Newser Story Index from April, 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.
Clinton Celebrates Pa. Win
MSNBC
|
Apr 22, 2008 9:51 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Hillary Clinton savored her win in the Pennsylvania primary tonight, pitching herself in her victory speech as the toughest Democratic contender for the job. She dismissed calls for her to drop out of the race, adding, "The American people don't quit and they deserve a president who doesn't quit, either." She pledged to stand up for...
Chris Paul Picks Mavs Apart, Again
Associated Press
|
Apr 22, 2008 9:44 PM CDT
(Newser) -
First the brilliant playoff debut, then the encore. Chris Paul had 32 points and a franchise playoff-record 17 assists, leading New Orleans to a 127-103 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night that gave the Hornets a 2-0 lead in their first-round series. The old record was 15 assists, set by Muggsy Bogues in 1993.
Rays Strafe Jays 6-4
Associated Press
|
Apr 22, 2008 9:41 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Eric Hinske drove in two runs and finished a single shy of hitting for the cycle Tuesday night, helping the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-4 at Disney World. Hinske doubled in the second inning and added a RBI triple off Jesse Litsch (2-1) in the fourth before leading off the sixth with a solo homer.
Cars Must Get 35.7mpg by 2015
CNN
|
Apr 22, 2008 9:03 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Cars will have to get 35.7 miles per gallon by 2015, and trucks will have to get 28.6 under new standards issued by the federal government today. That means a combined average of 31.6mpg, an increase of 25% from current standards, CNN reports. The feds require automakers to meet a combined 35mpg by 2020 under last year's energy bill, and today's standards...
Hillary Notches Critical Win in Pennsylvania
MSNBC
|
Apr 22, 2008 8:02 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Hillary Clinton gave her campaign a jolt of life tonight with a decisive win in the Pennsylvania primary, NBC News reports. With 99% of results in, Clinton led 55% to 45%, a margin of victory that gives her campaign enough credibility to remain in the race. "The tide is turning," she told supporters in a victory speech.
Blue-Collar White Voters Back Clinton
CNN
|
Apr 22, 2008 7:43 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Hillary Clinton fared especially well among white, blue-collar voters in Pennsylvania, exit polls show. She won two-thirds of their votes, her best showing among that group to date, the AP reports. She also won among women overall and late deciders. Barack Obama, meanwhile, won among young voters and affluent voters. He took more than 90% of the black...
Kapler Lifts Brewers Over Cards in Extras
Associated Press
|
Apr 22, 2008 7:40 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Gabe Kapler singled home the winning run with one out in the 12th inning and the Milwaukee Brewers overcame another blown save by Eric Gagne, beating the St. Louis Cardinals 9-8 Tuesday. The Brewers wasted a five-run lead before Kapler's hit. The Cardinals' loss came with an oddity: Slugger Albert Pujols wound up playing second base for the first...
Cedeno's Slam, 5 RBIs Lead Cubs Past Mets
Associated Press
|
Apr 22, 2008 7:29 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Ronny Cedeno hit a grand slam and drove in five runs, Ted Lilly won for the first time in five starts, and the surging Chicago Cubs beat the New York Mets 8-1 Tuesday for their 13th win in 16 games. The Cubs, who were 7-13 at this point a season ago, had 14 hits and improved to 14-6, their best record after 20 games since 1975.
Competitive, Social Aspects Make Video Games Addictive
MSNBC
|
Apr 22, 2008 7:23 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The American Medical Association may not yet rank video gaming as addictive, but players who call World of Warcraft “World of Warcrack” know the score, writes Kristin Kalning on msnbc.com. But what is it that drives obsessed players to neglect their jobs, their health and even their kids? Competing and socializing, says a therapist who...
Bush Derides Pelosi's 'False Populism' in Trade Impasse
New York Times
|
Apr 22, 2008 7:11 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Saying the House's top Democrat has been swayed by "voices of false populism," President Bush today ripped Nancy Pelosi for blocking a trade accord with Colombia, the New York Times reports. "it’s bad for our hemisphere to have the United States of America turn its back on a mutual friend like Colombia," Bush said in an...
