Newser Story Index from December, 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.
Video Spoofs Jews on Christmas
Baltimore Sun
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Dec 18, 2007 11:20 AM CST
(Newser) -
A band teacher at a Baltimore yeshiva is the latest YouTube celebrity thanks to his holiday spoof on the Jewish dilemma of what to do on Christmas. His video, "Chinese Food on Christmas," in which a rock band of faux Hasidic Jews jams for fellow members of the tribe at a Chinese restaurant, has drawn over 500,000 hits, the Baltimore Sun...
Sun Exposure May Reduce Risk of Lung Cancer
Telegraph (UK)
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Dec 18, 2007 10:50 AM CST
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Lack of exposure to sunlight may increase the risk of lung cancer, a study of 111 countries shows. Smoking is the risk factor most closely associated with the disease, accounting for as many as 85% of cases, but limited access to UV rays is second, the Telegraph reports. Vitamin D, which is generated by exposure to the sun, can slow or even halt...
Nov. Housing Starts Fall 3.7%
Bloomberg
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Dec 18, 2007 10:30 AM CST
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Housing starts fell less than expected in November, but fall they did, extending the worst housing slump since 1991. Starts fell 3.7% and, according to one analyst, probably won’t turn around until the third quarter of next year. Permits issued, which give a picture of future construction, fell to a 14-year low, Bloomberg reports.
Intel Rolls Out Minuscule Flash Drive
MIT Technology Review
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Dec 18, 2007 10:30 AM CST
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Intel has unveiled a new flash-memory hard drive smaller than a fingertip and lighter than a drop of water; the 2- or 4-gig Z-P140 is a play to compete with Samsung in storage technology for handheld devices. Conventional magnetic hard drives aren’t small, rugged, or efficient enough to power smartphones, but the new drive could eventually bring...
Surging McCain Hopes History Repeats in NH
New York Times
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Dec 18, 2007 10:10 AM CST
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John McCain, whose candidacy barely registered in polls a few months ago, is enjoying a momentum surge in New Hampshire. “I am obviously going to try to capitalize” on three key newspaper endorsements and Joe Lieberman’s support, McCain said. He's seeking the same independents who gave him the 2000 primary win, the New York Times...
2007's Weirdest at-Work Hijinks
CNN
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Dec 18, 2007 9:50 AM CST
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Not everyone burns down the office in retaliation over a lost stapler, a la Office Space's Milton, but some pretty strange stuff goes on at work. The weirdest occurrences of 2007, according to CNN: Worker eats 32 vending-machine items to win bet with co-workers (and $300 for charity). Pepsi worker attacks Coke worker in scuffle over...
Goldman Earnings Hit Record
Bloomberg
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Dec 18, 2007 9:25 AM CST
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Still sitting pretty above the subprime fray, Goldman Sachs trumped estimates today and reported a 2% jump in profits in the fourth quarter, breaking the annual profit record for the fourth straight year. Goldman shorted subprime mortgages, profiting from the disaster that sank competitors, and in the quarter actually boosted its revenue from mortgage...
Metropolitan Museum Scores Arbus Archive
New York Times
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Dec 18, 2007 9:10 AM CST
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Two years after New York's Metropolitan Museum mounted a landmark Diane Arbus retrospective, the photographer's daughters have donated her complete archives to the museum, reports the New York Times . The gift includes 7,500 rolls of film, hundreds of early photographs, and print sleeves Arbus annotated by hand before she committed suicide in 1971.
Fed Plans to Tighten Mortgage Lending Rules
Associated Press
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Dec 18, 2007 8:49 AM CST
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Stricter rules will face mortgage lenders if a Federal Reserve proposal unveiled today moves forward. The Fed wants to prohibit or limit prepayment penalties, force lenders to make sure borrowers set aside money for taxes and insurance, require lenders to verify income, and prohibit lenders from giving borrowers unaffordable loans, the AP reports.
Writers' Strike Hits Oscars, Golden Globes
Associated Press
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Dec 18, 2007 8:31 AM CST
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Two of Hollywood's glitziest shows will have to go on without striking writers, reports the AP, as the WGA yesterday denied waivers to the producers of the Golden Globes and the Oscars. The move means the shows will be scriptless, must pay residuals to screen old movie or TV clips, and will be boycotted by writers and actors sympathetic to their cause....
