Newser Story Index from August, 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.
Tiger Woods Takes PGA
Associated Press
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Aug 12, 2007 9:08 PM CDT
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Tiger Woods collected his 13th career major by winning the PGA Championship on the steamy Southern Hills course in Tulsa today, scoring a 1-under 69 for a two-shot victory over Woody Austin. Woods was the first major champion in seven tries, Newsday reports, to make a par on the 72nd hole at Southern Hills.
Kahlo Letters Reveal Anguish Over Miscarriage
Guardian (UK)
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Aug 12, 2007 8:06 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Mexican artist Frida Kahlo reveals one of her long-held secrets in a new collection of letters published for the centenary of her birth, the Guardian reports. Titled “My Beloved Doctor,” they express her anguish over being unable to bear Diego Rivera’s child after injuries she suffered in a tram crash. “I cried a lot, but...
Americans Race to 'Rush Hour 3'
Associated Press
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Aug 12, 2007 7:30 PM CDT
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Critics tried to slash its tires, but Rush Hour 3 still raced to the top of the box office this weekend. The Jackie Chan/Chris Tucker vehicle gauged $50.2 million according to studio estimates, though falling short of the franchise’s second installment Rush Hour 2 , which earned $67.4 million in its debut weekend.
Officials to Drill Third Hole at Utah Mine
Washington Post
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Aug 12, 2007 6:50 PM CDT
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Mine officials will drill a third hole to locate six Utah miners trapped for close to a week, the AP reports. A video camera with poor lighting was lowered into a hole yesterday and found mining equipment, but no sign of the miners. Still, rescuers said they were treating the mission as a rescue and not as a recovery effort.
Shooter Opens Fire in Missouri Church, Killing 3
Associated Press
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Aug 12, 2007 5:49 PM CDT
(Newser) -
An unidentified gunman killed 3 and wounded several in a church in southwest Missouri today. The AP reports that he briefly held 25 to 50 churchgoers hostage at the First Congregational Church in Neosho, Missouri before being arrested. Police say that an incident between the shooting suspect and a family that attends the mostly Latino church motivated...
Astronauts Look at Endeavour's Tummy Trouble
Associated Press
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Aug 12, 2007 5:28 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Endeavor’s crew gave NASA a better look at a wound on the space shuttle’s belly today, CNN reports. Astronauts used a robotic arm to photograph the three-inch gouge on the shuttle’s heat shield, a ding caused by a flying piece of foam during liftoff. NASA hopes the image will show whether the damage needs to be repaired.
Cyclists Rage Against the (Auto) Machine
Los Angeles Times
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Aug 12, 2007 5:01 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Hordes of cyclists swarm San Francisco’s roads on the last Friday of every month for a day of two-wheeled protest, the Los Angeles Times reports. As many as 1,500 members of the cycling advocacy group “Critical Mass” spontaneously tour the streets as they trap stalled motorists “in their tin cans” and warn cross-walkers,...
Maliki Calls Summit to Heal Iraqi Cabinet
BBC
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Aug 12, 2007 4:27 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Iraq’s PM says he will try to salvage his disintegrating government by holding an emergency summit of cabinet members over the next couple of days. The BBC reports that Nouri al-Maliki is even warning Sunnis that he could refill his government with “alternative” ministers if they refuse to join. Sunnis accuse al-Maliki of having close...
Why Are We Losing Afghanistan?
New York Times
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Aug 12, 2007 4:24 PM CDT
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Critical misjudgments and a consistent refusal to commit resources undermined what appeared to be a US triumph in routing the Taliban in Afghanistan, the New York Times reports in a detailed analysis of how the "good war" seems to have gone bad. From Donald Rumsfeld’s early rebuff of international forces to the shift of manpower,...
