Newser Story Index from October, 2007
Welcome to the Newser Story Index. Here you find stories written by Newser writers and editors, assembled with supporting photos and videos from the files of the news story.
Values Voters Pick Romney, Barely
CNN
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Oct 21, 2007 7:37 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Mitt Romney came home with a slim lead over Mike Huckabee in yesterday's straw poll at the Family Research Council's Values Voters Summit in Washington, reports CNN. Romney won nearly 28% of the 5,776 conservative Christian votes, with the former Arkansas governor falling just 30 votes behind. Ron Paul took 15%, and Fred Thompson 10% of the poll.
Elephants Know Who to Trust
Independent (UK)
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Oct 21, 2007 7:21 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Elephants apparently never forget a smell or clothing, at least when it comes to spotting their human hunters, researchers have discovered. Pachyderms in a study remained calm near members of an African community who had not harmed them, but instantly shied from those in a tribe who hunted them. It's believed to be the first time wild animals have...
GOP Doves Risk Seats
Los Angeles Times
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Oct 21, 2007 6:21 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The handful of Republican lawmakers who have supported a withdrawal of troops from Iraq may soon find themselves out of a job if GOP loyalists have their way. Republicans like Rep. Walter B. Jones Jr. of North Carolina, and Maryland's Wayne Gilchrest are facing tough new challenges from pro-war primary competitors. At least one, Sen. Chuck Hagel of...
Thousands Flee Congo Fighting
BBC
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Oct 21, 2007 5:46 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Thousands of refugees are fleeing a new outbreak of fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Renewed fighting has erupted between dissident Gen. Laurent Nkuda and local militias, as well as between Nkuda and regular government forces, following Nkuda's refusal to disarm his troops and reintegrate into the army. Aid agencies warn of a...
Marine Dress Code Cracks Down on Bling, Cleavage
Associated Press
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Oct 21, 2007 5:35 AM CDT
(Newser) -
As though the US Marines Corps didn't already have enough rules, officials have imposed a strict new dress code barring Marines from sporting flashy jewelry, shiny metal and gems on teeth, visible tattoos, exposed midriffs and excessive cleavage. What's more, the code enforces an older rule prohibiting camouflage uniforms off base, the AP reports.
Drew Slams Sox Past Indians
Boston Herald
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Oct 21, 2007 5:13 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Curt Schilling pitched seven strong innings last night and the Boston offense came through in a big way to launch the Red Sox over the Indians, 12-2, and force Game 7 of the ALCS, reports the Boston Herald . J.D. Drew set the tone in the first with a two-out grand slam off Cleveland ace Fausto Carmona.
2-Loss Florida Wins to Stay Atop SEC East
ESPN
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Oct 21, 2007 4:48 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The Southeastern Conference no longer has any undefeated teams, and with big upsets coming thick and fast this college football season, twice-beaten schools like Florida may have a real chance at a national title. The Gators beat Kentucky 45-37 last night to join a three-way tie of 3-2 teams leading the SEC East, reports ESPN.
Buckeyes Get a Scare, but Beat Spartans 24-17
Columbus Dispatch
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Oct 21, 2007 4:32 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The Ohio State Buckeyes fought off a Michigan State comeback yesterday to cling to their undefeated status and retain their perch atop the BCS standings, reports the Columbus Dispatch. After seeing a 24-point lead shrink to seven points in the game's final minutes, the Buckeyes woke up and rushed past the Spartans to nail down the victory.
FBI Probes Terror Cases Muddied by CIA
Los Angeles Times
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Oct 20, 2007 6:45 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The FBI is probing Guantanamo Bay cases that the CIA has muddied by using torture, the Los Angeles Times reports. Up to 300 FBI agents are now interviewing Al Qaeda chiefs, including mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, seeking data that's admissable in court. Says one expert, "I think there's no surprise that they have to call in the FBI to clean...
