London (CNN)London teenager Brusthom Ziamani only converted to Islam in April last year. But by August he was arrested on suspicion of plotting to kill a soldier, police officer or government official, with a 12-inch knife and a hammer found in his backpack. Ziamani was convicted in February of "engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts" and sentenced Friday at the Old Bailey to 22 years in prison. It's a case with chilling echoes of the shocking murder by two Islamist extremists of soldier Lee Rigby, mowed down and hacked to death with a machete on a street in Woolwich, in southeast London, in May 2013. On the morning of his arrest, Ziamani had told his former girlfriend he intended to attack and kill soldiers. He also showed her the long-bladed knife and the hammer in his bag. Police who had searched his home two months previously had found a handwritten letter in which he glorified the murder of Rigby, and stated that "we should do a 9/11, 7/7 and a Woolwich all in one day." Police said Ziamani, who was unemployed, had come under the influence of a banned London-based terrorist organization "that it is believed played a major role in influencing and shaping his radical views." That organization is Al Muhajiroun, also known as ALM. Handing down the 22-year sentence, Judge Timothy Pontius said the police had put together a "formidable and unassailable" case against the teenager. "Ziamani's coldblooded deliberation under the malign influence of ALM, of whom he was a willing student, showed in court that he was far from the naive adolescent that the (defense) tried to portray him as," he is quoted as saying in a police statement. "He is a man of intelligence and independent and articulate mind. He was within hours of carrying out his intention of murdering a soldier, police officer or government official to imitate the horrifying savagery carried out by the killers of Lee Rigby." The letter that came to light when counterterror officers from London's Metropolitan Police searched Ziamani's address in June gave an insight into an extremist mind-set that already had violence in mind. Found in a pair of jeans, according to police, the letter was messily written with many misspellings. In it, he tells his "beloved parents" that what he's about to do is an obligation for Muslims and asks them to forgive him for all the stress he's caused them in the past. "I'm a changed person," he said, saying he has to act to help his "brothers and sisters" in Syria and Iraq. Because he does not have the means to get to these countries, he will wage war against the British government here instead, he said, adding that it would give the authorities "a taste of there (sic) own medicine." Ziamani admitted writing the letter and was arrested on suspicion of committing a terrorism offense. He was released on bail, allowing police to continue their inquiries. Police believe he converted to Islam in April 2014 and point to his postings on social media as evidence

Summary: Brusthom Ziamani gets 22 years in prison in plot to kill a soldier, police officer or official . Police found a knife and hammer in Ziamani's backpack when he was arrested .


Jakarta (CNN)Turkish officials have detained 16 Indonesian citizens who confessed they were planning to cross the border into Syria, Indonesia's foreign ministry said. The group comprises a man, four women, three girls and eight boys, said spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir. The ages of the children have not been released. Nasir told reporters on Friday that the group was stopped in the southeastern Turkish city of Gaziantep, just north of the city of Aleppo in Syria. They admitted to officials they planned to enter Syria, Nasir said. The Indonesian government is sending a security team to Turkey to investigate the group's objectives and plans and to increase cooperation with Turkish security officials, Nasir said. This group of 16 Indonesians is different from another 16 Indonesians who reportedly deserted their tour group recently in Turkey and are feared to have crossed into Syria. Nasir confirmed these are two separate groups.

Summary: The group is made up of one man, four women, 11 children . They were stopped just north of Aleppo, Syria .


Washington (CNN)The State Department is reviewing Hillary Clinton's emails to determine what can be released to the public, not whether she did anything wrong, according to a senior department official. Clinton aides and department officials stressed this week that the former secretary of state did not violate State policy when she exclusively used a private email account for government work. However, it is currently unclear whether Clinton broke a State guideline dating back to 2005 that suggested "normal day-to-day operations be conducted on an (authorized information system), which has the proper level of security control." Those guidelines were filled with exemptions that could allow Clinton to use a private account. The department official was careful to say that the people reviewing the documents are "not going to prejudge the outcome of the review of Secretary Clinton's 55,000 pages of emails." Clinton was not automatically in violation of State Department policy when she exclusively used a private email during her four years as America's top diplomat, the source added, contradicting other media on Thursday. "Under federal regulations, there is no prohibition on using a personal email for official business as long as any records are preserved," the official said. "Reports claiming that by using personal email she is automatically in violation of that FAM [Foreign Affairs manual] are inaccurate." Clinton's use of private email was never hidden from anyone, according to a former State Department official. The former secretary of state sent thousands of employees message from that account and in her four plus years at the State Department, nobody raised a red flag and say that she couldn't conduct her email communication in the manner she was conducting it, the former official adds. There were no big internal discussion among State Department lawyers, either, about Clinton's use of private email. The former official said it was simply accepted as her form of communication. Clinton's exclusive use of a private email system has quickly ballooned this week into a controversy for the presumed Democratic frontrunner for president in 2016. Experts have said it doesn't appear Clinton violated federal laws, but that hasn't stemmed the issue that has become more about bad optics and politics. Clinton tweeted on Wednesday night that she asked State to release her emails. "I want the public to see my email," her tweet said. "They said they will review them for release as soon as possible." The State Department acknowledged Clinton's request after the tweet, and a senior official said the review could "take several months." And while State officials said their review will focus on what can be released, the inquiry will also have to determine what is not suitable for dissemination given its sensitivity. If the department has to withhold documents, questions are likely to be raised about whether Clinton broke State Department guidance for transmuting sensitive but unclassified materials. On Friday, Marie Harf, a state department spokeswoman, said she was "not going to speculate" about whether there is sensitive information in Clinton's emails. "We just don't know what would happen in that situation, there are so

Summary: Clinton's use of private email was never hidden from anyone . Experts have said it doesn't appear Clinton violated federal laws .


(CNN)From an iconic marble statue of a heavily pregnant disabled artist to the more recent giant blue cockerel, London's Fourth Plinth art project has always provided a controversial modern twist to the traditional landmarks around London's Trafalgar Square. The latest offering, "Gift Horse," which took up residence in the Square's northwest corner Thursday, looks set to continue the tradition with a work that explores the link between power, money and history, according to organizers. Unveiled by London's Mayor Boris Johnson, the sculpture created by German-born conceptual artist Hans Haacke portrays a skeletal riderless horse with an ribbon-shaped electronic ticker tied to its left leg showing live market data from London's Stock Exchange. "'Gift Horse' is a startlingly original comment on the relationship between art and commerce and I hope it will stimulate as much debate as other works that have appeared on the plinth," Johnson said. The 13-feet high bronze skeleton is a "wry comment," organizers say, on the equestrian statue of King William IV originally planned, but never realized for the plinth more than 150 years ago. Further nods to the past and the sculpture's location can be found in the pose which is based on the engraving "The Anatomy of a Horse" by English artist George Stubbs, whose famous equine portraits hang on the walls of the National Gallery on Trafalgar Square's north side. One of London's most famous landmarks, Trafalgar Square is popular with tourists. Named after a famed 1805 British naval victory against the French, its centerpiece is a column commemorating Lord Horatio Nelson, who died during the conflict. In a career spanning half-a-century, Haacke has frequently explored the interconnectedness of art, power and money through installations, paintings, photography and written text. Many of Haacke's most famous works have explored systems, be it physical -- as evidenced by his famous 1960s work "Condensation Cube" -- or the social and political as seen in "MoMA Poll" (1970), "A Breed Apart" (1978) and more recently his "Der Bevölkerung" (The People) installed in Germany's Reichstag building in Berlin in 2000. "It's a very prominent spot," said the 78-year-old, reflecting on the "Gift Horse's" positioning in Trafalgar Square, "It's very beautiful. Everybody sees it." "There are other statues and the idea of having the empty plinth which has been made available periodically for artists is a great idea," added Haacke. Around Trafalgar Square there was mixed reaction to the sculpture. "It definitely doesn't look like a horse's head, does it? Looks more dinosaur-ish to me," said a slightly baffled female day-tripper from Wales, while another tourist seemed equally confused. "My first impression was that it looked like an alien, because you see it and then you think, huh? What is it?" said Toni, visiting from Switzerland. Local reaction was more positive though. "I just think it's very witty," said Londoner Tony Francis. "I can see the (George) Stubbs influence. And I love the Stock Exchange (ribbon) scrolling round and the way they merge into each other." "Gift Horse" is the 10th artwork to sit on the plinth and follows the "Hahn/Cock," created

Summary: A new sculpture for Trafalgar Square's Fourth Plinth unveiled Thursday . 'Gift Horse' by German-born artist Hans Haacke will sit on plinth for 18 months . Haacke's is the 10th artwork to be displayed on the plinth .


