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.
NC Gov. to Support Clinton
CNN
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Apr 28, 2008 5:37 PM CDT
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North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley will back Hillary Clinton before next week's key primary, sources tell CNN. The move may give her a boost in a state where she last lagged Barack Obama by double digits. As a superdelegate, Easely also adds one to Clinton's delegate tally—but Obama added one today too with the endorsement of New Mexico Sen. Jeff...
(Whom) Will Edwards Endorse?
New York Times
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Apr 28, 2008 5:11 PM CDT
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With the North Carolina primary 1 week away, speculation surrounds John and Elizabeth Edwards, the New York Times reports. The ex-senator may endorse a candidate before the vote, may wait to see how his home state votes—or may sit out the race entirely. What's more, the couple may split along gender lines.
Oh, Baby! For Poehler, Life Imitates Art
People
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Apr 28, 2008 4:50 PM CDT
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Baby Mama co-star Amy Poehler had a good weekend: Her new movie is No. 1 at the box office, and she and husband Will Arnett are expecting their first child, People reports. The Saturday Night Live star, 36, and her 30 Rock -scene-stealing spouse, 37, have been married since 2003.
Newspaper Circulation Off 3.6%
Bloomberg
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Apr 28, 2008 4:37 PM CDT
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Newspaper circulation contracted the past six months as competition from Internet sources and cutbacks in advertising decreased sales, Bloomberg reports. Circulation dropped 3.6% for the industry as a whole, with only USA Today and the Wall Street Journal enjoying slightly increased circulation among the 25 largest papers. "The decline is...
Kerkorian Bets Big on Ford Turnaround
Wall Street Journal
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Apr 28, 2008 4:22 PM CDT
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Investor Kirk Kekorian is gobbling up shares of Ford in move seen as a vote of confidence for the automaker’s turnaround efforts, the Wall Street Journal reports. Kerkorian’s Tracinda has bought about 100 million shares and holds a 4.7% stake in the firm. Tracinda also offered to buy 20 million more for $8.50 apiece, 13% more than their...
Truckers Protest Fuel Prices
Associated Press
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Apr 28, 2008 4:10 PM CDT
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Truckers led a convoy of vehicles around the National Mall today in Washington to protest high fuel prices, the AP reports. Drivers from the group Truckers and Citizens United converged on DC for an afternoon rally to try to influence Congress to end oil-company subsidies, supplement supply with oil from the strategic reserves, and end Alaskan petroleum...
Writers Strike Fallout Lingers Behind the Scenes
Los Angeles Times
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Apr 28, 2008 3:57 PM CDT
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Even though the writers’ strike ended 2 month ago, TV production crew members are still working less than usual and feeling the financial burn, the LA Times reports. The networks took a cautious approach after the strike, putting many shows on hold until next season and ordering fewer episodes of those that returned. Location permits are down...
Fed Rate-Cut Jitters Knock Out Gains
Wall Street Journal
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Apr 28, 2008 3:46 PM CDT
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Stocks ended mixed today as concerns that the Fed might not cut rates at this week's meeting overwhelmed earlier gains that followed announcements of big deals, reports the Wall Street Journal . The Dow ended down 20.11 at 12,871.75, the Nasdaq up 1.47 at 2,424.40, and the S&P 500 down 1.47 at 1,396.37.
HPV Linked With Lung Cancer, But Many Still Fight Vaccine
ABC News
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Apr 28, 2008 3:33 PM CDT
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The human papillomavirus, or HPV, has been linked to increased risk of lung cancer, but conservatives are standing firm in opposition to the new vaccine. Parents and activists charge that Gardasil encourages promiscuous sex, ABC News reports. "If you give kids the vaccine, you're giving them a license to go have sex," insists the head of...
Whales Return to Moby Dick's Old Haunts
Los Angeles Times
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Apr 28, 2008 3:20 PM CDT
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Hosts of whale sightings are being reported off southern Chile, raising conservationists' hopes for a resurgence of the populations—including the real-life inspiration for Moby Dick —that flourished in the area before they were hunted nearly to extinction. Experts warn the apparent boom could be the result of more pairs of eyes looking...
