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.
8 Yanks Graduate From Cuban Med School
Guardian (UK)
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Jul 26, 2007 6:52 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Cuba's Latin American School of Medicine graduated its first batch of American students this week, helping raise the eight-year-old school's profile. There are 90 more already enrolled in the free program, which comes with an exemption to the ban on travel to Cuba for Americans. Students are selected by the US Congressional Black Caucus and a non-profit...
The End Is Near: Hospice Cat Senses Death
Boston Globe
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Jul 26, 2007 5:40 AM CDT
(Newser) -
An upscale nursing home in Rhode Island is home to a cat that can sense impending death, the Boston Globe reports. Oscar, whose domain is the dementia ward, shows little interest in patients who are ill but not dying. But when he curls up in a bed, the patient usually dies within hours. Caregivers take Oscar's cuddling as a signal to call loved ones.
Briggs Backs Down
Associated Press
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Jul 26, 2007 5:31 AM CDT
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After swearing he'd never play for Chicago again, star weakside 'backer Lance Briggs reversed his position, swallowing his distaste and accepting the franchise tag, which will net him $7.2 million for one year of play. Briggs wanted a longer contract but felt the Bears had lowballed him with a $33 million, six-year offer.
Glavine Wins 299th Game
New York Times
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Jul 26, 2007 5:28 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Tom Glavine recorded his 299th career win last night, as the Mets downed Pittsburgh 6-3. The 41-year-old, on track to become the 23rd 300-winner in MLB history, next takes the mound against Milwaukee on the 31st. "I'm proud of the company I'm getting myself into," said the left-hander, "I have a whole lot of stuff to start planning."
Injured GIs Pledged Better Care
New York Times
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Jul 26, 2007 5:25 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The military health care system is inadequate to treat the casualties of two modern wars and the nation should immediately move to overhaul it, a bipartisan presidential commission concluded yesterday. The panel called for improvements in treatment of brain injuries and post traumatic stress syndrome, as well as changes in procedures for determining...
Judge Mulls Second Suit Against Facebook Founder
Red Herring
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Jul 26, 2007 5:22 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The former Harvard friends who unsuccessfully sued Facebook's founder two years ago for stealing their idea are trying again. They filed another suit in Massachusets federal court earlier this year; yesterday the judge said he'll rule in two weeks on whether to dismiss it.
Bonds Sits One Out Before Crack at Record
San Francisco Chronicle
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Jul 26, 2007 5:05 AM CDT
(Newser) -
After playing all 13 innings of a loss to Atlanta on Tuesday, Barry Bonds sat out last night's match-up at his home park in San Francisco to rest up. "He's just getting a day," said the team manager, insisting that the 43-year-old slugger still aims to crack Hank Aaron's home run record during this seven-game homestand.
Tour Leader Kicked Out by His Own Team
International Herald Tribune
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Jul 26, 2007 5:00 AM CDT
(Newser) -
In the latest blow to the Tour de France, race leader Michael Rasmussen was kicked out of the event yesterday by his own team for lying about his whereabouts during doping tests. Rasmussen was the third rider ejected in less than 48 hours as the rapidly mounting doping scandal threatened to destroy the event. Rasmussen was leading by 3:10 and...
Rudy Calls for Truce in Culture Wars
Los Angeles Times
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Jul 26, 2007 5:00 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Giuliani may be running as a terrorist slayer, but what sets him apart is his plan to leave social issues up to the states, says LA Times columnist Ronald Brownstein. Localizing gay marriage, gun control and even abortion decisions would allow states to make policies that reflect the proclivities of their citizens.
Brazil's Defense Minister Fired Over Air Disaster
Reuters
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Jul 26, 2007 4:48 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Brazil's defense minister was ousted yesterday for his failure to prevent the worst air disaster in the nation's history, which claimed 200 lives last week. Waldir Pires was already under fire after a mid-air collision last September killed 154 people.
