Newser Story Index from January, 2008
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.
New Home Sales Hit 12-Year Low
Bloomberg
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Jan 28, 2008 1:20 PM CST
(Newser) -
Sales of new homes fell to a 12-year low in December, making 2007 the worst year on record for home sales. Economists had predicted November's numbers wouldn't get much worse; instead, sales decreased 4.7% to an annual rate of 604,000, reports Bloomberg. "We are in deep recession lows now in terms of new home sales and housing starts," says...
Lead Exposure May Speed Mental Decline
Associated Press
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Jan 28, 2008 1:15 PM CST
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Mental decline is widely considered an unavoidable aspect of aging, but a slew of recent studies link reduced functioning in the elderly to past lead exposure, the AP reports. Common pollutants aren't singlehandedly responsible for memory loss or tremors. But breathing or ingesting lead, pesticides, or mercury early in life can trigger these symptoms...
Pakistan Hostage Crisis Ends
CNN
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Jan 28, 2008 1:05 PM CST
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A hostage situation in northwest Pakistan ended peacefully today after gunmen took at least 30 schoolchildren and teachers captive, CNN reports. The hostages were released unharmed and their captors were handed over to a court of tribal elders. Earlier reports said that up to 250 students and teachers were held, but Pakistani police said that most...
IPOs Are Dropping Like Flies
Bloomberg
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Jan 28, 2008 12:40 PM CST
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The subprime flu that’s laid low Wall Street has infected another victim: IPOs. Because of market volatility, 24 IPOs have been shelved this month—the most in a decade, Bloomberg reports. Tommy Hilfiger Corp. highlights a roster of firms that postponed or canceled going public. The largest was Imperium Renewable, a biodiesel producer that...
Qtrax Hits Snags
CNET
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Jan 28, 2008 12:31 PM CST
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Startup Qtrax has been promising free, legal music downloads from all the major labels via an ad-supported site that was supposed to launch this morning. Too good to be true? Maybe. On the eve of its debut, things started to unravel, with Warner, Universal and EMI all denying agreements with the startup, reports CNET.
Kennedys Endorse Obama; JFK Comparisons Fly
Associated Press
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Jan 28, 2008 12:17 PM CST
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Ted Kennedy endorsed Barack Obama today, making repeated references to JFK and calling the Illinois senator someone “who appeals to the hopes of those who still believe in the American dream.” At a Washington, DC, rally, the Camelot heir picked apart Hillary Clinton’s criticisms, saying Obama’s war opposition was beyond challenge...
Aussies in Fold While Queen's on Throne
Reuters
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Jan 28, 2008 12:16 PM CST
(Newser) -
Unlike his firmly monarchist predecessor, Australian PM Kevin Rudd is an enthusiastic republican who would like his country to be independent of the British crown. But Australians won’t be voting on the issue until Queen Elizabeth's reign is over, says the leader of the republican movement. That's because while the majority favor becoming a republic,...
Hillary to Sideline Attack Dog Bill
New York Times
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Jan 28, 2008 12:09 PM CST
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As Hillary Clinton reels from her blowout defeat in South Carolina, Democrats worry that her husband's attacks on Barack Obama may have done irreparable harm to her candidacy—and her aides are preparing to push Bill toward the wings. Step 1 will be returning Bill Clinton to the sunnier presence on display before the Iowa caucuses, reports the...
Super Bowl Ads Take Up Strike Slack
Associated Press
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Jan 28, 2008 11:44 AM CST
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Advertisers are betting big to get their messages across during Sunday's Super Bowl, and the renewal of the annual competition for viewers' eyeballs is especially fierce this year because of the Writers Guild strike, reports the AP. With scripted shows in reruns, advertisers are feeling pressure to get the most out of their spots during, literally,...
Suharto Leaves Complex Legacy
Christian Science Monitor
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Jan 28, 2008 11:20 AM CST
(Newser) -
The death of Suharto, Indonesia's ferociously anti-communist dictator for more than 30 years, leaves islanders ambivalent: On the one hand, he created economic prosperity; on the other, he enriched himself and his cronies, and brutally suppressed opponents, leaving hundreds of thousands imprisoned or dead. "He was 50% good and 50% bad," a...