Tymoshenko Elected Ukraine PM
Reuters
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Dec 18, 2007 8:06 AM CST
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Ukraine's parliament elected Orange Revolution leader Yulia Tymoshenko as prime minister today. The pro-Western leader and fiery orator won 226 votes, the exact number needed to take office, after coming up one vote short last week, Reuters reports. Tymoshenko promises to try to open Ukraine to the West and wants to see her country join the EU and...
World Bank Cuts China's Economy Down to Size
BBC
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Dec 18, 2007 7:44 AM CST
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China's economy, predicted to become the world’s largest by 2012, actually is 40% smaller than previously estimated, the World Bank concludes, after updating the way it calculates GDP. Although China’s $5.33-trillion economy is still the second largest in the world behind the $12-trillion US, the new appraisal suggests it won't be taking...
Israeli Airstrikes Kill 13 in Gaza
Reuters
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Dec 18, 2007 7:17 AM CST
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Israeli airstrikes rained down on Gaza militants today, killing at least 13 in a series of separate attacks, Reuters reports. It was the country’s most intense offensive in months, a response to the frequent but largely ineffectual rocket attacks lobbed across the border. In response, militants threatened a round of suicide bombings, something...
FCC Angers All Sides With New Media Rules
Wall Street Journal
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Dec 18, 2007 7:05 AM CST
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The FCC is set to push through new rules on media ownership today, to the consternation of everyone from telecoms to free-speech advocates, writes the Wall Street Journal . The commission will introduce two new regulations: one will allow media companies to buy both newspapers and television stations in the top 20 markets, and the other will limit...
Brazil's Kaka Tops in Soccer
BBC
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Dec 18, 2007 6:49 AM CST
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Brazilian soccer sensation Kaka is FIFA's World Player of the Year, the eighth time since 1991 a Brazilian player has claimed the honor. The 25-year-old midfielder led AC Milan to the title in the Champions league this year with 10 goals, the BBC reports. "It's really special for me—it was a dream for me just to play for Sao Paulo and one...
Sharif Loses Battle to Run in Pakistan Race
Associated Press
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Dec 18, 2007 6:28 AM CST
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Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has lost his appeal to contest his rejection from parliamentary elections in Pakistan, eliminating one of the main opposition leaders from next month's vote. The election commission upheld the decision to bar Sharif from running, although no details were provided. Sharif's Muslim League had originally called...
Turkish Troops Cross Into Iraq
Reuters
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Dec 18, 2007 6:14 AM CST
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Turkey sent hundreds of troops across the Iraqi border today to battle Kurdish separatists, the first large-scale ground incursion since tensions rose in the fall, Reuters reports. About 300 lightly armed troops arrived in a semi-autonomous mountainous region, Iraqi officials said. Ankara had no immediate comment on the operation, which follows a series...
CS3 Takes Adobe to Record Revenue
Wall Street Journal
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Dec 18, 2007 5:52 AM CST
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Graphic-software manufacturer Adobe Systems topped analysts’ expectations, yesterday announcing record quarterly revenue on the strength of its Acrobat and Creative Suite 3 sales. Adobe said fourth-quarter net income was up 21% on record revenue of $911.2 million, a 34% increase from a year ago, reports the Wall Street Journal. Earnings per...
Japan Shoots Down Dummy US Missile
BBC
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Dec 18, 2007 5:45 AM CST
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A Japanese warship off Hawaii has shot down a US-made mock ballistic missile in flight over the Pacific Ocean, the BBC reports. The test, using a US-developed intercept missile, was the first of its kind by an American ally. Japan and the US stepped up their missile defense cooperation after North Korea test-fired a long-range missile over Japan in...
Severe Psoriasis Linked to Early Death
WebMD
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Dec 18, 2007 5:31 AM CST
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People suffering from severe psoriasis face a significantly increased risk of early death, according to new research. Those with a severe form of the inflammatory skin disease had a 50% increased risk of mortality compared with people without the disease, according to the study in the Archives of Dermatology . "More years of life are lost to...
