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.
US Poverty Rate Dips, but Uninsured Swell
Washington Post
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Aug 29, 2007 4:30 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The US poverty rate has finally taken a downturn for the first time in 10 years, census figures show. The poverty rate was 12.3% in 2006, down from 12.6% the previous year, and annual household income rose to $48,200. But the news isn't all rosy: the number of people without health insurance soared to a record 47 million, and income inequality has...
Documents Link QB Couch to Steroids
Yahoo
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Aug 29, 2007 3:19 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Former Jaguar Tim Couch ingested human growth hormone and anabolic steroids to recover from a shoulder injury and help him bounce back from a three-year hiatus with the NFL, charges a source close to the quarterback's former nutritionist . Documents outlining Couch's drug regimen were obtained by Yahoo Sports.
Howard Lifts Phillies Over Mets 4-2
Associated Press
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Aug 29, 2007 2:17 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Ryan Howard's 10th-inning walk-off homer handed Philadelphia a 4-2 win over the Mets last night, lifting the Phillies to within four games of New York in the National League East. Though a two-run shot from Carlos Delgado gave the Mets an early lead, clutch hits from Jimmy Rollins and Aaron Rowand set the stage for Howard's extra-inning fireworks.
Yanks Topple Boston 5-3
Hartford Courant (Conn.)
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Aug 28, 2007 11:06 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The Yankees downed Boston 5-3 last night in the first of a crucial three-game series. Andy Pettitte was masterful for New York, surrendering six hits in seven innings, while the Bombers hammered Boston hurler Daisuke Matsuzaka. Johnny Damon's tie-breaking homer in the seventh handed closer Mariano Rivera a two-run lead, and the Yankee ace blanked Boston...
10 Modern Chicago Masterpieces
Chicago Magazine
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Aug 28, 2007 9:34 PM CDT
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In a city known for its early 20th Century buildings, Chicago Magazine names 10 early 21st Century masterpieces, boasting that these structures make Chicago "a global epicenter of architecture." GARY COMER YOUTH CENTER (2006) John Ronan Architects, 7200 South Ingleside Avenue STATE STREET VILLAGE (2003) Murphy/Jahn...
Americans Own 30% of World's Guns
Reuters
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Aug 28, 2007 9:05 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Americans form the biggest gun-toting posse on Earth, Reuters reports, boasting a high 90 firearms per 100 noncombatants. Other countries lag behind on a per capita basis: Yemen takes second with 61 per 100 and Finland places a surprising third with 56 for every 100 civilians. Many poor countries, like Nigeria, rank low on the list despite their reputation...
Average SAT Score Slips Again
Associated Press
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Aug 28, 2007 9:01 PM CDT
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The average SAT score for 2007 was the lowest in years, but that's not necessarily bad news. Scores from round two of the revamped college-entrance exam declined an average of seven points nationwide, which the College Board chalks up to greater participation, particularly among students who weren't on a traditional college-prep path, the AP reports.
Love Fades with Last Rays of Summer
ABC News
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Aug 28, 2007 8:06 PM CDT
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The romance of summer ends in a “bonanza for divorce lawyers,” experts say, as couples release pent-up anger and decide to call it quits. Many spouses prefer not to disrupt summer vacations, or they enjoy “extracurricular activities” when one spends time apart at a summer home. But as the leaves fall, relationships also come...
Diana’s Boys Became Windsor Men
Reuters
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Aug 28, 2007 6:52 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Ten years after princes William and Harry walked behind their mother’s casket to Westminster Abbey, flanked by a cheating father whose ascension to the throne was distasteful to many and an uncle who predicted a royal implosion, the House of Windsor has been solidly rebuilt. And it is in no small part due to the loyalty and appeal of the boys,...
Edwards Vows to Ax Hacks
Reuters
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Aug 28, 2007 6:49 PM CDT
(Newser) -
John Edwards added a little stand-up to his routine yesterday, drawing laughter from a New Orleans university crowd as he proposed a law against political hacks running amok in Washington. He called it “Brownie’s Law,” referring to FEMA’s Michael Brown—and Bush’s back-slapping remark: "Brownie, you're doing...
