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.
Farmers Fight to Legalize Pot's Cousin
New York Times
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Jul 21, 2007 5:39 PM CDT
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The push to legalize hemp—marijuana’s less potent cousin—has some unlikely supporters: North Dakota farmers who couldn't be more conservative in every other respect, the New York Times reports . Hemp, used in clothing, lotions and even snack bars, has become especially attractive to North Dakota because of a fungus that has decimated...
Garcia Heads For Carnoustie Win
BBC
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Jul 21, 2007 4:31 PM CDT
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Spain's Sergio Garcia has a three-stroke lead heading into the final round of the British Open, after a brilliant 3-under 68 today at Carnoustie Links. Now nine under, his nearest opponent in the finals is American Steve Stricker; Tiger Woods fell back to 15th today. If El Nino holds his advantage he'll be the first European to win a major in nearly...
Dubai Tower is World's Tallest
Al Jazeera
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Jul 21, 2007 3:59 PM CDT
(Newser) -
An unfinished skyscraper in Dubai is now scraping the sky at 1,680 feet, surpassing Tawain's Taipei 101 as the world's tallest building. The Burj Dubai, which began construction in September 2004, will cost $1B and consist of more than 160 floors and 56 elevators when completed in 2008.
India Elects First Female Prez
Reuters
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Jul 21, 2007 3:30 PM CDT
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India elected its first woman to the largely ceremonial office of president today, in a landslide vote among parliament and state politicians. Pratibha Patil's supporters hail her victory as a breakthrough for women's rights in the country, while critics assert her reputation is already marred by a slew of personal and financial scandals.
FBI Names Rogue NBA Ref
ESPN
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Jul 21, 2007 2:39 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The FBI has officially blown the whistle on an NBA referee accused on illegal gambling. The feds are investigating claims that over the past two years veteran Tim Donaghy officiated a number of games on which he or his associates had placed bets—which might have totaled thousands of dollars. Their probe will also scrutinize Donaghy's alleged...
Bush Returns to Oval Office After Surgery
Reuters
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Jul 21, 2007 2:05 PM CDT
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George Bush resumed his duties as president today, two hours after voluntarily handing them over to VP Cheney while he underwent a colonoscopy. Bush is eager to get back to work, a White House spokesman said; Cheney spent his moment in the sun reading at home, and "nothing occurred that required him to take official action as acting president."
10 Best Family Towns
Parents
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Jul 21, 2007 1:49 PM CDT
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These places earned Family Circle 's attention with for their serenity, natural beauty, community, and culture. Living costs, commutes, and crime rates are low, but schools and museums rank high. They're all BYOB: Bring Your Own Baby. Castle Rock, Colo. Diamond Bar, Calif. Morton Grove, Ill. Cedar Park, Texas Derby,...
Court Forces US to Divulge Gitmo Info
New York Times
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Jul 21, 2007 1:26 PM CDT
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A federal appeals court ruled yesterday that the US government must release information on Guantanamo Bay detainees fighting their imprisonment, the Times reports. The decision will be a boon for detainees and their lawyers, who have previously found themselves blindsided in military tribunals where evidence was hidden before the proceedings began.
'Goose Whisperer' Saves the Day
Associated Press
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Jul 21, 2007 12:50 PM CDT
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The "goose whisperer" is helping humans and geese to coexist peacefully in the Netherlands. Martin Hof has a gift for gabbing with ganders, the AP reports, and he's working with officials to develop gentler approaches to controlling the messy birds in public places, taking into account family groups and moving geese around rather than making...
The Politics Behind GOP Defections
Wall Street Journal
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Jul 21, 2007 12:31 PM CDT
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Republican senators were playing electoral politics in deserting Bush on Iraq, and they were at it again when they voted against the Democratic withdrawal plan this week, says the Journal ’s Kimberly A. Strassel. Enduring “a summer-long blitz” from liberal groups, Lugar, Domenici and others voiced Iraq fatigue, but with their base...