Djokovic Edges Nadal, Will Face Federer in Final
Associated Press
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Aug 12, 2007 4:04 PM CDT
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Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic beat Rafael Nadal 7-5, 6-3 Saturday night and will battle Roger Federer in the Rogers Cup final today. "This is one of the biggest wins of my career," 20-year old Djokovic told a reporter after the match. Djokovic held off three break points in a tense first set, and was down 0-40 early in the second before...
Washington: 'Do As I Say, Not As I Do'
Los Angeles Times
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Aug 12, 2007 3:37 PM CDT
(Newser) -
While Bush asks others to reduce emissions, Washington is promising to pay for a state-of-the-art oil refinery in India that will pump out 9 million metric tons of carbon dioxide a year. The Los Angeles Times says that this is only some of the smoke covering Washington’s tracks, as it backs energy and oil projects worldwide spewing out the...
Stasi Ordered to Shoot First
BBC
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Aug 12, 2007 3:08 PM CDT
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During the Cold War, East German border police were ordered to shoot all attempted defectors, a newly discovered Stasi document confirms. “Do not hesitate with the use of a firearm, including when the border breakouts involve women and children, which the traitors have already frequently taken advantage of,” the 1973 order commands.
US Lags in Life Expectancy
Associated Press
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Aug 12, 2007 1:47 PM CDT
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The US has slipped to 42nd place in international rankings of life expectancy, the AP reports. Two decades ago, the US was in 11th place. The downgrade is partially due to the fact that the more countries are included in the survey, but rising health insurance costs, skyrocketing obesity rates, high infant mortality, and racial disparities are most...
Iraq Security Costs Soar
Washington Post
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Aug 12, 2007 1:22 PM CDT
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The US Military has paid $548M to two British firms over the past three years to protect engineers working on projects in Iraq—nearly doubling its original budget, according to the Washington Post . A swelling insurgency and shortage of troops are driving up the cost of private security for the largely civilian workforce in the war-torn country.
Webb Throws Shutout, Again
Associated Press
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Aug 12, 2007 12:58 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon Webb threw his second complete-game shutout in a row Saturday night, a 1-0 beauty against the Nationals. Webb broke his own team record with 33 consecutive scoreless innings and catapuled the D'Backs to their 17th victory in 20 games.
E-Z Pass Steers Cheaters to Divorce court
Associated Press
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Aug 12, 2007 12:20 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Spouses suspecting an unfaithful partner have an unlikely ally: automatic toll-booth passes with detailed electronic records that divorce attorneys are using to prove infidelity. "It's an easy way to show who took the off-ramp to adultery," one lawyer quipped. The E-Z Pass devices, which are usually found on a driver’s dashboard,...
Beckett, Lackey Grab 15 Wins
Associated Press
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Aug 12, 2007 12:14 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Red Sox righty Josh Beckett became the first pitcher with 15 wins last night against Baltimore, and led the major leagues until Angels ace John Lackey joined him a few hours later. Beckett nearly endured the entire contest at Camden Yards, replaced only for the final out after he gave up his first two runs 2/3 through the 9th. Beckett left the 6-2...
Merv Griffin Dies at 82
USA Today
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Aug 12, 2007 12:06 PM CDT
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Merv Griffin, a TV impresario who found success both in front of and behind the camera, died of prostate cancer this morning at 82. Griffin is perhaps best known for creating "Jeopardy!" and "Wheel of Fortune," two of television's most successful and iconic game shows. A string of smart investments in hotels, casinos and racehorses...
Biggest Buyers Hit Hard in Mortgage Fiasco
New York Times
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Aug 12, 2007 11:50 AM CDT
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As the subprime mortgage mess spreads to homeowners beyond those with poor credit ratings, jumbo mortgages are under particular pressure, the New York Times reports. An investment banker recently purchasing a $1.5 million home saw the interest rate spike from 8% to 13% in just three days. The rate for these mortgages is now higher than the rate...
Young Sidelined as Redskins Topple Titans
Tennessean
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Aug 12, 2007 11:24 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Titans chief Jeff Fisher tested out a new spot for his star QB in the preseason opener against Washington: the bench. Pro Bowler Vince Young was moored for violating an unspecified team rule, putting Kerry Collins and Tim Rattay in charge of Tennessee's offense last night. Neither backup could find the end zone, and the Titans fell 14-6.