(CNN)At least a dozen tourists on two cruises that visited the Tunisian capital, Tunis, are among more than 20 people who were gunned down this week at the country's Bardo National Museum, officials said. Details of the victims in Wednesday's attack have been slow to emerge. Some of the bodies remained unidentified at a morgue, a forensic official said Friday. Here's what is known so far: . Among the first victims to be named was Briton Sally Adey. The UK Foreign Office confirmed her identity. She was a 57-year-old retired solicitor who was on a dream vacation with her husband, Robert, Britain's Telegraph newspaper reported. The couple were married in 1984 and have two children -- Molly, a 20-year-old university student, and Harry, a 23-year-old musician, the newspaper said. Julia Holden, a close friend of the Adeys, gave a statement to CNN that said, "Sally Adey was a much loved daughter, wife and mother. The family are devastated by her loss. They are also saddened for others who have lost people they love, and for those who have been hurt." Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said consular staff were helping Adey's family. "The extremists, the terrorists, they hate democracy," UK Prime Minister David Cameron said. "They hate the idea that people should be able to choose their own government. But we must not let democracy, freedom, the rule of law, the things that we hold dear and people in Tunisia hold dear -- we must not let them be defeated or undermined by these extremists and terrorists. "That is the battle we are engaged in, but I'm confident, if we stick to our values, we will win through." Two more victims were named as Spanish couple Antoni Cirera Perez and Dolores Sanchez Rami. They were on a cruise that stopped in Tunis. Francisco Cabezas, a sportswriter with the newspaper El Mundo, wrote that his neighbors for eight years had loved children and walking in the mountains. Perez loved Formula 1 races. The sportswriter wrote that he recently invited the couple over to meet his baby daughter, Adria. They were ecstatic to hear the cries of a baby, he said. Perez instructed him softly, "Let her cry, that is what she has to do." President Francois Hollande, who said he stood firm with Tunisia, confirmed that three French citizens were killed and seven others wounded. He told reporters at an EU Council meeting in Brussels, Belgium, that two of the wounded were in serious condition. The five who are slightly hurt are expected to return shortly to France. Bruno Masarotto, a spokesman for the Town Hall of Aussillon, in southern France, confirmed that Jean-Claude Tissier, a former municipal councilor for Aussillon, was one of the French citizens killed. Tissier, 71, was a hairdresser and had two sons, one of whom is deceased, he said. Fellow hairdresser Serge Fournes said he and Tissier were part of the same theater group. He said it was a "paradox" that his friend, who was passionate about art, should die in a museum. Fournes said Tissier lived with his

Summary: Details of the victims of the attack on the Tunisian museum start to emerge . Among the dead are four Italians, three French citizens, three Japanese and two Spaniards .


(CNN)Look to the skies above London and you'll see the usual suspects -- rainclouds, planes and pigeons. But by the end of the year, you might just see something else. Longer than a soccer pitch and filled to the brim with helium, at 302 feet long, the Airlander 10 will be the world's biggest aircraft. Part blimp, part plane, part helicopter, it was originally created by British design company Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) for military surveillance by the U.S. Army. But budget cuts doomed the project and HAV bought the airship back across the pond, where it seemed set to remain on solid ground until the company received a £3.4 million ($5.1 million) grant from the UK government. Thanks to this recent injection of financing, designers and engineers are now readying the craft for first flight tests scheduled for later this year. While the concept has been around for nearly a century, airships fell out of fashion following the Hindenburg disaster in 1937, when the German passenger craft erupted into flames while trying to dock, killing 36. While an airship might seem like a craft from a time long passed, it has been given a 21st century design overhaul and HAV hopes to have airships back in the skies over the UK by 2016. Chris Daniels, HAV head of partnerships and communications, said: "The sole problems existing old-style airships had (were) having lots of ground crew, limited ability to carry payloads and to be susceptible to weather conditions. We solved all those problems with a new concept -- a hybrid aircraft. So a mix between a wing and an airship." The Airlander 10 -- named because it can carry 10 tons -- is made of a bespoke fabric of carbon fiber, kevlar and mylar, while the pressure of the helium inside maintains the aircraft's shape. Diesel fuel helps the Airlander take off and land and powers the propellers. The spacious cockpit is currently configured to accommodate a pilot and one observer but Daniels says this can easily be reconfigured to end-user specifications. The airship also has green credentials -- its creators say the current version uses 20% fuel burn of existing aircraft, can be fitted with solar panels, uses near-silent 325 hp V8 engines and can stay airborne for five days while carrying its maximum payload. The vehicle can also operate in extreme weather conditions (+54 to -56 degrees Celsius). While the previous U.S. Army project had military applications in mind, this time HAV plans to split end use 60:40 between civlian and military applications. Daniels says that they've had incredible interest from at home and abroad. The U.S. Coastguard has expressed interest in using the hybrid airships to monitor the nation's coastline. Meanwhile Swedish firm OceanSky, in conjunction with the government, wants to use the Airlander as an air transport system for wind turbines. Daniels explained: "At the moment, the only way of doing (transporting the equipment) is basically plowing a 50m-wide highway through pristine Nordic forest, which is not a good thing to do and they don't want to destroy

Summary: The Airlander 10 is a 300-feet long hybrid aircraft . Originally designed for U.S. military, it is now backed by the UK government .


(CNN)Oh, Tom Hanks, why are you so awesome? The Academy Award-winning actor seems to be just the greatest guy. Hanx (as he calls himself on his Twitter account) is awesomely winning this game called life by being the most normal of dudes (well, as normal as you can be as a superstar). California's Los Altos Crier reported that the actor, a San Francisco Bay Area native, recently stopped by State Street in downtown Los Altos, where he bought four boxes of Girl Scout cookies and donated an additional $20 to the troop. He also hung around for a bit, taking pictures with fans who recognized him and bought cookies. Just the nicest, right? Here are a few other times Hanks was the coolest: . He danced with the weather lady . Hanks showed what a good sport he was and got his groove on in 2011 when he appeared on Univision. The actor joined anchor Chiquinquira Delgado while she did the weather and showed off his smooth moves. He goes the extra mile for fans . The superstar won even more hearts when he surprised fan Sarah Moretti backstage after his performance on Broadway in "Lucky Guy." Moretti, who has autism, was clearly delighted. We really, really like this: Tom Hanks sings Carly Rae Jepsen . He helped us deal with our grief . The actor adored his "The Green Mile" co-star Michael Clarke Duncan. After Duncan died in 2012 following a heart attack, Hanks had those attending his memorial service in stitches with one of his favorite stories about Duncan. It was a lovely eulogy for his friend. He loves the Kiss Cam . Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, have one of the most loving and enduring marriages among Hollywood A-listers. The pair wed in 1988, and fans were thrilled when the couple was caught on Kiss Cam in 2012 during a Los Angeles Kings hockey game. The pair may have been even more excited than the crowd. He documents lost gloves . We aren't even sure why he does it, but Hanks likes to post on social media when he spots lost gloves and mittens. It's goofy and endearing. He loses stuff, just like us . Hanks took to Twitter on Friday to thank a Good Samaritan who returned his lost credit card. Now he can buy more Girl Scout cookies!

Summary: Tom Hanks recently helped sell some cookies in California . He's also danced with a weather anchor on Univision . He loves Kiss Cam and documents lost mittens on Twitter .


(CNN)Michael Graves, an American architect and designer, died Thursday at his home in Princeton, New Jersey, of natural causes, according to his firm. The award-winning architect died "suddenly and peacefully" from natural causes, according to a statement from Michael Graves Architecture and Design. He was 80. Graves was one of the most revered contemporary architects, known for his postmodern designs, and won hundreds of prizes in his field. He started his practice in 1964, which designed over 400 buildings worldwide. Architecture critics hailed him as one of the original American voices in architecture as he has designed hundreds of buildings for corporations, governments, foundations and universities. Among his noted works are The Portland Building in Oregon, The Humana Building in Louisville, Kentucky, the NCAA Hall of Champions in Indiana, and the Team Disney building in Burbank, California. He has been praised for making buildings functional as well as aesthetically pleasing. For many Americans, Graves might be best known as the designer of household items. One of his best known designs was the Alessi stainless steel teakettle with a red bird at the tip that sang when water had boiled. Graves helped propel Target and its collaborations with designers to massive popularity. His line for Target included practical items from tea kettles and drying racks to whimsical kitchen equipment like an avocado scooper and large bamboo salad tongs. His Target line came with a simple, idealistic premise: "Good design should be affordable to all." His designs were also sold at JCPenney and Black & Decker. He was awarded the National Medal of the Arts, as well as the Driehaus Prize for Classical Architecture. Born in Indianapolis, Graves received his training at the University of Cincinnati and Harvard. In 1962, he began teaching at Princeton University. In 2003, Graves became paralyzed from the chest down after suffering what started out as a sinus infection. Graves recalled being severely ill and examining the ugly sheets and bad design in hospitals. He decided: "It's far too ugly for me to die here." The illness phased in a new chapter in his life. Struggling in hospital rooms made him determined to improve health care facilities and designs, including more user-friendly hospital furniture for patients. "I wouldn't have been a health care nut if it hadn't been for my paralysis, so something good came from this," he told CNN in 2011. Michael Graves: Why hospital rooms don't work . Throughout his illness, Graves continued to sketch. "Whether I was paralyzed or not, I would draw, because drawing for me is like playing the piano," he told CNN. "You've got to keep practicing, got to keep doing it. It's not that you lose it, but you don't draw as well if you don't draw every day."

Summary: American architect Michael Graves dies in Princeton at age 80 . Graves designed buildings as well as household items like tea kettles for Target, JCPenney .


(CNN)The U.S. Navy doesn't just do stuff "for fun," says the command master chief of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, but what 30% of the ship's crew will be up to over the next year or so can at least be termed pretty cool. And it will certainly be unprecedented. Some 1,200 of the Reagan's crew will be executing what the Navy calls a three-hull swap, serving aboard three different carriers in one tour of duty as the service juggles assets to meet mission requirements. The 1,200 are calling themselves "The Three Presidents Crew," as they will serve aboard three of the Navy's carriers named after presidents: the Reagan, the USS George Washington and the USS Theodore Roosevelt. The crew will even have its own insignia and hull number, CVN 220, the sum of the hull numbers of the Reagan (CVN 76), the Roosevelt (CVN 71) and the Washington (CVN 73). Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class David Frederick aboard the Reagan came up with the logo. "I am honored that my art will be a part of the legacy of this 'Three Presidents' crew, and I hope that it will bring attention to the hard work of all the Sailors who are involved in this crew swap," he said. The swap will begin this summer. The George Washington will go from its home port in Japan to San Diego, where a crew swap with the Reagan will take place. While the George Washington crew takes the Reagan to replace the Washington in Japan, the Three Presidents crew will board the George Washington, which will be headed for Norfolk, Virginia, and an overhaul. The 1,200 will sail with the Washington around South America, then they will fly back to San Diego to crew the Roosevelt, which is taking the Reagan's current spot there. "Think of how difficult a three-hull carrier swap would be to carry out," Capt. Chris Bolt, the commander of the Reagan, said in the ship's publication, The 76er. "It's never been done before." "We are just moving assets around so we can continue to meet mission requirements. That's exactly what this is all about. It's not because the Navy said, 'Let's do this for fun,' " Spike Call, command master chief of the Reagan, said in The 76er. Seven of the Navy's 10 active aircraft carriers are named after presidents. As one commenter on the Reagan's Facebook page said, maybe next time, the Navy could add a fourth carrier to the hull swap and come up with ... the USS Mount Rushmore. Hmmm, the Navy does have the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), but there is no carrier for Jefferson. So say we sub in the Reagan and come up with CVN 292. Apologies to the USS Rushmore (LSD 47).

