that Christian Louboutin had protection for only shoes that were of contrasting color, meaning Yves St. Laurent could still sell red shoes with red soles.

Brown, who says the issue is delaying his production, is eager to get his own case resolved sooner rather than later.

“It’s major because it involved every trademark we have established with the brand,” he says. As the company shifts beyond sneakers into oxfords, loafers, and sandals in men’s size 4 to 15 (to fit women too), he is worried about how to brand, and whether his trademark rights will be upheld.

While Brown acknowledges that it’s a David vs. Goliath kind of court case, he says that he remains confident in the assertions, and his lawyer specializes in such cases and believes that LVL XIII’s case is a strong one. He also wants to show other growing entrepreneurs that they should not be afraid to stand up for their brands, even if it means battling a big company.

“I want people to know that you can believe in your dreams,” Brown said.

Story Via http://upstart.bizjournals.com/

FAA bans U.S.-Israel flights, citing rocket attack

The FAA has told U.S. airlines that they are prohibited from flying to or from Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport for a period of up to 24 hours.

“The notice was issued in response to a rocket strike which landed approximately one mile from” the airport on Tuesday morning, the FAA said.

At least two U.S. airlines suspended flights to Israel on Tuesday because of security concerns, with one company specifically citing a rocket attack near Tel Aviv.

Delta Air Lines and American Airlines both told CNN they suspended service to Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv. The American Airlines flights in question — between Philadelphia and Ben Gurion — are operated by US Airways, said American spokesman Casey Norton.

The Israel Airport Authority told CNN that the U.S. companies made the decisions on their own, and urged them to reconsider, saying that the airport was safe.

The suspensions come amid a conflict between Israel and militants in Gaza. The Israeli military said least 41 rockets were fired from the Palestinian territory toward Israel on Tuesday.

Delta, citing “reports of a rocket or associated debris” near the airport, said it suspended service between its hub in New York and Tel Aviv “to ensure the safety and security of our customers and employees.”

One immediate effect: Delta Flight 468, which left New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport on Tuesday with 273 passengers, diverted to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport instead of heading to Tel Aviv as scheduled, the airline said.

“Delta continues to work closely with U.S. and other government resources to monitor the situation,” the airline said.

The Israel Airport Authority said the airport is safe. It called on the U.S. airlines to return to routine flight schedules at Tel Aviv.

“There is no reason that American carriers should stop flying to Israel and thus give a prize to terror,” he said.

U.S. State Department warns against nonessential travel

The suspensions come a day after the U.S. State Department asked Americans to consider deferring nonessential travel to Israel and the West Bank.

Monday’s travel warning reaffirmed existing guidance against any travel to Gaza, which the State Department says “is under the control of Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization.” The department urged U.S. citizens already in Gaza to depart immediately.

Visitors to Israel should familiarize themselves with the nearest bomb shelters in case of attack, and should avoid areas of Israel near Gaza due to the possibility of attacks from Gaza “with little or no warning,” the warning says.

Israel, The West Bank and Gaza Travel Warning

LAST UPDATED: JULY 21, 2014

The U.S. Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risks of traveling to Israel, the West Bank and Gaza due to ongoing hostilities.  The Department of State recommends that U.S. citizens consider the deferral of non-essential travel to Israel and the West Bank and reaffirms the longstanding strong warning to U.S. citizens against any travel to the Gaza Strip.  This Travel Warning replaces the Travel Warning issued on February 3, 2014.

The security environment remains complex in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza, and U.S. citizens need to be aware of the risks of travel to these areas because of the current conflict between Hamas and Israel.  The Department of State continues its longstanding strong warning to U.S. citizens against travel to the Gaza Strip; U.S. government employees are not allowed to conduct official or personal travel there.  Please see the section below on the situation in the Gaza Strip.  Because of the security situation, the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv and its annexes are currently operating at reduced staffing and the Consular Section of the Embassy is providing only emergency consular services.  The U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem is currently maintaining normal operations, including consular services.

Long-range rockets launched from Gaza since July 8, 2014 have reached many locations in Israel – including Tel Aviv, cities farther north, and throughout the south of the country. Some rockets have reached Jerusalem and parts of the West Bank, including Bethlehem and Hebron.  While many rockets have been intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system, there have been impacts that have caused damage and injury.  In light of the ongoing rocket attacks, U.S. citizen visitors to and U.S. citizen residents of Israel and the West Bank should familiarize themselves with the location of the nearest bomb shelter or other hardened site, if available.  Visitors should seek information on shelters from hotel staff or building managers.  Consult city municipality websites, such as those for Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, for lists of public bomb shelters and other emergency preparedness information.  Visitors should follow the instructions of the Home Front Command on proper procedures in the event of rocket attacks.