Wronged Ex-Cons: Why Some Get Payday, Some Don't
American Prospect
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Jul 26, 2007 4:25 AM CDT
(Newser) -
How much is a year of jail time worth if you're falsely convicted? The potential awards vary widely, the American Prospect reports. Some states fix rates, with exonerated Wisconsinites claiming $5,000 per year in the clink while those from Alabama get $50,000. Twenty-two states have no laws guaranteeing redress; in those states the fight is on.
Obesity Is a Socially Transmitted Disease
Chicago Tribune
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Jul 25, 2007 6:19 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Obesity spreads socially, a new study concludes: one’s likelihood of getting fat increases 57% if a friend becomes fat, and a whopping 171% if it's a close friend. Friends may be more influential than genes in weight gain, the Chicago Tribune reports. “Its about the spread of norms,” said a researcher.
Bush Hate Hyped in Internet Age
Washington Post
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Jul 25, 2007 6:18 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The president’s newest disapproval rating, a towering 65%, is surpassed only by Harry Truman's 67% during the Korean War and Nixon’s 66%—4 days before Tricky Dick’s resignation—the Washington Post reports. The figure suggests dissatisfaction far beyond Iraq, but it also suggests that something new is going on.
Another Team Leaves Tour Under Cloud
New York Times
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Jul 25, 2007 5:47 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Today's stage of the Tour de France began with riders gathering for a short protest, and ended with another team dropping out after one of its cyclists failed a drug test. According to the New York Times , Cristian Moreni was led away by police after the stage, and his team, France's Cofidis, pulled out.
Don't Take Me Out to These Ballgames
Mental Floss
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Jul 25, 2007 5:32 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Free flashlights or fireworks can be fun, but some ballpark gimmicks haven't worked out so well. For example: 10-Cent Beer Night, Cleveland Municipal Stadium, 1974. Arriving tipsy, a number of fans disrobed or otherwise behaved badly; 9 people were arrested. Disco Demolition Night, Comiskey Park, 1979. Fans turned their disco records...
'I'm Innocent' Lohan Says
Associated Press
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Jul 25, 2007 5:28 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Troubled starlet Lindsay Lohan has proclaimed her innocence after being arrested yesterday for DUI and cocaine possession. In an email to Access Hollywood the 21-year-old said the drugs "were not mine," and that she was "almost hit" in a parking lot car chase with the mother of her former assistant.
Humans Ace Computer in Poker Match
CBC (Canada)
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Jul 25, 2007 5:03 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Two top-rated professional poker players defeated the world's top poker computer after a tense John Henry-like showdown yesterday at an Artificial Intelligence Conference, CBC reports. The victory was determined by a tie-breaking round after both man and machine took one each; over 500 hands were ultimately dealt.
Good for the President, Not for the People?
San Francisco Chronicle
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Jul 25, 2007 4:58 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Even as Bush knocks “government-run health care,” San Francisco Chronicle columnist David Lazarus points out, he receives a generous helping of it: The president's colonoscopy last week was of course performed by first-rate taxpayer-funded professionals at a taxpayer-funded facility.
Fake Obama Group Keeps Donations
San Francisco Chronicle
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Jul 25, 2007 4:35 PM CDT
(Newser) -
"Californians for Obama" has raised thousands of dollars, but the candidate hasn't seen any of it. In fact, the group isn't affiliated with Obama, the San Francisco Chronicle reports, and most of the dough has gone to founder Emmett Cash. Because the group's website doesn't claim an official tie to Obama, it's all legal.
Iranians Get Dressing Down for Dressing Up
Los Angeles Times
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Jul 25, 2007 4:22 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Iran’s vice police are back patrolling the streets of Tehran to curb outfits they deem too Western. Women are forbidden to wear body-fitting clothes or expose their hair or skin. Men are targeted for tight jeans, T-shirts and spiky haircuts. Offenders are usually put on trial, fined or jailed, and forced to sign a document promising to follow...
