Newser Story Index from February, 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.
Gene Discovery Holds Hope for Drought-Safe Crops
BBC
|
Feb 28, 2008 2:45 AM CST
(Newser) -
Scientists have discovered a gene that controls how plants absorb carbon dioxide and release moisture in a breakthrough discovery that could help develop drought-resistant crops, reports the BBC. The gene that regulates the work of stomata, or pores on plant leaves, has been sought by biologists for decades. The gene also controls the amount of water...
Wild Snap Skid, Edge Lightning
Minneapolis Star Tribune
|
Feb 28, 2008 12:08 AM CST
(Newser) -
Despite a tense final ten minutes, Minnesota survived the third period against Tampa last night, holding on 3-2. The win, the Wilds' first in regulation since February 2nd, put a much needed end to a four game losing streak, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune . "I will have a good sleep tonight," said Wild coach Jacques Lemaire following...
No. 7 Duke Beats Ga. Tech 71-58
Associated Press
|
Feb 28, 2008 12:05 AM CST
(Newser) -
The No. 7 Duke Blue Devils moved into a tie for first-place in the ACC with a 71-58 victory over Georgia Tech. It is Duke’s second win in a row after dropping two straight. Gerald Henderson and DeMarcus Nelson each had 15 points to lead the Blue Devils. Duke is now 15-0 at home this season, according to the Associated Press.
Bosh, Raptors Bite T'wolves 107-85
Associated Press
|
Feb 28, 2008 12:02 AM CST
(Newser) -
Chris Bosh scored 28 points to lead the Toronto Raptors to a 107-85 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Minnesota was coming off arguably its biggest win of the past month, a 111-100 win over the Utah Jazz, but, as has been the case all year, they struggled to put forth strong efforts on back-to-back nights, says to the Associated Press. Elsewhere...
Tigers Bounce Back, Stop Tulsa
Commercial Appeal (Memphis)
|
Feb 27, 2008 11:58 PM CST
(Newser) -
The University of Memphis righted the ship last night, beating Tulsa, 82-67. The loss snaps a five-game hot streak for Tulsa, and gives the Tigers a much needed win following the ending of their previously perfect season in a close loss to Tennessee on Saturday. The victory earns Memphis a share of the Conference USA championship, the Commercial Appeal...
Sharks Circle Blue Jackets, Earn 4-2 Victory
Associated Press
|
Feb 27, 2008 11:54 PM CST
(Newser) -
The San Jose Sharks beat the Columbus Blue Jackets on the strength of a three-goal second period and improved there road record to an impressive 20-8-3. The Sharks got contributions from everyone, including their newest player Brian Campbell, who they acquired in a trade from Buffalo. The defenseman had an assist in his San Jose debut, according to...
Bloomberg: I'm Not Running
New York Times
|
Feb 27, 2008 11:12 PM CST
(Newser) -
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg says he will not run for president but will remain active in the campaign and try to "steer the national conversation away from partisanship and toward unity." In an op-ed piece in today's New York Times , Bloomberg puts to rest the long-running speculation on whether he will launch an independent bid...
LeBron Hits Milestone, Loses in Boston
Associated Press
|
Feb 27, 2008 10:44 PM CST
(Newser) -
At 23 years and 59 days old, LeBron James became the youngest in NBA history to reach 10,000 points; however, the record was eclipsed by a 92-87 loss to the league-leading Celtics. Boston evened the season series at 2-2, jumping out to a 25-16 first-quarter lead and snuffing rallies by the defending East champions.
Bernier Leads Sabres Past Preds
Associated Press
|
Feb 27, 2008 10:00 PM CST
(Newser) -
Newly-acquired winger Steve Bernier scored on his first two shots in his new uniform to lead the Buffalo Sabres past the Nashville Predators 8-4. The Quebec native, who also added an assist for his new club, was traded from San Jose yesterday for All-Star defenseman Brian Campbell. Buffalo's Toni Lydman set a career-high in assists with four, reports...
Orlando Tragic in Philadelphia
Orlando Sentinel
|
Feb 27, 2008 9:57 PM CST
(Newser) -
A night after yet another convincing road win, the Magic lost a clunker in Philadelphia, entering halftime down 19 and departing Wachovia Center with a 101-89 loss that wasn't as close as the score, reports the Orlando Sentinel. Orlando's backcourt was so miserable on defense that rusty guards J.J. Redick and Carlos Arroyo saw significant minutes.