Summary: 1,200 sailors to go through a three-hull swap, serving aboard three different carriers in one tour of duty . Crew members will serve on three carriers named after presidents . The swap will take them from Japan, around South America to Virginia, and then back west to San Diego .


(CNN)When one man sat down next to a second man in a St. Louis light rail car and asked him his opinion on the shooting of Michael Brown, it was not the beginning of a discussion. It was the start of an assault, police said. The second man, who was white, didn't want to answer the question. Then the first man, who was black, boxed him in the face. Two more African-American men joined in the beating, according to a police report about Monday's incident. It was caught on surveillance cameras on the MetroLink train and a passenger recorded it with a cell phone and posted the video online. It has gone viral. Police confirmed to CNN that the online images came from the attack. The victim, 43, was commuting home when a young man in a red T-shirt and cap walked up to him. The victim asked not to be named in media reports. The man asked to use the victim's cell phone. He declined, and the young man sat down beside him. "Then he asked me my opinion on the Michael Brown thing," the victim told KMOV, "and I responded I was too tired to think about it right now." The suspect, in his 20s, stood up. "The next thing I know, he sucker punches me right in the middle of my face," the victim said. The video showed the suspect unleashing a barrage of punches at the head of the victim, who covered himself with his hand and forearms. The two other men, also in their 20s, joined in, police said. As the train pulled into a station, a security guard saw part of the beating and alerted police. The man in the red T-shirt could be seen on video kicking at the victim's face before the train's doors opened and the assailants ran out. The train's surveillance cameras captured clear images of their faces, which MetroLink passed on to journalists. Police are looking for the three men. They face possible charges of third-degree assault, police said. It is a misdemeanor under Missouri law. The victim was left with bruises on his face and forehead, police said. The first punch dug the frame of his eyeglasses into the skin of his nose, the victim said. He declined to receive medical treatment. But then there was the emotional pain. On the video, people could be heard laughing while the man was beaten. "I think it was disgusting that people were sort of laughing and smiling about it," the victim said. "And no one offered to help. No one seemed to call 911." Condemnation of the beating has spread across social media, including from people who protested the shooting of Brown last year by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. The officer was not indicted in Brown's death. St. Louis alderman Antonio French, a vocal community leader in the aftermath of Ferguson, tweeted his disappointment in the beating. "Mike Brown question sparks MetroLink beating caught on video," he wrote. "This is disgusting. We have a major problem, STL." CNN's John

Summary: An African-American man in his twenties beats a white man after asking about Michael Brown . Two more young black men join in the beating, which is caught on cameras .


(CNN)A Georgia police chief who said he accidentally shot and seriously injured his wife while the couple were sleeping in bed has resigned, the Peachtree City Police Department said Wednesday. William McCollom stepped down as chief of police in Peachtree City nearly a week after a prosecutor announced that although the New Year's Day shooting appeared accidental, McCollom could eventually face a misdemeanor charge accusing him of recklessly taking a gun to bed after drinking alcohol and taking sleeping medication. The shooting in Peachtree City, an upscale community of 35,000 people south of Atlanta, left Margaret McCollom paralyzed below the waist. "I have had had two families in Peachtree City -- my police family and my personal family. In light of the recent tragedy in my personal family, I need to continue to focus my time and efforts there," William McCollom said in a message posted Wednesday on the police department's Facebook page. Medics and police rushed to the McColloms' home early on January 1 after the chief called 911 to say he accidentally shot his wife as both were sleeping -- by inadvertently moving a gun that he had taken to bed with him. "The gun was in the bed, I went to move it, put it to the side, and it went off," McCollom says in a recording of the 911 call. Later in the call, the operator asked McCollom, "Were you asleep also when this happened?" "Yes," the chief, 57 at the time, replied. Last week, Scott Ballard, district attorney for a several-county area that includes Peachtree City, said a Georgia Bureau of Investigation probe found the following: . -- McCollom went to bed on New Year's Eve after consuming alcohol and sleep medication. -- After barking dogs awoke him in the middle of the night, he got up, picked up his Glock 9mm gun from a dresser and checked the house. After finding nothing, he returned to bed, placing the gun under the sheets. -- McCollom woke up to the sound of a gunshot that struck his wife's right side. A wound on his right hand corroborates his claim that his palm blocked the ejection of a spent shell. -- Forensic analysis of the sheets shows that the gun was fired from under the sheets. Investigators concluded there was no evidence to suggest McCollum intentionally shot his wife, and that he didn't appear to have any motive to harm her, Ballard said. Still, Ballard said he would ask a grand jury on April 15 to indict McCollum on a misdemeanor charge of reckless conduct, "since the chief took a loaded gun to bed with him after ingesting alcohol and sleep medication." Margaret McCollom has been staying at a spinal cord rehabilitation center, being treated for paralysis below the waist and other complications, Ballard said last week. McCollom was named the police chief in October after being interim chief for three months, CNN affiliate WSB reported. Magazines and websites regularly rank Peachtree City as one of the best places to live and raise a family. The community's trademark: Residents

Summary: William McCollom says he accidentally shot wife while both were asleep . Shooting left Margaret McCollom paralyzed below the waist . District attorney says he'll seek misdemeanor charge of reckless conduct .


(CNN)Us Weekly magazine has retracted a story about model and reality star Kendall Jenner and her father, former Olympian Bruce Jenner. "We would like to retract the story entirely and have removed it from our website. We sincerely apologize to Ms. Jenner and her family," the magazine said Thursday on its website. Us Weekly had quoted the sister, a member of the Kardashian family, as saying she supported her father, who has made entertainment headlines over rumors that he is becoming a woman. "He's a wonderful man. And just because he's changing shoes now, so to speak, doesn't make him less wonderful. I will always love my dad, whether he's a man or a woman," the magazine quoted her as saying. But Kendall Jenner said she never said that. "How is it legal for someone to 'quote' someone and publish it if in fact you never said what was quoted?" she tweeted. Us Weekly said on its website: "The interview was allegedly conducted by an independent freelance journalist at the Saturday, March 14, taping of Comedy Central's roast of Justin Bieber in Los Angeles. When Ms. Jenner denied, via Twitter, that the interview took place, Us Weekly immediately reached out to the freelance reporter. "He stood by the interview, and continues to maintain that the quotes are accurate. However, after attempting to reconfirm his account, editors of Us have concerns about the veracity of this interview and the circumstances under which it was obtained." Bruce Jenner has not commented publicly on speculation that he's transitioning to a woman, so any comments from his relatives would essentially be confirming the rumors. CNN's attempts to get comment from him, his agents and his mother about the rumors have gone unanswered.

Summary: Us Weekly retracts a story about the daughter of former Olympian Bruce Jenner . Us Weekly quoted Kendall Jenner as saying she supported her father . Bruce Jenner is making headlines over rumors he is becoming a woman .


(CNN)NATO jets scrambled to intercept Russian military aircraft as they neared Latvian airspace, officials said on Wednesday. Estonian radar detected the aircraft over the Baltic Sea on Tuesday night, NATO said. Other than the lead aircraft, NATO said, none of the other Russian military aircraft was on a flight plan. NATO sent jets to identify the planes and later reported that the military aircraft flew on into Russian airspace. NATO didn't say how many Russian aircraft were involved. The flights come as Russia's Northern Fleet has been placed on full combat alert for military exercises involving nearly 40,000 troops and 50 warships. The exercises have rattled nerves in nearby NATO states, including Latvia, where U.S. troops and equipment recently arrived for NATO training, and where fears are growing about Russian President Vladimir Putin's next move. At the same time on Wednesday, Putin joined a celebration in Moscow's Red Square, where Russians celebrated the one-year anniversary of the annexation of Crimea. NATO has condemned the annexation as an illegal territory grab and is boosting its troop presence in the region in what officials say is an effort to discourage Putin from encroaching into other countries. Putin describes the annexation as a "reunification," saying that Crimea's residents overwhelmingly voted to be part of Russia. CNN's Don Melvin and Catherine E. Shoichet contributed to this report.

Summary: Russian military aircraft are intercepted by NATO jets . NATO says the military aircraft weren't on a flight plan . Russia is conducting military exercises .


