Newser Story Index from September, 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.
GOP Top Dogs Take Different Paths on Trail
New York Times
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Sep 23, 2007 2:12 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The race for the GOP nomination remains unsettled, with evangelical voters yet to pick a favorite and Thompson's late entry failing to capture the Republican imagination. Contenders are adopting radically distinct strategies to establish some clarity, the New York Times reports. But the race isn't about to "sugar off" between two candidates,...
Iguanas Smuggled in Fake Leg
BBC
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Sep 23, 2007 1:44 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Three endangered iguanas were brought into the US illegally in a special compartment inside a man's removable prosthetic leg. The Fiji Island Banded Iguana were stolen by Californian Jereme James from a nature preserve in Fiji in 2002. US Fish and Wildlife service began an investigation after a tip-off that he kept the exotic creatures in his...
Florida Dems to Stick With Jan. 29 Primary
Associated Press
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Sep 23, 2007 1:05 PM CDT
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Defiant Florida Democrats are poised to flout national party rules and push forward with a state primary on Jan. 29. The move means the DNC will strip Florida of its 210 nominating convention delegates and major Democratic candidates will not campaign in the state, reports the AP. "I'm not concerned with the DNC," one Florida party leader...
Red Sox Bag Playoff Berth
Associated Press
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Sep 23, 2007 12:47 PM CDT
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The Red Sox became the first team to clinch a playoff spot last night with an 8-6 win over Tampa Bay. Boston trailed 6-5 heading into the ninth but got homers from Jason Varitek and Julio Lugo. The only question now is whether Boston will get the wild-card spot or hold off the Yanks to win the division.
McCanns' Own Request Led to Questioning
Guardian (UK)
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Sep 23, 2007 12:35 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Kate and Gerry McCann's request that Portuguese police go back over evidence in the case of their daughter's disappearance led investigators to suspect them, reports the Guardian . The sniffer dogs brought in detected the "scent of death" on Kate's clothes, and new DNA evidence seemed to indicate that Madeleine's body had been in the McCanns'...
Mukasey Is No Gonzales
Los Angeles Times
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Sep 23, 2007 12:05 PM CDT
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Michael Mukasey, President Bush's candidate to succeed embattled Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, has an independent streak that could end up changing the way the Justice Department is run. This could make things sticky for Bush in dealing with the congressional probes into activities under the previous AG's reign, suggests the Los Angeles Times....
Iran to West: Don't Even Think About It
Reuters
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Sep 23, 2007 11:38 AM CDT
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In a parade flanked by missiles and homegrown fighter jets, Iran unequivocally responded to the West's indirect threats of force against the Islamic nation's nuclear ambitions: "Our message to the enemies is: Do not do it," said the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guard. "They will regret it, as they are regretting it in Iraq."
Surfers Riding Welfare Wave
BBC
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Sep 23, 2007 11:10 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Getting surfers off the beach and into the job market is a top priority for Australia's conservative government. The country is enjoying its lowest unemployment rate in years, just above 4%, but it seems a disproportionate number of those receiving welfare benefits live in sunny coastal areas with more opportunities for catching waves than jobs,...
British Schools Crack Down on 'Cyberbullying'
BBC
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Sep 23, 2007 10:42 AM CDT
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England's education chief wants schools to put their digital foot down when it comes to “cyberbullying.” The schools should confiscate mobile phones when necessary and pull down hurtful material from websites, the BBC reports. The schools chief called cyberbullying a particularly “insidious” form of abuse because it follows...
Dalai Visits Germany; China Irked
BBC
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Sep 23, 2007 10:10 AM CDT
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel will meet today with the Dalai Lama, even as China responded by canceling meetings in Munich. The Chinese government, which governs Tibet, derided the meeting as part of the Dalai Lama's agenda to promote Tibetan independence. BBC reports the Germans were unmoved: "The meeting will take place, the invitation stands,...