Musharraf Talks at Peace Jirga
Associated Press
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Aug 12, 2007 11:18 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf today pledged to fight the "particularly dark form" of extremism that afflicts his country and Afghanistan, speaking to 600 tribal leaders from the two countries at the close of a peace jirga in Kabul, the AP reports. He said the rise of militancy is preventing the two countries from reaping the...
Flossie Expected to Chill Out
Associated Press
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Aug 12, 2007 11:02 AM CDT
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Hawaiians have been told the Category 4 hurricane raging 875 miles off their southeast coast will probably downgrade to a tropical storm by the time it passes by land in two or three days. Flossie was blowing at 135 mph this morning, but is soon expected to travel through cooler waters that will calm her, the AP reports.
4th Suspect Sought in Schoolyard Executions
Star-Ledger
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Aug 12, 2007 10:31 AM CDT
(Newser) -
An arrest warrant has been issued for a fourth male believed to be involved in a triple schoolyard execution that has rocked the community of Newark—and as many as six people may have been involved, reports the Newark Star Ledger . Nicaraguan national Rodolfo Godinez, 24, is considered a "principal player" in the crime, according to...
Glitch Snarls LAX Travel For 20,000
Los Angeles Times
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Aug 12, 2007 10:05 AM CDT
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A malfunction in the U.S. Customs system at Los Angeles Airport yesterday delayed travel for more than 20,000 people, some for as long as 14 hours, the Los Angeles Times reports. The glitch Saturday afternoon triggered delays so long that food supplies dwindled and water ran out for hours, causing dehydration among some passengers. Three had to be...
Syphilis Surges in Surprise Comeback
New York Times
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Aug 12, 2007 9:22 AM CDT
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Just two years after it was almost eradicated, syphilis is experiencing a stunning comeback across the nation, health officials report. Nearly twice as many cases were reported in New York City in the first three months of this year, compared to the same time last year, the New York Times reports. The rate more than doubled nationally in 2005, according...
Snakes on a Plane! Almost!
Associated Press
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Aug 12, 2007 9:21 AM CDT
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Flyers could have found themselves reliving the scenario of cheesy horror classic "Snakes on a Plane" had security agents failed to nab a passenger with carry-on bags of live snakes headed for a jet leaving Cairo. Agents found a large number of reptiles, including at least one cobra, after a puzzling security scan, AP reports.
Runner-up Huckabee Big Winner in Iowa
Politico
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Aug 12, 2007 9:18 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee was a surprise winner in Iowa's straw poll yesterday when he came in a strong second, which may have catapulted him into the top tier. He pulled 18.1% of the vote to Mitt Romney’s 31.5%. Huckabee's performance is particularly impressive given that he spent almost no money on the race, report's Politico's Roger...
Garcia DQed for Math Error
Los Angeles Times
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Aug 12, 2007 8:15 AM CDT
(Newser) -
An error on a scorecard he signed caused Sergio Garcia to be disqualified from the PGA Championship in Tulsa, the culmination of a nightmare 2007 for him. The Spaniard's partner, Boo Weekley, misrecorded Garcia's 17th hole as a 4 when it was a 5. Had Garcia remained, he would have ended the day at a 9-over 219.
Obama: the Accidental Candidate
Washington Post
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Aug 12, 2007 7:58 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Barack Obama’s rapid ascent to top-tier presidential candidate was the stuff of lucky break after lucky break, as quiet charisma and other people’s sex scandals catapulted him to the top, the Washington Post reports. It was a chance opening that first took him to Chicago and chance again that opened up a US Senate seat from Illinois....