Travelers should avoid areas of Israel in the vicinity of the Gaza Strip due to the real risks presented by small arms fire, anti-tank weapons, rockets, and mortars, as attacks from Gaza can come with little or no warning.  Both Embassy and Consulate General personnel are currently not permitted to travel south of greater Tel Aviv without prior approval.  On July 17, 2014 Israel announced the commencement of ground operations in Gaza. Visitors to these areas should remain aware of their surroundings and should take note of announcements and guidance provided by the Home Front Command.

Ben Gurion Airport is currently open and commercial flights are operating normally, although delays and cancellations can occur.  Travelers should check with their airline prior to their planned travel to verify the flight schedule.  U.S. citizens seeking to depart Israel or the West Bank are responsible for making their own travel arrangements.

 

We are not evacuating U.S. citizens out of Israel.  U.S. government-facilitated evacuations occur only when no safe commercial alternatives exist. Evacuation assistance is provided on a cost-recovery basis, which means the traveler must reimburse the U.S. government for travel costs. The lack of a valid U.S. passport may hinder U.S. citizens’ ability to depart the country and may slow the U.S. Embassy or Consulate General’s ability to provide assistance.

U.S. citizens who do travel to or remain in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza should take into consideration the rules governing travel by U.S. government employees:

 

• U.S. government personnel are not permitted to conduct official or personal travel to the Gaza Strip;
• U.S. government personnel are restricted from conducting personal travel to most parts of the West Bank; travel for official business is done with special security arrangements coordinated by the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem;
• Currently, because of the security situation, U.S. government personnel are not permitted to travel south of greater Tel Aviv without prior approval;
• U.S. government personnel must notify Embassy Tel Aviv’s Regional Security Officer before traveling in the areas of the Golan Heights and are prohibited from traveling east of Rt. 98 in the Golan Heights;
• U.S. government personnel are not permitted to use public buses anywhere in Israel or the West Bank due to past attacks on public transportation.

Major Metropolitan Areas in Israel

 

Personal safety conditions in major metropolitan areas, including Tel Aviv and Haifa and their surrounding regions, are comparable to or better than those in other major global cities. Please see below for specific information regarding Jerusalem. Visitors should observe appropriate personal security practices to reduce their vulnerability to crime, particularly late at night or in isolated or economically depressed areas, including in the countryside.  Visitors are advised to avoid large gatherings or demonstrations and keep current with local news, which is available through numerous English language sources.

 

The Government of Israel has had a long-standing policy of issuing gas masks to its citizens and, starting in 2010, it began issuing replacement masks.  It stopped this distribution process in early 2014 in response to regional events. Visitors and foreign residents in Israel are not issued masks and must individually procure them, if desired.  The U.S. Embassy and Consulate General do not provide gas masks for persons who are not U.S. government employees or their dependents.  For further emergency preparedness guidance, please visit the website of the Government of Israel’sHome Front Command, which provides information on how to choose a secure space in a home or apartment, as well as a list of the types of protective kits (gas masks) issued by the Government of Israel to its citizens.

Gaza Vicinity

The Department of State recommends against travel to areas of Israel in the vicinity of the Gaza Strip.  Travelers should be aware of the risks presented by the current military conflict between Hamas and Israel.  On July 17, 2014 Israel announced the commencement of ground operations in Gaza.  Travelers in the regions immediately bordering Gaza may encounter small arms fire, anti-tank weapons, rockets, and mortars launched from inside Gaza toward Israeli cities and towns.  These attacks can come with little or no warning.  Visitors to these areas should remain aware of their surroundings and of the location of bomb shelters and should take note of announcements and guidance provided by the Home Front Command.

Travelers should also be aware of the heightened state of alert maintained by Israeli authorities along Israel’s border with Egypt.  There have been cross-border incidents from Egypt, including rocket attacks and ground incursions, such as an attack that took place in August 2013 and one on January 20, 2014. Rockets were fired from Sinai in the direction of Eilat on July 15, 2014.