Save Money; Buy Used
MSN
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Oct 20, 2007 6:01 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Some things, like lingerie and toothbrushes, are best purchased new. In other cases, used is just as good—and far cheaper. MSN Money gives you the lowdown: Books CDs and DVDs Little kids' toys
Dems Slam Feds for Inaction on Noose Crimes
Washington Post
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Oct 20, 2007 5:18 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Dems blasted the feds this week for not pursuing a nationwide spate of noose crimes. More than a half dozen nooses left in Maryland, Memphis, New York, and Pittsburgh have prompted no arrests, the Washington Post reports. But acting Attorney General Peter Keisler claims that the FBI and Department of Justice "are actively investigating these...
Rocky Road for Chrysler Deal
New York Times
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Oct 20, 2007 4:44 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Three UAW locals voted against the new Chrysler deal yesterday, stirring fears that the agreement may be scuttled. Two plants voted against it by 53%, and a third, in Missouri, by 66% among skilled trades and 79% among assembly line workers. They slammed a proposed 2-level pay structure and new job categories that would mean lower wages, the New York...
Giuliani: Fear Not, Conservatives
Associated Press
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Oct 20, 2007 4:06 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Conservatives at the Value Voters Summit in Washington, DC, gave Giuliani polite applause today as he admitted his moderate-to-liberal views on abortion and other issues, the AP reports. He stressed shared stands on Iraq, school choice and conservative judges, but kept mum about gay marriage. "We may not always agree," he said. "I don't...
Burma Lifts Curfew, Ban on Assembly
Associated Press
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Oct 20, 2007 3:34 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Burma is scrapping a curfew and a ban on assemblies of more than 5 people in Yangon, apparently assured that pro-democracy protests are dead. The junta also gave opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi a fresh invite for compromise talks, the AP reports. Both moves come after Bush imposed a new round of sanctions against Burma for its brutal crackdown on...
Class Reigns Supreme in Britain
Guardian (UK)
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Oct 20, 2007 2:58 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Britain’s Labour Party says a classless society can be a reality in England, but after 10 years in power, their country still feels deeply divided by class. According to a Guardian survey, 89% of Britons felt they were judged by their class, with almost half saying it counted for “a lot.” The majority considered themselves working...
WiMax Gets Green Light from UN
New York Times
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Oct 20, 2007 2:55 PM CDT
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In a huge victory for Intel, the UN’s telecommunications agency yesterday gave WiMax a thumbs up, opening the way for member nations to devote public radio space to the upstart wireless internet technology. Intel lobbied hard for the WiMax, which can sling data 40 miles at up to 70 megabits per second. Broadband connections top out around 2 megabits...
Police Question 3 Suspects in Bhutto Attack
Associated Press
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Oct 20, 2007 2:24 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Pakistani police questioned three people today in the bombing that killed at least 136 people and injured 200 more in a failed assassination attempt on Benazir Bhutto, the AP reported. Police also released a photo of a head found at the scene and believed to be a suicide bomber. Bhutto, meanwhile, announced a three-day mourning period and...
Drought-weary Georgia Wants Help From Feds
Associated Press
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Oct 20, 2007 1:37 PM CDT
(Newser) -
With water supplies dwindling because of a severe drought, Georgia's governor declared a state of emergency today and asked President Bush to declare the northern part of the state a disaster area, the AP reports. The state wants permission to skirt EPA rules governing reservoir levels to deal with the drought, which is wreaking havoc on the Southeast,...
Yahoo Marketing Chief Resigns
CNET
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Oct 20, 2007 1:24 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Yahoo's Chief Marketing Officer is moving on to greener pastures, as Cammie Dunaway will leave the company at the end of the month, News.com reports. Dunaway, named one of the top 100 marketers by Advertising Age, is the latest in a string of executive departures since founder Jerry Yang took over CEO duties following the ouster of Terry Semel.
Bundle Up — Heating Costs Rising This Winter
Washington Post
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Oct 20, 2007 1:05 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Skyrocketing crude prices are sending shivers through American homeowners, who enter winter facing the highest heating oil prices in history. The average oil-heated household will spend $1,785 to keep warm this winter, the Washington Post reports, up 22% from last year. Natural gas users will see a 10% percent increase. On the bright side, forecasters...