No. 6 Kansas Tops Iowa St. 75-64
Associated Press
|
Feb 27, 2008 9:43 PM CST
(Newser) -
Darrell Arthur led No. 6 Kansas with 18 points and 10 rebounds as the Jayhawks beat Iowa State 75-64. The win snaps a two-game road losing skid for Kansas in the Big 12. Wesley Johnson had 20 points to pace the Cyclones, who have now lost eight of their last 10 games and are 0-4 against ranked opponents this season, according to the Associated Press.
Higher Bid Could Rattle Yahoo Holders
MarketWatch
|
Feb 27, 2008 9:24 PM CST
(Newser) -
A new Microsoft bid to take over Yahoo will do little to quash Yahoo holders' worries— primarily because many of them have greater holdings in Microsoft itself, reports MarketWatch. Eighteen of Yahoo's top shareholders—comprising 42% of its shares—have greater investments in the software Goliath "and could likely be hurt by a...
States Cracking Down on 'Spychip' Privacy Lapses
Ars Technica
|
Feb 27, 2008 9:02 PM CST
(Newser) -
Radio Frequency ID tags—data-loaded microchips that track everything from shipping containers to cars to humans—increasingly are raising concerns with privacy advocates who worry the “spychips” could reveal too much about our lives, reports Ars Technica . Tech-savvy states such as Washington and California are trying to legislate...
Exxon Asks Court to Toss $2.5B Payout
USA Today
|
Feb 27, 2008 8:52 PM CST
(Newser) -
Nearly 20 years after the Exxon Valdez spilled 11 million gallons of crude oil in Prince William Sound, the company asked the Supreme Court to reject a ruling that it pay $2.5 billion in punitive damages. Judges appeared split in today's arguments, USA Today reports, making a tie possible because Samuel Alito has recused himself. If that happens,...
Helping Hands Often Hurt: Study
LiveScience
|
Feb 27, 2008 8:20 PM CST
(Newser) -
Disaster response can be a damaging force when aid isn't applied intelligently and in an organized fashion, a Harvard researcher tells LiveScience. A study by the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative found incidences of spoiled food, haphazardly administered medicine, and donated clothes appropriate for neither culture nor climate. The study calls on aid...
NASA to Smash Moon in Hunt for Lunar Ice
Space.com
|
Feb 27, 2008 8:08 PM CST
(Newser) -
No, they're not angry at the moon—but NASA is preparing two spacecraft for head-on collisions with the lunar South Pole. The idea is that the double impact might uncover ice suspected to be hiding in the moon's poles, Space.com reports. Scientists detected large amounts of hydrogen there on a previous smash-and-learn expedition.
In French Politics, Minorities Need Not Apply
Bloomberg
|
Feb 27, 2008 7:40 PM CST
(Newser) -
Eying Barack Obama's run for the US presidency, some in France are wondering why their own politics are so lily-white. Despite a large population of African immigrants and their descendants, no black or Arab mayors are in office, Bloomberg reports. "In business, sports, music, entertainment, you find diversity in France. Not in politics,"...
All Schoolkids Should Get Flu Shot, Feds Say
Associated Press
|
Feb 27, 2008 7:17 PM CST
(Newser) -
All schoolchildren in the US should get flu shots, a CDC panel advises. Current guidelines call for shots for those ages 6 months to 5 years, but the new recommendation raises the age to 18, an expansion of 30 million youngsters, the AP reports. The CDC is expected to adopt the advice, but it may not have a practical effect until next year's round...
Old Chess Guide May Have Drawings From Da Vinci
BBC
|
Feb 27, 2008 6:51 PM CST
(Newser) -
Sections of a recently unearthed manuscript, dating back to about 1500 and describing chess strategy, were likely illustrated by Leonardo da Vinci, the BBC reports. The book, De ludo scacchorum , is a collection of puzzles by Italian mathematician and Franciscan friar Luca Pacioli, a friend of da Vinci's. The striking illustrations are in da Vinci's...
Obama, McCain Trade Potshots Over Iraq War
Reuters
|
Feb 27, 2008 6:17 PM CST
(Newser) -
John McCain and Barack Obama traded sharp words today, as the two presidential frontrunners bludgeoned each other over the Iraq war. McCain dug into Obama for saying, in the debate last night, that he wouldn't hesitate to act if al-Qaeda established bases in Iraq for targeting the US, Reuters reports. "I have some news," McCain told a Texas...