Northern Israel

Rocket attacks into Israel from Lebanon have occurred without warning along the Israeli-Lebanese border.  Tensions have increased along portions of the Disengagement Zone with Syria in the Golan Heights as a result of the internal conflict occurring in Syria.  Sporadic gunfire has occurred along the border region. There have been several incidents of mortar shells and light arms fire impacting on the Israeli-controlled side of the zone as a result of spillover from the fighting in Syria.  Travelers should be aware that cross-border gunfire can occur without warning.  Furthermore, there are active land mines in areas of the Golan Heights, so visitors should walk only on established roads or trails.  The Syrian conflict is sporadic and unpredictable.  U.S. government personnel must notify the Embassy’s Regional Security Office in advance if they plan to visit the Golan Heights and are prohibited from traveling east of Rt. 98 in the Golan Heights.

Jerusalem

U.S. citizens should be aware of the possibility of isolated street protests, particularly within the Old City and areas around Salah Ed-Din Street, Damascus Gate, Silwan, and the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood.  Travelers should exercise caution at religious sites on Fridays and on holy days, including during Ramadan.  U.S. government employees are prohibited from entering the Old City on Fridays during the month of Ramadan due to congestion and security-related access restrictions.

 

U.S. government employees are prohibited from transiting Independence Park in central Jerusalem during the hours of darkness due to reports of criminal activity.

 

The Consulate General notes that recent demonstrations and clashes in several East Jerusalem areas, such as Shufat, Beit Hanina, Mt. of Olives, As Suwaneh, Abu Deis, Silwan, Shuafat Refugee Camp, inside the Old City (near Lions Gate), Issawiyeh, and Tsur Baher appear to have diminished, although the possibility exists of renewed clashes in the same areas during evenings.  We note that the clashes and demonstrations have not been anti-American in nature.  The Israel National Police (INP) continues to have a heavy presence in many of the neighborhoods that have had clashes and may restrict vehicular traffic to some of these neighborhoods without notice. We advise citizens not to enter any neighborhoods restricted by the INP and to avoid any locations that have active clashes ongoing.

The Shufat neighborhood of Jerusalem remains off-limits for official U.S. personnel and their families at night until further notice. The Old City of Jerusalem is also off-limits every day after dark for official U.S. personnel and their families until further notice. Official U.S. personnel are restricted from the Old City of Jerusalem at all times on Fridays during Ramadan. The Friday restriction is part of our standard policy, due to overall congestion and large crowds, and is not related to recent events.

The West Bank

The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to exercise caution when traveling to the West Bank.  Demonstrations and violent incidents can occur without warning, and vehicles are regularly targeted by rocks, Molotov cocktails, and gunfire on West Bank roads.  U.S citizens have been killed in such attacks.  There have also been an increasing number of violent incidents involving Israeli settlers and Palestinian villagers in the corridor stretching from Ramallah to Nablus, including attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinian villages in which U.S. citizens have suffered injury or property damage, and attacks by Palestinians on settlements.  U.S. citizens can be caught in the middle of potentially dangerous situations, and some U.S. citizens involved in political demonstrations in the West Bank have sustained serious injuries.  The Department of State recommends that U.S. citizens, for their own safety, avoid all demonstrations.  During periods of unrest, the Israeli Government may restrict access to the West Bank, and some areas may be placed under curfew.  All persons in areas under curfew should remain indoors to avoid arrest or injury.  Security conditions in the West Bank may hinder the ability of consular staff to offer timely assistance to U.S. citizens.

 

Personal travel in the West Bank by U.S. government personnel and their families is permitted to the towns of Bethlehem and Jericho and on Routes 1, 443, and 90.  Personal travel is also permitted to Qumran off Route 90 by the Dead Sea, as are stops at roadside facilities along Routes 1 and 90.  All other personal travel by U.S. government personnel in the West Bank is prohibited.   U.S. government personnel routinely travel to the West Bank for official business, but do so with special security arrangements.

The Gaza Strip

The Department of State strongly urges U.S. citizens to avoid all travel to the Gaza Strip, which is under the control of Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization.  U.S. citizens in Gaza are advised to depart immediately.  The security environment within Gaza, including its border with Egypt and its seacoast, is dangerous and volatile.  Exchanges of fire between the Israel Defense Forces and militant groups in Gaza take place regularly, and civilians have been caught in the crossfire in the past.  Although the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt normally allows for some passenger travel, prior coordination with local authorities — which could take days or weeks to process — is generally required, and crossing points may be closed for days or weeks.  Travelers who enter the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing must also exit through the Rafah crossing, and those entering the Gaza Strip may not be able to depart at a time of their choosing.  Many U.S. citizens have been unable to exit Gaza or faced lengthy delays in doing so.  Furthermore, the schedule and requirements for exiting through the Rafah crossing are unpredictable and can involve significant expense.  Because U.S. citizen employees of the U.S. government are not allowed to enter the Gaza Strip or have contact with Hamas, the ability of consular staff to offer timely assistance to U.S. citizens, including assistance departing Gaza, is extremely limited.

