The Short List: NFL fights domestic violence; Canada shooter's mom speaks; Sears closings
NFL players fight domestic violence during Thursday night football
No more. Mariska Hargitay says so. Public service announcements from a new campaign against domestic violence from the NFL were posted to YouTube on Thursday with appearances from current and former players including Eli Manning, Cris Carter and Jason Witten. They'll start appearing on NFL broadcasts tonight. The PSAs were directed by Hargitay (Law and Order SVU). "If badass NFL heroes are coming forward to talk about these issues, I guarantee you it is going to give inspiration and permission to young boys to step up in a new way," Hargitay said this month. "Love in a new way, protect in a new way, and to be a man in a new way. That's what's so beautiful, right?" Right.
Mom of Canada shooter says she's 'mad at her son'
She said she isn't mourning her son. She's mourning the victims. "If I'm crying, it's for the people," Susan Bibeau told the Associated Press, struggling to hold back tears, "not for my son." Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, a Canadian born in 1982, was fatally shot during the assault yesterday that left a guard at the National War Memorial dead and targeted Canada's Parliament building. "I am mad at my son," Bibeau wrote in an e-mail to the AP, explaining that Michael — who had a criminal record in Quebec and British Columbia, according to the CBC — seemed lost "and did not fit in."
Microsoft co-founder follows Facebook founder and donates millions to #TackleEbola
Tech is doing its part to fight Ebola. Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen says he will pledge at least $100 million to help fight the spread of the deadly disease. Allen says the funding will go to the State Department to develop medevac containment units to evacuate health professionals from West Africa. It follows a pledge made last week by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, who are giving $25 million to the CDC Foundation to help fight the epidemic. Epic one-up by Allen. We also learned today that the first case of Ebola has arrived in New York City.
Sears stores continue to be even more of an endangered species
Is Sears likely to become extinct? Cash-strapped Sears Holdings plans to close 116 Sears and Kmart stores and lay off nearly 6,100 employees, many ahead of the Christmas shopping season, according to a new report. Not very merry. In an e-mail to Paste BN, company spokesman Howard Riefs said the store count and closures "isn't accurate,'' but didn't clarify the number. Sears stores are becoming an endangered species. And they aren't alone. There are 12 retailers in the very broad Russell 3000 index, including Sears (SHLD), apparel seller Christopher & Banks (CBK) and toy builder Build-A-Bear Workshop (BBW), that have fewer stores now than they had two years ago.
Bristol Palin tells 'the truth' of that Alaska brawl
We read the reports. We heard the audio tape. And now Bristol Palin is offering "the truth" of what happened in Anchorage that night when the Palin family got involved in a brawl. "Let me tell you what actually happened," she says in a blog post. The highlights: Her sister was attacked; the guy pushed her down; it was scary; she didn't throw right hooks at him; violence against women is not okay; and she wasn't treated right by the media.
Extra Bites
Day in Pictures: Our favorite photo from today's gallery.
Meet Hurricane and Storm. The White House guard dogs.
If you squint, you may see Duchess Kate's baby bump.
"They're like healthy and hot and running around without a care in the world." The reason a FOX host said young women should stay off juries and go back on Tinder.
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This is a compilation of stories from across Paste BN.
Contributing: Doyle Rice, Jessica Guynn, Gary Strauss, Matt Krantz, Brett Molina, Ann Oldenburg, Christine Brennan, Paste BN; Nina Mandell, Paste BN Sports