Bush OKs New Interrogation Guidelines
Washington Post
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Jul 21, 2007 9:36 AM CDT
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President Bush set broad new limits for questioning of CIA terror detainees yesterday, the Washington Post reports. The new regulations for "enhanced" interrogations—used to press suspects by means not allowed in US military custody—are an attempt at partial compliance with the Geneva Conventions.
Taliban Claims 2 German Hostages Killed
Associated Press
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Jul 21, 2007 7:53 AM CDT
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Two German citizens abducted in Afghanistan have been shot to death, a Taliban spokesman claimed today. The Taliban had demanded the withdrawal of the more than 3,000 soldiers Germany has stationed in Afghanistan, a demand to which they did not accede. The Germans were working on a dam project .
Potter Fans Throw Global Party
Los Angeles Times
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Jul 21, 2007 7:13 AM CDT
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Eager readers around the globe took part in a massive midnight fete that combined jubilation and bereavement as they snatched up copies of the final installment of the Harry Potter saga. Fans lined up from Ohio to Singapore, many of them in costume, speculating on the fate of their favorite characters and enjoying Potter-themed parties thrown by bookstores.
101 10-Minute Meals
New York Times
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Jul 21, 2007 6:54 AM CDT
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Move over Rachael Ray: Minimalist Mark Bittman, in the New York Times, offers 101 ideas for summer meals that get you out of the kitchen in 10 minutes or less . A few examples: Grilled cheese with prosciutto, tomatoes, thyme or basil leaves Wraps of tuna, warm white beans, a drizzle of olive oil and lettuce and tomato
Richardson: The Cost of Candor
Salon
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Jul 21, 2007 6:35 AM CDT
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If you think the candidates are all overly scripted, you haven't met Bill Richardson, writes Salon political columnist Walter Shapiro. The fourth-place Dem is so incautious that he ad-libs policy points at debates, and on the stump apologizes for inconsistencies with the cheerful caveat: “my mind is mush.”
Still Divisive, Hillary Makes Headway
New York Times
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Jul 20, 2007 9:03 PM CDT
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Women overall now see Hillary Clinton as a strong leader and positive role model, according to a new Times poll. Yet older, married women harbor doubts. And neither men nor women completely trust that she is saying what she believes, the poll found. Still, a majority thought she'd be elected if she won the Democratic nomination.
Tribune Co. Risks Default on Debt Payments
Bloomberg
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Jul 20, 2007 8:30 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The Tribune Co. is at risk for missing interest payments on part of the $13-billion debt that will result from the sale to real estate baron Sam Zell, Bloomberg reports. The prediction is based on trading in the company's credit-default swaps; at $77,000 per $10 million in debt, they indicate a 50% risk of default. That's up from 32% in May, when...
FBI Probes Gambling Ref
New York Post
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Jul 20, 2007 8:00 PM CDT
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The FBI is investigating an NBA referee accused of manipulating point spreads in games he officiated as part of a wider mob-orchestrated gambling ring, the New York Post reports. The official allegedly both reffed and placed bets on numerous games from 2005 to 2007 in a desperate attempt to pay back gambling debts.
Plane in Brazil Crash Had Brake Problems
Reuters
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Jul 20, 2007 6:15 PM CDT
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The Airbus A320 that crashed at the Sao Paulo airport Tuesday was flying with part of its braking equipment disabled, the manufacturer said today, as pressure on the government escalated. Flying without one of the aircraft's two thrust reversers is legal, but the revelation suggests the slick, short runway probably wasn't the sole cause of Brazil's...
The 12 Greenest Rides
Forbes
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Jul 20, 2007 5:39 PM CDT
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You don't have to drive a hybrid to go green; half of Forbes' top picks for fuel-efficiency are small, brainy gas-driven cars. Honda Civic Hybrid Sedan, $22,600 Toyota Prius Sedan, $22,175 Toyota Camry Hybrid Sedan, $26,200 Ford Escape Hybrid SUV, $25,740 Ford Focus, $13,995 Honda Accord Hybrid Sedan, $31,090...