Cancer Cures Hiding in Poisonous Lake
Wired
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Aug 28, 2007 6:47 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Two scientists may be fishing cancer cures out of an abandoned, poisonous lake, Wired reports. Don and Andrea Stierle are finding microbes in the green goup of an old Montana pit lake that don’t exist anywhere else – and happen to make compounds that inhibit a lung cancer and an ovarian cancer. So far Big Pharma hasn’t taken enough...
Jury Splits on Abu Ghraib Verdict
Washington Post
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Aug 28, 2007 6:21 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A military jury today acquitted Army Lt. Col. Steven Jordan, the only officer charged in the Abu Ghraib prison scandal, of three charges relating to widespread prisoner abuse that led to global denunciations of US involvement in Iraq. Jordan was found guilty of one count of “willfully disobeying” a senior officer by discussing the investigation...
Honda Hybrids Dying to Catch Up with Prius
Newsweek
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Aug 28, 2007 5:42 PM CDT
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Honda rolled out America's first hybrids a few years ago, but now they're scrambling to reclaim the roads after Toyota out-greened them with the enviro-hip Prius. What happened? Honda’s stylin’ was so “Civic” that nobody knew their drivers were commuting to save the world. If you can't show off your green creds, one analyst...
Craig: 'I Am Not Gay'
Idaho Statesman
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Aug 28, 2007 5:35 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Larry Craig apologized this afternoon—for "the cloud placed over Idaho," not for the disorderly conduct to which he pleaded guilty after being busted in a Minneapolis airport men's room. "I did nothing wrong," said the Republican Senator, who addressed the media in Boise with his wife at his side. "I am not gay, I never...
SPCA Calls Off the Dogs on Britney
People
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Aug 28, 2007 5:21 PM CDT
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Britney Spears is out of the doghouse with the SPCA. The society's LA chapter has dropped its investigation into her dog's broken leg, People reports. The investigation followed reports that the Yorkie wasn't being treated for the injury. But the dog's vet reported that everything was just fine.
AT&T to Shift All Ad Work to 1 Agency
Advertising Age
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Aug 28, 2007 4:50 PM CDT
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AT&T plans to turn its decentralized media buying and planning over to one advertising agency, and the five incumbents are in the running for the business, which Advertising Age values at $3.345 billion for 2006. The telecom giant, the second-largest advertiser in the nation, says it is “pleased with the work” of all its agencies...
US Apologizes For Insensitive Soccer Balls
Fox News
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Aug 28, 2007 4:16 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The US military apologized to Afghans today for soccer balls it distributed to young Muslim Beckhams in “good will.” The balls sported the Saudi flag, which carries the Islamic declaration of faith—including the names of Allah and Muhammad. An Afghan governor said villagers wanted to demonstrate against the US for suggesting their...
Stocks Plummet on Rate Worries
MarketWatch
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Aug 28, 2007 4:05 PM CDT
(Newser) -
US stocks tumbled for the second day in a row after Fed minutes drained widespread hope of a rate cut next month, exacerbating slumps in consumer confidence and home values. The Dow dropped 185 to close at 13,135.5, the S&P was off 24.6 at 1,442.17, and the Nasdaq fell 43.1 to 2,518.20.
Nowak to Argue Temporary Insanity
Orlando Sentinel
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Aug 28, 2007 4:01 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Former astronaut Lisa Nowak will plead temporary insanity if she goes to trial on kidnapping and assault charges next month. A notice her lawyer filed today says she was experiencing a major depressive disorder when she attacked her ex-lover's girlfriend at the Orlando airport in February, the Sentinel reports.
China Unleashes Web Cops
Associated Press
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Aug 28, 2007 3:43 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Beijing police have an answer for Internet users who might be tempted to gamble or watch the Paris Hilton sex video: an animated officer who moves across your screen in a virtual car, motorcycle or on foot while admonishing you to steer clear of illegal content. The cartoon alerts will appear every half-hour on China’s 13 main portals starting...