21st-Century Campaign Trail Bumpier Than Bill Recalls
New Yorker
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Apr 28, 2008 3:08 PM CDT
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With an assist from a pesky, unforgiving press, Bill Clinton has turned into a faux pas machine—making him seem more a liability than an asset for his wife. But the former president is in truth the most convincing person on the campaign trail, and is animated by a deep-seated anger at Barack Obama’s attacks on the Clinton legacy, Ryan...
Encore! Britney Back on Sitcom
People
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Apr 28, 2008 2:55 PM CDT
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Britney's back for a second stint guest-starring on How I Met Your Mother. Spears' first cameo netted the show its highest ratings ever, and the new episode began filming today, reports People . “We’re all so thrilled to have Britney joining us once again," says the show's co-creator.
Paid Off And Gagged, WSJ Honchos Betray Treasured Trust
New York Times
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Apr 28, 2008 2:41 PM CDT
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More top Wall Street Journal execs have been spit out by the Murdoch machine, and the staff they leave behind is furious they’re leaving so quietly. Zipping their mouths was part of hefty severance packages, David Carr notes in the New York Times , and as the line evaporates between editorial standards and owner's whims, the protectors of...
Democratic Voters Flock to Register
Washington Post
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Apr 28, 2008 2:29 PM CDT
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Democrats are attracting new voters in record numbers, even as the GOP's ranks dip or remain flat. In the seven states that most recently held primaries, more than 1 million new voters registered as Democrats; North Carolina and Indiana have seen triple the Democratic enrollment they did before the 2004 primaries. The Washington Post pays a call...
Law Students Object to Springer Speech
Chicago Tribune
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Apr 28, 2008 2:15 PM CDT
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No one’s resorted to chair throwing—yet—but Northwestern law students aren’t happy about their commencement speaker: Jerry Springer, class of '68. The committee that tapped the TV host touted his success in news and entertainment, and even politics, the Chicago Tribune reports. Never mind that he resigned from the Cincinnati...
Startup Flops Leave Little Trace Beyond For-Sale Sign
Boston Globe
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Apr 28, 2008 2:11 PM CDT
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A failed start-up doesn't spell purgatory for entrepreneurs with the right connections, the Boston Globe reports. Take Mort Rosenthal, who struck gold in the 1980s as a software entrepreneur, only to launch two flops—one in alternative medicine, the other in cell-phone retail—with millions in lost venture capital. Now he's back in the...
Broken Tech Becomes Gold Mine, Literally
Reuters
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Apr 28, 2008 2:03 PM CDT
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No matter how broken it is, your old cell phone is still valuable to some people. That’s because it, like most electronics, is loaded with copper, iridium, gold, and other commodities that are becoming more expensive by the day. “To some it's just a mountain of garbage, but for others it's a gold mine," one recycling-plant manager...
Despite Danger, FDA Sanctioned Artificial Blood Studies
Washington Post
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Apr 28, 2008 1:50 PM CDT
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The Food and Drug Administration repeatedly approved experiments using artificial blood despite data showing the products to be dangerous, the Washington Post reports. Investigators from the National Institutes of Health found heart attack risk tripled and death increased by 30% for subjects in 16 studies testing five kinds of artificial blood, which,...
Best American Ballparks
Chicago Sun-Times
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Apr 28, 2008 1:36 PM CDT
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In choosing the best place to watch a ballgame, Chris De Luca decided to keep the team and city out of the discussion. With that in mind, the Chicago Sun-Times presents his list: Fenway Park: the flawed classic. Safeco Field: the high-tech home of the Mariners. Yankee Stadium: sadly, not long for this world.
Study Finds More Pregnant US Diabetics
USA Today
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Apr 28, 2008 1:23 PM CDT
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Diabetes among pregnant women has skyrocketed, a study finds, raising concerns for both mothers and children. In 1999-2005, the number of diabetic women giving birth more than doubled, the study found, and the number of diabetic teenage pregnancies rose five-fold. “These are high-risk pregnancies,” one doctor told USA Today . “All...