Entry/Exit Difficulties

 

Some U.S. citizens holding Israeli nationality, possessing a Palestinian identity card, or who are of Arab or Muslim origin have experienced significant difficulties in entering or exiting Israel or the West Bank. U.S. citizens planning to travel to Israel, the West Bank, or Gaza should consult the detailed information concerning entry and exit difficulties in the Country Specific Information. 

 

Contact the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy for information and assistance in Israel, the Golan Heights, and ports of entry at Ben Gurion Airport, Haifa Port, the northern (Jordan River/Sheikh Hussein) and southern (Arava) border crossings connecting Israel and Jordan, and the border crossings between Israel and Egypt.  An embassy officer can be contacted at (972) (3) 519-7575 from Monday through Friday during working hours.  The after-hours emergency number is (972) (3) 519-7551.

 

Contact the Consular Section of the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem for information and assistance in Jerusalem, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and the Allenby/King Hussein Bridge crossing between the West Bank and Jordan, at (972) (2) 630-4000 from Monday through Friday during working hours.  The after-hours emergency number is (972) (2) 622-7250.

For More Information

 

The Department of State urges those U.S. citizens who live in or travel to Israel, the West Bank or Gaza to enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) in order to obtain the most current information on travel and security within Israel, the West Bank and Gaza.  Enrollment in STEP makes it easier for the Embassy or Consulate General to contact U.S. citizens in case of emergency.

For information on “What the Department of State Can and Can’t Do in a Crisis,” please visit the Bureau of Consular Affairs’ Emergencies and Crisis linkat www.travel.state.gov

For the latest security information, U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State’s Internet website where theWorldwide Caution,  Country Specific Information for Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts can be found, including the current Travel Warning for Israel, the West Bank and Gaza.  You can also follow the Bureau of Consular Affairs on Twitter and on Facebook.  Up-to-date information on security conditions can also be accessed at http://israel.usembassy.gov, http://jerusalem.usconsulate.gov or on theEmbassy and Consulate General Facebook pages.

Up-to-date information on travel and security in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada, or, for callers outside of the United States and Canada, on a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

Hurricane Arthur Heads for North Carolina; Fourth of July Holiday Threatened

Hurricane Arthur Facts

– Arthur now has maximum winds of 80 mph; located 150 miles south-southwest of Cape Fear, North Carolina, and moving north-northeast.
– A hurricane warning extends south from the Virginia/North Carolina border to Surf City, North Carolina, including the Outer Banks.
– A hurricane watch continues south of Surf City to Little River Inlet (N.C./S.C. border).
– A tropical storm warning is in effect for coastal and parts of eastern North Carolina, northeast South Carolina and southeast Virginia, including Wilmington, Myrtle Beach and Virginia Beach.
– Peak impact in the Carolinas/southeast Virginia will be later tonight into Friday.

ACTRESS ANGELA BASSETT DIRECTING WHITNEY HOUSTON – THE MOVIE

Lifetime is making the movie “Whitney Houston”, directed by actress Angela Bassett, based on late Houston’s real life.

TV Network Lifetime has announced their plans of making a movie based on the real life events of singer ‘Whitney Houston’. The movie would focus on the singer’s professional and personal life.

The movie is titled simply “Whitney Houston” and the movie is set to release in 2015. The film will be directed by Houston’s 1995 ‘Waiting To Exhale’ co-star, Angela Bassett for whom this would be a directorial debut.

“I have such regard for both Whitney’s and Bobby’s amazing talents and accomplishments, and I feel a responsibility in the telling of their story,” said Bassett.“Their humanity and bond fascinates us all. I’m beyond excited to have this opportunity to go behind the camera and into their world.”

Lifetime revealed that the primary focus of the movie is Houston’s relationship with her husband Bobby Brown. “From the time they first met at the very height of their celebrity, to their courtship and tumultuous marriage. Throughout it all, difficulties followed the superstar couple while they dealt with the overwhelming rewards and consequences of the fame and fortune created by Whitney’s meteoric rise that would soon overshadow them both,” added Lifetime.

Lifetime has not revealed the cast of the movie yet.

PA Gov. Corbett won’t appeal marriage ruling; PA is 19th marriage state!

Today, May 21, 24 hours after a federal judge struck down Pennsylvania’s ban on same-sex couples from marriage, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett announced that he would not appeal the decision. Since Gov. Corbett is not appealing – and Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane has already stated that she would not defend discrimination – this means that Pennsylvania is officially the 19th state with the freedom to marry for same-sex couples!

