Grace Lee Whitney, Better Known as Yeoman Janice Rand on Star Trek Has Died at 85, Rest in Peace

One of my childhood crushes has passed away, Rest in Peace Yeoman Janice Rand …

Actress Grace Lee Whitney, better known as  Yeoman Janice Rand of Star Trek fame, has passed away at the age of 85. She  died at her home on May 1st in Coarsegold, California.  Whitney played the short skirted Star Trek officer on the original Star Trek, who had a crush on James T. Kirk; however, was unceremoniously let go after only 8 episodes.  She was born Mary Ann Chase in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1930. She was adopted by the Whitney family, and as a teenager, began her career in entertainment as a singer and dancer. Whitney was a recovering alcoholic and drug addict and had reportedly spent the last 35 years of her life helping others with addiction problems, including volunteering at women’s correctional facilities.

April 1, 1930 – May 1, 2015, Rest in Peace

Later, Grace Lee Whitney returned for the movie franchise starting with 1979’s “Star Trek: The Motion Picture,” with a promotion to chief petty officer, then in “Star Trek III: The Search for Spock,” “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home” and she was finally promoted to lieutenant in 1991’s “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.”

An actress who appeared in just eight episodes of the original “Star Trek” — but made harrowing allegations in a memoir of sexual assault during her tenure — has died at 85.

Grace Lee Whitney — better known as Captain Kirk’s sometime love interest, Yeoman Janice Rand — died of natural causes at her home in California, her son Jonathan Dweck told the Associated Press.

“Over time, she became appreciative of her short time on ‘Star Trek’ because she developed meaningful relationships with the fans, Leonard Nimoy and other cast members,” Dweck said.

In a 1998 book, Whitney said she had high hopes for the show. Born Mary Ann Chase in Ann Arbor, Mich., in 1930, as NBC reported, she was raised by adoptive parents and in the middle of a divorce when she landed her part on a show she called her “Higher Power.”

Still, Whitney continued to appear on television, and returned as Rand in the first “Star Trek” film, later reprising her role in some of the sequels and TV series. She cited Nimoy as a crucial force in helping restart her career.

“The one person who really reached out to me after I was written out of ‘Star Trek’ was Leonard Nimoy,” she wrote. ” He was the only one who really knew how much I was hurting.”

Star Trek Season 1 – Episode 12, Miri

RIP Grace Lee Whitney, Star Trek’s Yeoman Janice Rand.

In her later years, Whitney worked as an advocate for people struggling with substance abuse. She credited her own recovery in some part to the Star Trek fans who supported her:

“When I told the fans I was an alcoholic, they all applauded. When I told them I had given myself to a higher power, they cheered again,” Ms. Whitney told The Bee’s Rick Bentley in 2013. “I’m in a great place because I’ve gone full circle.

Outside of Star Trek, the Ann Arbor, MI. native was in the Broadway musical Top Banana, and appeared in the 1954 movie version of the show. Her TV career included roles on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, The Real McCoys, The Outer Limits, Batman, and Bewitched. She also served as the inspiration for the Chicken of the Sea mermaid.

One Gunman in Garland, TX ‘Muhammad Art & Cartoon Contest’ Shooting Identified … Elton Simpson, of Arizona Who Was Previously the Subject of a Terror investigation

ONE OF THE GUNMAN HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AND HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY BEEN INVESTIGATED FOR TERROR …

According to KTRK, ABC13, is reporting that one of the suspected gunmen has been identified, who was killed last night by Garland, Texas police outside of the ‘Muhammad Art & Cartoon Contest’ as Elton Simpson. According to the FBI, Simpson was a previous subject of a terror investigation. Hmm, how did he seem to slip through the cracks if they knew who he was? How does an individual who has ties to terror allowed to walk among us? At least he will not be able to partake in another terror attack, ever. Also, the second shooter was his roommate, both of who were from Arizona. Both gunman were shot dead by Garland police last night outside of the Curtis Culwell Center.

ABC News can confirm that one of the suspects is Elton Simpson, an Arizona man who was previously the subject of a terror investigation. He’s from phoenix and television stations in Phoenix are reporting the second shooter was Simpson’s roommate. We’re still waiting on his name.