Religious Republicans Dig Fred
Politico
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Oct 20, 2007 12:36 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Fred Thompson's campaign is making headway with conservative Christian voters, according to new polling data reported in Politico . Thompson, whose late campaign start was much maligned by Republican insiders, trails Giuliani by 8 percentage points among all Republicans, but he leads 29% to 19% among weekly Republican churchgoers—a group that...
IEDs Pose Growing Risk on US Soil
Washington Post
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Oct 20, 2007 12:01 PM CDT
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Improvised bombs—terrorists' weapon of choice in Iraq and elsewhere—pose a growing threat on US soil, but the Bush administration has been slow to devise a strategy against them, the Washington Post reports. The Bush team will soon issue a long-overdue plan to counter the so-called IEDs, but critics say a lack of funding and training...
GM Road-Tests Hydrogen Fuel
Los Angeles Times
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Oct 20, 2007 11:29 AM CDT
(Newser) -
GM is lending vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells to drivers in LA and New York to see if the alternative technology works in the real world, the LA Times reports. In the largest such road test of its kind, GM will loan more than 100 of its expensive Chevy Equinox SUV's to drivers in exchange for feedback.
War Has Just Begun on Kids Health Care
Salon
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Oct 20, 2007 10:52 AM CDT
(Newser) -
When the vote to override President Bush's veto of a children's health insurance bill failed in the House this week, it marked a campaign watershed, Salon 's Walter Shapiro writes, predicting that it will be replayed endlessly in attack ads as congressional races heat up. The lines are drawn: Democrats will frame the issue as saving kids vs. saving...
Composer Gone Wild? Vivaldi Faces Lurid Spotlight
Times (UK)
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Oct 20, 2007 10:13 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The life of Vivaldi, the Italian composer best known for The Four Seasons and the Gloria , is music to the ears of authors and Hollywood producers. Two new books and an upcoming movie dwell on the supposedly salacious details of his 18th-century personal life, though at least one researcher thinks it's all hogwash, the Times of London reports.
In Europe, Cars Go the Way of Cigarettes
Times (UK)
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Oct 20, 2007 9:31 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Carbon health warnings for cars are coming to Europe. Under a European Parliament plan expected to be approved this week, 20% of the space in print car advertising will have to be devoted to cigarette-style warnings about vehicles' carbon emissions and fuel efficiency. The most polluting vehicles will also face penalties of up to $10,000, the Times...
Iran's Nuclear Negotiator Quits
Associated Press
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Oct 20, 2007 8:58 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Iran's chief nuclear negotiator has resigned, the Iranian government said today, in a move seen as signaling a hardening of Tehran's nuclear stance. Ali Larijani was said to be more committed to finding a diplomatic resolution to Iran's nuclear standoff with the West than Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He was replaced by Saeed Jalili,...
Video Game Maker Calls for End to Rival Gaming Systems
BBC
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Oct 20, 2007 8:27 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Electronic Arts, a leading video game manufacturer, has called on the gaming industry to set aside the incompatible gaming platforms now competing for consumer loyalty. Instead of choosing among rivals like Wii, Playstation, and Xbox, players should be able to use an "open gaming platform" for all games, EA argues. EA now produces games...
Best Memoirs About Money
CNN
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Oct 20, 2007 8:07 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Some earn money; some write about it. Some do both. CNN Money recommends these six memoirs about money: getting it, managing it, spending it, and not having enough of it: The Age of Turbulence by Alan Greenspan Reminiscences of a Stock Operator by Edwin Lefevre American Sucker by David Denby
Nippon Ham Fighter Gets Royal Summons
Kansas City Star
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Oct 20, 2007 8:00 AM CDT
(Newser) -
You can go home again if you're Trey Hillman. The longtime minor league manager in the Yankees farm system, who spent the last five years managing Hokkaido's Nippon Ham-sponsored squad in Japan's Pacific League, will be introduced on Monday in Kansas City as the new manager of the Royals.