(CNN)Barring a revelation from his parents or girlfriend, we may never know what was going through the mind of Andreas Lubitz in the moments leading up to the crash of Germanwings Flight 9525. What we now know is that all indications point to Lubitz as the perpetrator of the crash, locking the pilot out of the cockpit and setting the aircraft on a fatal trajectory into a remote mountain range in the French Alps. Every day, more details come to light, as the world struggles to make sense of why a 27-year-old German man would apparently choose to deliberately crash a plane with 150 people on board, including himself -- and remain so calm while doing it. When investigators searched Lubitz's home in Dusseldorf, they found medical leave notes "slashed," suggesting Lubitz was hiding an illness or illnesses from his employers. The dates for which Lubitz was excused from work included the day of the crash, though investigators have not yet revealed the reason he was excused, if any reason was written on the notes by his doctor. We do know, from a German aviation source, that Lubitz passed his annual pilot recertification examination last summer. An official with Lufthansa, the parent company of the budget airline Germanwings, said that the exam only tests physical health, not psychological health. "He was 100% fit to fly without restrictions," Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr told reporters at press conference last week. "His flight performance was perfect. There was nothing to worry about." Spohr added that Lubitz had "interrupted" his training, which he began in 2008. That break lasted several months, he said, but that such an interruption isn't uncommon. Lubitz suffered from "generalized anxiety disorder," with severe depression symptoms dating back to 2009, according to French newspaper Le Parisien. While the main medical clinic in Dusseldorf denies it was treating Lubitz for depression, German investigators found antidepressant medications in Lubitz's apartment, according to published reports that CNN has not yet been able to independently confirm. Die Welt, a German newspaper, over the weekend cited an unidentified senior investigator, who said Lubitz suffered from "severe subjective burnout syndrome" and severe depression. "Someone who has a significant depressive episode or depressive disorder will oftentimes get an antidepressant alone, and many times will have a good resolution of those symptoms," CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta told Poppy Harlow Sunday on "CNN Newsroom." "People who relapse or develop more of what is called a psychotic depression in addition may have symptoms of psychosis. Maybe they could be having delusions or hallucinations, but the idea is having breaks with reality." One of the medications Lubitz was prescribed is said to be Agomelatine (an antidepressant medication), according to Le Perisien. Antidepressants can sometimes make people suicidal, especially those suffering from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Other times, they can make patients manic or psychotic. The drug's list of warnings and precautions include metabolic changes -- such as weight gain -- and the potential for cognitive and motor impairment. "Has potential to impair judgment, thinking and motor skills; use caution when

Summary: Investigators believe Andreas Lubitz deliberately crashed Germanwings Flight 9525, killing himself and 149 others . Lubitz suffered from anxiety and depression symptoms dating back to 2009, French newspaper reported . Doctor: It's 'rare for depression to cause people to kill other people'


(CNN)An Indiana jury sentenced a woman who says she had a miscarriage to 20 years in prison. In 2013, Purvi Patel showed up at a hospital emergency room suffering from severe vaginal bleeding. According to court documents, at first she denied that she had been pregnant but later told doctors that she had a miscarriage and delivered a stillborn fetus which, she said, she placed in a bag in a dumpster. Patel was later charged with feticide and felony neglect of a dependent, though these charges are decidedly contradictory. "Feticide" would require Patel to have terminated a pregnancy while the fetus was still in the womb. On the other hand, "felony neglect of a dependent" requires delivering a live fetus and then neglecting it. As Amanda Marcotte of Slate pointed out in February, Patel "was convicted both of killing a baby and killing a fetus." The only thing more preposterous than this is that Patel was charged in the first place. The evidence against her has been shaky from the start. Initially, police questioned Patel when she was still in the hospital without an attorney present. Prosecutors would later introduce text messages indicating that Patel had purchased miscarriage-inducing drugs, but there was no evidence Patel took the drugs. In fact, they didn't show up in blood tests just after she miscarried. Nonetheless, after five hours of deliberation, a jury convicted Patel of two entirely contradictory crimes based on entirely circumstantial evidence. And on March 30, 2015, she was given a 30-year-sentence on the felony neglect charge, 10 of which were suspended. She'll serve a concurrent six-year sentence for feticide. Patel is the second pregnant woman to be charged under Indiana's anti-choice "feticide" law. In 2011, Bei Bei Shuai was charged with feticide after she attempted to commit suicide when she was eight months pregnant. In 2013, lawyers announced Shuai had reached a plea agreement just before her trial was set to begin. Still, both cases presented troubled pregnant women who needed help from medical authorities and their government. But Indiana's harsh anti-abortion laws, and the broader culture that seeks to control the decisions pregnant women can make about their own bodies, make women far less likely to reach out for this help. Conservatives like to say that women are the "victims of abortion" and that laws such as the Indiana "feticide" measure are intended to "protect" them. Years ago, the president of the anti-choice Susan B. Anthony List made assurances that the specter of women being prosecuted and jailed under anti-choice laws was nothing more than fearmongering by pro-choice activists. The website of the Ohio Right to Life association similarly argues that "no one is interested in sending women to jail." And in fact, the Indiana "feticide" law was plainly intended to criminalize "knowing or intentional termination of another's pregnancy." But there's no escaping the reality it has been used to turn pregnant women into criminals. So much for not sending women to jail. Those who care about the rights of pregnant women should be deeply concerned. After all, Patel was convicted

Summary: Sally Kohn: Indiana jury sentenced woman to 20 years, charging her with feticide and neglect of a dependent after she miscarried . She says absurd, unjust case makes pregnant women hide, avoid medical attention and put their lives at even greater risk .


(CNN)A court in Turkey this week sentenced two cartoonists to 11 months and 20 days in prison for insulting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Soon after, the court changed the jail sentence to a fine of 7,000 Turkish lira or about $2,700 each. Cartoonists Bahadir Baruter and Ozer Aydogan draw for the weekly satirical magazine Penguen. Founded in 2002 with a weekly average of 65,000 readers, the irreverent comic book -- similar in many ways to the French magazine Charlie Hebdo -- regularly skewers Turkish politicians. A defamation suit was filed against an August cover of Penguen in which a cartoon figure of Erdogan is welcomed to the presidential palace by a public servant. Erdogan tells him, "But this is so dry. We could have at least slaughtered a journalist." In a statement to the press, the Penguen team explained that a citizen who described himself as an Erdogan supporter "sent an email to the Prime Ministry Information Center. ... According to the notice, the employee (in the cartoon) 'made the gay signal with his fingers.' " Turkey's public prosecutor eventually launched an investigation, claiming that both the speech bubbles and the "hand drawing" insulted Erdogan. While the court ruled Wednesday in favor of Erdogan, a full-length explanation of the verdict will be released in a week to 10 days. It is so far unclear whether the judge ruled that the speech bubbles or the "gay hand gesture" or both were an insult. The ruling comes amid an increase in criminal cases lodged against journalists, students and public figures for "defamation against a public officer." In 2014, Turkey was ranked one of the world's worst jailers of journalists by the media watchdog group Reporters Without Borders and its press status "not free" by Freedom House. The Council of Europe's commissioner for human rights, Nils Muižnieks, expressed his concern about the ruling against Penguen as well as the surge in criminal cases against people accused of insulting Erdogan. "This sentence is misguided and, along with a pattern of criminal prosecutions, sends a chilling message to media professionals and all those who want to exercise their right to free expression," Muižnieks said. Ann Harrison of freedom of press advocacy group PEN International told CNN, "We have long called for decriminalization of defamation, particularly of state officials, as to criminalize criticism of authorities severely stifles reporting and public debate." Harrison noted that special mandates from the United Nations, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and Organization of American States have called for the abolishment of criminal defamation laws. Penguen announced it will appeal the decision. The magazine also defiantly released a new cartoon mocking the case. "We will continue drawing our cartoons," Penguen announced in a statement. "We hope this case will be the last example of the intimidation effort on free thought."

Summary: Court fines two cartoonists for insulting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan . Weekly satirical magazine Penguen says it will appeal the decision . Press advocates express concern about criminal defamation laws in Turkey .


(CNN)In "Game of Thrones," Yunkai might be a fictional city ruled by an oligarchy of slave merchants, but the scenes had to be filmed in the real world. The citadel of Ait-Ben-Haddou in Morocco near Ouarzazate (pronounced Wa-za-zat) was chosen as the location, and is one of the most popular film-making destinations in the region. And scenes set in the ancient city of Astapor, which was a big part of the final episode of season three, was filmed in Essaouira -- also in Morocco. But the creators of "Game of Thrones" were not the first to use the region's beauty as the backdrop for a major international production. More than a decade before them, Ridley Scott chose the North African country to film the gory glory of ancient Rome in his epic "Gladiator" starring Russell Crowe. And so did the producers of "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" which starred Jake Gyllenhaal. Indeed, big foreign productions seeking a Middle Eastern backdrop (and possibly an academy award) have long chosen Morocco for its relatively cheap price tag and safety -- and nearly half of the films shot in the kingdom are made in Ouarzazate. According to Amine Tazi, who runs two of the town's biggest studios, foreign directors come for the dramatic light as well as the wide variety of landscapes. But Morocco's appeal goes far beyond the beautiful vistas. Filmmakers can find experienced local crews that help productions save half the cost they'd pay in Europe or the U.S. "Logistically, [Ouarzazate is] very good," says Tazi, general manager at Atlas & CLA Studios. "Everything is very close by. Hotels are close by. People are very movie friendly and very efficient." Tazi's studios also offer dozens of set options -- from Styrofoam Egyptian temples to plaster-cast Tibetan Palaces. National Geographic used one of his sets in the mini-series "Killing Jesus" -- the seven-week production was filmed by a crew of 250 people and included 4,500 extras. Bargain Hunting . Atlas Studios opened in 1983 to host the Michael Douglas classic "The Jewel of the Nile." Since then, around 200 TV shows and films have been shot there, including "Babel," starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett. "Morocco is one of the countries that goes out of its way to welcome film makers," says Tony Reeves, writer of the Worldwide Guide to Movie Locations. "Technical crews in Morocco are well sought after -- builders, painters, extras, electrical resources." But in recent years productions have been hit by the global financial crisis and the uncertainty following the Arab Spring which ripped through North Africa. Between 2008 and 2013, Tazi's revenue dropped by 50%. Such a slowdown hit Ouarzazate'seconomy, where many of the 100,000 citizens rely on the cinema industry from employment. "The city is poor. There [are] few job opportunities," says resident Abdelaziz Bouydnayen, who once played Osama Bin Laden in a National Geographic documentary. "We are all just waiting...There are millions of dollars that come into this city, but the city is still poor." In the past decade, both of the town's theaters have

Summary: The town of Ouarzazate is often called Morocco's Hollywood . Ridley Scott's film "Gladiator" and parts of "Game of Thrones" have been filmed in the area . The industry is making a comeback after being hit hard by the global financial crisis .


