Newser Story Index from July, 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.
Aquafina Is Tap Water
Reuters
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Jul 27, 2007 11:18 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Pepsi has agreed to reveal the source of its Aquafina brand of bottled water on the label: the tap. In response to a backlash against the bottled water industry, the company will add the words "public water source" to each bottle, Reuters reports. Like Coke's Dasani, Aquafina is a purified water from public reservoirs.
Reefer Madness: Marijuana Ups Psychosis Risk
Reuters
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Jul 27, 2007 10:46 AM CDT
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Smoking pot increases your risk of developing schizophrenia and other forms of psychotic illness later in life, according to a new study. Partakers had a 41% higher chance of developing psychosis with hallucinations or delusions—a risk that only increased with heavy use. The findings may push the UK to crack down on penalties for the drug.
Rent-a-Yanks Push Goodwill Abroad
Der Spiegel
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Jul 27, 2007 10:03 AM CDT
(Newser) -
American exchange students in Germany are so bombarded with broadsides against the US government and lifestyle that one university has started a program called "Rent an American." Yanks visit German schools to answer questions about the Bush administration, climate change, and the death penalty, all in an effort to help parry anti-American...
Ice Packs Helped Prompt TSA Bulletin
ABC News
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Jul 27, 2007 9:46 AM CDT
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This week's TSA bulletin warning of a possible attempt to penetrate security checkpoints with "peculiar items" was caused in part by an incident involving a 66-year-old woman and the ice packs she uses on her bad back. The clay-filled, tape-wrapped packages ignited hazmat suspicions, though their owner says she's been traveling with them...
Iraqis Play With Heavy Hearts
AFP
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Jul 27, 2007 9:44 AM CDT
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An undertrained, cobbled-together Iraq squad upset favored South Korea in Wednesday's Asian Cup semifinals, and the Iraqis now head into Sunday's final bearing a heavy burden: Car bombs exploded in crowds of fans celebrating in Baghdad, killing at least 50. Iraq's coach, who is Brazilian, dedicated the win to "the people of Iraq because they deserve...
13 Dead in Red Mosque Blast
Associated Press
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Jul 27, 2007 8:57 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Thirteen people were killed today by a bomb that rocked a hotel near the Pakistan's Red Mosque after Islamist students occupied the shrine—again—demanding the release of the mosque's pro-Taliban cleric. Workers had just finished repainting the mosque, in the wake of the bloody siege that ended in more than 100 deaths, the BBC reports.
'My God, We Need Help,' Mom Pleads in Lohan 911 Call
Los Angeles Times
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Jul 27, 2007 8:08 AM CDT
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A mother being tailed through the streets of Santa Monica by a mystery SUV was close to panic when she phoned police for help, according to a 911 tape of the call. Turned out her stalker was actress Lindsay Lohan; the call led to Lohan's latest arrest. "Oh my God, sir, they're following us. We need help," the woman told police.
Wake Forest Hoops Coach Dead at 56
News & Observer (Raleigh)
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Jul 27, 2007 7:55 AM CDT
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Wake Forest basketball coach Skip Prosser, who led the Demon Deacons to their only top national ranking, died in his office yesterday after apparently suffering a heart attack. The 56-year-old collapsed and couldn't be resuscitated, the News and Observer reports. Praise flowed for the witty, literate Prosser, beloved for his role as a teacher as...
Mmm . . .Good Reviews
Rotten Tomatoes
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Jul 27, 2007 7:55 AM CDT
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Critics are overwhelmingly pleased by The Simpsons Movie , even if they agree it doesn't push the envelope further than usual. By all accounts, rapid-fire sight gags and one-liners keep diehards and casual fans alike in giggles. Even naysayers, like the LA Times, don't argue it's not funny, just that it doesn't go far enough: "It doesn't take...
Asian Stocks Take a Dive
AFP
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Jul 27, 2007 7:52 AM CDT
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Share prices plummeted throughout Asia today in response to the yesterday's sell-off on Wall Street and the escalating crisis in the US housing market. After the 300-point plunge in the U.S., the Tokyo Market closed at a three-month-low, and markets in Seoul, Hong Kong, and Sydney also took serious hits. The market in Shanghai escaped relatively...