Gov. Corbett said in a statement:

“I have thoroughly reviewed Judge Jones’ opinion in the Whitewood case. Given the high legal threshold set forth by Judge Jones in this case, the case is extremely unlikely to succeed on appeal. Therefore, after review of the opinion and on the advice of my Commonwealth legal team, I have decided not to appeal Judge Jones’ decision.”

Freedom to Marry founder and president Evan Wolfson commented on the news today. He said:

Governor Corbett’s decision not to waste taxpayers’ money defending the indefensible denial of the freedom to marry even one day longer is the right decision for Pennsylvania, for families, and for the country – and one more big step forward to celebrate. Pennsylvania is showing the country that when gay couples share in the freedom to marry, it’s joy, love, security, and happiness and a stronger community for everyone, and no one loses. And this latest decision by a Republican governor not to try to keep gay couples from marrying is additional proof that all of America is ready for the freedom to marry.”

In the hours after Judge Jones’ ruling came down striking down the ban on marriage for same-sex couples, lawmakers from across the state of Pennsylvania have stepped forward announcing their support and congratulating all of the same-sex couples celebrating this historic day. Here are some great statements from PA legislators celebrating:

PA Attorney General Kathleen Kane

“This is an historic day. More importantly, today brings justice to Pennsylvanians who have suffered from unequal protection under the law because of their sexual orientation. When state-sponsored inequality exists, citizens are deprived of the full protections that the Constitution guarantees. Our Commonwealth progressed today and so have the hopes and dreams of many who suffer from inequality.”

“Today, in Pennsylvania, the Constitution prevailed. Inequality in any form is unacceptable and it has never stood the test of time. I have remained steadfast in my decision not to defend Pennsylvania’s Defense of Marriage Act because I made a legal determination as to the unconstitutionality of this law. I am pleased that a learned legal mind such as Judge Jones ruled similarly.”

U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA)

“I’m pleased that the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania today struck down the state’s ban on same-sex marriage. This was the right decision and is a step forward for equality in our Commonwealth and in the Nation.”

“As a U.S. Senator representing Pennsylvania, I have heard from many LGBT Pennsylvanians and their families who want nothing more than equal rights under the law. As one mother from Pennsylvania said in a letter to me: ‘My kids have two proud and loving parents who are honest [and] work hard. I want my kids to know they are equal and our family is equal . . . I just want my family to be treated equally and with respect by my state and federal government.’ I believe this decision is a critical step toward achieving equal rights for all Pennsylvanians.”

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter

“After nearly two decades of discrimination under Pennsylvania’s DOMA, same sex individuals, couples and families will finally be treated equally. I have said many times that I am looking forward to the day when I can legally marry same-sex couples. I have a number of friends who have been waiting for me to legally perform their marriage ceremony. With Judge Jones’ decision, I will finally be able to do so. But, the fight for civil rights and human rights continues in Philadelphia and all across the United States.”

“In my work as national Co-Chair of Freedom to Marry’s Mayors for the Freedom to Marry, I have encouraged other mayors to come out in support of marriage equality. As elected officials, we must represent the interests of all of our constituents – every person, every family and every life. In Philadelphia, the birthplace of democracy, and Pennsylvania, a state founded on the basic tenets oftolerance, we all benefit when the rights of a group are attained or reaffirmed.”

U.S. Congressman Charlie Dent (R-PA)

“U.S. District Judge John E. Jones’s ruling on this issue appears to be the final legal say on this matter. To all the individuals who will now be able to marry as a result of today’s ruling – Congratulations!” “To me here I can’t help to see that his congratulations was a fake one.. Just got that feeling..”

Congressman Mike Doyle (D-PA)

“Today, Pennsylvania joined 18 other states that have marriage equality. Judge Jones declared, “We are a better people than what these laws represent, and it is time to discard them into the ash heap of history.”

I’m very pleased by today’s decision. Everyone should be able to marry the person they love.”

Congressman Matt Cartwright (D-PA)

“I have known Judge Jones for many years and was privileged to practice as a lawyer in his courtroom. I applaud Judge Jones’ decision finding Pennsylvania’s discriminatory ban on gay marriage unconstitutional and appropriately tossed aside. With today’s historic ruling, Pennsylvania joins a growing number of other states in recognizing that everyone should be treated equally under the law.”

VIA http://www.freedomtomarry.org/blog/entry/pa-gov.-corbett-wont-appeal-marriage-ruling-pa-is-19th-marriage-state