There's Nobody Left to Broker Dems' Convention
Slate
|
Apr 22, 2008 6:54 PM CDT
(Newser) -
No matter how much young political journalists thirst for it, there will be no brokered Democratic Convention this year, argues Jeff Greenfield in Slate: There simply aren’t any brokers left to make a deal. You can forget about your Al Gore and your John Edwards: no Democratic leader is strong enough—and uncommitted superdelegates will...
Forget the Hype: Most Overrated Careers
US News & World Report
|
Apr 22, 2008 6:32 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Cops might look cool on TV, but they do a lot of paperwork off screen. Most chefs churn out the same dishes nightly in assembly-line fashion. Before hopping onto the latest career fad, see US News & World Report 's list of most overrated lines of work: A great commercial idea shouldn’t attract you to ad executive jobs, which...
Texas Moving Sect Kids Into Foster Care
Houston Chronicle
|
Apr 22, 2008 6:16 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Texas authorities began moving children from a polygamist ranch to foster group homes around the state today. More than 100 of the children were bused to facilities, and the remaining 300 or so will likely follow later this week, the Houston Chronicle reports. The move comes on the second day of DNA testing of sect members to unravel family histories.
Obama Manager Speaks Softly, Spins Ably
New Republic
|
Apr 22, 2008 5:59 PM CDT
(Newser) -
David Plouffe isn’t your typical political operative, but Barack Obama’s campaign manager is the genius who’s winning the ground war and the media contest. He’s obsessed with crunching numbers, the commander of a “nerd army,” and knows how to stay understated until it's time to strike. The New Republic takes his...
Couric's CBS Numbers Hit New Low
New York Times
|
Apr 22, 2008 5:42 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The CBS Evening News hit a new low for viewership, with an average of 5.39 million last week. The previous record was set last September when anchor Katie Couric visited Iraq, the New York Times reports. The latest showing is another piece of bad news for Couric after reports broke two weeks ago she could be on her way out.
Call Her Hannah Karenina
Associated Press
|
Apr 22, 2008 5:27 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Hannah Montana star Miley Cyrus, 15, has signed a seven-figure deal with Disney-Hyperion for a memoir, the New York Times reports today. The book will focus on her childhood in Tennessee and the positive influence of her mother on her career. It is scheduled to be released in spring 2009, coinciding with the upcoming Hannah Montana film.
Rice Refutes Carter, Says US Advised Against Trip
Washington Post
|
Apr 22, 2008 5:13 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Condoleezza Rice says the US explicitly advised Jimmy Carter not to meet with Hamas, refuting claims by the former president that no one in the government told him to scrap the trip, the Washington Post reports. "I just don't want there to be any confusion," Rice said. "We counseled President Carter against" the meeting.
Robber Shoots Pregnant Teller
Indianapolis Star
|
Apr 22, 2008 4:59 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A bank teller pregnant with twins was shot during a robbery today in Indianapolis, but her fetuses were not directly injured, the Indianapolis Star reports. Katherine Sheffield, 30, is in serious to critical condition after a gunman walked into the bank where she worked and fired two shots into her abdomen before escaping with an undisclosed amount...
Battle for Democratic Women Moves to NC
News & Observer (Raleigh)
|
Apr 22, 2008 4:45 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Weeks after the Democratic nomination is usually in the bag, one consistent subplot of this year's campaign is surfacing in North Carolina: Women are split over their choice. Thirteen percent are still undecided, minor compared to the 12% of men who haven’t chosen—but a huge number compared to previous years. A big Clinton lead among women...
It's Official: Jay-Z, Beyoncé Hitched!
People
|
Apr 22, 2008 4:36 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Even though Jay-Z and Beyoncé still haven't publicly confirmed rumors about their not-so-secret wedding, the couple has filed their marriage license in Scarsdale, NY, People magazine reports. The license lists the wedding date as April 4. Beyoncé has been seen since the ceremony on tour with Jay-Z sporting a large diamond ring.