Clinton More Likely to Beat McCain: Poll
Associated Press
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Apr 28, 2008 1:10 PM CDT
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Hillary Clinton opened a commanding lead in a heads-up race against John McCain in the latest AP-Ipsos poll, leading the GOP’s presumptive nominee 50%-41%. Barack Obama, meanwhile, edged McCain just 46%-44%, a statistical tie. Today's numbers are a gift for Clinton, forwarding her argument that she would be more electable than Obama come November.
Maddy's Parents Weigh Book Deal
Guardian (UK)
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Apr 28, 2008 12:57 PM CDT
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Madeleine McCann's parents are considering telling the story of their daughter's disappearance in a book, with proceeds to go toward the Find Madeleine campaign, the Guardian reports. "It's a legitimate way of raising money for the fund, but would also give them a chance to put across their side of the story," says a spokesman for Gerry...
Thriller Inmates Do Live Shows
Reuters
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Apr 28, 2008 12:44 PM CDT
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Inmates at a Philippines prison who made it big on YouTube dancing to Thriller are now a live attraction, Reuters reports. Hundreds of viewers each month stand on platforms around the jail's exercise grounds to watch prisoners dance to songs like Queen’s Radio Ga Ga and Bonnie Tyler’s I Need a Hero . “It was great. Two thumbs...
Young Teachers Finding Big Trouble Online
Washington Post
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Apr 28, 2008 12:30 PM CDT
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Questionable postings and photos on social-networking web pages are becoming an issue with younger US teachers, the Washington Post reports, raising questions about where to draw a line between private expression and standards for public employees. A case in point is a substitute special-education teacher whose page includes a so-called "bumper...
When Green Doesn't Mean Safe
Los Angeles Times
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Apr 28, 2008 12:16 PM CDT
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Americans are increasingly buying eco-friendly cleaning agents, the Los Angeles Times reports, in an attempt to limit exposure to toxic chemicals. But consumer advocates urge caution in embracing the “green” label on cleaners, which is more marketing lingo than strict scientific criteria. A recent study found a common carcinogen in 50%...
Report Links Clemens, Teen Singer
New York Daily News
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Apr 28, 2008 12:03 PM CDT
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Roger Clemens had a 10-year affair with country star Mindy McCready, beginning when the troubled singer was only 15, the New York Daily News reports. Clemens' lawyer confirmed the two were friends and said, "He has never had a sexual relationship with her." The news could further tarnish Clemens' image and potentially hamstring his defamation...
Chanel Eyes Cobain 'Teen Spirit'
Daily Mail (UK)
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Apr 28, 2008 11:51 AM CDT
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Karl Lagerfeld wants grunge god Kurt Cobain's 15-year-old living legacy as the face of his next Chanel ad campaign, the Daily Mail reports. Rocker mom Courtney Love keeps a tight leash on Frances Bean Cobain, who posed for a number of mags earlier this year, so no deal has been struck yet.
Eldorado Sect Has Branch in South Dakota
USA Today
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Apr 28, 2008 11:38 AM CDT
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The polygamous sect currently under investigation in Eldorado, Texas, has a sister compound in Pringle, SD—and it's making locals queasy, USA Today reports. The Pringle compound was started by the same leader in 2003, and is valued over $4.5 million. "They don't just open their doors," says the local sheriff, adding that there have...
Prince, Gal Pal Get Serious
Daily Mail (UK)
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Apr 28, 2008 11:24 AM CDT
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In a possible indication that a royal wedding is in the cards, a royal live-in relationship appears to be unfolding at Prince William's residence, Clarence House. On-again-off-again girlfriend Kate Middleton has her own place, but she’s an overnight guest so frequently that she’s installed a gym, and she even stays over when William is...
Mysteries of Holocaust Hero Endure
Associated Press
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Apr 28, 2008 11:10 AM CDT
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Clues are emerging about the mysteries surrounding Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat who saved tens of thousands of Jews from death in the Holocaust. Documents related to a super-secret US intelligence agency known as "the Pond"—which Wallenberg may have worked with—will be released later this year. The AP explores the enduring...
Scientists Thaw Colossal Squid for Probe
BBC
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Apr 28, 2008 10:56 AM CDT
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New Zealand scientists have begun defrosting a colossal squid, caught last year, so they can dissect the little-known species. They aim to start by determining the sex of the 34-foot long animal, a native of Antarctica that weighs half a ton. "They're incredibly rare—this is probably one of six specimens ever brought up," one researcher...