Captive Pleads for Rescue From Taliban
BBC
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Jul 27, 2007 6:51 AM CDT
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A South Korean woman pleaded to be rescued with her fellow hostages yesterday, saying all of church volunteers being held captive by the Taliban are sick and the situation is growing worse. Her captors listened to her conversation with an Afghan reporter, the BBC reports; the 32-year-old nurse wept as she spoke in Korean and Farsi, according to the...
'Midget-Man' Costas Unfazed by Bonds' Dig
Associated Press
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Jul 27, 2007 6:51 AM CDT
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Broadcaster Bob Costas insists he's not insulted that slugger Barry Bonds called him "a little midget man who knows [nothing] about baseball," AP reports. The dig came after an installment of HBO's "Costas Now," in which the broadcaster weighed in on Bonds' reputed steroid use. "I'm 5-foot-6½ and a strapping 150, and...
Credit Crunch Rocks LBOs
Wall Street Journal
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Jul 27, 2007 6:27 AM CDT
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Leveraged buyouts, which have fueled Wall Street booms with offers of huge premiums on shares of target companies, are sputtering to a halt, the Wall Street Journal reports. Private equity firms, which just weeks ago were predicting acquisitions worth $100 billion and more, are now finding large-scale borrowing too expensive to make deals worthwhile.
Time To Roll It Up, Tour Critics Charge
Associated Press
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Jul 27, 2007 6:26 AM CDT
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The Tour de France limped along yesterday under a growing storm of criticism and calls that the event be halted. Three top riders were booted in 30 hours this week in a growing doping scandal. Even the performance by the race's new leader, Spain's Alberto Contador, was called "very suspicious" by a rival team manager.
Saudi King Backs Iraq's Sunni Rebels
New York Times
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Jul 27, 2007 6:23 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Saudi Arabia is working at cross purposes with the Bush administration in Iraq by backing Sunni tribes engaged in sectarian violence there, the New York Times reports. King Abdullah has funded the Sunnis and is allowing insurgents to enter the country, US officials charge. Of up to 80 foreign fighters who enter Iraq monthly, they estimate, nearly...
3 Dead in Space Center Blast
Associated Press
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Jul 27, 2007 5:42 AM CDT
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A third person has died from injuries suffered in an explosion at a Mojave Desert airport where part of billionaire Richard Branson's private space program is being developed, AP reports. The blast occurred during testing of a nitrous oxide propellant system for a space tourism vehicle. Three people were hospitalized, two of them with critical injuries.
For A-Rod, 499 May Be 500
CBS News
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Jul 27, 2007 5:18 AM CDT
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Yankee slugger Alex Rodriguez may have to re-label his memorabilia: homerun-ball 499 may turn out to be number 500. The Yankees resume their June 28 suspended game with Baltimore tomorrow, and if A-Rod smashes one before the day is out, it will be retroactively booked as homerun 493, promoting Wednesday's blast to number 500.
FBI Chief's Testimony Contradicts Gonzales
Washington Post
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Jul 27, 2007 5:14 AM CDT
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Pressure mounted on Alberto Gonzales yesterday as FBI director Robert Mueller directly contradicted the attorney general in testimony before the House Judiciary Committee. Mueller and Gonzales gave dramatically different accounts about whether the Justice department's secret eavesdropping program was the subject of the now-legendary nighttime...
Aussies Drop Terror Charge Against Doc
Reuters
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Jul 27, 2007 4:48 AM CDT
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The Australian government today dropped a terrorism charge against an Indian doctor who had been linked to a series of attempted car bomb attacks in Britain. The top prosecutor said the charges against Mohammed Haneef, 27, had been withdrawn because there "was no reasonable prospect of conviction."