Musharraf Collars Leaders of Opposition
Associated Press
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Sep 23, 2007 9:41 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Pakistani police began rounding opposition leaders up into "preventive custody" yesterday to keep them from interfering with President Pervez Musharraf's bid for re-election. Many detained were outspoken supporters of Nawaz Sharif, whom Musharraf overthrew in 1999. Warrants seek to incarcerate anti-Musharraf leaders who might incite ...
Zara Bags Swastika Purses
Reuters
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Sep 23, 2007 9:37 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Spanish fashion company Zara has withdrawn an entire line of handbags from stores after a British customer complained that swastikas were stitched into the corners. Zara officials said the original design did not include the offending symbols and they were unaware that they had become part of the handbag. The purses were manufactured in India,...
Case of Bluetongue Has UK Farmers on High Alert
BBC
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Sep 23, 2007 9:26 AM CDT
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The discovery of bluetongue—an insect-borne illness that has killed livestock throughout Europe—in a cow on a rare breed farm in Britain yesterday was devastating news to a cattle industry already staggering from waves of foot-and-mouth outbreaks.Tests are underway to determine if England's first case had spread to any other animals, reports...
Security Guards Will Be Charged
CNN
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Sep 23, 2007 8:54 AM CDT
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Iraqi officials will file criminal charges against the employees of Blackwater, the private security firm involved in the shooting deaths of Iraqi civilians last Sunday, CNN reports. How such charges would be levied and trials held remain to be seen, as the US government has claimed that the Iraqis have no jurisdiction over private security contractors....
Panhandler Reunited With Missing Dog
Chicago Tribune
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Sep 23, 2007 7:50 AM CDT
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A now famous Chicago panhandler said he was "speechless" yesterday during his ecstatic reunion with his 12-year-old mutt, Reba. A sympathetic public mobilized into action last week after learning that Tom Finley had lost Reba and was too upset to eat or sleep, the Chicago Tribune reports. A reward was offered, streets were plastered...
Mime Marcel Marceau Is Dead
Associated Press
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Sep 23, 2007 6:57 AM CDT
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The world's most famous mime, Marcel Marceau, died yesterday in Paris at 84. The beloved French performer traveled the globe to entertain millions with the agile movements of his dancer's body and the joy and pathos of his white-face expressions. "Mime, like music, knows neither borders nor nationalities," he once said. Uttering not a word...
Fukuda to Be Japan's Next Prime Minister
BBC
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Sep 23, 2007 6:40 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Moderate lawmaker Yasuo Fukuda has beaten out hawkish former foreign minister Taro Aso in a ruling party vote for the leader of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party, paving the way for his appointment as prime minister. Former PM Shinzo Abe vacated the post following a series of mistakes and scandals. Fukuda, the dovish son of a previous prime minister,...
UN Gears for Bigger Role in Iraq
Guardian (UK)
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Sep 23, 2007 6:22 AM CDT
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The United Nations plans to increase its presence in Iraq, but has serious concerns about the "unstable" security situation, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said at a meeting in New York yesterday with Iraq's prime minister. The expanded UN mission would seek to stabilize Iraq by mediating sect rivalries, bolstering humanitarian aid, and encouraging...
Tattoos May Pose Epidural Risk
Wall Street Journal
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Sep 23, 2007 5:07 AM CDT
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Tattooed moms-to-be may have added reason to opt for natural childbirth: Recent studies have investigated the risk of nerve damage resulting from epidural anesthesia. Commonly injected into the lower back, doctors postulate that some women experience inflammation when the needle pushes a small piece of tattoo ink into the nerves outside the spinal...
Do Not Adjust Your Flat Panel TV
Wall Street Journal
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Sep 23, 2007 5:06 AM CDT
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The Wall Street Journal’ s Joe Morgenstern needs you to know that you’re watching your HDTV wrong. Next generation televisions are built for a 16:9 aspect ratio, he explains, so normal TV’s 4:3-formatted programming only looks right when bordered by black boxes. But TV owners who paid a premium for the big sets are stretching images...