The FBI believes Simpson sent out a tweet using the hashtag #texasattack about a half hour before shooting.

From ABC News, Simpson was well known to the FBI. Five years ago he was convicted for lying to federal agents about his plans to travel to Africa, but a judge ruled the government did not adequately prove he was going to join a terror group there. Thanks judge.

Below is the Tweet that was sent out prior to the attack in Garland Texas. Twitter has suspends account that warned about a ‘Texas attack’ 15 minutes before incident at anti-Muslim event.

Twitter appears to have suspended an account that tweeted about an attack in Texas 15 minutes before shots were fired at an anti-Muslim event in the city of Garland.

Under the profile name “Shariah is Light”, the tweet read (See Update II): “The bro with me and myself have given bay’ah to Amirul Mu’mineen. May Allah accept us as mujahideen [jihadists]. Make dua. #texasattack.”

The tweet was posted at 6.35pm local time in Texas – 15 minutes before Garland Police Department received its first reports of gunfire at the anti-Muslim event. In a tweet sent three hours before its last, the profile recommended people follow another account – @AbuHu55ain – which has also now been suspended.

UPDATE I: FBI searching Phoenix home of suspected Garland gunmen.

According to ABC News, FBI agents are now searching an apartment in Phoenix where they say the suspects lived as roommates.

One of them has been identified as Elton Simpson, 30. He was convicted in a terror investigation five years ago, but was given probation. Simpson is believed to be the man who tweeted several ominous messages before the incident using the hashtag #texasattack.

5 Fast Facts You Need to Know about Elton Simpson:

1. He Is Believed to Have Posted on Twitter Shortly Before the Shooting
2. He Was Sentenced to Probation in 2010 After He Was the Target of a FBI Terror Investigation
3. The FBI Has Been Searching His Phoenix, Arizona Home
4. The Shooting Targeted a Controversial ‘Draw Muhammad’ Contest
5. ISIS Supporters Had Been Calling For an Attack on the Garland Event

Daily Commentary – Monday, May 4, 2015 – Baltimore State Attorney, Marilyn Mosby, Kept Saying “I Hear You”

• Let’s hope she’s hearing all the evidence and not just the protestors.

Shooting at Muhammad Cartoon Contest at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, TX at Pamela Geller Texas Free Speech Event (Update: Two Gunman Dead)

A SHOOTING HAS TAKEN PLACE OUTSIDE THE TEXAS FREE SPEECH EVENT IN GARLAND, TX HELD BY PAMELA GELLER …

According to FOX News, two individuals were shot outside of the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, TX where the Texas Free Speech Event was taking place. The center was put on lock-down following the shooting. The ‘free speech” event (VIDEO) was a ‘Muhammad Art and Cartoon Contest’. This was the same location that hosted a pro-Islam contest last month. Of course there were no gunman trying to kill people at that conference who disagreed with that one.

The First Annual Muhammad Art Exhibit and Contest will be hosted by the Curtis Caldwell Center.

Pamela Geller.com

Two individuals were shot dead by police outside of the event as it was reported, “two males drove up to the front of the building in a car,” as the event was coming to an end. “Both males were armed and began shooting at a Garland … security officer. Garland Police officers engaged the gunmen, who were both shot and killed.” It is probably not that much of a stretch that the two gunman that were killed were Islamists looking to quell free speech.

Shooting at Muhammad Cartoon Contest Garland, Texas: 2 Gunmen Killed, Officer Down

Pamela Geller – Twitter

A Prophet Muhammad art exhibit and contest in Dallas is on lockdown Sunday after a reported shooting outside the building that left two suspects reportedly dead and one officer injured.

According to the Dallas Morning News, two men  pulled up in a vehicle and  then shot an officer outside the Curtis Culwell center Sunday evening. They were then fatally shot by police officers.

The officer’s injuries are not believed to be life-threatening, the paper reported.

An officer dressed in SWAT gear took the stage toward the end of the event at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland and told attendees, including an Associated Press reporter, that a shooting had occurred.

It wasn’t immediately clear if the shooting was related to the event.

Garland Police Department spokesman Joe Harn declined to confirm the SWAT officer’s statements and said he had no details.

VIDEO via The Gateway Pundit

UPDATE I: Bomb Squad is on the scene with mechanical robot investigating a suspicious vehicle.