Feeling Ill? Stay On the Ground
CNN
|
Feb 27, 2008 5:55 PM CST
(Newser) -
In the wake of the death last week of a passenger on an American Airlines jet, one expert on in-flight health has this to say to sickly would-be travelers: “Do not fly.” Air travel can exacerbate illness, and though many airlines contract with ground-based medical support, flight attendants are not nurses, and airplanes often have only...
Despite Fed, Silicon Valley Bullish on Economy
ABC News
|
Feb 27, 2008 5:31 PM CST
(Newser) -
Ben Bernanke’s report to Congress on monetary policy offered a grim outlook on the economy, but ABC News sees some signs that good news may be around the corner: workers in Silicon Valley, a national economic bellwether, feel good about their prospects. Rising exports, the recently-passed stimulus package and the future rate cuts Bernanke will...
Perez Hilton, Music Mogul?
New York Times
|
Feb 27, 2008 5:29 PM CST
(Newser) -
“Madonna’s leaving, Perez is coming.” Those words are straight from the mouth of the music industry's most unlikely new player, gossip blogger Perez Hilton. He has parlayed posts praising unknown and upcoming acts on his website into a possible deal doing the same for Warner Brothers Records, the New York Times reports.
Lewis Switches His Support to Obama
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
|
Feb 27, 2008 5:15 PM CST
(Newser) -
After a month of shifting signals, influential congressman John Lewis said today he’s switching his support from Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Lewis says he’s unwilling to go against the voters in his Atlanta district—and that Obama “has tapped into something that is extraordinary.”...
Kimmel's Revenge Scores Big
Billboard
|
Feb 27, 2008 4:57 PM CST
(Newser) -
Take that, Sarah. A star-studded—and very much tongue-in-cheek—ode to Jimmy Kimmel's lust for Ben Affleck has become an Internet sensation, Billboard reports. The late-night host's video is a rebuttal to girlfriend Sarah Silverman's "I'm F---ing Matt Damon." The latest salvo, with Kimmel and a host of guest stars, including...
Get Off 'Dead Asses' and Raise Cash, Rep. Tells GOP
Politico
|
Feb 27, 2008 4:44 PM CST
(Newser) -
House Minority Leader John Boehner yesterday told Republican colleagues to get off their “dead asses” and raise money for the fall election, Politico reports. Ahead of a March 12 dinner, only 15 representatives have met fundraising goals, 42 members have failed—and 142 haven’t even set goals. The GOP's congressional committee...
Fewer Sharks, But More Attacks
LiveScience
|
Feb 27, 2008 4:26 PM CST
(Newser) -
Shark populations are way down, but attacks on humans are up, LiveScience reports. There were 71 shark attacks worldwide in 2007, continuing a four-year upswing, says shark expert George Burgess, although populations of the fish have shrunk 50% during the past 20 years. Even so, as human populations expand rapidly, so does beach-going—and the...
Anne Frank's Lost Love Revealed
ABC News
|
Feb 27, 2008 4:08 PM CST
(Newser) -
Anne Frank's sweetheart now has a face to go along with his pet name. A photo of 12-year-old Lutz Peter Schiff, or Petel, as she sometimes called him, has been donated to the Anne Frank House by a childhood friend, reports ABC News . Frank wrote that she loved so strongly she didn't need a photo to remember him. But "for the readers, it is nice...
The Cool Kids Take Hip-Hop Back to the '80s
Chicago Magazine
|
Feb 27, 2008 3:54 PM CST
(Newser) -
Hip-hop sensation the Cool Kids might come off as too, ahem, cool for school, catapulting from an online hit to Pitchfork Music Festival performer and MIA's fall tour opener—without ever releasing an album. But Chicago Magazine paints Antoine Reed, 20, and Evan Ingersoll, 23, as two inexperienced Chicagolanders whose winning formula relies...
Craigslist Sex Ad Was Carjack Lure
San Jose Mercury News
|
Feb 27, 2008 3:36 PM CST
(Newser) -
A California man who responded to a Craigslist ad for a prostitute got hit over the head and carjacked instead. The 23-year-old went to a house listed in the ad and started to return to his truck when no one answered the door. Two armed men then took his money and keys, hit him with the butt of a shotgun, and drove away in his truck, the San Jose...