(CNN)The tragic news that Germanwings Flight 9525 was deliberately crashed into the French Alps by a pilot deemed "100% fit to fly" challenges the common understanding of the phrase. Marseille prosecutor Brice Robin said co-pilot Andreas Lubitz apparently "wanted to destroy the aircraft," taking advantage of the pilot leaving the cockpit and most likely refusing to open the cabin door after activating the plane's descent. The CEO of Lufthansa -- of which Germanwings is a subsidiary -- said Lubitz had been "fit to fly." But for most of us, the prosecutor's preliminary finding that the 28-year-old German purposefully caused the deaths of 150 people on March 24 puts him squarely outside that term. In fact "fit to fly" does not mean the pilot's psychological state has necessarily been assessed. Simon Mitchell is a pilot and visiting fellow at Cranfield University's Safety and Accident Investigation Centre in southern England. Over the last few years the aviation industry has been considering the amount of time spent examining pilots' skills compared to the time spent examining how they thought, Mitchell said. Many organizations had begun assessing the safety of particular airlines when considering which carriers their members should fly on, he said. "It's not uncommon for those corporations to have in their assessment matrix a look at pilot selection procedures," Mitchell said. "Increasingly we're looking at their all-round personalities and ability to work in teams and what they're like as people. "Apart from 'do we want to ensure we haven't recruited somebody who might have some sort of mental disorder,' there's also a very good reason in a day-to-day way. You want to recruit somebody who works well in a team," he said. "The airline industry is quite unique in the amount of trust and liability it places in the hands of a very small number of employees," Mitchell said. "If you look at the value of the aircraft and the immeasurable value of the lives being flown in that aircraft, you come up to a huge number -- in the hundreds of millions, if not billions -- of dollars of risk associated with that asset. In effect, a medium to large sized company is being placed in the hands of a few employees. "It is important that these airlines take a great deal of care -- not just about whether that pilot can fly -- but how fit that person is to carry that sort of responsibility." On Thursday, Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr said the company's pilots did not undergo regular or routine psychological testing once they were flying. But he said Lufthansa did consider an applicant's psychological state, along with other factors, when hiring pilots. "We don't only look at competence, but we also give a lot of room to psychological capabilities," Spohr said. The pilot and co-pilot on Germanwings Flight 9525 had passed the test the airline used to evaluate applicants, he said. But Mitchell said aviation regulations only required a physical and not a psychiatric medical examination, looking at a potential pilot's fitness to fly in terms of factors such as

Summary: On Thursday the Marseille prosecutor said Flight 9525's co-pilot deliberately crashed . Lufthansa's CEO said co-pilot Andreas Lubitz had been "100% fit to fly" Aviation expert Simon Mitchell says regulations do not require formal psych testing .


Baghdad, Iraq (CNN)Joint Iraqi forces have started what they believe will be the conclusive push to retake the Iraqi city of Tikrit from ISIS, a paramilitary force participating in the offensive said Tuesday. The forces have started "the decisive operation" to liberate Tikrit just over a week after the overall operation began, advancing toward the city from several directions, according to a statement from the predominantly Shiite paramilitary force Hashd Al-Shaab. ISIS wasn't making it easy, however. The Sunni extremist group blew up a key bridge near Tikrit, preventing the joint Iraqi forces from using it to cross the Tigris River to approach the city from the east. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ordered Iraqi forces on March 1 to retake Tikrit and Salahuddin province. Tikrit, best known to Westerners as the birthplace of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, fell in June to ISIS, which has captured parts of Iraq and Syria for what it says is its Islamic caliphate. In the past few days, forces progressed roughly 50 miles (80 kilometers) down one road toward the city and, by Monday, were about a mile from its center. ISIS fighters have retreated toward the city center from frontline positions, Hashd Al-Shaab's media office said Tuesday. Al-Shaab's forces appear to be leading the fight for Tikrit, with support from the Iraqi army and Sunni tribesmen. Also assisting is Iran, which has provided advisers, weapons and ammunition to the Iraqi government. According to the Pentagon, there may be Iranians operating heavy artillery and rocket launchers as well. There have been several failed attempts to recapture Tikrit since the second half of 2014. If Iraq regains control of the city, it could mean that retaking Mosul -- a city 10 times bigger -- is possible. The Tikrit offensive involves around 30,000 fighters. CNN's Jason Hanna contributed to this report from Atlanta.

Summary: A major offensive for the city was launched just over a week ago . ISIS forces are retreating toward the center of Tikrit, says a Shiite force participating in the offensive .


(CNN)Pablo Picasso once asked: "Are we to paint what's on the face, what's inside the face or what's behind it?" Jessica Todd Harper's photo book "The Home Stage" does all three simultaneously. "The Home Stage" contains intimate, psychological portraits that Harper has created of herself, her family and friends, and their children. The book weaves in some photos of other people's families as well, and includes writing by Alain De Botton and Alison Nordstrom. Using her camera like a paintbrush to stroke the canvas that is her environment, Harper explores the experiences of parenting and childhood. As a mother to twin sons and a daughter, her photos contain a wide range of raw emotion, ranging from comfort and conflict to sleepiness and satisfaction. Harper's first photo book, "Interior Exposure," focused on the early years of her marriage and adult family life. She says her latest book is like a natural segue, as "The Home Stage" includes many photos of children. The title -- "The Home Stage" -- has more than one particular meaning or reference. "One is to convey that stage in life when you're anchored to the home with young children," Harper said. "It also references how the home is the first stage in which children learn how to live in every situation. In my particular pictures, many of them have a stage-like quality. There's reference to tableau vivant of the past, these constructed images." Harper's mother was a big fan of the arts, and she would take young Harper and her sister to local art museums where they would copy paintings by hand, progressing from crayons to charcoal and, eventually, to pastels. "I wanted to be just like Mary Cassatt and John Singer Sargent; those were the artists that I would copy a lot as a child," she said. "I think those images got very much stuck into my deep psyche." She emphasizes that her photos are not the everyday snapshots that many parents post on Facebook -- the photos of children at various stages in their lives, attending birthday parties or riding tricycles. The book's pictures "aren't documents," Harper said. "They're making everyday moments have an eternal quality. It reminds us of our more general purpose in life, the meaning in everyday small things." The combination of Harper's color palette and the use of natural light fills every inch of her photos with rich detail. Many of Harper's photos contain several generations of her family, highlighting connections between the present, past and future. While the people Harper photographs are predominantly those most familiar with her, she makes an effort to not allow her camera to completely consume the lives of her subjects. "I try to do a very good job of not being overbearing. ... I bring out the camera only when I have a very specific idea in mind. My children know that I'm an artist, I'm a photographer. They know that, but I don't think that they see that even in the top 10 of the ways that they relate to me, it's not as subjects," she

Summary: In her photo book "The Home Stage," Jessica Todd Harper explores parenting and childhood . She combines naturally occurring moments with carefully planned compositions .


(CNN)By all appearances Shaun Harrison was living an exemplary life. He was a dean at a Boston public high school. He mentored young people. And, Harrison regularly attended services at a local church for a decade, before leaving in 2012, according to the church's pastor. Now, Harrison is charged with armed assault with intent to murder, aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. He's also facing multiple weapons charges. Harrison is accused of shooting one of his students in the head. While he was working as "dean of academy" at English High, Harrison was also running a marijuana distribution enterprise, according to Suffolk County Assistant District Attorney, David Bradley. At an arraignment hearing Thursday, Bradley said the 55-year-old now-former dean shot a 17-year-old student he had allegedly hired to sell marijuana. The teenager, who called Harrison "Rev" told authorities he was regularly mentored by Harrison, according to police documents. Bradley said in a news release that the two got into a dispute after leaving Harrison's home Tuesday evening. They were walking along a street when Harrison then "produced a handgun, pointed it at the back of the victim's head and fired," Bradley said in a news release. The incident was captured on surveillance footage, but the police have not released it. The teen, who has not been named by police yet, was shot behind the right ear, according to a police report. He is expected to survive his injuries, Bradley's release said. Harrison had worked in various positions with the Boston Public Schools since 2010. He had been "dean of academy" at English High School since January 5, where "he provided services, like finding housing for homeless students or social services or disciplinary alternatives to suspension," said Denise Snyder, a representative for Boston Public Schools. His employment has been "terminated effective immediately," Snyder said. The Rev. Dr. Gregory Groover, pastor of the Charles Street AME Church where Harrison attended services said the allegations against Harrison aren't consistent with the man he knows. "I was stunned beyond description," Groover said when he heard about Harrison's arrest. Groover said Harrison was already an ordained Baptist minister when he came to the Charles Street AME Church. He recalled Harrison usually attended services alone, but he "got along with everyone." "He seemed to consistently care with a deep heart for saving young people who were in the streets or gang related, prison-involved," Groover said. "That was the population that his life seemed to center around." A not guilty plea was automatically entered on Harrison's behalf. He posted $250,000 bail and is under house arrest, according to police documents. He has been ordered to "stay away and have no contact with the victim" and wear a GPS monitor, the DA's release said. He is scheduled to be back in court on April 6. CNN's multiple attempts to reach an attorney for Harrison were unsuccessful. CNN's Aaron Cooper, Chuck Johnston and Alexandra Field contributed to this report.

Summary: Shaun Harrison is accused of shooting one of his students in the head . The student,17, was hired to sell marijuana for Harrison, district attorney says . The teen is expected to survive; the dean, who is out on bail, has been ordered to stay away from him .