Vick's Plea: Not Guilty
ESPN
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Jul 27, 2007 4:44 AM CDT
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In a speedy preliminary hearing, as befitted one of the fastest-working judges in the US, Michael Vick pleaded not guilty to all dogfighting conspiracy charges leveled against him by the feds. The trial in Richmond, Virginia, was set for Nov. 26, at which point, Vick learned, he would probably be facing additional charges on top of the present ones.
Mojave Spaceport Blast Kills 2
Associated Press
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Jul 26, 2007 10:24 PM CDT
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An explosion killed at least two people at a remote desert plant attempting to develop billionaire Richard Branson's space tourism program. The blast at Mojave Air and Space Port was in part of the facility where SpaceShipTwo is being built for Virgin Galactic—to be used for $200,000 trips into Space.
On Tort Reform, It's Thompson vs. Thompson
Washington Post
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Jul 26, 2007 6:41 PM CDT
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He's known for being tough on crime. But as a GOP senator, Fred Thompson voted against legislation to shrink attorney fees and limit malpractice payouts, repeatedly clashing with his own party. Thompson, a probable Republican presidential candidate, previously worked as a trial lawyer himself, and once even argued against government regulation of drug...
So Many Candidates, So Little Electability
Salon
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Jul 26, 2007 6:22 PM CDT
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Republican voters choose “none of the above” over every announced primary candidate, and their distaste for the GOP field is no surprise, says Salon’s Thomas F. Schaller. Not only is there no heir apparent to Bush—a dubious honor anyway—but each Republican is carrying a critical flaw.
Astronauts Drunk on the Job: Panel
Aviation Week
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Jul 26, 2007 5:53 PM CDT
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NASA astronauts were permitted to fly while intoxicated on at least two occasions, an independent review has found. A aerospace trade journal published the findings on its website, revealing that astronauts engaged in "heavy use of alcohol" within the prohibited 12-hour "bottle to throttle" time before launch.
African Villagers Sold on the Simpsons
BBC
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Jul 26, 2007 5:25 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Villagers in a remote Kenyan village are thrilled about tomorrow’s premiere of The Simpsons movie, but not because it’s playing in a theater near them. Most, in fact, have never even seen the TV show. But their soapstone busts of the cartoon characters have been declared official Simpsons merchandise, and business is booming, the BBC...
Toyota Tests Plug-In Hybrids
San Francisco Chronicle
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Jul 26, 2007 5:20 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Toyota will provide two experimental plug-in electric hybrid cars to the University of California for road testing, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The new vehicles can travel 100 miles on a single gallon of gas after a boost from a rechargeable battery that plugs in to a standard 110-volt current.
Gates Apologizes to Hillary
Associated Press
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Jul 26, 2007 5:12 PM CDT
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Hillary shouldn't have been called a traitor, Robert Gates wrote yesterday in a letter apologizing for a deputy's refusal to share Iraq withdrawal plans with members of the Senate Armed Services Committee. The deputy had charged that the divulging the information could “reinforce enemy propaganda.”
Parole Chief: Right Decision Made on Killers
Hartford Courant (Conn.)
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Jul 26, 2007 4:55 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A Connecticut parole chief is under fire for releasing a burglar who’s now suspected of kidnapping and raping two sisters before murdering them, along with their mother. But Robert Farr is standing by his decision, claiming the board was missing facts at the time of the parole—and its decision might have been different otherwise.
FBI Pays Out $101M in Mob Suit
Boston Globe
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Jul 26, 2007 4:54 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A federal judge ordered the government to pay $101.7M after the FBI withheld evidence related to a 1965 murder in Boston that sent four men to prison for three decades. "This case is about intentional misconduct, suborning of perjury" and "the framing of innocent men," said the judge today at the close of the 22-day trial.
Iraq Refugees Spark Crisis for Neighbors
BBC
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Jul 26, 2007 4:08 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Over 2 million Iraqis have fled their war-torn homeland, with 50,000 more leaving each month for neighboring countries—primarily Jordan and Syria. A UN official is terming the exodus a "humanitarian crisis," and the organization is calling for extra funding to cover medical supplies and shelter for the refugees.