Heather Pal Dishes on Her Hooker Days, Paul Scheme
Daily Mail (UK)
|
Apr 22, 2008 4:22 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Heather Mills gave Paul McCartney an ultimatum in the early stages of their relationship—marry me or it's over—says a former friend in a British TV show airing tonight. Heather's buddy also talks about their time together as high-priced prostitutes, reports the Daily Mail . "Heather knows how to play people, she's very clever,"...
In Q1, Yahoo Beats Estimates
San Jose Mercury News
|
Apr 22, 2008 4:09 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Yahoo posted an increase in net income and reported sales that beat estimates in the first quarter, the company reported today. The jump in profit to $542.2 million translates to 37 cents per share, up from 10 cents a share a year ago—a number reflecting a onetime $401 million gain related to the Alibaba deal, the San Jose Mercury News reports.
Osama Deputy Says Iran Lying About 9/11
BBC
|
Apr 22, 2008 4:00 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Al-Qaeda's No. 2 leader says Iran is denying the terrorist group credit for 9/11 by spreading the rumor that Israel masterminded the 2001 attacks on the US. A new audiotape from Ayman al-Zawahiri highlights the growing tension between al-Qaeda and Tehran, the BBC reports, evidence of a sectarian struggle for power in the region.
Web 2.0 Buying Will Hit $4.6B by 2013: Analyst
CIO Magazine
|
Apr 22, 2008 3:55 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Spending on Web 2.0 technologies is ready to explode, according to a new report from Forrester Research. The market will reach $4.6 billion by 2013, the report predicts, as the technology starts to saturate the business world. To get there, it’ll have to jump an average of 43% a year, since this year’s sales amount to a mere $764 million.
Stocks Sink on Weak Earnings, Soaring Oil
Bloomberg
|
Apr 22, 2008 3:48 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Stocks fell today as oil prices soared and the flow of disappointing earning reports continued. Texas Instruments and UnitedHealth were both hit hard. "We're likely to see stocks continuing to be under pressure," one researcher told Bloomberg. The Dow was down 104.79 to 12,720.23, the Nasdaq 31.10 to 2,376.94, and the S&P 500 12.23 to...
Willie Horton Mastermind Takes Aim at Obama
Time
|
Apr 22, 2008 3:42 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The right-wing activist who derailed Michael Dukakis' presidential bid with the infamous 1988 Willie Horton ad has set his sights on Barack Obama. Floyd Brown’s first anti-Obama spot highlights the senator’s opposition to expanding death penalty use against gang criminals—in a year when inner-city violence raged in Chicago. The ad...
Drinking Water Myths Tough to Swallow
NPR
|
Apr 22, 2008 3:30 PM CDT
(Newser) -
With high-end restaurants offering diners tap water and concerns about the health and environmental impact of plastic bottles at an all-time high, NPR sets the record straight about some common myths related to drinking water: Not only is drinking 8 glasses daily not necessary, "nobody really knows" where that advice originated,...
Read All About It: Journal Posts 'Help Wanted' Sign
Wall Street Journal
|
Apr 22, 2008 3:18 PM CDT
(Newser) -
After Marcus Brauchli officially resigned as managing editor of the Wall Street Journal this afternoon, the paper said it will "begin a search for Mr. Brauchli's replacement immediately." That may prove difficult: Brauchli, who will remain with News Corp. as a consultant, wasn't given the control over the paper he felt management...
Cindy's Tips for Green Living
Daily Green
|
Apr 22, 2008 3:07 PM CDT
(Newser) -
“We all want to live a little greener,” ex-supermodel and mom Cindy Crawford writes in The Daily Green. The key for moms is making small changes that mesh with hectic household living: Filter your tap water and use a reusable bottle. Thirty-eight billion bottles end up in landfills each year—why add to the pile?
SC Teen Faces WMD Charge, Life Sentence
Associated Press
|
Apr 22, 2008 2:55 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Ryan Schallenberger, the South Carolina teenager whose Columbine-style attack police say they foiled yesterday, will be charged with a federal count of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction, the AP reports. The charge, stemming from the 10 pounds of explosives discovered by Schallenberger’s parents yesterday, carries a possible life...