Cheney to Take Reins During President's Colonoscopy
Reuters
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Jul 20, 2007 5:21 PM CDT
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President Bush will undergo a routine colon exam tomorrow, leaving Dick Cheney in the driver's seat for roughly 2½ hours while he's under anesthesia. Bush's personal physician will supervise the procedure, in the medical facility at Camp David. This will be the second time the VP has acted as president; the first was during Bush's last colonoscopy,...
White House Expands Exec Privilege Claims
Washington Post
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Jul 20, 2007 5:00 PM CDT
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White House officials have made a broad new claim to executive privilege that would block the Justice Department from pursuing contempt charges initiated by Congress, the Washington Post reports. Citing a Regan-era legal opinion, they argued that "A US attorney would not be permitted to bring contempt charges or convene a grand jury in an executive...
Vista Proves Profitable, Problematic
Reuters
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Jul 20, 2007 4:51 PM CDT
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Microsoft has reported quarterly revenues of $13.4 billion, crediting strong sales of its new Vista operating system, which offers new networking and security features as well as an overhauled interface. But many users are still reluctant to switch after tepid reviews and anecdotal complaints, instead seeking out the 6-year-old Windows XP.
Darfur Lake Is Dried Up, Draining Hope
BBC
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Jul 20, 2007 4:41 PM CDT
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Hopes for an enormous underground lake discovered recently in Darfur might supply enough water to end starvation and violence in the area were dimmed by a second opinion from a French geologist. The area receives too little rain and has the wrong type of rocks for water storage, said a specialist in mineral and water exploration: the lake probably...
Market Backs Off Milestone
Bloomberg
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Jul 20, 2007 4:04 PM CDT
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A week of record highs ended with a thump today as the major markets plummeted after a flurry of disappointing quarterly earnings reports. The Dow, which crested 14,000 yesterday, dropped 149.33 to close at 13,851.08, off more than 1%. The S&P 500, beset by worries about banks' earnings, fell 18.98 to 1,534.10. The Nasdaq dropped 32.44, closing...
'Hairspray' Sets Critics on Fire
Associated Press
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Jul 20, 2007 3:48 PM CDT
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With its cheerfully loony evocation of the 60s, "Hairspray" has scored big with reviewers. "The movie's style and exuberance torpedoed my misgivings within seconds," says the LATimes . The movie-turned-musical-turned-movie is also being praised for its star turns, by a fatsuited John Travolta and plump newcomer Nikki Blonsky.
The Senator Wears Prada (Maybe)
Washington Post
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Jul 20, 2007 3:20 PM CDT
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Hillary Clinton was discussing the high cost of college, but some eyes were trained on the low cut of her neckline. Under the senator’s pink blazer sat a black top that revealed a modicum of cleavage and caught the eye of Washington Post fashion editor Robin Givhan, who finds even the subtle expression of sexuality and femininity “startling.”
Low-Key Lawyer to Moderate Dow Buyout
Boston Globe
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Jul 20, 2007 2:51 PM CDT
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One man stands between News Corp. chief Rupert Murdoch and the Dow Jones-controlling Bancroft Family: a reserved, unassuming Boston lawyer named Michael B. Elefante, who has managed most of the Bancrofts' trust accounts for decades. Next week, beginning with Monday's strictly informational meeting, Elefante will mediate the $5B transaction.
9 Ways to Make Your Summer Easy Sailing
Chicago Tribune
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Jul 20, 2007 2:13 PM CDT
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The Chicago Tribune 's Mary Schmich (author of the column that started the "wear sunscreen" hoax) calls your attention to nine items that will make your summer more peaceful. Simple Green "30 Rock" online Two reusable grocery totes Tecnu poison-ivy reliever Finn Comfort shoes
Meet Frank, Saturn's 60th Moon
BBC
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Jul 20, 2007 1:09 PM CDT
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Scientists have discovered Saturn’s 60th moon, and are hinting that more could exist. In May, cameras aboard the Cassini spacecraft captured the “extremely faint object,” which scientists have officially designated a moon and tentatively named Frank. Composed mostly of ice and rock, Frank is about a mile wide and orbits between two...