Obama Wants Voter-Rights Official Sacked
Associated Press
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Oct 20, 2007 7:52 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Barack Obama wrote to the Justice Department asking for the dismissal of John Tanner, the head of its voting rights division, in the wake of Tanner's assertions that voter ID laws primarily hurt old white people, because "minorities don't become elderly the way white people do. They die first." Obama called the comments "erroneous, offensive...
Limbaugh Letter Brings Record $2.1M on eBay
New York Times
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Oct 20, 2007 7:19 AM CDT
(Newser) -
A letter to conservative radio show host Rush Limbaugh from 41 Democratic Senators sold yesterday on eBay for $2.1M, a record for an eBay item sold to benefit charity. The Dems who wrote the letter objected to Limbaugh labeling Iraq veterans critical of the war as "phony soldiers," the New York Times reports.
Dumbledore Is Gay: Rowling
Associated Press
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Oct 20, 2007 7:02 AM CDT
(Newser) -
"I always thought of Dumbledore as gay," J.K. Rowling confided last night to cheers from a sellout crowd in New York, reports the AP. "If I had known this would have made you this happy, I would have told you years ago," said the author of the Harry Potter series, on the outing of Harry's mentor Albus Dumbledore.
No-Email Days Slow Inbox-mania
BBC
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Oct 20, 2007 6:48 AM CDT
(Newser) -
For those of us who haven't spoken face-to-face with the guy two cubicles down in months, the BBC reports a growing trend of no-email days. Shutting down the inbox, which some workers are found to check 30-40 times hourly, is seen as a way to improve communication and decrease interruptions. An average worker sends 37 emails per day, expected to be...
Two Marines to Be Tried on Haditha Charges
BBC
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Oct 20, 2007 6:44 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Two US marines will face court martial on charges stemming from the November, 2005, killing of 24 civilians in Haditha, Iraq. One of them, Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani, is the most senior US serviceman to face court martial for actions in combat since Vietnam. Chessani is charged with dereliction of duty and failing to report and investigate the deaths,...
Hollywood Writers Vote to Strike
Los Angeles Times
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Oct 20, 2007 6:20 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Hollywood writers are headed for the picket line if they don't reach a deal with the studios by Oct. 31. Members of the film and TV writers' union voted by a 90% margin to authorize a strike if the standoff isn't resolved, the first such strike vote since 1988, the Los Angeles Times reports. At issue is the writers' belief that they are being shortchanged...
Rockies Try to Trademark 'Rocktober'
Rocky Mountain News
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Oct 20, 2007 6:03 AM CDT
(Newser) -
If the Colorado Rockies have their way, the only Christmas stockings and baby booties bearing the moniker "Rocktober" will be official Rockies merchandise. The team filed for exclusive rights to the word earlier this month after it appeared in local headlines to describe Colorado's undefeated (and to some, unexpected) playoff run, the Rocky...
Comcast Blocks P2P File-Sharing
Associated Press
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Oct 20, 2007 5:52 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Comcast is deliberately preventing its customers from using file-sharing services like BitTorrent, eDonkey, and Gnutella, the AP reports. Thecountry's second-largest Internet service provider claims that it does not block "access" to P2P apps; that may be technically true. Tests by the AP showed that while downloads were unaffected, attempts...
Penguins Weather 'Canes Threats for Shootout Win
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
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Oct 20, 2007 5:35 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The PIttsburgh Penguins skated back from deficits of 1-0 and 3-1 to force overtime in last night's game against the Carolina Hurricanes, then went three-for-three to win the shootout and the game. Backup goalie Dany Sabourin blocked 29 shots, most critically the glove save that stopped the Hurricanes from tying the shootout, reports the Post-Gazette....
UConn Rushes Through Sagging Louisville
Hartford Courant (Conn.)
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Oct 20, 2007 5:29 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The UConn Huskies broke through the lagging Louisville defense late in last night's game to beat their Big East rivals, 21-17. UConn's Andre Dixon rushed for 115 yards on 22 carries to mark the third time in four games Louisville has lost after failing to keep a running back from breaking the 100-yard mark, reports the Hartford Courant.