'07 a Deadly Year for Journalists
Associated Press
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Dec 18, 2007 5:20 AM CST
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This year has been the deadliest for journalists in more than a decade, reports AP. A media watchdog group said yesterday that 64 journalists in 17 countries have died while covering the news. Most of the deaths—31—occurred in Iraq, which leads the list for the fifth year. "Working as a journalist in Iraq remains one of the most...
Fidel Hints He's Ready to Retire
Reuters
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Dec 18, 2007 5:01 AM CST
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Ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro has clearly hinted at retirement for the first time since he fell ill 16 months ago, Reuters reports. He handed over power to his brother Raul last year on a temporary basis. "My elemental duty is not to hold on to positions and less to obstruct the path of younger people," Castro said in a letter read on...
Rice Pops Up in Iraq to Plead for Peace
Reuters
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Dec 18, 2007 4:49 AM CST
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Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Iraq for a surprise visit today to plead for increased efforts at reconciliation, Reuters reports. She flew into the ethnically mixed northern city of Kirkuk—which some expect to be the next flashpoint for violence. The city's Kurds, Arabs, and Turkmen are deeply divided, and fears of fighting have...
Mammoth Spending Bill Passes House
Washington Post
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Dec 18, 2007 4:37 AM CST
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After months of wrangling over details, the House has passed a huge $515.7 billion domestic spending bill, the Washington Post reports. Lawmakers finally managed to hammer out a compromise that makes just about nobody happy. Conservatives and interest groups of all sides blasted the bill, and even Democrats could summon only mild enthusiasm at best.
Vikings Burst Past Bears
Minneapolis Star Tribune
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Dec 18, 2007 4:23 AM CST
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The Vikings came back from 10 behind last night to lock up a 20-13 triumph over the Bears and tally their fifth consecutive victory. This improbable streak for Minnesota, nearly marred by quarterback Tavaris Jackson's four turnovers, places them in contention for the NFC wild-card slot. Adrian Peterson's resurgence in the second half made the difference,...
Avalanche too Much for Struggling Kings
Associated Press
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Dec 18, 2007 4:10 AM CST
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The Los Angeles Kings couldn't climb back from a 3-0 first-period deficit, as the Avalanche focused on defense and surged to win 4-2. With Colorado's first two goals coming a minute apart against just-returned Jason LaBarbera, and with the Avalanche effectively protecting goalie Peter Budaj, Los Angeles never had a chance, AP reports.
Princeton Student Faked Own Beating
The Daily Princetonian
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Dec 18, 2007 4:07 AM CST
(Newser) -
A Princeton student who claimed his views on morality and membership in a conservative organization triggered death threats against him and a beating has confessed that the threats and attack were self-delivered, the Daily Princetonian reports. Four others on campus, including a prominent conservative professor, were also threatened as part of the...
NASA Finds 'Death Star' Galaxy
Space.com
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Dec 18, 2007 4:02 AM CST
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NASA astronomers have discovered a "death star galaxy" with a super massive black hole that is blasting a neighboring galaxy with deadly radiation. It's the first time scientists have witnessed such a phenomenon. The hungry black hole has been zapping a galaxy 20,000 light years away for about a million years, reports Space.com.
Mavs Hand Magic Another Loss—Barely
Orlando Sentinel
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Dec 18, 2007 3:54 AM CST
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The Mavericks held on to a slim lead through most of last night's contest with the Magic, capitalizing on Orlando's sudden inability to hit three-pointers to prevail 111-108. Dirk Nowitzki notched 31 points and 11 boards for Dallas, while Hedo Turkoglu led the Magic with 26 points, the Orlando Sentinel reports. Meanwhile, in Portland:
Gutsy Cons Bust Out, Leave Thank-You Note for Guard
Star-Ledger
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Dec 18, 2007 3:30 AM CST
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One of two prisoners who staged a Hollywood-style escape from a New Jersey jail left behind a thank-you note to a prison guard, the Newark Star-Ledger reports. "Thank you officer for the tools needed. You're a real pal! Happy holidays," it said. The jailbirds chipped away cinder blocks and jumped 30 feet over razor wire to freedom.