Look for Stormy Weather
Reuters
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Jul 25, 2007 4:08 PM CDT
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Heavy storms are on the way, weather forecasters warn, despite a typically quiet beginning to the hurricane season. In fact, the government's top forecasting agency predicts an above-average number of storms this year—13 to 17, with 3 to 5 becoming intense hurricanes, Reuters reports.
Bombers Target Baghdad Soccer Celebration
BBC
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Jul 25, 2007 3:54 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Car bombings killed at least 50 and injured 135, as Iraqis celebrated their soccer victory over South Korea today. The two separate blasts, one in Baghdad's Mansour district, the other at an army checkpoint, came as cheering throngs crossed sectarian lines in a rare moment of national pride and unity, the BBC reports.
Judge Tries Shame on Shoplifters
BusinessWeek
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Jul 25, 2007 3:42 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A local Alabama judge has teamed with Wal-Mart to punish shoplifters with shame, making them don sandwich-boards reading “I am a thief; I stole from Wal-Mart” and parade in public, BusinessWeek reports. More than 20 culprits have received the sentence in recent months; the world’s largest retailer sees about $3 billion of merchandise...
Dallas Gas Explosion Injures 3
Dallas Morning News
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Jul 25, 2007 3:30 PM CDT
(Newser) -
At least three people were injured today after a stock of acetylene tanks and 18-wheelers exploded at a gas plant south of downtown Dallas, sending thick plumes of black smoke and chunks of debris flying into the air. Two people suffered burns and a third sustained a back injury; all are said to be in stable condition, the Dallas Morning News reports.
House Committee Charges Bush Aides With Contempt
Washington Post
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Jul 25, 2007 3:16 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The House Judiciary Committee voted to issue contempt citations to two of President Bush's top aides for defying subpoenas related to the US attorney firings scandal, edging Congress closer to a Constitutional showdown with the White House over its claims of executive privilege. The committee voted along party lines 22-17 to charge Chief of Staff Joshua...
Obama Team Tries Walk In Reagan’s Shoes
Politico
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Jul 25, 2007 2:53 PM CDT
(Newser) -
It’s not just GOP hopefuls who are looking to Reagan’s electoral model: A Barack Obama pollster admits it’s “heresy,” but his campaign wants to ride charisma and good feeling to the presidency—just like the Gipper. Politico says Obama can win if his hopeful message shines; his advisers admit that if the debate...
Norway Royal Talks to Angels
BBC
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Jul 25, 2007 2:24 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Princess Martha Louise of Norway says she can talk to angels—and teach other people how to strike up a chat as well. The 35-year-old princess claims to have psychic powers that she plans to use in her new alternative therapy center: For about $4,150 a year she'll teach you the spiritual skills she learned through her "experiences with horses."
Home Resales Slump in June as Mortgage Rates Spike
Wall Street Journal
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Jul 25, 2007 1:57 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Sales of existing homes dropped in June to a 5-year low because of rising mortgage rates and stricter lending standards. Home resales dipped 3.8% from a 5.98 million annual rate in May to a 5.75 million rate now. "The housing recession looks far from over," an economist tells the Wall Street Journal.
Mexican Meth Mogul Nabbed in Mall Restaurant
Washington Post
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Jul 25, 2007 1:17 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A reputed Mexican drug lord known for his flamboyant lifestyle and vast supply of cash fell into the hands of the DEA Monday in a decidedly unglamorous setting: a suburban Maryland mall. Zhenli Ye Gon faces charges under US drug laws, the Washington Post reports, and Mexico wants him extradited. He claims the case against him is a political set-up.
$54M Pants Party Helps Pay Legal Fees
Associated Press
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Jul 25, 2007 12:40 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A guard stood watch over the most expensive pair of pants in the world at a fundraiser yesterday evening in Washington. Guests sipped cocktails, nibbled appetizers, and took photos with the notorious garment, which was so important to its original owner that he sued his dry cleaners for $54 million. He lost, but the cleaners still have legal bills.