Firefighter Settles for $1.5M in Dog Food Case
Los Angeles Times
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Sep 22, 2007 6:11 PM CDT
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An LA firefighter who sued over a meal mixed with dog food has settled with the city for $1.5 million, the Los Angeles Times reports. Fire officials called the dog food incident a prank, but Pierce alleged racism. The city offered $2.7million last year, but Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa vetoed the amount and forced the last fire chief to retire.
Ronald Smiling as Stock Soars
Baltimore Sun
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Sep 22, 2007 5:36 PM CDT
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Ronald McDonald is smiling as his stock soars and critics give grudging respect to his new menus, the AP reports. McDonald’s hasn’t yielded on all fronts – its fries still simmer in trans-fatty cooking oil – but nimble reactions to critics have helped boost the stock from $12 in 2003 to $54.80 yesterday. "Consumers' attention...
Greenies Bank on Worm Poop
CNN
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Sep 22, 2007 4:59 PM CDT
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One company wanting to "make millions while saving the world" is banking on worm poop, using it for eco-friendly fertilizer—though chemical compost still clogs the market, CNN reports. Greenies are boosting the organic fertilizer market by 10% per year, but most homeowners have "failed" the "environmentally responsible"...
3D Pioneer Delivers Lecture of a Lifetime
Wall Street Journal
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Sep 22, 2007 4:33 PM CDT
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The "Last Lecture Series" is an academic task for some, but computer science prof Randy Pausch - who will live only 3 months with pancreatic cancer - took this talk to be literally his last, the Wall Street Journal reports. Yet he was exuberant as he showed photos of his life and admitted to "a deathbed conversion. I just bought a...
'08 Iraq Tab Will Soar to $200B
Los Angeles Times
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Sep 22, 2007 4:25 PM CDT
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After beating down talk of a troop draw down, President Bush will ask Congress next week for nearly $200 billion to fund the war next year—making 2008 the most expensive year yet. The administration had originally sought $147.5 billion, but now seeks an additional $47 billion to fund equipment upgrades and maintain the troop surge, the LA Times...
Burns' War Epic Starts Tomorrow
Seattle Times
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Sep 22, 2007 4:00 PM CDT
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After 7 years and $13 million, Ken Burns' historical documentary The War will start airing tomorrow on PBS. The film centers on people rather than politics or weaponry, the Seattle Times reports: Celebrities and guns can "distract you from an experience of war, of what it was like to be in that war," says Burns, who likes "to see...
Traveling? Uncle Sam is Watching
Washington Post
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Sep 22, 2007 3:39 PM CDT
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The Feds are stockpiling data on millions of Americans as they travel, the Washington Post reports. Civil liberties activists charge Homeland Security with violating the Privacy Act, saying that travel partners, hotel bookings and reading material should not be in the Feds’ database. But Michael Chertoff claims that the data helps unravel terrorist...
Moonie Scion Is Gun Magnate
Portfolio
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Sep 22, 2007 3:20 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The son of aging messianic leader Reverend Sun Myung Moon is the frontrunner to take over the Unification Church. Meantime, he’s built Kahr Arms—which makes some of the smallest and most lethal guns. One of 13 children, young Justin Moon was encouraged to be violent, Portfolio reports, and parlayed a Harvard degree and family money into...
Victim of Bad Heroin Sparks Parkinson's Treatment
Wired
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Sep 22, 2007 3:01 PM CDT
(Newser) -
An addict who developed Parkinson’s-like symptoms from a nasty batch of heroin has helped researchers find a new way to treat the disease. In prison for attempted murder, Toby Govea agreed to be a human guinea pig – and let doctors experiment with “deep brain stimulation," drilling a hole in his head and slipping in a thin electrical...
Gamers Hold Tight for Halo 3
Reuters
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Sep 22, 2007 2:50 PM CDT
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The final installment of the video game juggernaut Halo hits stores Tuesday, and rabid fans are expected to blow away sales records along with pesky invading aliens. Halo 3 will be released at 12:01 a.m., Reuters reports, with hype and sales receipts expected to rival that of Harry Potter and Spider - Man .