Jury Spares Life of Killer Former Cop
CNN
|
Feb 27, 2008 3:28 PM CST
(Newser) -
An Ohio judge sentenced Bobby Lee Cutts to life in prison with possible parole in 57 years for the murder of his pregnant girlfriend after the jury recommended against the death penalty, CNN reports. Judge Charles Brown added years to the jury's recommended sentence—life in prison with parole in 30 years—after hearing statements from the...
Stocks Flat After Roller Coaster
Wall Street Journal
|
Feb 27, 2008 3:21 PM CST
(Newser) -
Stocks ended mainly flat after mixed news had indices seesawing throughout today's session, the Wall Street Journal reports. Economic news was bad in general, but Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke and housing regulators cheered the markets with upbeat comments. The Dow ended up 9.36 to 12,694.28, the Nasdaq up 8.79 to 2,353.78, and the S&P...
Species Site Overwhelmed by Traffic on Opening Day
Associated Press
|
Feb 27, 2008 3:15 PM CST
(Newser) -
A much-anticipated web encyclopedia of all Earth’s life forms crashed hours after its launch yesterday, inundated by traffic. The Encyclopedia of Life had 11.5 million hits in its first 5½ hours—including 2 hours down—leading the site’s founders to ask their opposites at Wikipedia for bandwidth tips. EOL plans to have...
FARC Rebels Free 4 Hostages
CNN
|
Feb 27, 2008 2:56 PM CST
(Newser) -
Colombian FARC rebels today set free four former Colombian legislators who had been held hostage for more than six years. The deal was brokered by Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, and three of the four will fly to Caracas to speak with him. The fourth is in poor health and may require immediate medical treatment, reports CNN.
Black Crowes Squawk at Sham Maxim Review
San Francisco Chronicle
|
Feb 27, 2008 2:42 PM CST
(Newser) -
Pick a number, any number: Maxim 's 2.5-star rating—out of 5—for the Black Crowes' latest album was little more than a guess, the magazine admitted yesterday. No advanced copies were released, the San Francisco Chronicle reports, but that didn't stop Maxim's critic from decreeing in the March issue that Warpaint "hasn't left Chris...
Hedgehog Lobby Sways McD's
Der Spiegel
|
Feb 27, 2008 2:26 PM CST
(Newser) -
Under fire from environmental groups in Germany, McDonald's plans to replace lids on its McFlurry dessert so as not to threaten hedgehogs—which were getting their heads trapped in the lids and starving to death, Der Spiegel reports. "We needed to find an opening that was big enough for a spoon but small enough that a hedgehog could not...
Changes in Lauder Dynasty Hardly Cosmetic
Wall Street Journal
|
Feb 27, 2008 2:16 PM CST
(Newser) -
Estée Lauder might be a massive, publicly owned company, but it’s also a family business, tightly controlled by the Lauder clan—until now. On Monday, it will welcome new president Fabrizio Freda, who will likely eventually replace CEO William Lauder—and become the first outsider to run the cosmetics giant. The Wall Street...
Panicked? 8 Ways to Fight Back
MSNBC
|
Feb 27, 2008 2:09 PM CST
(Newser) -
For 10 agonizing minutes, you think you've lost it: You're sweating and dizzy, your heart is racing, and you can't breathe. More than 25% of people experience the complete lack of control of a panic attack. Fight back with these tips from MSNBC: Remind yourself that a panic attack cannot harm you. Tell others what you're experiencing....
Congress Asks Justice Dept. for Clemens Probe
Associated Press
|
Feb 27, 2008 1:56 PM CST
(Newser) -
A congressional committee today asked the Justice Department to examine Roger Clemens’ denials under oath that he used performance-enhancing drugs and determine if they constitute perjury, the AP reports. In the letter to Attorney General Michael Mukasey, Reps. Henry Waxman and Tom Davis cite the pitcher's statements contradicting those of his...
Super-TB Cases Hit Record High
BBC
|
Feb 27, 2008 1:43 PM CST
(Newser) -
Drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis are at the highest levels disease experts have ever seen, warns the World Health Organization. A survey of 81 countries found that levels of multi-drug resistant TB and even hardier, almost untreatable TB were much higher than expected, reports the BBC. Urgent action is needed to avert a health catastrophe, the...