Negotiations With Libya Draw Fire
New York Times
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Jul 25, 2007 12:02 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The negotiations that led to the release of the medics imprisoned in Libya are under fire from human rights organizations, which say the payments to the families of children infected with HIV amount to ransom money, the Times reports. Libya ignored due process, took hostages, tortured and raped them, and was essentially rewarded, the rights groups...
Oxford Evacuates as Water Rises
Guardian (UK)
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Jul 25, 2007 11:26 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Hundreds of residents were evacuated from their Oxford homes today as water levels along the Thames neared their height. In the worst flooding the UK has seen in 60 years, hundreds of thousands are without drinking water, and power plants supplying many more are threatened.
1 Killed, 8 Freed in Afghanistan Hostage Crisis
CNN
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Jul 25, 2007 10:53 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The Taliban has killed one of the 23 South Koreans it's holding captive today, and vowed to murder the rest by 1 AM local time if the Afghan government does not release insurgents. CNN reports that 8 hostages have been freed, however, while the slain captive's bullet-riddled body was discovered by police in Central Afghanistan.
Tears for Slain Reporter at Murdoch Meeting
Wall Street Journal
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Jul 25, 2007 10:43 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Members of the controlling Bancroft family are at loggerheads over whether to sell the company to Rupert Murdoch, according to its jewel, the Wall Street Journal . At a meeting on Monday, some family members defended the deal while others insisted the move would compromise the storied paper—one family member wept as she recalled reporter Daniel...
Army Plans Group Services for Troops Killed in Iraq
New York Times
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Jul 25, 2007 10:10 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Overwhelmed by numbers, military bases are beginning to hold collective memorial services for service members killed in Iraq instead of individual services after each death. The Times visits Fort Lewis, which has floated the idea and met with resistance from families and veterans. The country's third-largest army base, outside Tacoma, lost 20 soldiers...
MySpace Sex Offender Number Soars
Associated Press
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Jul 25, 2007 9:40 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The number of registered sex offenders identified as having profiles on MySpace has ballooned from 7,000 to over 29,000 in the last 2 months, and the site has removed them. Under pressure from several state attorneys general, the company agreed to release predators' information to prosecutors in May. Connecticut's AG said yesterday he's "astonished...
Doc Won't Face Katrina Murder Charge
Times-Picayune (New Orleans)
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Jul 25, 2007 9:06 AM CDT
(Newser) -
A grand jury yesterday refused to indict a doctor accused in the deaths of nine patients who died while trapped in a hospital in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Prosecutors alleged Anna Pou injected patients with lethal amounts of painkillers and sedatives; her lawyer says the Louisiana AG was attempting to scapegoat her for deaths caused by governmental...
France Shuts Islamic Camp for Kids
News24 (South Africa)
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Jul 25, 2007 8:30 AM CDT
(Newser) -
French officials have sent home 96 children after determining that they were subjected to an "excessively rigorous" religious regimen at summer camp in the Vosges mountains, reports AFP. "We had information that children were being physically threatened," said one official. One child called police to say he had been forced awake...
Arab League Visits Israel to Float Peace Plan
Associated Press
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Jul 25, 2007 7:54 AM CDT
(Newser) -
A delegation from the Arab League is visiting Israel for the first time ever today, in an effort to jump-start the peace process. The league has opposed all negotiation with the Jewish state in the past but is now presenting a peace plan that proposes giving Israel full recognition in exchange for a return to pre-1967 boundaries.
Stern Forlorn, Upset at 'Betrayal'
Associated Press
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Jul 25, 2007 7:30 AM CDT
(Newser) -
A weary David Stern expressed grave disappointment yesterday in referee Tim Donaghy, who the FBI alleges bet on games he officiated. At a somber news conference without the omnipresent NBA logo behind him, the commissioner made clear his belief in Donaghy's guilt, which he likened to treason. Donaghy has not been charged.