World Money Chief Calls for Global Action
Financial Times (UK)
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Jan 28, 2008 10:55 AM CST
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With a global recession looming, the head of the IMF has warned bankers meeting in Davos, Switzerland, that lower interest rates alone won’t avert a crisis, the Financial Times reports. Dominique Strauss-Kahn called on governments to follow the US in easing fiscal policies, reversing a quarter-century of emphasis on tight spending. IMF forecasts...
Prof Guilty of Insulting Turkish Founder
BBC
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Jan 28, 2008 10:31 AM CST
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A Turkish court today handed a political science professor a 15-month suspended sentence for insulting the country's founder. Attila Yayla had suggested that Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was not as progressive as official portrayals indicate. The conviction heightens scrutiny of the country's commitment to freedom of expression as it pursues EU membership,...
Wrangle for Delegates Takes Over Primary Race
New York Times
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Jan 28, 2008 10:05 AM CST
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Candidates are taking a much closer look than they used to at the arcane art of winning delegates, not states, in this year’s presidential primaries, reports the New York Times . For the first time in 20 years, the headline-grabbing early races haven’t determined the national outcome, and candidates now face a complex and costly race to...
Slumping Sears Ousts CEO
Wall Street Journal
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Jan 28, 2008 9:39 AM CST
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Sears Holdings CEO Aylwin Lewis will depart as part of company-wide restructuring, the Wall Street Journal reports. Sears stock has plummeted 40% since July, and the retailer's sales were down 3.5% this holiday season. The company, which was created when Kmart Holding Corp. took over Sears in 2005, last week announced a plan to decentralize the chain...
SocGen Trader Charged, Faces 7 Years
Bloomberg
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Jan 28, 2008 9:08 AM CST
(Newser) -
Jérôme Kerviel, the rogue trader who cost France's third-largest bank over $7 billion, was charged with attempted fraud by French authorities today, Bloomberg reports. Abuse of trust, the most serious of four charges, carries a potential 7-year sentence and $1.5-million fine. Police want him kept in custody, to prevent evidence tampering...
Clemens Musters Stats to Counter Steroids Charges
Associated Press
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Jan 28, 2008 8:12 AM CST
(Newser) -
Roger Clemens was not in the “twilight” of his career or "washed up" in the late '90s, a statistical report released by his agents today aims to show, to refute allegations that the hurler used performance-enhancing drugs to rebound. The report compares his stats to other major league pitchers and shows Clemens was already an...
Britain to Offer McQualifications
Guardian (UK)
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Jan 28, 2008 8:11 AM CST
(Newser) -
Gordon Brown parried criticism today for his government's decision to give students school credit for completing a McDonald's "basic shift manager" course, and other entry-level corporate training programs. "It's not that standards are going to fall. It's going to be a tough course," Brown said of the new vocational credential....
Snowstorm Disrupts Chinese Travel, Power
Bloomberg
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Jan 28, 2008 7:14 AM CST
(Newser) -
The biggest snowstorm in 50 years is wreaking havoc with China’s transportation and power-supply infrastructure and triggering widespread shortages the week before the Lunar New Year. Over a foot of snow fell in Nanjing, reports Bloomberg. "We face a very severe situation in ensuring supplies of coal, electricity, oil and transportation,''...
McCain Takes Slim Florida Lead
Reuters
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Jan 28, 2008 7:13 AM CST
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Apparently, Florida Governor Charlie Crist has the golden touch. John McCain rose 3 points overnight in Florida after Crist endorsed him Saturday, pulling ahead of Mitt Romney in the latest Reuters/Zogby poll. Most significantly, McCain wiped out Romney’s 6-point edge amongst conservatives. “One day doesn’t make a trend, but to gain...
Stocks Retreat in Asian, Euro Markets
Reuters
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Jan 28, 2008 5:59 AM CST
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European and Asian markets slid again today as fears that the US is in a recession gained ground—despite efforts to shore up its economy and the likelihood the Fed would cut rates up to 50 basis points this week, reports Reuters. Commodity producers and banks suffered as investors worried about a global slowdown and anticipated more losses tied...