(CNN)They are very convincing when they call. They have a Washington phone number and can cite your financial history down to the cent. They say you're under investigation, in danger of losing your home, or worse, your freedom -- unless you pay thousands of dollars on the spot. But they're not real. And you're not in trouble. Not unless you take it seriously. This is a scam. Email your story ideas and tips to CNNtips@cnn.com. A big one. Federal authorities say it's the largest IRS impersonation scam they've ever seen -- swindling victims out of more than $15 million since it began in 2013. "They have information that only the Internal Revenue Service would know about you," said Timothy Camus, deputy inspector general for investigations with the Treasury Department. "It's a byproduct of today's society. There's so much information available on individuals." Using identity theft technology, the thieves have successfully victimized more than 3,000 people in the past two years, although the Treasury Department cautions that number is only documented cases and the true number might be higher. Camus said they've recorded more than 366,000 reports of contact with the scammers, and it's increasing at a rate of 10,000 to 12,000 a week. Authorities believe the thieves are operating out of India, using phishing technology to make it appear they're IRS agents in Washington. Call 1: 'The IRS is filing a lawsuit against you' Call 2: 'Your address is under state investigation' The Federal Trade Commission, which goes after scammers like these from a civil standpoint, and the Treasury Department, which leads the criminal probe, both have open investigations. The largest loss reported was a staggering $500,000, Camus said. Most have lost about $5,000. One of those victims was former NFL player Frank Garcia, who is now a sports radio host in Charlotte, North Carolina. When he got the call, it sounded so authentic, he left the radio station in a panic, scramming to get the money they wanted. 12 scams to avoid . "The only thing running through my head is, I'm going to jail. I'm gonna be on television, in handcuffs, for tax evasion," he recalled. "I had to follow specific steps not to be arrested. That the authorities had been contacted and in fact, they are on the way and will be there in 30 minutes." Garcia says he spent five hours driving to various stores around Charlotte, depositing $500 each time into a PayPal account set up by the woman on the phone. He ended up losing about $4,000. He, and other victims, told CNN the swindlers never let their victims hang up the phone. "I have never been arrested in my life and was very scared," said Kin Ko, a New Jersey resident who lost about $5,000 after he says the impersonator told him he was facing five years in prison, and the IRS was about to confiscate his assets: His car, his house and all the money in his bank account. The person had a badge number, read him an arrest warrant from a nearby police

Summary: IRS scam has swindled victims out of more than $15 million since 2013 . Scammers warn of seizing property, prison time . FTC and Treasury department have open investigations .


(CNN)Roberto Mancini says he carries Manchester City's supporters in his heart -- but there's not much love being shown towards the man who replaced him as manager of the Premier League champions. Manuel Pellegrini is a man feeling the heat -- and the current City manager has come under fire from his predecessor just 24 hours after insisting he is not under pressure to win a trophy every season. Mancini, the man who led Manchester City to its first Premier League title in 44 years back in 2012 says Pellegrini is "lucky" to have inherited the side he left behind after being sacked exactly a year to the day since winning England's top division. Pellegrini, who led City to the domestic title last season, is under fire with City trailing Chelsea by six points in the league and facing elimination in the European Champions League. "I think Pellegrini was really lucky because he got this team that is a strong team and he has a chance to put in more good players," Inter Milan coach Mancini told CNN's Don Riddell on the eve of City's crucial game with Barcelona in the Champions League. "I think City can win a title every year and have a chance -- it should and must try to win a title every year." Nicknamed "the Engineer," Pellegrini has seen the wheels come off his side's title charge in recent weeks. The Chilean is reportedly on the brink with his team having apparently surrendered its Premier League title with another meek showing in the 1-0 defeat by minnow Burnley last weekend. His team have managed just three victories in their past 11 games -- its season could be more or less over by tomorrow night. City faces a daunting task to reach the last eight of the European Champions League -- a competition it has struggled in despite spending $482 million on players since the start of the 2011-12 season. It must overturn a 2-1 deficit against Barcelona at Camp Nou on Wednesday after being outplayed for the majority of the home fixture. Only once in nine attempts has Barcelona won the first leg of a two-legged Champions League knockout tie and not progressed. Pellegrini has spent heavily since arriving at City but a number of those purchases have failed to impress. Eliaquim Mangala, who arrived from Porto for $47million has endured a dismal first season in English football, while $32million man Stevan Jovetic has also struggled to make an impression since arriving from Fiorentina. "It's my opinion that City is the best team in the Premier League," said Mancini. "It's in second and six points behind Chelsea but I think it's the best team. "In the Premier League anything can happen right up to the last game, in the last minute," perhaps a nod to City's last gasp English Premier League title win in 2012, thanks to Sergio Aguero's stoppage time winner against Queens Park Rangers. "I think they should think that they have a chance to win the title." Mancini, who replaced Mark Hughes in December

Summary: Roberto Mancini says Manchester City still the best team in the Premier League . Italian says City should win a title every year . Manuel Pellegrini under growing pressure at club . City faces Barcelona in Champions League on Wednesday .


(CNN)For years, they've wanted six seasons and a movie, and at 3:01 a.m. ET Tuesday, fans got it ... almost. There's no movie yet, but "Community's" much-awaited sixth season made its debut. Not even cancellation by NBC could kill the fan favorite sitcom, as Yahoo streamed the first two episodes of the new season early Tuesday. The show appears to have suffered no decline in quality in the move to Yahoo, though cast member Yvette Nicole Brown (now on CBS' "The Odd Couple") had to leave the show for family reasons. The premiere briefly touches on this in its own way, with Shirley's absence sounding a lot like the setup for a spinoff (as the character Abed points out, along with several other inconsistencies throughout the episode). The "new Shirley," as Dean joked, is Paget Brewster's Frankie, who exists to play the disapproving authority figure to antagonize the former study group. Soon, the group was running a Prohibition-esque bar before they could learn to live with Frankie. And how about the end of the first episode, which gave us a look at the spinoff, "The Butcher and the Baker," with Shirley and Steven Weber as a Southern lawyer? Episode two got even more out there, with Dean Pelton's adventures in 1990s-style virtual reality and a less-successful plotline involving Britta's parents. Most interesting was the introduction of Keith David as '90s tech genius Elroy. Critics praised the show, with The Hollywood Reporter's Amy Amatangelo saying, "Everything fans loved about Community remains -- the first two episodes are chock-full of increasingly bizarre pop-culture references (Portuguese Gremlins, anyone?) and meta commentary. The show has seamlessly transferred to an online venue." Time's James Poniewozik also liked it (despite some reservations about the plot), writing, "The first thing that matters is if the latest reboot still has the comedy goods, and it does." Soon after the show went online, devoted fans on Twitter had their say.

Summary: The fan favorite comedy "Community" returns for a sixth season on Yahoo . The series is just as weirdly hilarious as ever, with surprises in store . Critics and fans loved the premiere .


(CNN)The sack and pillage of the Mosul museum by the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria displayed a violence rarely seen since the destruction of the Buddhas of Bamyian. The bulldozing of the archaeological site of Nimrud marked a new step in the cultural cleansing underway in Iraq. These acts are a deliberate attack against civilians, minorities, heritage sites and traditions. In the minds of terrorists, murder and destruction of culture are inherently linked. It is appalling to see the ravages of this violent extremism in a region that is a cradle of civilization, whose temples, palaces and frescoes have born witness to the glory of Iraq and Mesopotamia for the last 3,000 years. It is important we understand the true nature of this conflict. This war against culture is a war against people. It is part of a strategy to crush free thinking and to ensure domination through oppression. This is why extremists attack schools, media, or other places of culture. Through modern methods of communication and information, they use warped learning and distorted academic texts to hijack young minds. They forbid girls to go to school, kill journalists and vandalize museums: all symbols that embody freedom of thought and respect for cultural diversity. There can be no justification whatsoever for the systematic destruction of the heritage of humanity, and I wholeheartedly support the many religious leaders who have taken such a firm position denouncing these destructions and the perverted use of religion. When culture is under attack, we must respond with more knowledge, and with ever greater effort to work to explain the importance of humanity's shared heritage. This is why we appeal to all cultural institutions, museums, journalists, professors, and scientists to share knowledge widely about the Mesopotamian civilization. We need to remind all of the history of this land which led the Islamic golden age. And we also call on all people everywhere -- and especially youth, in Iraq and elsewhere -- to claim this heritage as their own. Pre-Islamic heritage in Iraq belongs to all Iraqis, just as the Pyramids are written into the identity of all Egyptians. What is happening goes far beyond the domain of archaeologists and discourse on the "irreparable loss of treasures of humanity." What is happening is a security issue. The deliberate destruction of cultural heritage is a war crime. We see how terrorists are using such destruction to destabilize populations, spread terror, and encourage violence. We see also how extremists use heavy military vehicles to transport artifacts from looted sites, and how illicit trafficking is directly funding terrorism. With this in mind, we have joined forces with all partners and neighboring countries to halt these crimes. The acceleration of such violence must be met with an acceleration of global solidarity and action. Faced with such crimes, we hope we can better understand the values we all share, and stand united in respect of humanity.

Summary: ISIS bulldozed site of ancient Assyrian city of Nimrud in northern Iraq . Irina Bokova: Appalling to see the ravages of this violent extremism .