Blood Raises New Fears Maddy Was Murdered
Associated Press
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Aug 12, 2007 7:57 AM CDT
(Newser) -
New evidence of blood in the Portuguese hotel room where little Madeleine McCann was kidnapped while her family was on vacation has raised fears among police that she was killed, reports the AP. Blood traces found on the walls are currently being analyzed in Britain, according to a Portuguese investigator, who said they give new "intensity"...
BlackBerries Save Vacations for Bankers With Sand
Financial Times (UK)
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Aug 12, 2007 6:45 AM CDT
(Newser) -
As the volatile global markets continue to burn investors, tan-fan investment bankers are managing to keep tabs on crisis-threatened portfolios and still rack up required hours on the beach—with the help of their BlackBerries. The devices have become as de riguer as umbrellas and suntan oil on sands from New York to the Riviera.
Consumers Scramble for Cage-Free Eggs
New York Times
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Aug 12, 2007 6:13 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The hottest new trend to hit the food industry is the cage-free egg, laid by ostensibly happier chickens allowed the run of large barns, the NY Times reports. Mega-brands like Whole Foods and Ben and Jerry’s now use only cage-free eggs, and even Burger King is switching, but overheated demand is beginning to outstrip supply.
Bush, Sarko Melt Chill in Maine
Washington Post
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Aug 12, 2007 5:44 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Praise from a vacationing French President Nicolas Sarkozy and a down-home welcome from President Bush to the family compound in Maine this weekend signaled a radical switch in the tense relations between the two nations. The leaders were relaxed and affable with one another as they boated, chatted and chomped on hotdogs and burgers at Kennebunkport.
Woods Tees Up Victory in Tulsa
Associated Press
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Aug 11, 2007 9:32 PM CDT
(Newser) -
After an historic 7-under 63 at Southern Hills, Tiger Woods had no problem holding his lead in the third round of the PGA Championship today, even with a decidedly average 1-under 69. Woods will go into the final with a three-stroke lead over Stephen Ames—a position in which he's never lost a major.
Romney Wins Straw Poll
Washington Post
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Aug 11, 2007 8:54 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Mitt Romney has won the Iowa straw poll, widely regarded as a colander for presidential hopefuls, the Washington Post reports. Romney beat out a field of conservatives in the non-binding vote in Ames, but left-lilting frontrunner Rudy Giuliani had already bowed out of the race.
'War Czar' Concerned Over Troop Stress, Mulls Draft
NPR
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Aug 11, 2007 5:36 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Washington’s “War Czar” admits that it makes sense to a consider a military draft to relieve soldiers of repeated deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute tells NPR that the pressure point will come in spring, when Bush will have to juggle the nation's military needs versus the strain that wars are putting on US...
Rescuers See 'Survivable Space' in Mine
Associated Press
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Aug 11, 2007 4:40 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A camera lowered into a Utah mine where six men are stranded showed a 5 1/2-foot “survivable space” today but little else, the AP reports. Rescuers pulled out the video camera to protect it from flowing water and install another lens, hoping for a wider angle on the cavity—while another, smaller hole was being used to pump oxygen...
FTC Subpoenas Food Giants on Marketing to Kids
Adweek
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Aug 11, 2007 4:33 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The FTC dealt out 44 subpoenas yesterday to food companies, including McDonald's, Coca-Cola, and Kraft, seeking information on how much they spent on advertising to kids. The businesses have until November 1 to comply for a report the FTC is preparing for Congress on marketing practices and child obesity.
Big Ben Silenced for Repairs
Guardian (UK)
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Aug 11, 2007 4:14 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The world’s most famous clock chimed its last tones of August at 8 AM this morning, and its hands were set to 12:00. Though it will soon tell time again, Big Ben will be silent for at least a month as it undergoes maintenance, the Guardian reports. This morning Londoners watched the work begin, as a group of "industrial rope access technicians"...
Big Boys Do Cry
Reuters
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Aug 11, 2007 4:03 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Japan's Sumo Association forbid a Mongolian wrestler from returning home after the ponderous athlete was in tears—diagnosed with a near breakdown. The organization, which suspended defending champion Asashoryu from two tournaments, said it wants the bawling behemoth to seek treatment at a Japanese hospital, against his doctor’s orders that...