No Country Rules SAG Awards
People
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Jan 28, 2008 5:48 AM CST
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The Coen brothers' powerfully bleak No Country for Old Men captured the honor for best film and best supporting actor huzzahs for Javier Bardem at the Screen Actors Guild's awards ceremony last night. And in a surprise win, stars James Gandolfini and Edie Falco of the now-defunct HBO hit series "The Sopranos" both grabbed best actor honors....
Rogue Trader Bet $73B —Twice SocGen's Worth
Washington Post
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Jan 28, 2008 5:41 AM CST
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Maverick trader Jérôme Kerviel gambled with $73 billion, twice the market value of Société Générale, by stealing computer access codes and setting up fake email accounts, the French bank revealed as new details emerged in one of the biggest scandals in history. One executive also conceded that the "complicty"...
Deadly Violence Erupts in Beirut
AFP
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Jan 28, 2008 5:02 AM CST
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Street protests over power cuts erupted yesterday into deadly violence in Hezbollah strongholds in Beirut with several people killed or wounded—some by sniper fire—as youths torched cars. The Lebanese army mobilized to stop the violence from spreading to Sunni and Christian neighborhoods, reports AFP. Fears of more civil unrest continued...
Bush State of Union to Focus on Economy
CNN
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Jan 28, 2008 4:36 AM CST
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During his final State of the Union address tonight, President Bush isn't expected to announce any dramatic new policy initiatives—but will emphasize the need for government action to ward off a recession. The speech, entitled “Trust and Empower,” will call on Congress to permanently extend his $1.6 trillion in tax cuts. He's also...
Egypt Cuts Supplies to Gazans
Reuters
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Jan 28, 2008 4:07 AM CST
(Newser) -
Thousands of Palestinians streamed back into Gaza yesterday as Egypt cut supplies to the area and attempted again to re-seal the border blasted open by Hamas militants a week ago. Merchants struggled to restock their stores and Palestinians found skyrocketing prices for what supplies were available. Egypt is anxious to stem the tide of undocumented...
Top Mormon Leader Hinckley Dead at 97
Los Angeles Times
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Jan 28, 2008 3:55 AM CST
(Newser) -
Gordon B. Hinckley, at 97 the longest-lived president-prophet in the history of the Mormon church, died yesterday of complications of old age. Hinckley, whose energy and extensive world travels earned comparisons to Pope John Paul II, oversaw his church for 12 years during an era of unprecedented growth, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Ledger's Kin Bid Farewell in LA
The Australian
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Jan 28, 2008 3:35 AM CST
(Newser) -
Actor Heath Ledger's family and friends held a private memorial in Los Angeles Saturday before his body was flown to his native Australia for funeral services. Mourners included his parents, sister Kate, ex-girlfriend actress Michelle Williams—mother of his toddler daughter, Matilda—and another former lover, Naomi Watts, reports the Australian...
Foreign Pro Liz Cheney Joins Romney Campaign
Fox News
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Jan 28, 2008 3:00 AM CST
(Newser) -
GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney’s campaign got an injection of foreign policy expertise yesterday from the vice president’s daughter. Liz Cheney, a State Department official responsible for Mideastern and North African initiatives, will be Romney's senior foreign policy adviser, FOX News reports. Cheney had been a co-chair of Fred...
All-Star Game Has Unlikely Hero
Associated Press
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Jan 27, 2008 11:26 PM CST
(Newser) -
No Crosby, no problem; the East won hockey's 2008 All-Star Game in an 8-7 thriller, with Boston's pass-first forward Marc Savard scoring the game-winner with twenty seconds left on the clock. The East had blown a 5-1 lead, trailing 7-6 midway through the third period; Eric Staal of Carolina had the equalizer.
Duke Heats Up in Second Half, Beats Maryland
Associated Press
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Jan 27, 2008 11:12 PM CST
(Newser) -
Duke overcame its first halftime deficit this season and the loud Maryland crowd, defeating the upset-minded Terrapins 93-84. The nation's No. 4 team nearly had the same fate that its state rival, UNC, experienced against Gary Williams' bunch eight days earlier. But DeMarcus Nelson scored 19 of his 27 points after the break to spark the Blue Devils'...