Wireless Drives AT&T Growth
Wall Street Journal
|
Apr 22, 2008 2:43 PM CDT
(Newser) -
AT&T posted a 22% increase in net income during the first quarter, thanks to strong growth in its wireless unit. Its wireless earnings nearly doubled, while landline earnings dropped 2.1%. The company’s net income was $3.46 billion (57 cents a share), compared to $2.85 billion (45 cents a share) a year ago, reports the Wall Street Journal...
Army Engineer Accused of Spying for Israel
Reuters
|
Apr 22, 2008 2:36 PM CDT
(Newser) -
An 84-year old American engineer was arrested today on charges of providing information on US military technology to Israel, Reuters reports. Ben-Ami Kadish, 83, has already admitted in FBI interviews to giving an unnamed Israeli source around 100 documents on nuclear weapons, the F-15 jet and the Patriot missile defense system in 1979-85. He will...
Lies We Tell at Work ... But Shouldn't
CNN
|
Apr 22, 2008 2:24 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Lying at work, even to be polite, can hurt you in the long run. CNN suggests we all try cutting out these too-tempting lies: I'd be happy to . If you've got too much on your plate, speak up before you drown yourself. No questions . Preface your questions as clarification, but do ask them.
Next for Blaine: Breath-Holding Mark, on Oprah
New York Times
|
Apr 22, 2008 2:10 PM CDT
(Newser) -
David Blaine, the magician and "endurance artist" is training to break the human breath-holding record April 30 on Oprah . He's already done it 16 minutes, 9 seconds in a test run, John Tierney reports in his New York Times science blog. New techniques have made it possible for the untrained to hold their breath longer than thought possible...
Laptops May Help Sense Quakes
MIT Technology Review
|
Apr 22, 2008 1:57 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Laptop computers are the key to a new earthquake-sensing project in California, the MIT Technology Review reports. Researchers are working to connect home and business computers in a network that could monitor activity and even provide early warning of big quakes. Motion detectors would report shaking to a central server, letting seismologists identify...
Matzo Shortage Plagues Passover in Calif.
San Francisco Chronicle
|
Apr 22, 2008 1:38 PM CDT
(Newser) -
With Passover in full swing, Jews in the San Francisco area are enduring a shortage of matzo, the Chronicle reports. Most grocers were cleaned out Friday or Saturday, the first day of the observance, and with the holiday stretching to the weekend, the observant wonder how they'll manage without the staple food.
Did the Egyptians Invent Concrete?
Boston Globe
|
Apr 22, 2008 1:25 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The Egyptians may have used concrete to build the pyramids, an MIT professor suggests, and he's using materials available at the time (and students as his slave labor), to test the theory on a small mock-up of a pyramid, reports the Boston Globe. "It could be they used less sweat and more smarts," says Linn Hobbs, a materials science prof,...
El Bulli Repeats as World's Top Restaurant
Bloomberg
|
Apr 22, 2008 1:15 PM CDT
(Newser) -
For the third year in a row El Bulli, the restaurant-cum-chemistry lab outside of Barcelona, has been named the world's best restaurant. Feran Adrià's "gastronomic temple" got the top gong from a group of 700 chefs and critics. For Bloomberg's food writer El Bulli is "highly technically accomplished," but fundamentally "theater."
Bush Sets Disapproval Record
USA Today
|
Apr 22, 2008 1:08 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Only 28% of Americans approve of George W. Bush’s handling of the presidency, a new low for his administration, USA Today reports. In addition, his disapproval rate—69%—is the lowest in the 70-year history of the Gallup poll. Dissatisfaction over war in Iraq and the soured economy continue to pummel Dubya, whose 90% post-9/11 approval...
Pennsylvania: When a Win Is Not a Win
Los Angeles Times
|
Apr 22, 2008 1:00 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Polls agree that Hillary Clinton should win the popular vote today in Pennsylvania, but watchers say that victory won't be clear-cut. Adam Nagourney in the New York Times and Peter Wallsten in the Los Angeles Times predict that while an outright Clinton loss would end her candidacy and a 10-point spread would boost her enormously, a single-digit...