Castro Casts Lot With Clinton-Obama
Reuters
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Aug 28, 2007 3:27 PM CDT
(Newser) -
One week after both Democratic hopefuls called for democracy in Cuba, Fidel Castro has called a Hillary Clinton-Barack Obama ticket “apparently unbeatable.” A Granma editorial attributed to the ailing revolutionary—who is rumored to be dead—says the US opposition he’s faced over the years is fodder for Florida’s...
Mormons Ponder ‘Big Love’ in the Hereafter
Newsweek
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Aug 28, 2007 2:55 PM CDT
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"'Til death us do part” sounds like enough of a commitment, but a loophole has Mormon women wondering if they’ll spend eternity with their husbands … and their second wives. Mormon marriage “seals” a couple, binding them and their children together forever in heaven, but widowed men can remarry, creating more than...
Consumer Confidence Plunges
Bloomberg
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Aug 28, 2007 2:35 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Consumer confidence dived in August to its lowest level since right after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Though not as steep as expected, the drop reflects the squeeze stock market uncertainty and lower home values are putting on Americans' wallets and peace of mind, Bloomberg reports. "The things that are weighing on the consumer are getting pretty...
With Gonzo Gone, Whither W?
USA Today
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Aug 28, 2007 2:19 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Alberto Gonzales leaves the Justice Department swamped with scandal and doubt, and the White House in a pall of uncertainty. Bush is finally unburdened of one of his administration's biggest targets, but is also increasingly alone as his closest advisers evaporate. And the confirmation hearings for Gonzales' replacement could turn into a confrontation...
Iran is Ready to Fill Power Vacuum in Iraq
Associated Press
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Aug 28, 2007 2:12 PM CDT
(Newser) -
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in a speech today that Iran is ready to fill a coming power vacuum in Iraq. "The political power of the occupiers is collapsing rapidly," said the leader, who earlier this month assured Nouri al-Maliki that Iran would be happy to help stabilize Iraq after a US pullout.
China's Malls Beg for Shoppers
Christian Science Monitor
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Aug 28, 2007 1:44 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The malls keep going up in China, but the number of mallrats isn't keeping up with them. Indications abound of retail real-estate bubble, the Christian Science Monitor reports, but warnings to banks about loaning to malls aren’t halting new construction. Consumption is only 37% of Chinese output—half the US rate—as citizens with...
Mile-High City Expects Baby Blizzard
ABC Denver
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Aug 28, 2007 1:17 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Nine months after a pair of blizzards shut in Denver residents for days, doctors are preparing for a flurry of baby deliveries, the local ABC affiliate reports. One hospital is expecting a 20% increase in deliveries this October—and doctors point to the "cabin fever" that swept the city after 61 straight days of snow on the ground beginning...
Cruising Senator Has Been Tough on Gay Rights
Carpetbagger Report Blog
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Aug 28, 2007 1:07 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Idaho's outed senator has long wielded his political power against gay rights, and gay advocates, having heard whispers for years, have been keeping track. Larry Craig, whose arrest for cruising in a Minneapolis airport bathroom was made public yesterday, opposes civil unions, gays in the military, and the extension of hate crime law to prosecute violence...
In China, Yahoo Names Names
San Francisco Chronicle
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Aug 28, 2007 1:05 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Yahoo asked a US federal court yesterday to dismiss a human rights lawsuit accusing the company of abetting the Chinese government. Two imprisoned Chinese journalists accuse the Web giant of passing along information about users that led to the arrest, imprisonment, and sometimes torture of writers and dissidents, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Family Pleads: Don't Buy CDs
Guardian (UK)
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Aug 28, 2007 12:41 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The continuing drama surrounding "Rehab" singer Amy Winehouse took a bizarre new turn this morning when her in-laws, in an plea broadcast on the BBC, begged fans not to buy her records. Her husband's parents called for a boycott to force the couple into rehab, the Guardian reports. "One of them, if not both of them, eventually will...