Thompson, Romney Battle Over Flip-Flops
Los Angeles Times
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Jul 20, 2007 12:39 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson are in an all-out war to convince right-wing voters of their conservative cred, the LA Times reports. Romney, long dogged by his pro-choice past, has seized on the fact that Thompson once lobbied to ease abortion counseling restrictions, a charge the undeclared candidate first denied.
Taliban Kidnaps 18 South Koreans in Afghanistan
Associated Press
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Jul 20, 2007 11:54 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Eighteen South Koreans were kidnapped yesterday in Afghanistan by Taliban gunmen who hijacked the bus they were traveling in from Kabul to Kandahar. The South Koreans were members of a church group, thought to be in the country to do volunteer work. Several dozen armed men stopped the vehicle, drove it into the desert, and made the Koreans proceed...
Obama Is No JFK (Or MLK Either)
Der Spiegel
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Jul 20, 2007 11:43 AM CDT
(Newser) -
On TV, the Barack Obama show works seamlessly. But " unplugged," the candidate is unexciting, even disingenuous, Der Spiegel ’s Gabor Steingart argues. In a tough assessment, the political correspondent finds the ambitious marketing of Obama as the Democratic savior is undercut by the candidate's lackluster performance in person.
Olbermann to Prez: Stop Scapegoating, Start Fighting
MSNBC
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Jul 20, 2007 11:12 AM CDT
(Newser) -
A war of words over the Iraq war that erupted this week nominally involves only a Pentagon underling and Hillary Clinton, but MSNBC's Keith Olbermann finds a message for President Bush in the back-and-forth. Accusing the administration of scapegoating both the senator and antiwar citizens, he calls for Bush to "go to Baghdad now" and fight...
Feds Hid Toxic Trailer Danger
Washington Post
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Jul 20, 2007 10:32 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Some 120,000 Hurricane Katrina victims lived in emergency trailers for months, even though FEMA knew they were toxic, with formaldehyde levels 75 times the safety threshold, the Washington Post reports. Officials suppressed the the information and failed to order tests, emails show, because they didn't want to do anything that would make FEMA liable.
Spielberg May Split From Paramount
BusinessWeek
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Jul 20, 2007 10:23 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Steven Spielberg is so disillusioned with Paramount Pictures that he may bail on the studio, which less than 2 years ago bought the director's DreamWorks for $1.53 billion. The legend behind Jaws, E.T., and Transformers is furious that Paramount takes credit for his movies and mistreats his friends, including firing best bud Tom Cruise,...
Prosecutor Flunks Scooter Test
Chicago Tribune
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Jul 20, 2007 9:58 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The NPR quiz show "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!" lured US attorney Patrick Fitzgerald to last night's taping for a game called "Not My Job"—and a little teasing. Best line: Fitzgerald said he lived on Chicago's North Side but worked downtown, and host Peter Sagal asked, "How do you feel about commuting?"
Stowaway Found Dead on SF Jet
San Francisco Chronicle
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Jul 20, 2007 8:37 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The body of a middle-aged Asian man tucked into the wheel well of a United Airlines flight from Shanghai was found shortly after landing at San Francisco Airport yesterday. He is likely to have died of exposure or asphyxiation during the 11-hour flight, when temperatures can plummet to -40 degrees, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Pakistani Court Restores Judge
Associated Press
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Jul 20, 2007 8:08 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The Pakistani Supreme Court has returned the country’s top judge to power, overruling the suspension meted out by President Musharraf, which ignited a pro-democracy protest movement this spring. Charges of nepotism and abuse of power against Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry were called "illegal" by the court.
Reporter Gets Autograph on Walking Papers
Associated Press
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Jul 20, 2007 8:03 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Japanese reporters have become a familiar sight in baseball clubhouses, but hints of a culture clash endure. A Fuji Evening News scribe who wasn't up on the American rules about asking players for autographs got a refresher course this week after he asked Roger Clemens for his John Hancock and the Baseball Writers' Association of America revoked...