Dow Tumbles Over 300 Points
Wall Street Journal
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Jul 26, 2007 3:27 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The Dow Jones lost 2.25% of its value today, after continuing subprime concerns, poorer-than-expected housing numbers, and a dearth of positive earnings reports scared traders off from recent rallies. The index was down 311.50 to 13473.57, though at one point its losses surpassed its worst close this year, at over 415 points.
Raul Castro Assumes Spotlight
Miami Herald
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Jul 26, 2007 3:25 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Fidel Castro did not give his usual sermon at Cuba's annual Revolution Day celebration today; instead, his brother Raul took center stage. The no-longer-quite-so-interim leader, who assumed power a year ago because of his brother's health problems, told a cheering crowd that he's willing to negotiate with the US after the Bush administration leaves...
Citizens Book Tickets to Moon
Christian Science Monitor
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Jul 26, 2007 3:03 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A citizen spaceflight company has two passengers willing to pay $100 million each for a flight around the moon. Tickets aboard Virgin’s future suborbital flights are flying out the door. The civilian aeronautics industry finds itself better funded every day, as would-be astronauts and backers alike are rushing to get on board, the Christian...
Senate Sends Rove Subpoena
Associated Press
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Jul 26, 2007 2:24 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The Senate Judiciary Committee subpoenaed presidential strategist Karl Rove today, over his role in the 2006 US attorney firings. Chairman Patrick Leahy said he’d “exhausted every avenue seeking the voluntary cooperation" of Bush's Brain, and was left no option but to force him to appear.
Birth Control Prices at US Colleges Skyrocket
Wall Street Journal
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Jul 26, 2007 1:49 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Many college students may no longer be able to afford birth control come September, thanks to a 2006 bill that discourages drug companies from offering schools deep discounts on contraceptives. The change went into effect this year, but students will feel the crunch only now, as health centers that stocked up on cheap birth control run out, the Journal...
General Faces Demotion in Tillman Probe
CNN
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Jul 26, 2007 1:15 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A retired three-star general who allegedly misled investigators about the death of former NFL player Pat Tillman in Afghanistan could be stripped of his stars and part of his pension, Pentagon officials told CNN. Retired Lt. Gen. Phillip Kensinger told inspectors he didn't know the Green Beret was killed by friendly fire, a statement an army probe...
Post-9/11 Hero Dog Loses Cancer Fight
Associated Press
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Jul 26, 2007 12:40 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A black Lab who gained national attention with his rescue work at the World Trade Center site and later searched for Hurricane Katrina survivors has died. Jake, who lived in Utah, was 12 years old and suffering from cancer. Abandoned as a puppy with a broken leg, Jake helped train other rescue dogs and did therapy work with burn victims.
Sarko Cuts Nuke Deal With Gaddafi
Der Spiegel
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Jul 26, 2007 12:06 PM CDT
(Newser) -
French president Nicolas Sarkozy met with reformed outcast Muammar al-Gaddafi today, just one day after Libya released five Bulgarian nurses and one doctor in an effort to shed the country's rogue image. Sarkozy clinched a number of ventures with the newly open economy, including a deal to build a nuclear plant on Libyan soil, Der Spiegel reports.
Ford Turns 1st Quarterly Profit in 2 Years
Bloomberg
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Jul 26, 2007 11:48 AM CDT
(Newser) -
In a surprise turnaround, Ford reported a $750 million quarterly profit today, ending seven quarters in the red by declaring earnings of 31 cents per share. Excluding profits related to the sale of Aston Martin and job cuts, the figure was 13 cents per share ($258 million), Bloomberg reports. Ford stock lost 17 cents a share in 2Q 2006.
Turmoil Claims McCain's Media Team
Wall Street Journal
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Jul 26, 2007 11:11 AM CDT
(Newser) -
In the latest defections from John McCain's faltering campaign, his two-man media team has resigned. The ad-making duo, who are veterans of President Bush's campaigns, told friends they hadn't been paid and had no idea when they would be, the Journal reports. McCain planned to begin running ads this fall, and the resignations constitute a setback.