It's Bon Voyage for Noriega
Miami Herald
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Aug 28, 2007 12:33 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Former dictator of Panama Manuel Noriega will be extradited to France to serve ten more years of jail time. Noriega has done 18 years in a Miami prison, and will be released for good behavior next month. He faces money laundering charges in France, but had asked to return to Panama—despite possibly facing even more jail time there.
Rain Foils Mine Camera Drop
Salt Lake Tribune
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Aug 28, 2007 12:11 PM CDT
(Newser) -
An 8-inch robotic camera’s descent down a 1,415-foot borehole in the collapsed Crandall Canyon Mine was cut short yesterday by several hours of steady rain, the Salt Lake Tribune reports. The weather blocked positioning of equipment needed to drop the camera, as well as preparations for a seventh borehole, in the search for the miners who have...
Britain Defies US on Iraq Pullout
Times (UK)
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Aug 28, 2007 11:48 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The UK foreign secretary has challenged American criticism, asserting that only his government will dictate the pace and timing of a British withdrawal from Iraq. David Miliband responded to allegations from a retired US general that the UK army must step up efforts in Basra. "The British national interest," not wider coalition success, will...
Home Prices Show Record Drop
Bloomberg
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Aug 28, 2007 11:21 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The credit market is continuing to weigh on economic indicators, Bloomberg reports, as home prices and consumer confidence both notched records in their downward swoon. A report released today showed home values down an unprecedented 3.2% in the second quarter. Consumer confidence this month fell to its lowest levels in two years.
Wal-Mart's Low Prices Even Attract Wayward Emus
Associated Press
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Aug 28, 2007 11:01 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Consumer advocates have been pecking at Wal-Mart for exporting jobs overseas, but yesterday an overseas import returned the favor. A three-year-old emu named Myron wound up in the big-box store’s parking lot after being chased from a local farm by a coyote, the AP reports. The owner said he wasn’t surprised when police phoned around 6 a.m....
New Vegas Takes Root in Macao
New York Times
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Aug 28, 2007 10:31 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Casino developers are sinking staggering amounts of money into making Macao the new Las Vegas. Economic unrest be damned—the immense $2.4 billion Venetian hotel and casino complex that opened today is only the first of dozens to come. But some worry that there aren't enough Chinese high rollers to sustain the boom, the Times reports.
I Now Pronounce You Knight and Knight
LiveScience
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Aug 28, 2007 9:41 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The 21st-century social and political trend of same-sex civil unions has roots that go back a bit beyond Stonewall—to the Middle Ages. A history professor who analyzed legal documents and gravesites says medieval law was flexible enough to allow for a variety of non-nuclear family structures, including gay unions, LiveScience reports.
Turkish Army Blasts Incoming President
BBC
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Aug 28, 2007 8:50 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Turkey is heading for a showdown over the relation of the state and Islam as Abdullah Gul, who has been the subject of bitter protests, was named president of Turkey in a parliamentary election today. The nomination of Gul, the foreign minister and a practicing Muslim whose wife wears a head scarf, led to massive secularist protests across Turkey last...
Carmelo Leads US to Another FIBA Win
Associated Press
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Aug 28, 2007 8:42 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The US continued its domination of the FIBA Americas Tournament last night, beating Mexico, 127-100, despite holding only a 15-point lead—its smallest so far—at halftime. The Mexican team, led by former Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson, outscored the US in the second quarter. "They just played every second of the game," said a...
Idaho Paper Spills Years of Dirt on Craig
Idaho Statesman
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Aug 28, 2007 8:22 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The Idaho Statesman today released the results of a five-month investigation into charges of sexual improprieties against Sen. Larry Craig—including an encounter in a Washington, D.C., train station described to the paper by the other man. The paper held the story for months after Craig denied the allegations. The senator's guilty plea Aug....