Dow Jones Director Quits Over Murdoch Deal
Wall Street Journal
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Jul 20, 2007 7:41 AM CDT
(Newser) -
A German publishing heir resigned from the Dow Jones board of directors yesterday in protest over the board's vote to accept Rupert Murdoch's $5 billion offer to buy the company. In his letter, Dieter von Holtzbrinck said the deal jeopardized the editorial integrity of the Wall Street Journal . "Dow Jones' unique journalistic values will...
Fear Rules Iraq, Briefers Tell Congress
Associated Press
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Jul 20, 2007 7:20 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Iraq is gripped by widespread fear and is unlikely to fulfill political and security goals by the pivotal September assessment, US officials told lawmakers yesterday in a briefing from Baghdad. "One word I would use to sum up the atmosphere in Iraq is 'fear,' " said ambassador Ryan Crocker, adding that the country has a "considerable...
Israel Frees 250 Palestinians
Associated Press
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Jul 20, 2007 7:16 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Both sides expressed optimism as Israel released more than 250 Palestinian prisoners today, a sign of support for Mahmoud Abbas' government in its struggle with Hamas. Most of the prisoners were Fatah members, the AP reports; in keeping with the country's policy not to release prisoners incarcerated for killing or wounding Israelis, none were directly...
Carpenter to Have Tommy John Surgery
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
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Jul 20, 2007 6:53 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Cardinals right-hander Chris Carpenter, the 2005 Cy Young winner, will undergo Tommy John surgery next week and miss the rest of this season and part of next, the team said yesterday. The 2006 World Series star and Opening Day starter hit the DL on April 2 and hasn't started in the majors since.
Franco Returns 'Home' to Atlanta
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Jul 20, 2007 6:27 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Giving new meaning to the term "senior circuit," 48-year-old Julio Franco returned to Atlanta last night and drove in two runs in a 10-1 rout of St. Louis. Cut loose by the Mets on July 12, Franco says he's glad to be "home" with the Braves, who won five division championships with the slugger before releasing him in 2005.
Bush Chief of Staff May Face Contempt Charge
Reuters
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Jul 20, 2007 6:23 AM CDT
(Newser) -
White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten may face contempt charges over the administration's refusal to turn over subpoenened documents. A House panel yesterday voted 7-3 to reject the White House contention that the documents—sought in the probe of the dismissals of US attorneys—are covered by executive privilege, Reuters reports.
Jays Snap Yanks' Win Streak
Newsday
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Jul 20, 2007 6:15 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The Blue Jays snapped the Yankees' five-game winning streak yesterday in the Bronx, hammering ace Chien-Ming Wang in a 3-2 win. Wang, who had been masterful this season, blew a 2-0 lead by surrendering six hits in the seventh, and the Bombers' bats had no reply.
Dinos Coexisted With Precursors
Reuters
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Jul 20, 2007 6:03 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Fossils newly discovered in New Mexico are challenging the theory that early dinosaurs quickly drove their reptilian predecessors into extinction. The bones, 215 million years old, indicate that these pre-dinosaurs lived alongside their more evolved relatives—which were merely the size of dogs—for up to 20 million years longer than scientists...
Press Baron Stays Out of Prison
Globe and Mail
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Jul 20, 2007 5:27 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Press baron Conrad Black will remain free on $21-million in bail until his sentencing for three counts of fraud and one of obstructing justice. Prosecutors fear that if he's out on bail he'll flee to Canada because he's facing 30 years in prison, he's rich, and he hasn't shown respect for the court.
Bonds Busts Out With 752, 753
San Jose Mercury News
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Jul 20, 2007 5:14 AM CDT
(Newser) -
San Francisco slugger Barry Bonds knocked two balls out of Wrigley Field today, bringing him two away from tying homer-leader Hank Aaron at 755. Driving in six runs, the pair ended an 0-for-21 slump and saved Bonds from matching his career-worst hitless streak. Following a familiar script, the Giants lost to the Cubs despite their star's big day.
