Emmy-winning actor Bill Paxton has died at age 61 due to complications from surgery.
Publication: News
Snopes→ Will Geometric Group Theory Be the Solution to the United States’ Gerrymandering Problem?
A new initiative lead by a Tufts University mathematics professor thinks this field of research could be the best shot at designing fair congressional districts apolitically.
Snopes→ ‘Pro-Trump’ Russian Flags Confiscated at CPAC
Small Russian Federation flags with 'Trump' imprinted on them were distributed on the CPAC floor by anti-Trump pranksters, but were rounded up quickly by staffers.
Snopes→ ‘My Friend Cayla’ Doll Records Children’s Speech, Is Vulnerable to Hackers
Consumer groups say the doll, which has a microphone and uses Bluetooth to transmit audio recordings via the Internet, poses both a security and a privacy threat.
Snopes→ Amazon Fights Subpoena for Alexa Data in Murder Investigation
A motion filed by Amazon regarding an Alexa-related search warrant potentially establishes legal precedents for digital privacy rights.
Snopes→ Immigrant Woman With Brain Tumor Placed in Federal Detention
The woman's lawyers said customs officials "tied her hands and ankles" and refused to let her speak to family members.
Snopes→ Fox News Contributor Alan Colmes Dies
Fox News contributor Alan Colmes has pased away at age 66 after a brief illness.
Snopes→ NASA Announces Discovery of Seven Earth-Sized Exoplanets in Orbit Around a Nearby Star
It is unclear how Earth-like any of these new planets actually might be, but the discovery is important for myriad non-alien reasons, too.
Snopes→ Anti-Defamation League Headquarters Receives Bomb Threat
After denouncing a wave of anti-Semitic incidents across the country, the ADL's headquarters in New York City were targeted.
Snopes→ Riot Breaks Out in Immigrant Suburb of Stockholm, Sweden
Days after President Trump referenced a nonexistent instance of immigrant violence in Sweden, a riot broke out in a predominantly immigrant district of Stockholm.
Snopes→ Federal Hiring Freeze Affects Military Childcare Programs
Letters circulating on Facebook indicate that military bases plan to reduce childcare programs because of a federal hiring freeze.
Snopes→ Study: Same-Sex Marriage Legalization Associated With Reduced Adolescent Suicide Attempts
An exhaustive study demonstrated significant and immediate declines in teenage suicide attempts following state-by-state legalization of same sex marriage.
Snopes→ President Donald Trump and Sweden
An 18 February 2017 address Trump gave in Florida caused widespread confusion with his reference to an unspecified (and seemingly nonexistent) incident in Sweden.
Snopes→ President Trump Signs Bill Lifting Ban on ‘Predator Control’ Hunting Practices in Alaska
H.J. Res. 69 nullifies previously imposed federal protections for bears, wolves, and other predatory animals on national preserves in Alaska.
Snopes→ Federal Judge Orders Bail Hearing for Detained ‘DREAMer’ Immigrant
Immigration officials argued that Daniel Ramirez Medina should be deported because of alleged gang ties.
Snopes→ Did Scientists Discover a “New” Continent?
A recent paper creates the first detailed argument in favor of considering the submerged land surrounding and including New Zealand to be Earth’s eighth continent.
Snopes→ Tribes File New Lawsuit to Stop Dakota Access Pipeline as Drilling Begins
The pipeline company is proceeding with construction after being granted a final permit.
Snopes→ Pat Robertson: Those Who Oppose Trump Are Revolting Against God’s Plan
The televangelist said during a 15 February 2017 broadcast that people who oppose President Trump are 'revolting against what God’s plan is for America.'
Snopes→ White House Denies Rumors National Guard to Deploy and ‘Round Up’ Immigrants
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer denied an Associated Press report about the National Guard and mass deportation.
Snopes→ Andrew Puzder Withdraws Nomination For U.S. Labor Secretary
On 15 February 2017, fast food executive Andrew Puzder withdrew his nomination to serve as Labor Secretary for U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, amid growing bipartisan opposition: I am withdrawing my nomination for Secretary of Labo
Snopes→ German Police Say Mass Sex Assault News Reports Were ‘Without Foundation’
German media reports of mass sexual assaults that reportedly took place on 31 January 2016 and 1 January 2017 have been withdrawn after local police discovered that the rumors were completely baseless. On 5 February 2017, German-language paper Bild pu
Snopes→ Harrison Ford Has Near Miss While Landing Plane in California
While it may sound like a scene from one of Harrison Ford’s action films, a 13 February 2017 incident in which he nearly collided with a passenger jet at an airport in Santa Ana, California was very real. The Federal Aviation Administration does