Deal Reached on Hostages
CNN
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Aug 28, 2007 8:14 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Talks between the Taliban and the South Korean government have resulted in the outline of a deal to release the remaining 19 hostages held in Afghanistan for over a month. The agreement involves withdrawal of Korea's 200 noncombat troops and an end to missionary activity, CNN reports, but not payment of ransom. Their release may not be imminent.
Heart Meds May Work Against Alzheimer's
Time
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Aug 28, 2007 7:48 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The best medicine for Alzheimer's disease may be a heart drug, researchers say, and the discovery may shed light on the way the devastating disorder acts on the brain. Subjects taking popular statin-based cholesterol meds developed fewer protein deposits in their brains, reports Time , possibly confirming suspicions that Alzheimer’s is more...
Anti-Terror Squads Probe Fires
BBC
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Aug 28, 2007 7:17 AM CDT
(Newser) -
As fires continues to ravage Greece, the government has used anti-terrorist forces to question 32 suspects arrested for alleged arson. New fires continue to break out, and Greek authorities are now offering a $2 milion reward to catch arsonists. The blazes have killed at least 60 people since Friday and Greece remains in a state of emergency.
Dodgers Best Nationals, 5-4
Los Angeles Times
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Aug 28, 2007 7:16 AM CDT
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Derek Lowe gave up three homers to the Nationals last night, but the Dodgers' bats gave him enough run support to improve his season record to 11-11. Jeff Kent ignited two rallies just a day after being hit in the head by a pitch, and Juan Pierre went two for four with his 52nd stolen base of the season.
Afghanistan Supplies 93% of World's Opiates
BBC
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Aug 28, 2007 6:47 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Afghanistan's opium production has soared over the last year and the country now supplies 93% of the world's opiates. Most of the poppies are grown along the country's southern border with Pakistan, where the insurgency is strong, security is weak, and the Taliban continues to use its drug profits to buy guns and keep itself running, reports the BBC.
Bears' Briggs Charged in Car Crash
Chicago Tribune
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Aug 28, 2007 6:32 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Bears linebacker Lance Briggs has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident after police found a wrecked and abandoned 2007 Lamborghini Murcielago yesterday on an Illinois highway. Briggs, 26, admitted he abandoned the car, posted $100 bond, and will appear in court in October to face the misdemeanor charge, the Tribune reports.
US Steel Buys Canadian Rival
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
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Aug 28, 2007 6:02 AM CDT
(Newser) -
US Steel's agreement to buy Canadian competitor Stelco for $1.1 billion, making it the world's fifth-largest steelmaker, is the company's second major acquisition this year, but not necessarily the last, CEO John Surma said yesterday. In the face of breakneck growth by Indian and Russian steel producers, the Pittsburgh giant has sought to consolidate...
Va. Tech Never Knew of Shooter's Disorder
Washington Post
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Aug 28, 2007 5:28 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Fairfax County school officials knew that the outcast student who shot dead 32 people at Virginia Tech had selective mutism, a serious social anxiety disorder that prevented him from speaking in many situations. But federal privacy laws blocked disclosure of that information to Virginia Tech, reports the Washington Post .
Astros Dump Manager Garner, GM Purpura
Houston Chronicle
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Aug 28, 2007 5:13 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The Astros released manager Phil Garner and general manager Tim Purpura yesterday, temporarily replacing them with bench coach Cecil Cooper and the president of operations Tal Smith. The Astros, who have sunk to 58-73 under Garner and Purpura, are tied with Pittsburgh for last place in the National League Central, and owner Drayton McLane says it's...
Tall John Isner Makes a Stand at US Open
Associated Press
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Aug 28, 2007 5:13 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Six-foot-nine John Isner won his first Grand Slam match yesterday, downing Finland's Jarkko Nieminen 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5), 6-4 in the first round of the US Open. The recent college grad, 22, packs a huge service game with his lofty stature, and his 140 mph offerings and 34 aces were the key differential in an otherwise close bout.