Vinokourov Scandal Rocks Tour Riders
ESPN
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Jul 25, 2007 7:21 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Cycling darling Alexander Vinokourov was forced to withdraw from the Tour de France yesterday after testing positive for an illicit blood transfusion. The Kazakh had won two stages of the race and climbed to the 23rd spot after crashing in the fifth stage. He denied doing anything illegal and indicated the crash may have affected the test, ESPN reports.
Dems Remain Unsure of Censure
Politico
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Jul 25, 2007 6:50 AM CDT
(Newser) -
A proposed Senate resolution to censure President Bush for the Iraq war could have galvanized Democrats—but instead they're sharply divided over what some see as grandstanding, Politico reports. Only a handful back Russ Feingold's plan, or another tied to the US attorneys firings, nervous that nonbinding censures will only fuel public frustration...
Prez Pushes Osama's Link to Insurgency
Washington Post
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Jul 25, 2007 6:13 AM CDT
(Newser) -
President Bush insisted again yesterday that a Sunni insurgent group in Iraq is an integral part of Osama bin Laden's worldwide al-Qaeda network—-rebuffing several experts' claims to the contrary. Recent reports have suggested that Sunnis fighting under the "al-Qaeda in Iraq" banner are local insurgents with a weak connection to the...
Prof Who Compared 9/11 Victims to Nazis Gets Ax
Denver Post
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Jul 25, 2007 6:11 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The controversial academic who challenged the innocence of 9/11 victims and called them "little Eichmanns" was fired yesterday by the University of Colorado board of regents. The regents voted 8-1 to dismiss Ward Churchill, citing academic misconduct, including plagiarism and fraud. Churchill, who taught ethnic studies, said his free-speech...
Euro Heat Wave Kills Hundreds
BBC
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Jul 25, 2007 5:55 AM CDT
(Newser) -
More than 500 people have died in the last week in the heat wave gripping central Europe. Most of the victims lived in Hungary, with some casualties reported in nearby Romania, the BBC reports. The elderly have been hardest hit. Temperatures in some areas have reached 107 degrees; the intense heat has already destroyed almost a third of Serbia's harvest.
Bush Gets Personal with Iraqi PM
New York Times
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Jul 25, 2007 5:43 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Across thousands of miles, President Bush remains a close adviser to Iraqi PM Nuri al-Maliki. At least every 2 weeks, the politicians confer over a satellite uplink, usually for more than an hour of discussion about the civil war, Iraq's future, and even their shared religious devotion. "They talk about the challenges they face," a source...
Meddlesome Mme. Sarkozy Jeopardized Talks on Medics
Der Spiegel
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Jul 25, 2007 5:25 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The wife of the new French president gatecrashed delicate negotiations to free six foreign medical workers from a Libyan prison, then hogged the credit, Der Spiegel reports. After EU diplomats secured their release, Cecilia Sarkozy flew to Tripoli and escorted them to Bulgaria—making it appear she had won their freedom. But her meddling jeopardized...
US Airports Warned of Terror Attack Rehearsals
Associated Press
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Jul 25, 2007 5:10 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Airport security teams have been warned to be on the lookout for terrorists attempting to carry explosive components onto planes as part of a dry run for future attacks, the AP reports. The TSA issued the alert last week after four passengers were caught with clay, wire, pipes, switches and other materials officials said may be "improvised explosive...
Amazon Stock Soars on Booming Sales
Wall Street Journal
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Jul 25, 2007 4:50 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Amazon.com shares shot up 21.4% in after-hours trading yesterday following a report that profits more than tripled in the second quarter thanks to booming sales and a new membership program that offers express shipping for a flat fee, reports the Wall Street Journal . The bump boosted the stock price from $69.25 to $84.09.
Who Wants to Meet With a Dictator?
Reuters
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Jul 25, 2007 4:42 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The gloves came off in the Democratic presidential race yesterday as Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama tangled over an issue that arose in Monday's debate. The frontrunners released statements that revealed tensions in the more or less united effort to reclaim the White House, Reuters reports, with Clinton's camp emphasizing her experience and Obama's...