Celebs Turning Rehab Into Joke: Experts
Reuters
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Jul 26, 2007 10:29 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The debauched lifestyles of celebrities like Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears are turning substance-abuse rehab into a punch line, making light of a process that helps thousands of people each year, say experts. Lohan was arrested on suspicion of DUI this week just days after finishing rehab; in February, Spears checked into rehab three times—in...
Korean Envoy Presses to Save Remaining Hostages
Associated Press
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Jul 26, 2007 9:50 AM CDT
(Newser) -
A day after militants shot and killed a hostage, a high-level South Korean envoy is rushing to Afghanistan today to try to save the lives of the 22 remaining hostages held by the Taliban. South Korean and Afghan officials insist they won't use force to free the captives, though the kidnappers are said to have conflicting demands.
Shop 'Til You Drop—At Store Sleepover
AFP
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Jul 26, 2007 9:14 AM CDT
(Newser) -
In a quirky corporate experiment, Swedish shopping giant Ikea welcomed visitors this week to spend the night in one of its Oslo showrooms—free. Sleepover guests bunk in special rooms, from a luxury suite to a family room. But the fluorescent lights stay on all night, and guests have to scram before customers start checking out their mattresses...
Banks Put Hold on Chrysler Debt Sale
Wall Street Journal
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Jul 26, 2007 9:03 AM CDT
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Banks yesterday postponed the sale of $12 billion of debt intended to finance the deal that will split off Chrysler from parent DaimlerChrysler. The Journal reports that the holdup is part of a global pinch on the market for corporate debt, and escalating borrowing costs have the potential to slow down a host of high-profile buyouts.
Intel Memo Contradicts Gonzales
Associated Press
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Jul 26, 2007 8:39 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Alberto Gonzales' Senate testimony this week is at odds with a year-old intelligence document, and the discrepancy may earn the AG in a congressional perjury investigation. At issue is a 2004 White House briefing, which Gonzales has repeatedly testified did not concern the warrantless wiretapping program; a memo from the national intelligence director...
Mac Sales Protect Bruised Apple
San Jose Mercury News
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Jul 26, 2007 8:06 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Apple shares soared over 9%—despite stagnating sales of the iPod and an iffy launch of its iPhone—thanks to a record boost in its core business selling computers, reports the San Jose Mercury News. Apple sold $2.5 billion worth of computers in the last quarter, up 36% over the same quarter last year.
Focus on Offense Aids Crooked Refs
USA Today
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Jul 26, 2007 8:03 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The focus on offense in NBA play, encouraging officials to call more fouls, also paves the way for the current gambling scandal, three former refs charge in USA Today . More free throws and offensive possessions can, in turn, influence the final score. Tim Donaghy, an NBA official for 13 years, resigned this month under suspicion of betting...
Climbers Die in Blizzard in Alps
Guardian (UK)
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Jul 26, 2007 7:22 AM CDT
(Newser) -
After four climbers died in a sudden blizzard in the French Alps, safety officials expressed frustration yesterday, saying the group was unprepared for the conditions and ignored warnings of bad weather. A 30-year-old British man and three women in their 20s froze to death on Mont Blanc late Monday or early Tuesday after the storm stranded them, the...
FDA to Regulate Cigarettes
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Jul 26, 2007 7:15 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Congress is set to pass a law today that will give the federal FDA the same power over tobacco it has over drugs and medical devices. Identical bills in both houses, hailed by the American Lung Association as a "win for public health," would allow the government to regulate levels of tar, nicotine and other hazardous ingredients in new cigarette...
Wie Aims for First Under-Par Round Since '06
MSNBC
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Jul 26, 2007 7:02 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Michelle Wie will tee off at the 2007 Evian Masters today, the tournament in which, a year ago, she shot her last under-par outing on the LPGA Tour. Plagued recently by injury, Wie has played 23 rounds without breaking even since her second-place finish at last year's Masters. The 17-year-old last performed at the U.S. Women's Open in June, but resigned...