(CNN)Four years ago I was laughed out of the room when I said to a group of friends: "Pretty soon guys are going to decide their lives are more important than playing in the NFL. And they are going to stop playing." My friends accused me of going soft, being an elitist, being overly PC. Today, I'm certain they are not saying those things about the talented 49er linebacker Chris Borland, the latest NFLer to quit. He's 24 years old and the first player to retire directly because he wanted to avoid the traumatic brain injuries that have been linked to playing football. Borland played just one NFL season. "I just honestly want to do what's best for my health," he told ESPN's "Outside the Lines." "From what I've researched and what I've experienced, I don't think it's worth the risk." He added: "I just thought to myself, 'What am I doing? Is this how I'm going to live my adult life, banging my head, especially with what I've learned and knew about the dangers?' " His teammate, Pro Bowl linebacker Patrick Willis, made the decision to walk away last week, and you can't help but think his decision might have influenced Borland. Willis says he isn't really sure what he'll do next, but he knows he won't play another game in the National Football League. Although fans around the globe are begging the 30-year-old, seven-time Pro Bowler to "unretire," Willis said his nagging foot and ankle injuries, and a desire for a happy life are why he walked away. "I have no regrets," said a tearful Willis in his press conference last week. "I gave this game everything I had and I am truly blessed. ... Honestly, I pay attention to guys when they're finished playing, walking around like they've got no hips and they can't play with their kids. They can barely walk. "People see that and they feel sorry," Willis said. "But they don't realize it's because he played a few extra years." Willis, who has a degree in criminology from Ole Miss, is a wise man. And while many sports fans are in shock that any guy lucky enough to play in the NFL would just walk away from fame and wealth, it sounds to me like Willis has his priorities right. It's refreshing. And Willis is not alone. At a time of year when most football fans are consumed by trade rumors and free agency moves, several other high-profile players have decided to hang up their cleats. And what's surprising is how young they are: . At 27, Steelers linebacker Jason Worilds was soon to step into the crazy world of free agency, where he was sure to be in demand by many teams. It looked like he was just about to get his huge payday. But instead, he's leaving the game. Unlike Willis, Worilds hadn't been plagued by injuries, at least not yet. And he'd only missed one game in the past three seasons. So why did he leave? He wants to do other things, he

Summary: Roxanne Jones: Several NFL players just beginning their careers, including Chris Borland, are walking away . Some say they're leaving for new opportunities, Jones says . But maybe the news about football's serious injuries is getting through, she says .


(CNN)Nine foreign workers are believed to be in the hands of ISIS-affiliated militants after an attack on a Libyan oil field, according to officials. Libya's internationally recognized government has blamed "ISIS militias" for the attack Friday in which the Al-Ghani oil field was set on fire. The kidnapped foreigners were working for VAOS, an Austrian-owned oil services company whose headquarters are in Tripoli, the Libyan capital. They include four Filipinos, an Austrian, a Czech and a Ghanaian, according to the Philippine foreign ministry. The Bangladeshi government said one of its citizens was also taken hostage. The nationality of the ninth worker was unclear. The abductions come amid Libya's deteriorating security situation in which Islamic militias, some of them pledging allegiance to the extremist group ISIS, have thrived. Egypt carried out airstrikes against ISIS militants in Libya last month after the killings of Egyptian Christians who had been kidnapped while working in a Libyan city. The Philippine foreign ministry said Monday that its Tripoli embassy had "stepped up coordination" with the Austrian company and Libyan authorities "to locate the abducted Filipinos and ensure their safe and immediate release." Martin Weiss, a spokesman for the Austrian foreign ministry tweeted Monday that "credible sources" had confirmed that the Austrian citizen and other international workers were in the hands of ISIS "terrorists." The attack on Al-Ghani is the latest in a recent spate of violence by militants targeting oil fields in Libya. The Libyan National Oil Corporation said over the weekend that it had warned VAOS more than two weeks ago to leave the area because of security concerns. VAOS wasn't immediately available for comment Tuesday. The Philippine foreign ministry said 52 other Filipinos are employed by VAOS but were relocated out of Al-Ghani "much earlier" and are now in Tripoli. Three other Filipinos have been missing in Libya since they were seized at the Mabruk oil field in February, the foreign ministry said. "These cases underscore the escalating threat to the safety and security of Filipino oil workers in Libyan oil fields which have been targeted by armed groups in recent weeks," said foreign ministry spokesman Charles Jose. He said Philippine authorities were unsure at this point whether the kidnappers were ISIS members. CNN's Jomana Karadsheh and Marilia Brocchetto, and journalists Ayman Kekly and Arlene Samson-Espiritu, contributed to this report.

Summary: The abducted workers were seized in an attack on an oil field last week . They are from the Philippines, Bangladesh, Austria, the Czech Republic and Ghana . Militants have carried out a series of attacks on oil fields in recent weeks .


March 11, 2015 . Whether you teach geography, social studies or history, we have content for your classroom today on CNN Student News. Go inside a Middle Eastern country at the center of international scrutiny. Get a sense of what kinds of historic artifacts ISIS has destroyed, and examine signs that the terrorist group may be weakening. And see what's key to the survival of the typewriter. On this page you will find today's show Transcript and a place for you to request to be on the CNN Student News Roll Call. TRANSCRIPT . Click here to access the transcript of today's CNN Student News program. Please note that there may be a delay between the time when the video is available and when the transcript is published. CNN Student News is created by a team of journalists who consider the Common Core State Standards, national standards in different subject areas, and state standards when producing the show. ROLL CALL . For a chance to be mentioned on the next CNN Student News, comment on the bottom of this page with your school name, mascot, city and state. We will be selecting schools from the comments of the previous show. You must be a teacher or a student age 13 or older to request a mention on the CNN Student News Roll Call! Thank you for using CNN Student News!

Summary: This page includes the show Transcript . Use the Transcript to help students with reading comprehension and vocabulary . At the bottom of the page, comment for a chance to be mentioned on CNN Student News. You must be a teacher or a student age 13 or older to request a mention on the CNN Student News Roll Call.


(CNN)Blame Joshuah Purdy Brown. Or, if you prefer, P.T. Barnum. It's thanks to those 19th-century promoters that the elephant rose to become the circus's king of beasts -- the living symbol of "The Greatest Show on Earth." "This is something that has been a big deal historically," says circus historian Janet Davis, an American studies professor at the University of Texas. Traditionally, she observes, elephants are the stars of the parade when circuses come to town. There was even a 19th-century phrase, "to see the elephant," a euphemism used by soldiers for seeing battle, recognizing the wonder and rarity of these giant animals. On Thursday, Ringling Brothers, part of the Feld Entertainment firm, announced that it would be ending use of elephants by 2018. It's a startling change for the show, which has made the giant pachyderms a centerpiece of its presentation for decades and weathered criticism for their treatment from animal rights groups. CNNMoney: The Greatest Show on Earth will soon be without elephants . Brown was perhaps the first to make elephants a part of the circus atmosphere. The modern circus only dates back to around 1770, the invention of an Englishman named Philip Astley, who added jugglers, acrobats and clowns to his equestrian show. (The term "circus" comes from the ancient Romans, although the Roman version was closer to a sporting event featuring soldiers, and it could be quite bloody.) Astley's circus was such a huge success that he created one in Paris, and his students and acolytes -- knowing a good idea when they saw one -- brought the circus to other cities. To this day, the ringmaster wears elegant riding clothes because of the circus' equestrian roots. Brown, a shrewd marketer who was also responsible for making the circus a tented traveling show, added a "menagerie" to the event to help combat the form's sometimes seedy reputation. "Circuses in this era were really for adults, and not marketed for children at all," says Davis. Brown's show, by adding a menagerie tent to the circus tent, could market their shows as educationally uplifting by "showing people the wonders of the animal world," she adds. By the 1850s, elephants were regular circus attractions. Then came Barnum. In the early 1870s, the clever entrepreneur, who had made his fortune with such acts as the "Feejee Mermaid," singer Jenny Lind and a New York-based museum of curiosities, created P.T. Barnum's Museum, Menagerie and Circus. "They had exotic animals from the four corners of the earth, and you had to go through the menagerie first and then you went to your seat in the big top," Deborah Walk, curator of collections for the Ringling Museums, told PBS for a 2010 documentary called "Circus." "There was no way to miss the menagerie -- it was all part of the educational outreach to get people to go to the show." Barnum and his partner made the circus an efficient business, running it on the railroad to far-flung destinations and transporting their animals long distances. "Elephants become this incredibly important signature part of the circus,"

Summary: Elephants have been symbolic of the circus since the 19th century . Ringling Brothers circus is ending use of elephants soon . Historian wonders if more changes are to come .


(CNN)Last summer, amid startling news reports of manipulation, mismanagement and possibly death caused by failures at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Congress came together and passed legislation to overhaul veterans' access to health care. I was proud to sponsor the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 (the Choice Act), and deliver good news to veterans: They would have a choice when it comes to accessing health care they deserve, and many would have the option of seeing their local physician. Now, the VA is trying to take the choice away. A mere six months after the Choice Act was signed into law, and only three months after veterans began to receive their Choice Cards, the President's budget attempts to reallocate the law's emergency funds that are solely meant to pay for veterans' health care in their communities. The VA says these funds aren't being used quickly enough because veterans aren't interested in getting care from their local physicians. That could not be further from the truth. Thousands of veterans are struggling to access the care they were promised through the Choice Act because of the VA's flawed implementation of the law and foolish interpretation of the 40-mile rule in the distance criteria. When Congress passed the Choice Act, the intent was that veterans be allowed to access local health care if they cannot receive the VA care they need within 40 miles of their home, or their wait time for an appointment is more than 30 days. Unfortunately, the VA decided to narrow the interpretation of the 40-mile rule, choosing to take into account only the distance of a VA medical facility from a veteran's home and not whether the VA facility can actually provide the services the veteran needs. Veterans are being told they cannot use their Choice Cards because they live within 40 miles of a VA facility, even though that facility does not offer the care they require. The VA is denying the access the law was intended to provide and forcing veterans to choose between traveling hours to a VA medical facility, paying out of pocket or going without care altogether. Veterans simply want what they were promised in the Choice Act: the choice to access the care they deserve in their community. In my hometown of Hays, Kansas, a veteran is forced to drive 200 miles several times a month for routine cortisone shots because the VA outpatient clinic just 25 miles from his home does not offer the shots he needs. One would think this veteran could use his Choice Card to visit a local physician or local hospital to get the shots he needs -- but the VA is denying access to this care. Thousands of veterans across the country are facing this same frustration. Why is common sense not prevailing at the VA? Why is the VA not bending over backward to take care of veterans? As a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, I have questioned VA Secretary Bob McDonald and other VA officials for months in hearings, personal meetings,

Summary: Veterans' Choice Act was signed into law in August 2014 . Jerry Moran: VA is denying the access the law was intended to provide .