Democrats Withdraw Spy Bill
Washington Post
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Dec 18, 2007 3:20 AM CST
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Legislation that would have granted retroactive immunity for phone companies that cooperated in the National Security Agency's warrantless surveillance program was abruptly withdrawn by Senate majority leader Harry Reid late yesterday. The legislation, favored by the White House, had deeply divided Democrats. Reid said the Senate would deal with the...
Suns Hand Spurs 1st Home Loss
Arizona Republic (Phoenix)
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Dec 18, 2007 12:46 AM CST
(Newser) -
Grant Hill, that guy with the numerous ankle surgeries, is finding new life in Phoenix, or more specifically, San Antonio tonight. as the Suns won there 100-95, dropping the Spurs to 13-1 at home this season. Hill led his team with 22 points as it avenged last year's loss in the Western Conference playoffs. Leandro Barbosa added 18 for Phoenix.
No. 6 Duke Blows Out Albany 111-70
Associated Press
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Dec 18, 2007 12:39 AM CST
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No. 6 Duke used excellent three-point shooting to defeat Albany 111-70. The Blue Devils shot 15-of-26 from beyond the arc and shot 60 percent from the field. Senior DeMarcus Nelson led a Duke attack that saw five players score in double figures with 23 points. Tim Ambrose scored a career high 24 points for the Great Danes, reports the AP. Elsewhere...
Warriors Outgun Grizzlies
Associated Press
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Dec 17, 2007 11:34 PM CST
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Golden State had six players in double figures scoring and defeated Memphis 125-117, despite slowing on defense in the fourth quarter, allowing 40 points. Stephen Jackson was tops for the Warriors with 28 points and 12 rebounds while Baron Davis added 22 and eight assists, reports the AP. The guys from the Bay Area broke a three-game road losing...
Ovechkin Good, But Not Enough, in Detroit Debut
Canada.com
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Dec 17, 2007 11:12 PM CST
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Alexander Ovechkin's first game in Detroit kept him in the running for leading goal-scorer, but it was fellow Russian Pavel Datsyuk who took over the game with three assists and a decisive goal in the shootout. Tomas Holmstrom capitalized on two of Datsyuk's masterful dimes, although he also inadvertently banked in one for Washington's Jeff Schulz.
Hapless Knicks Fall to Pacers
New York Times
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Dec 17, 2007 11:00 PM CST
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Dreadful play and lack of hustle have come to define the New York Knick’s season thus far; tonight’s 119-92 loss to the Indiana Pacers was no different. The game was knotted at 64 midway through the third quarter but then Indiana, and Mike Dunleavy, took off. Dunleavy scored 22 of his career-high 36 in that period, reports the AP.
Data Digger Arms Pols With Dirt on Voters
Vanity Fair
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Dec 17, 2007 11:00 PM CST
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Political data miner Aristotle Inc has worked for every president since Reagan, 200 House candidates last year, and several current presidential hopefuls. Now the firm’s founder is debuting technology that breaks ground in accessing private information—revealing voters’ income, house value, conviction history, and even online behavior....
LeBron, Cavs Outlast Bucks in Double OT
Associated Press
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Dec 17, 2007 10:40 PM CST
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In a battle of two teams struggling to keep up in the standings, Cleveland's big man, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, outplayed his counterpart for Milwaukee and the Cavs defeated visiting Milwaukee in double-overtime. That other guy for Cleveland, LeBron James, scored 31 points while playing nearly the entire game, reports the AP. Bucks star guard Michael Redd...
Atlanta Breaks Utah Chokehold
Salt Lake Tribune
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Dec 17, 2007 10:34 PM CST
(Newser) -
The Hawks beat the Jazz for the first time in five years and ten games, despite Carlos Boozer's bruising 39 points and 12 rebounds. Utah continued its woeful play on the road, dropping its sixth straight to fall to 5-10 outside Salt Lake City limits. The Jazz were particularly inept at the charity stripe, shooting 29 of 42.
Couple Guilty of Keeping Slaves
Newsday
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Dec 17, 2007 10:31 PM CST
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Pandemonium reigned in a Long Island federal court today as verdicts in a sensational slavery case were being read. The jury found a wealthy Indian couple, Varsha Sabhnani, 46, and her husband Mahender, 51, guilty on 12 counts, including forced labor, debt servitude and harboring illegal immigrants for mistreating two Indonesian house maids. ...