8:11pm CT: Suspects’ vehicle being checked for explosives. It is scheduled to be detonated.

8:20pm CT: Authorities tell CBS 11 that SWAT will escort 48 people at a time out of arena soon, but many are parked in a now secured area and cannot access cars.

UPDATE II: From The Gateway Pundit … “Shariah is Light” posted this at at 6:35 CENTRAL TIME and took credit for the attack.

UPDATE III: According to VIDEO below from Newsy, the identities of the shooters have not yet been released and it has not yet been determined whether the attack was was religiously motivated. I think it is safe to say that it was.

Gunmen Shot Outside ‘Draw Muhammad’ Event in Garland, Texas

UPDATE IV: The security officer, Bruce Joiner,  was released from the hospital after his wounds were treated.

The two men pulled up in a vehicle and shot a Garland ISD security officer. The men were fatally shot by Garland police, and their bodies remain on the street outside the events center.

The security officer, Bruce Joiner,  was released from the hospital after his wounds were treated.

No one was being allowed to leave the facility, where an art show centering on caricatures of Muhammad was being held. Nearby businesses, including a Walmart and Sam’s Club, were evacuated.

UPDATE V: Follow more updates from Breitbart.com.

UPDATE, 11:09 PM: ISIS has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack, according to the Rowlett/Sachse Scanner:

UPDATE ON THE POLICE INCIDENT:

Officers are advising the scene is NOT safe. It is believed that explosive(s) have been placed near the Curtis Culwell Center. FBI Bomb Squad, Garland Police, Garland SWAT, Rowlett Police, Rowlett SWAT, and Texas State Troopers are on scene.

There is a huge perimeter set. No one gets in and no one gets out.

ISIS is taking responsibility for this attack.

UPDATE, 10:59 PM: Attendees were just informed by police that the FBI would be coming to interview them all, prior to law enforcement letting them go.

UPDATE VI: Tonight at Police Press Conference … Garland Police said they are using robot to check suspects car for bombs. Also, they gave not moved the two dead bodies because of their proximity to the vehicle and they may have explosives on their bodies. The police were not going to put officers or medical examiners in harms way until all has been cleared.

The bodies of suspects lay dead next to vehicle as police continue to check for explosives.

Pic – Hat Tip Jim Hofts, Twitter

Dr. Ben Carson Is In … He Announced Today That He Will Run for 2016 President of the United States of America

DR. BEN CARSON SAYS HE IS IN THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL RACE …

We had all expected that Dr. Ben Carson would officially enter the presidential race next week in Detroit; however, he told local media today that he would run for the President of the United States. Carson shared his decision with WPEC-TV, the CBS affiliate in West Palm Beach, FL  in an exclusive interview on Sunday.

Carson, 63, will formally jump into the race at an event in Detroit, where he grew up.

His presidential campaign will mark Carson’s first run for office, though he’s been a Tea Party hero since 2013 following his blistering attack of Obamacare at the National Prayer Breakfast in front of President Obama.

While he enters the race as a long shot to capture the GOP nomination, he currently polls ahead of several more established Republican contenders in Iowa, site of the first caucus, including former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum, the winner there in 2012.

Click HERE or on PIC to watch VIDEO via CBS12

 ABC-WHAM-13:

The Republican field of candidates continues to widen.

Retired neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson is expected to make a major announcement at an event Monday in his hometown of Detroit.

But in an exclusive interview Sunday, Dr. Carson tells our National Correspondent Jeff Barnd he is in the race for the White House in 2016.

“I’m willing to be part of the equation and therefore, I’m announcing my candidacy for President of the United States of America.”

With that, Dr. Ben Carson is off and running. He rose from poverty in Detroit to the head of the pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. He’s now retired from medicine.

“Many people have suggested to me that I should run for president, even though I’m not a politician,” Carson said.

Dr. Carson’s political star rose at the National Prayer Breakfast two years ago when he admonished President Obama for several white house policies including Obamacare.

“I began to ask myself why are people clamoring for me to do this? I represented a lot of the same thoughts that they have,” Dr. Carson says. “I’m not 100% sure ‘politics as usual’ is going to save us. I think we are in a severe problem … a problematic situation.”