NASA Eyes Endeavor Damage
Associated Press
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Aug 11, 2007 4:01 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Endeavour's astronauts finished their first spacewalk today by installing a 2-ton beam on the back of the international space station, the AP reports. Meanwhile NASA engineers inspected troubling images of a gash in shuttle Endeavour’s heat shield caused, they believe, by an ice chunk that flew off the fuel tank.
Gay Brothers Studied for Clues to Sexual Preference
Chicago Tribune
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Aug 11, 2007 3:46 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A team of Chicago-based scientists is conducting a large-scale study of gay brothers to learn more about the genetic factors involved in sexual orientation. Similar studies have been too small to be conclusive; this time, scientists recruited 1,000 pairs—10 times the size of previous studies— to contribute DNA samples.
Comet Dust Will Light Sky
Discovery News
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Aug 11, 2007 1:46 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Comet debris will light up the sky tomorrow night and Monday morning with shooting stars as Earth passes through the Perseid meteor shower. For the best view, pick a dark spot away from city lights and look east, says the Discovery Channel. "It's going to be a great show," a NASA expert advises. The showers will start around 9 PM EDT tomorrow...
Taliban to Free 2 Hostages
Associated Press
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Aug 11, 2007 1:41 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The Taliban will release two South Korean hostages who have become sick after nearly a month of captivity in Afghanistan. The announcement came during talks between the militant group and South Korean emissaries, but hasn't been confirmed by international groups monitoring the situation.
Danes Join Scramble for Arctic
Toronto Star (Canada)
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Aug 11, 2007 1:20 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A Danish expedition is set to head for the Arctic tomorrow, joining the scramble to claim polar territories. A team of 40 scientists and massive icebreakers are heading north to prove that a 2,000-kilometer underwater mountain range stretching to the pole is an extension of Greenland, and accordingly belongs to Denmark. But Canada and Russia are also...
Congress Spooked Into Passing Broad Spying Law
New York Times
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Aug 11, 2007 1:01 PM CDT
(Newser) -
It was a closed-door briefing last month, in which lawmakers were told of a stunning drop in intelligence, that suddenly broke the Democratic opposition to a new spying bill passed last week, the New York Times reports. The Times does a post mortem on the 11th hour passage of the bill—one Democrats had resisted for months—that broadens...
New Line: Lord of the Rings or Last Action Hero?
Los Angeles Times
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Aug 11, 2007 12:01 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The movie business' sepia-haired stepchild New Line Cinema fired its chief marketing officer this week—signaling that execs are blistering for fundamental change. After 40 years, New Line has lost its cutting-edge credibility to the Indies, and is ranked dead last in box-office revenue among the majors, the LA Times reports.
Safety Worries Hounded Miners: Source
CNN
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Aug 11, 2007 11:30 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The area of the Utah mine where six men are stranded was a source of worries about safety before Monday's collapse, but miners didn’t speak up for fear of losing their jobs, a source tells CNN. “I’ve never heard of that,” the mining company president said. “It's probably a rumor, and I'm not going to respond to rumors.”
Police Nab Suspects In NBA Robberies
ESPN
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Aug 11, 2007 11:00 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Police have arrested four men who are charged in connection with the armed robberies of NBA players Antoine Walker and Eddy Curry. Last month's crimes were similar in execution—armed men broke into the athletes' Chicago-area homes, tied them up, and held them at gunpoint while stealing jewelry, cash, and more, the AP reports.
Make Your Workout Work for You
Newsweek
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Aug 11, 2007 10:02 AM CDT
(Newser) -
All that work, and still no six-pack? Newsweek tips you off to six ways you may be hurting your results—and your body. Reading while exercising: You need focus for results. Excessive sweating: Losing water weight is not the same as losing fat. Skipping resistance training: Lift for long-term results.