D-Wade, Heat Sneak Past Timberwolves
Associated Press
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Dec 17, 2007 10:24 PM CST
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The Miami Heat won the match-up of the two worst teams in their respective conferences, beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 91-87. The 2006 NBA champs came into the game at 6-17, including a miserable 2-8 mark at home, which was still significantly better than a woeful Minnesota club that fell to 3-20 with the loss, according to the AP.
Leopard Leaps to Record
Apple Insider
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Dec 17, 2007 9:56 PM CST
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The NPD market research group says that the lates version of the operating system, Leopard, is Apple's most successful yet, reports Apple Insider. In its first month on the shelves, sales were 20% higher than last year's Tiger release, despite promotion being stepped down a little. Tiger sold 30% more than the year before's Panther, which outsold...
Men Suspected of Carjacking Williams Caught
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Dec 17, 2007 9:50 PM CST
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The two men believed to be responsible for stealing the car of the Atlanta Hawk’s Shelden Williams on Saturday are being charged with armed robbery. The 18-year-olds were arrested later Saturday at an Atlanta-area mall while attempting to rob someone else. Williams’ car was stolen outside his barbershop shortly before Atlanta game against...
'Roids Cloud May Cancel Clemens Speech
Houston Chronicle
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Dec 17, 2007 7:58 PM CST
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Steroid accusations may cost Roger Clemens the chance to speak at a Texas convention next month, the Houston Chronicle reports. "I don't want to rush to judgment," but the report "casts a dark cloud above him," said the head of a state coaches group that had invited him. Execs will talk to Clemens before making a decision tomorrow,...
WH Told to Reveal Visitor List
Associated Press
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Dec 17, 2007 7:36 PM CST
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Who stops by the White House or Dick Cheney's place is a matter of public record, a district court judge ruled today, blocking the Bush administration's attempts to keep visitor logs sealed. Liberal watchdogs had argued the information is covered by the Freedom of Information Act, while President Bush had ordered the records turned over to the White...
Iowa First Lady Backs Edwards
Des Moines Register
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Dec 17, 2007 7:05 PM CST
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Iowa’s first lady backed John Edwards today but said her husband would steer clear of endorsements, the Des Moines Register reports. "I'm my own person," said Mari Culver, wife of Gov. Chet Culver. "I have my own political interests." Tom Vilsack similarly stayed above the fray in 2004, but his wife, Christie, endorsed John...
Iran Still Sliding Iraq Arms: US
Wall Street Journal
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Dec 17, 2007 6:41 PM CST
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Stability in Iraq may be increasing, but the flow of arms and insurgents across its border with Iran has slowed little, reports the Wall Street Journal. A Pentagon report, to be presented to Congress tomorrow, will frame Iraq's overall security in a positive light, but again call into question how much credit Iran deserves—even as the White...
Debut of New Goldman Hedge Fund May Break Record at $10B
Bloomberg
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Dec 17, 2007 5:55 PM CST
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Goldman Sachs will launch a new stock hedge fund next month with as much as $10 billion, making it the biggest hedge fund debut in industry history, Bloomberg reports, and Goldman's first in-house fund of its kind. The fund, Goldman Sachs Investment Partners, will be run by two Goldman department heads, with a staff of 40 from the proprietary equity...
Researchers Find New Breast Cancer Marker
Chicago Tribune
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Dec 17, 2007 5:19 PM CST
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Tens of thousands of women may avoid unnecessary treatment for breast cancer in the future, thanks to the discovery of a means to predict which precancerous breast tumors will become cancerous, the Chicago Tribune reports. Researchers found molecular markers that can be used to identify—out of 50,000 women diagnosed with precancerous tumors...
Global Food Prices Soar
Financial Times (UK)
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Dec 17, 2007 4:44 PM CST
(Newser) -
Expect another surge in the cost of breakfast cereal: The benchmark price for wheat rose above $10 a bushel for the first time today, further fueling the inflation in global food costs that kicked in last summer. Benchmark prices for rice futures also hit a new high, and corn and soybeans hit 11- and 34-year peaks, respectively, the Financial Times...