Turkey Gives No Timetable on Iraq Withdrawal
Reuters
|
Feb 27, 2008 1:35 PM CST
(Newser) -
Despite mounting casualties and outside pressure, Turkey said today it would not give a timetable on pulling back troops from an offensive against Kurdish rebels in Iraq, Reuters reports. Turkish soldiers have killed 230 PKK guerillas since the conflict began, and lost 24 of their own. Iraqi and US officials say the incursion could destabilize security...
Stable Russia Hardly Guaranteed
Der Spiegel
|
Feb 27, 2008 1:15 PM CST
(Newser) -
When Dmitry Medvedev takes over as Russia's president and Vladimir Putin assumes the mantle of prime minister, after Sunday's elections, Russia will be moving into uncharted territory—and Der Spiegel writer Christian Neef isn’t confident it’ll work. Putin’s Russia isn’t nearly as stable as it looks, and though it appears...
Star's Naked Photos Drive Hong Kong Wild
Los Angeles Times
|
Feb 27, 2008 1:07 PM CST
(Newser) -
It all started when Edison Chen, a Hong Kong actor and hip-hop artist, took his laptop in for repairs. Turned out Chen had on his hard drive more than a thousand photos of himself, naked, with more than a dozen of the island's leading actresses and singers. Someone at the shop helped himself to the pictures, and the result was biggest sex scandal the...
US Mission Reopens in Belgrade
Reuters
|
Feb 27, 2008 12:56 PM CST
(Newser) -
Workers were still cleaning up damage from last week’s violent demonstrations when the US embassy in Belgrade reopened today, Reuters reports. Protesters set fire to and ransacked the building last Thursday to protest the US’ support of Kosovo in the province's declaration of independence. Now, though the building still bears scars, it...
Righty Host Furious After McCain Apology
CNN
|
Feb 27, 2008 12:45 PM CST
(Newser) -
Bill Cunningham has “had it up to here with John McCain,” the conservative talk-show host tells CNN of the likely GOP presidential nominee. By apologizing for Cunningham’s remarks at a McCain rally yesterday—in which Cunningham called Barack Obama a “hack” and repeatedly used his middle name, Hussein—McCain...
Hillary Superdelegates Hold Firm
The Hill
|
Feb 27, 2008 12:39 PM CST
(Newser) -
House Democrats who support Hillary Clinton appear to be rejecting calls to switch their support to Barack Obama if circumstances give the super delegates the deciding votes, the Hill reports. Despite charges that it would be anti-democratic to defy voters in their home states, many who talked to the Hill say they won't budge—with one member...
DreamWorks in Limbo over HD DVD Format
Reuters
|
Feb 27, 2008 12:34 PM CST
(Newser) -
Despite the fact that Toshiba lost its war with Sony’s Blu-ray disc technology, DreamWorks Animation says it plans to release its upcoming movies in the HD DVD format, unless it hears otherwise from Toshiba, Reuters reports. DreamWorks’ “Bee Movie” is scheduled for release in March. The studio said it asked the Japanese manufacturer...
Stowaway Cat Headed Home After 3 Weeks
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
|
Feb 27, 2008 12:23 PM CST
(Newser) -
Being a bit on the chubby side probably saved Meatloaf the cat's life, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports. The year-old feline wandered into a man's moving container in Florida and was rescued three weeks later when an employee at a Phoenix warehouse heard meowing coming from a crate. Meatloaf, emaciated but alive, emerged when the container...
'Jackie Moon' Plugs Old Spice
Los Angeles Times
|
Feb 27, 2008 12:10 PM CST
(Newser) -
In its latest move to shed its image as a '70s relic, Old Spice has hired a '70s relic as its spokesman: the Afro-ed, headband-sporting basketball player Jackie Moon. Old Spice hopes Moon, a Will Ferrell character starring in the upcoming Semi-Pro , will attract the coveted young male demographic with humor, the LA Times reports.
Bush Spars With Senators Over Housing Fixes
Washington Post
|
Feb 27, 2008 11:56 AM CST
(Newser) -
Congressional Democrats are pushing for new bankruptcy rules to help homeowners suffering from the mortgage crisis, the Washington Post reports—though the White House says it will veto any plan that could hurt lenders and send mortgage rates upward. Democrats say enough Republicans from hard-hit states could join them in allowing some bills...