Fourth Quarter is Dirk Time Against Denver
Associated Press
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Jan 27, 2008 10:21 PM CST
(Newser) -
Dallas's Josh Howard was hot early (12 points in the first quarter), but it was reigning league MVP Dirk Nowitzki who put Denver away late, 90-85. The sharp-shooting Bavarian scored 14 of the Mavericks' final 16 points, including four clutch free throws in the final minute; his 32 points led all scorers. Also in pro hoops:
It's Tiger in a Romp—Again
Associated Press
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Jan 27, 2008 10:10 PM CST
(Newser) -
The rest of the PGA is on notice, after Tiger Woods finished off a dominating win at the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines, also the site of this year's US Open. Woods coasted through the final round with a 1-under 71 to win the event for the fourth straight year—this time by seven shots over Japan's Ryuji Imada.
'Sickening Brutality' Spreads in Kenya
BBC
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Jan 27, 2008 10:06 PM CST
(Newser) -
Ethnic violence and revenge killing continued unchecked in western Kenya today, with at least 17 more people beaten, hacked, or burned to death by mobs engaged in what the BBC correspondent calls "sickening brutality" since last month’s contested presidential election. The death toll is nearing 750, the BBC reports, as former...
Bootless Brady Off to Arizona
Boston Herald
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Jan 27, 2008 9:44 PM CST
(Newser) -
There's been a Tom Brady sighting—and this time he was neither limping nor wearing a boot. The star quarterback and his teammates today took part in a pep rally at Gillette Stadium before leaving for next week's Super Bowl XLII in Arizona. Today he proclaimed himself ready to play, certainly to the delight of Pats fans everywhere.
Hedo Hits the Winner as Magic Beats Boston
Associated Press
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Jan 27, 2008 7:48 PM CST
(Newser) -
Orlando won a clash of division leaders today, 96-93 over Boston, on a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Hedo Turkoglu. The Magic managed to blow a 16-point lead in the fourth quarter but went back ahead on two buckets by Rashard Lewis. With injured Celtic Kevin Garnett sitting out, Dwight Howard was strong inside with 18 points, 16 rebounds. Elsewhere...
Fashion Lovers Grow Weary of Waif Look
Newsweek
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Jan 27, 2008 7:16 PM CST
(Newser) -
Fashion blogs, "Ugly Betty", and other pop staples are nudging the fashion industry to use more real people as models, Newsweek reports. So are YouTube, reality TV, and a slew of designers who make affordable lines for Target and H&M. "People would like to see somebody up there (on the catwalk) who reflects how people on the street...
Michelle Grounds Barack's Vision
Time
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Jan 27, 2008 6:59 PM CST
(Newser) -
Michelle Obama hit the campaign trail full-time last week, and she is proving a formidable force in her own right, Time reports. As Democratic campaigns grow more vicious, presidential hopeful Barack needs someone to lean on—and Michelle’s proud role as a self-proclaimed "working-class girl" who could be "the next first...
Hate Your Computer? Don't Bully Tech Support
ABC News
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Jan 27, 2008 6:40 PM CST
(Newser) -
We've all done it: The computer misbehaves and we vent our frustration on tech support. But the ugliest of these confrontations can have real consequences, ABC reports. What the user sees as just blowing off steam, the tech support pro might experience (and report to superiors) as bullying. Aggravating the problem? People often say things on the phone...
Spartans Conquer Box Office
Variety
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Jan 27, 2008 6:19 PM CST
(Newser) -
Meet the Spartans outfought Rambo to claim top spot this weekend as both flicks knocked down last week's openers, Variety reports. Spartans , a 300 spoof, banked $18.7 million while Sly Stallone's pic scored $18.2 million. 27 Dresses crumpled to third with $13.6 million as horror pic Cloverfield toppled to fourth at $12.7 million, a crushing...
Pakistani Urges US to Oppose Elections
Christian Science Monitor
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Jan 27, 2008 5:54 PM CST
(Newser) -
A Pakistani politician turned heads last week by touting a rare view to US policymakers: Don't back Pakistan's elections. Without an independent judiciary, elections will only hurt the country, Imran Khan warned. He urged lawmakers in New York and Washington to "back the democratic process, by insisting on the reinstatement of the judges, rather...