(CNN)Those Hannibal Buress jokes about Bill Cosby? They've been no laughing matter to Buress, he told Jimmy Kimmel. "It's definitely a weird situation," the comedian said on Wednesday's show. "I get a lot of messages from people about it." Well, maybe some of them are a laughing matter. One of those messages, Buress continued, was a "death threat from a male bodybuilder-slash-stripper on Facebook." And there was a twist: He and the bodybuilder had one mutual friend. It made for an awkward situation, Buress said. "Having to hit your friend up and say, 'Hey, man, can you tell your buddy to stop saying he's going to murder me?' " Buress kickstarted the recent Cosby controversy by referencing the rape allegations against the "Cosby Show" star in a routine. One video of Buress' stand-up went viral. Since October, when Buress' video was posted, more than 20 women have made or reiterated abuse claims against Cosby. Cosby himself has not directly addressed any of the accusations. His attorney, Martin D. Singer, has called the accusations "ridiculous." A concert with Bill Cosby: It's complicated . Buress, a star of "Broad City" and "The Eric Andre Show," is currently on a comedy tour.

Summary: Hannibal Buress says he's been threatened since his Bill Cosby routine went viral . Buress told Jimmy Kimmel that one death threat came from "bodybuilder-slash-stripper" It turned out that he and the other person had a mutual friend, he added .


Ferguson, Missouri (CNN)Ferguson's police chief is ducking questions about his department and his future there in the wake of a scathing federal report. "I need to have time to really analyze this report so I can comment on it," Chief Tom Jackson said Thursday in an exclusive interview with CNN. He spoke one day after the Justice Department released its 102-page report, which found rampant racism within the Ferguson Police Department. It specifically faulted officers for seeing residents as "sources of revenue," a practice that disproportionately targeted African-Americans. DOJ: No charges for Officer Darren Wilson . When asked what he thought about the report, and what he planned to do about it, the chief said he would "take action as necessary." Asked whether that meant he would remain at the department, Jackson repeated himself: "I'm gonna take action where necessary." Later, in response to the same question, he said: "I will let you know." Brown's family to file civil lawsuit 'shortly' Many have called for the chief to step down since the shooting death of Michael Brown. Brown, a black teenager, was shot by a white officer in August. His death triggered widespread protests, and calls to change policing practices in America. Obama: Ferguson police abuse 'not an isolated incident' Sara Sidner reported this story in Ferguson. Dana Ford wrote it in Atlanta.

Summary: Justice Department report finds rampant racism within the Ferguson Police Department . "I need to have time to really analyze this report so I can comment on it," Chief Tom Jackson says .


(CNN)The health of Singapore's first prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, who has been in hospital with pneumonia since February 5, has deteriorated further, the government said Wednesday. The Prime Minister's office had said Tuesday that Lee, 91, who is on a ventilator in the intensive care unit of Singapore General Hospital, had an infection and was being treated with antibiotics. "Mr Lee Kuan Yew remains critically ill in the ICU and has deteriorated further," the office said in its latest update. Later Wednesday, a top government spokesman dismissed as a hoax a report that Singapore's founding father had died. A message about Lee's supposed demise, purporting to be from the current Prime Minister, had circulated online. "We have reported this to the police and they are investigating this hoax. Our website was not hacked, it was a doctored image," Farah Rahim, senior director for the Singapore Ministry of Communications and Information said. Born in 1923, Lee co-founded the city state in 1965 when it declared its independence from Malaysia and was its prime minister for more than three decades. Lee was succeeded as prime minister by Goh Chok Tong in 1990, before Lee Kuan Yew's son Lee Hsien Loong took power in August 2004. The elder Lee has been credited with Singapore's remarkable transformation from a colonial trading post to a prosperous financial center. However, he has also been a divisive figure, attracting criticism for stifling media freedom and for the harsh treatment of political opponents.

Summary: Health of Singapore's first prime minister deteriorating . He has been treated in ICU for pneumonia since 5 February . On Tuesday, Singapore said he had contracted infection .


(CNN)Personal details including the passport numbers of U.S. President Barack Obama and 19 other world leaders at last year's G20 summit were inadvertently released by Australia's immigration department, British newspaper the Guardian reported Monday. An official mistakenly sent the passport, visa and other details of all leaders at the summit to local organizers of the Asian Cup football tournament, which was held in Australia in January, the newspaper reported. The recipient immediately destroyed the data and the information was not distributed further, a spokesman for Australia's Department of Immigration and Border Protection told CNN. Besides Obama, world leaders at the summit, held in the Australian city of Brisbane in November, included Russian President Vladimir Putin, China's President Xi Jinping, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister David Cameron, among others. A spokesman for the Department of Immigration and Border Protection told CNN in a statement that the "breach was immediately referred to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner." "The Department has reviewed and strengthened its email protocols to limit and contain future breaches."READ MORE: Mixed fortunes for leaders as summit comes to a close .

Summary: An Australian immigration official mistakenly sent personal details of leaders at the G20 . The data was immediately destroyed by the recipient, an organizer of the Asian Cup soccer tournament . The G20 summit was held in Brisbane, Australia in November .


(CNN)Patrick Sondenheimer loved his work as a pilot. But the 34-year-old captain of Germanwings Flight 9525 was also a loving father, his grandmother said. "I am devastated," said his grandmother, who asked for privacy for the family. "His death came so sudden and it leaves my whole family in shock." Sondenheimer is one of 150 people who died last week when the plane crashed in the French Alps on its way from Barcelona, Spain, to Dusseldorf, Germany. Authorities have accused the plane's co-pilot of deliberately downing the jet, but are still investigating what caused the crash and trying to pinpoint what his motive may have been. Investigators haven't officially released the captain's name, and in many German media reports he's described simply as "Patrick S." But several relatives confirmed his identity to CNN. He had logged more than 6,000 hours of flight time, had been with Germanwings since May 2014 and had worked with Lufthansa and Condor before that, the Germanwings press office said. The married father of a 3-year-old son and a 6-year-old daughter switched to flying for the budget airline so he could be closer to his family, the Independent reported, citing German media. In a leaked transcript that purportedly documents the flight's final moments, Sondenheimer -- locked out of the cockpit after a bathroom break -- pleads with the co-pilot to let him back in as the plane plunges down toward the French Alps. "Open the damn door!" he says at one point in a recording from one of the plane's so-called black boxes, according to a report published by German tabloid newspaper Bild. The recording, according to Bild, also includes the sounds of loud metallic bangs that sound like someone trying to knock down the cockpit door. "He deserves the German Medal of Honor for his heroic attempt to break into the cockpit," his grandmother told CNN. As details emerge about Sondenheimer and Flight 9525's final moments, a chorus of social media users has also hailed him as a hero. Over the weekend, Sondenheimer's father and other family members visited a memorial for the victims in the French Alps. Francois Balique, mayor of Le Vernet, met with them there. He described the captain's father as a broken man, with many questions about why the crash had happened. Investigators haven't said much about the captain, but they've emphasized that it seems he did everything he could to try to get back into the cockpit after he was locked out. Marseille prosecutor Brice Robin said last week that "violent blows as if to break down the door" are audible in the cockpit voice recording. "He must have realized what was going on," Robin said. "And if he'd been able to open the door ... the captain would have done it." CNN's Felix Gussone, David Fitzpatrick, Bharati Naik, Tim Lister, Pamela Brown, Karl Penhaul and Dorrine Mendoza contributed to this report.

Summary: Patrick Sondenheimer's grandmother describes him as a loving father . German media report he decided to fly for Germanwings to be closer to his family . Social media posts describe him as a hero for trying to save the flight .


(CNN)Entertainers are paid for entertaining and it's time athletes received financial recompense for taking part in the Olympics, says 100m hurdler Sally Pearson. In 2014,while the winner of Wimbledon received $2,600,000 and the Augusta Masters champion picked up $1,620,000, when Pearson won gold in the Olympics three years ago she received zero prize money. "People come for the entertainment from the athletes -- we are entertaining them, we are entertainers" the Australian, who set an Olympic record of 12.48 seconds in her 2012 winning run in 2012, told CNN anchor Alex Thomas. "Entertainers get paid every single time they step up onto a stage, and that's exactly what we're doing in a sporting sense." Billions might have tuned in to watch London's 2012 Olympic Games which saw over 10,000 athletes compete across 302 events in a battle for golden glory, but the International Olympic Committee's current policy is to (IOC) hand out gold, silver and bronze medals as well as a bouquet of flowers to athletes, but no financial remuneration. "I can see why they don't, and I'm sure they want to keep it like that, they want to keep it pure," added Pearson. "To be honest we're all still going to turn up whether we get paid or not. But the Games wouldn't happen without the athletes." It also wouldn't happen without sponsors. The IOC has just signed a new eight-year sponsorship deal with car manufacturing giant Toyota -- reportedly worth just under $1 billion -- adding to their list of partners that include McDonald's and Coca-Cola. Athletes usually fund themselves through sponsorship deals, government support, grants and part-time work. In 2012 only half of American track and field athletes -- who were ranked in the top 10 in their nation -- earned more than $15,000 a year from their sport. The fifth fastest 100m hurdler in history, Pearson told the Australia's Daily Telegraph in 2013 how a year after her Olympic gold medal in London she still wasn't attracting enough sponsors. No stranger to hard work -- the hurdler sometimes vomits after intense training sessions -- she decided to chase down her own deals rather than sit on her hands waiting for private sponsorship. While she has some support from Qantas, AMP and Adidas, appearance fees and prize money in the Diamond League -- an annual series of track and field meetings -- also provides revenue earning potential for the 28-year-old. Now targeting more medal success at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Pearson achieved a resounding win at the Queensland Track Classic on March 7 with a time of 12.74s. Even so the issue of Olympic prize money still clearly grates. "I think the times have changed from 1896 to 2016, I think it might be time to at least have a think about it, and discuss it because there's no such thing as the Olympics without athletics or athletes," said Pearson.

Summary: Olympic 100m gold medal winner Sally Pearson says IOC should think about paying athletes . Pearson won gold at the London 2012 Olympics .