Lit Hits the Fan as UK Publishing Feud Heats up
Times (UK)
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Sep 22, 2007 2:25 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The upper rungs of British publishing are reeling in disrepair, after a handful of high-end agents resigned over the last month. At the center of the storm is Pat Kavanagh, wife of Julian Barnes, who left her post at a revered agency after plans for a major buyout went south. When Kavanagh left, a slew of agents followed, the Times reports.
Iraqis Arrest 11 in Anti-Qaeda Leader's Killing
Reuters
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Sep 22, 2007 2:18 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Eleven suspects have been apprehended in the Sept. 13 murder of Abdul Sattar Abu Risha, a Sunni tribal leader largely credited with quelling al-Qaeda violence in turbulent Anbar province, Reuters reports. A security guard "facilitated the entrance of the suicide bomber and we arrested a cell of 11 al-Qaeda members who planned the attack,"...
Ex-President Extradited to Peru for Human Rights Trial
New York Times
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Sep 22, 2007 1:44 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Ex-president Albero Fujimori was extradited today to Peru, where he will face charges related to death-squad killings during his administration's fight against a Maoist uprising, the AP reports. Fujimori seemed unconcerned, touting the “legal armor”—he can only be tried on the two rights charges and five corruption charges specified...
Blackwater May Have Smuggled Weapons in Iraq
BBC
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Sep 22, 2007 1:17 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Controversy-magnet Blackwater USA may have smuggled weapons into Iraq, the BBC reports. Federal prosecutors are investigating charges that employees of the private security firm shipped unlicensed weapons to terrorist groups. Blackwater, blamed for civilian deaths in a Baghdad gunfight last week, confirmed that it fired two employees for...
US Women in World Cup Semis
ESPN
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Sep 22, 2007 12:57 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The US women's soccer team cruised into the semifinals of the World Cup today with a 3-0 win over England, ESPN reports. Abby Wambach, Shannon Boxx, and Kristine Lilly scored three goals in a 12-minute span of the second half. The US, seeking its third title, will face the winner of tomorrow's match between Brazil and Australia on Thursday.
Norway Builds Doomsday Vault for World Seeds
Reuters
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Sep 22, 2007 12:28 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Norway has built a giant vault under an Arctic mountain, where it will preserve seeds from 21 of the world's essential crops in case disaster strikes. The so-called doomsday vault will eventually store 4.5 million seeds from crops such as wheat and rice to use in the wake of a global catastrophe, be it a typhoon or nuclear strike, Reuters reports.
OJ Courted Memorabilia Dealers
Los Angeles Times
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Sep 22, 2007 12:02 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Simpson's involvement with the memorabilia dealers he's accused of robbing began in the cell he sat in days after the 1994 murders of Nicole Simpson and Ronald Goldman. The LA Times reports Simpson asked agent Richard Gilbert to push memorabilia signed behind bars, merchandise he claims Gilbert later stole that Simpson believed was in the hotel room...
Ring, Ring, Ring: Do Not Call List Expires Soon
Time
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Sep 22, 2007 11:35 AM CDT
(Newser) -
If you're one of the millions who registered with the federal Do Not Call list in 2003, expect your phone to start ringing during dinner again soon, Time reports. That's because the FTC made the popular list good for only five years. After that, you have to re-up by visiting donotcallist.gov or calling 888-382-1222.
Hsu Hit With Another Fraud Suit
Los Angeles Times
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Sep 22, 2007 11:03 AM CDT
(Newser) -
In the latest legal woes to befall disgraced fundraiser Norman Hsu, a California investment company filed a lawsuit yesterday claiming he defrauded investors out of $23 million and demanded political contributions as a prerequisite for doing business. The allegations come a day after the feds filed criminal complaints against Hsu, the Los Angeles...
Suu Kyi Greets Protesters in Myanmar
BBC
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Sep 22, 2007 10:34 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The nonviolent protests that have rocked Myanmar got a boost from opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi today as she greeted Buddhist monks outside the house where she has been a prisoner for four years. Guards loosened up the roadblock that has been in place since the protests began and allowed Suu Kyi and the monks a moment of silent prayer together.