Florida Starts Fast, Whips No. 14 Vandy
Tennessean
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Jan 27, 2008 5:43 PM CST
(Newser) -
A run of 23 consecutive points and a balanced scoring attack propelled defending national champion Florida (18-3) to an 86-64 win over No. 14 Vanderbilt. Florida led 34-6 after 12 minutes and the Commodores could not recover. Their star scorer, Shan Foster, was held to only seven points, 13 below his season average. "Obviously we were overwhelmed,"...
Woman Seeks $5K Hit Man on Craigslist
Associated Press
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Jan 27, 2008 5:32 PM CST
(Newser) -
A Michigan woman posted a job on Craigslist last year to murder her lover's wife, the FBI announced yesterday. Ann Marie Linscott, 49, put up a generic "freelance" ad but asked responders to "eradicate a female living in Oroville, California" for $5,000. "I've seen some screwy things, but I've personally never heard of anything...
Will Edwards Be Obama's AG?
Chicago Sun-Times
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Jan 27, 2008 5:15 PM CST
(Newser) -
He doesn't have a single primary win yet, but as John Edwards continues his bid for the presidency, rumors are swirling that the trial lawyer is more likely to end up as attorney general in an Obama administration. "Illinois Democrats" have been quietly circulating the rumor, claims Robert Novak, although Edwards' campaign manager told one...
Clean, Kindly Jonas Bros. Are Suddenly Stars
Newsweek
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Jan 27, 2008 4:49 PM CST
(Newser) -
The Jonas Brothers may rock 'n' roll, but they're also sons of a minister and avowed virgins until marriage. Their lack of bad-boy behavior isn't killing sales, though: An upcoming Jonas tour is already almost sold out. Where did these gentle boy banders come from? An appearance on "Hannah Montana," a run opening for her $36 million tour,...
Top 10 Romantic Movie Moments
CNN
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Jan 27, 2008 4:11 PM CST
(Newser) -
There's nothing like these classic scenes of on-screen romance. CNN's Screening Room lists cinema's top 10 romantic moments: Casablanca : Humphrey Bogart's "We'll always have Paris" monologue. City Lights : When Virginia Cherrill recognizes Chaplin's tramp as her lover. Roman Holiday : Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck's...
GOP Will Lose, Unless Hillary Faces McCain
New York Times
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Jan 27, 2008 3:33 PM CST
(Newser) -
Despite a crippled GOP, the Dems could still lose the White House in '08, Frank Rich writes in the New York Times : All they need is for Clinton to face McCain. 'Billary' alone would provide "two fat targets" to unite Republican rage. Plus a vetting of donors to Bill's presidential library may turn up ugly surprises—not to mention...
Indonesia Mourns Suharto
New York Times
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Jan 27, 2008 3:00 PM CST
(Newser) -
Suharto's critics kept quiet today as Indonesia mourned the former dictator on the streets and around TVs, the New York Times reports. Crowds swarmed an ambulance transporting his body, television channels ran nostalgic accounts of his life, and President Susilo Yudhoyono called on the nation to pray for Suharto, saying, "Pray that the deceased’s...
Corpse Found in Chicago Isn't Peterson
Chicago Tribune
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Jan 27, 2008 2:43 PM CST
(Newser) -
The badly decomposed body of a woman found yesterday in a Chicago industrial lot is not Stacy Peterson, reports the Chicago Tribune , the suburban mom whose husband, Drew, is suspected in her October disappearance. Officials also determined that the body was not another area housewife, Lisa Stebic, missing since April. The corpse had stab wounds,...
Vick's Fighters Now Cuddlers
Associated Press
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Jan 27, 2008 2:32 PM CST
(Newser) -
Many of the pit bulls Michael Vick illegally trained to fight have better days ahead, the AP reports. Experts have evaluated the more than 50 dogs taken from the quarterback’s property—and only one showed aggression. The rest were transported to rescue groups nationwide; 13 took an unlikely cross-country trip to Oakland to be groomed for...
States, Sellers Drooling Over Gift Card Sales
BusinessWeek
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Jan 27, 2008 2:19 PM CST
(Newser) -
After enduring tepid holiday sales, retailers are happily awaiting $8 billion from shoppers with unused gift cards—because only then can sellers claim the added revenue, BusinessWeek reports. But some US states say that their unclaimed-property laws enable them to extract a piece of the left-over card pie. What's really up for grabs is revenue...