Johnson to Run Despite Brain Hemorrhage
Associated Press
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Oct 19, 2007 11:58 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A brain hemorrhage won't stop South Dakota Senator Tim Johnson from seeking reelection, he said yesterday. He is still in therapy and gets around in a motorized wheelchair, but claims he is ready to run. "It is clear to my family, my doctors, and me that I am able to do the hard work required of a United States senator," he said.
A Death Penalty Moratorium?
New York Times
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Oct 19, 2007 9:19 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Is there a stay on all US executions? The Supreme Court has recently granted 2 and refused to nix a third, as more inmates challenge lethal injection. “The states are getting the message,” says one expert, while another mentions “moratorium mojo” on his blog. But critics warn that it's not so simple: The Supreme Court's messages...
Torre: That's 'An Insult'!
Newsday
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Oct 19, 2007 8:14 PM CDT
(Newser) -
An emotional Joe Torre called the Yankees' one-year, $5 million offer "an insult" today. Three million dollars in incentives didn't help, he said: “I’d been there 12 years and did not feel motivation was needed." The offer was still sizable, despite a $2.5 million pay cut—"nothing to sneeze at," he admitted—"but...
More People Skipping Basics to Pay the Bills
Associated Press
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Oct 19, 2007 7:40 PM CDT
(Newser) -
More Americans are skipping breakfast and other basics just to pay the bills, the AP reports. With gas hitting highs this year and food prices up as much as 44%, even $35,000-plus wage earners are lining up for food, and food banks report acute shortages. One consultant says he hasn’t seen buyers in such straits since the recession of 2000-2001.
Bush Tightens Sanctions on Burma
Reuters
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Oct 19, 2007 7:14 PM CDT
(Newser) -
President Bush expanded sanctions against Burma today, citing the junta's ongoing "vicious persecution" of protesters. Acknowledging the limits of US influence, he called on India, China and other neighbors to put pressure on the military regime he accused of "ongoing atrocities," Reuters reports. The new sanctions include a freeze...
Airline Profits Soar on Hellish 3Q
Los Angeles Times
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Oct 19, 2007 6:29 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The worst summer in a decade for the air traveler turned into the most lucrative for the airline industry. Carriers' profits soared on overbooking that led to cramped conditions and a quarter of all flights arriving late, the LA Times reports. Consumer groups are furious. "They're making money hand over fist at the expense of passengers,"...
Martinez Quits Top RNC Post After 10 Months
Washington Post
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Oct 19, 2007 6:11 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Mel Martinez has quit as RNC general chairman after only 10 months in the post. The US Senator from Florida, a Cuban refugee, publicly split with GOP hardliners over immigration reform. Martinez was also left to explain why the party’s presidential hopefuls were no-shows at a bilingual forum, the Washington Post reports.
USAF Officers Take Rap for Missing Nukes
CNN
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Oct 19, 2007 5:50 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Nearly 2 months after a B-52 loaded with nuclear warheads took an unauthorized flight from North Dakota to Louisiana, the Air Force has relieved four officers of duty, CNN reports. After a 6-week investigation, 70 airmen will be disciplined for what the Air Force secretary called an "unacceptable mistake and a clear deviation from our exacting...
Cecilia Chats About the End of Her Marriage
New York Times
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Oct 19, 2007 5:36 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Cecilia Sarkozy told L'Est Republicain today that although she had "tried everything" to avoid divorce, her relationship with the French president wouldn't work. "France elected a man, not a couple," she said. Mme. Sarkozy confessed for the first time publicly that she fell in love with another man in 2005; when she went off to...
FDA Advisers Reject Cold Meds for Kids
Associated Press
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Oct 19, 2007 5:17 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Over-the-counter cold medicines are dangerous for children under 6 and should not be used, a panel of health advisers reported to the FDA today. Many popular medicines, including Dimetapp, Triaminic, and Pediacare, have never been sufficiently tested on children under 12, the committee concluded. “The data that we have now is they don’t...