Clooney in NJ Motorcycle Crash
CNN
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Sep 22, 2007 10:07 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Former ER star George Clooney found himself back in the hospital—no cameras this time—after breaking a rib and suffering a few scrapes in a motorcycle crash on Friday, reports the AP. The 46-year-old actor was smart enough to wear his helmet but forgot that "You can't pass on the right in Weehawken or anywhere in Jersey."
We Can Grow Human Eggs in the Lab: Docs
Telegraph (UK)
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Sep 22, 2007 9:33 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Doctors in England have developed a new method for growing human eggs in the lab that would allow busy women to delay motherhood for years, the Daily Telegraph reports . The procedure, announced today, involves extracting and treating a tiny piece of a woman's ovary. It improves on current in-vitro fertilization procedures by removing the need for...
Website Helps Speed Sainthood
Bloomberg
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Sep 22, 2007 9:00 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The Vatican has invited followers of John Paul II to offer prayers and donations to boost the process of making him a saint . A website set up for that purpose gives visitors the opportunity to see the late pontiff''s tomb via the 24-hour webcam and request pieces of the popular pope's cassock in return for donations made by credit card. Created...
AIDS Vaccine Fails in Trials
New York Times
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Sep 22, 2007 8:25 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Heavy hopes riding on an HIV vaccine were dashed as the vaccine proved so ineffective in a clinical trial that manufacturer Merck has ended the trial early. The vaccine had shown promise in animal and small-scale human tests but neither prevented nor reduced the severity of infection in a large-scale trial, the New York Times reports.
Ramirez Blasts Keep Cubs Up on Brewers
Associated Press
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Sep 22, 2007 8:00 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Aramis Ramirez blasted two three-run homers last night to help the Cubs beat the Pirates, 13-8, and remain a game and a half up on the Brewers. Ramirez's second homer, his 25th of the season, broke a 7-7 tie in the sixth. Chicago needed the win because second-place Milwaukee beat Atlanta, 4-1.
Historic Deal in Sight for GM and UAW
Wall Street Journal
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Sep 22, 2007 7:32 AM CDT
(Newser) -
After bogging down for several days, talks between General Motors and the UAW got back on track yesterday as automaker and union reps closed in on a historic agreement to shift health-care costs to a union-controlled trust, the Wall Street Journal reports. The two sides are said to have a greed on how much money GM will put into the trust, and on...
Beckett Bags 20th, BoSox Stop Slide
Boston Globe
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Sep 22, 2007 7:21 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Red Sox ace Josh Beckett won his 20th game last night, pulling Boston out of a four-game losing streak and becoming the first pitcher to reach 20 wins since 2005. The 27-year-old Cy Young contender struck out eight and gave up one run in six innings in Boston's 8-1 win over Tampa Bay, reports the Boston Globe .
Try Camping—Sans Roughing It
Los Angeles Times
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Sep 22, 2007 7:12 AM CDT
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If "four seasons" makes you think of a hotel chain, glamping ("glam" and "camping") may be as close to Mother Nature as you want to get while not surrendering your hairdryer, writes the Los Angeles Times . At Paws Up in Montana, for example, "rough it" with butler-built fires and chef-prepared bison ribeye dinner.
Castro Returns to Airwaves, Alive and Alert
Associated Press
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Sep 22, 2007 6:32 AM CDT
(Newser) -
"Here I am," Fidel Castro declared in a video aired yesterday on Cuban television, rebutting persistent rumors that he had died after one of his recent surgeries. Wearing the track suit that's become his uniform since his illness last July, Castro went to great lengths to prove that the video was current, holding up the memoir published last...
Britney Charged in Hit and Run
Associated Press
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Sep 22, 2007 6:10 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Britney Spears could be the next Paris Hilton: yesterday the troubled actress was slapped with charges of hit-and-run and driving without a license that could earn her as much as a year in jail. The misdemeanor counts stem from an Aug. 6 incident in which Spears drove into another vehicle in an LA parking lot, checked her own car for damage, and then...