Mash Up the Internet: Tool Makes Web Editable
CNET
|
Apr 22, 2008 12:53 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Want to chart real estate listings on a Google map? A free browser extension from Intel can do that and more. Intel Mash Maker, released in beta today, lets users edit Web pages and combine information from different sites using widgets. Users can copy existing widgets from an Intel gallery, adjust them to work on different sites, or write their own,...
Kanye, Fiancee Call It Quits
People
|
Apr 22, 2008 12:52 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Rapper Kanye West and his designer fiancée Alexis Phifer have officially broken off their engagement, Phifer confirmed yesterday. “They’d been having problems,” said a friend of West’s. “Kanye is really focused on his show… Alexis is a nice girl, but Kanye has been going through a rough time.”
UN Compares Food Crisis to 'Tsunami'
Telegraph (UK)
|
Apr 22, 2008 12:41 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Rising food prices are creating a crisis every bit as deadly as the tsunami of 2004, and the situation requires a similar response, the UN says. Political and business leaders from around the world gathered today in London and heard the head of the World Food Program, Josette Sheeran, call for "large-scale, high-level action by the global community,"...
'There's an Alligator in My Kitchen!'
St. Petersburg Times
|
Apr 22, 2008 12:29 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A 69-year-old Florida woman called 911 after finding an 8-foot gator in her kitchen. The beast apparently crawled in through a porch screen door and an open sliding door, making its way through the living room and down a hall, reports the St. Petersburg Times . Authorities called a trapper, and the gator was caught without incident—except for...
Banks Face New Loan Crisis: Rebuilding Reserves
Wall Street Journal
|
Apr 22, 2008 12:17 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Within Bank of America’s disappointing first-quarter earnings was an unwelcome harbinger for the banking industry, the Wall Street Journal reports. BofA’s results were dragged down by huge additions to its loan-loss provision, an expense many other banks will also record soon. Given current credit conditions, many banks will have to increase...
Has LiLo Switched Teams?
New York Post
|
Apr 22, 2008 12:03 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Lindsay Lohan and DJ darling Samantha Ronson seem to be more than just friends. When Ashley Olsen greeted Ronson Friday night, a jealous Lohan screamed: "Get your 15-year-old "Full House" a** away from my girlfriend," a source told the New York Post .
McCain Helped Donor Developer Win Contracts
New York Times
|
Apr 22, 2008 11:55 AM CDT
(Newser) -
John McCain has repeatedly done favors a wealthy Arizona real estate developer who is a major donor, sponsoring legislation that swapped public land for his land and stepping in to speed a lucrative land deal with the Pentagon that netted him $20 million in a quick flip. The relationship with Donald Diamond could “pose a test” for Mac,...
Demos to Watch in Pa. Vote
Wall Street Journal
|
Apr 22, 2008 11:29 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Some of the election season’s most intriguing demographics will be out in force in today’s Pennsylvania primary. The Wall Street Journal breaks down who they are and how they might vote in November. Working-class white males mostly went red in 2006, supporting Republicans by a 14-point margin. Increased economic worries could...
Cruise Kid Lands Gig in Will Smith Flick
People
|
Apr 22, 2008 11:17 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Which gets you further in Hollywood: having Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman as parents or having Will Smith as your close family friend? Either way, Connor Cruise, the famed actors' adopted 13-year-old son, has scored himself a big screen debut in Smith's upcoming drama, "Seven Pounds," People.com reports. The younger Cruise will play a minor...
Indonesia Torch Run Stays Inside Stadium
BBC
|
Apr 22, 2008 10:56 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The Olympic torch passed through Indonesia today with little incident and less fanfare, the BBC reports. What was originally supposed to be a 15-mile relay was abbreviated to a few laps around a Jakarta stadium before a crowd of 5,000 carefully credentialed spectators. Outside, police broke up a pro-Tibet demonstration, arresting six of the roughly...