Gene Variants Increase Breast Cancer Risk
Bloomberg
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Apr 28, 2008 10:42 AM CDT
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Scientists have identified versions of a gene that confer a 50% greater chance of developing estrogen-responsive tumors, Bloomberg reports. The study, published in Nature Genetics , found two common gene variants on chromosome 5 that correlated with higher incidences of the types of cancer that respond to estrogen levels. Genetic testing could indicate...
Soldier Laid to Rest After 4 Years
Cincinnati Enquirer
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Apr 28, 2008 10:27 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Thousands attended emotional memorial services over the weekend for an Ohio Army reservist whose remains made the journey home 4 years after he was captured in Iraq. Ten thousand filed past Staff Sgt. Matt Maupin's casket, and 3,000 attended a ceremony at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati yesterday, before a private ceremony in which he was buried...
Supreme Court OKs Photo ID Requirement for Voters
Reuters
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Apr 28, 2008 10:12 AM CDT
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The Supreme Court today upheld photo ID requirements for Indiana voters, the Justices’ most significant election-law ruling since Bush v. Gore—and one critics say could keep minorities and poor voters from voting in November. The 6-3 decision validated the country’s most arduous voting rules, though 20 states have ID laws; Reuters...
Spitzer Hooker Pitches Music Labels
New York Daily News
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Apr 28, 2008 10:05 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The music manager who orchestrated Mariah Carey's comeback is shopping Eliot Spitzer’s 22-year-old call girl, Ashley Alexandra Dupré, to top music labels, the New York Daily News reports.
Man Admits to Imprisoning Daughter
Reuters
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Apr 28, 2008 9:51 AM CDT
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A 73-year-old Austrian man has confessed to imprisoning his daughter in a basement dungeon for 24 years and fathering seven children by her, Reuters reports. The daughter, now 42, told police yesterday her father, Josef Fritzl, drugged and handcuffed her in 1984, locking her in a windowless labyrinth. The father, an engineer who owns a clothing business,...
Are Wall Street Banks Ready to Risk Again?
Wall Street Journal
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Apr 28, 2008 9:48 AM CDT
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Wary investors appear to be returning to Wall Street, the Journal reports, buying back into higher-risk debt issues from the likes of troubled Citigroup and Merrill Lynch. “Risk taking has come back in the market,” said one expert.
Wright Blasts 'Attacks on Black Church'
Associated Press
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Apr 28, 2008 9:36 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Jeremiah Wright gave an impassioned speech this morning, calling the controversy around his theology and statements "an attack on the black church, not an attack on Jeremiah Wright." He said the press "made a fool out of itself" over black church traditions, which he called "different," not "divisive." The Navy...
You Can Lead a Horse to Mares, But You Can't Make Him Sire
New York Times
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Apr 28, 2008 9:34 AM CDT
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War Emblem was a champion on the track, winning the 2002 Kentucky Derby, but as a sire, the racehorse is nowhere near as surefooted. Though surrounded by mares, War Emblem hasn't produced a live foal since 2005, and in more than five years at Shadai Stallion Station in Japan has mated only 70 times, the New York Times reports.
UN Troops Traded Guns for Gold
BBC
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Apr 28, 2008 9:20 AM CDT
(Newser) -
UN peacekeeping troops sold weapons to guerrilla fighters in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a BBC investigation claims, charging that the UN suppressed the story for political reasons. Pakistani and Indian troops, part of the UN's largest peacekeeping force of 17,000, are said to have traded munitions for gold. A UN investigation into the scandal...
Competition for Cable Customers Turns Nasty
Wall Street Journal
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Apr 28, 2008 9:05 AM CDT
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The battle for a larger share of TV customers has taken a nasty turn as companies like Time Warner, DirecTV, and Verizon hone ad campaigns highlighting rivals' shortcomings, the Wall Street Journal reports. It's not the first time operators have taken shots at each other, but it signals a ramping-up of marketing wars as the industry gets more crowded.
Favorite Celeb Companions
Nerve
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Apr 28, 2008 8:43 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The death this month of Martha Stewart's beloved canine Kublai Khan Paw Paw Chow Chow (just Paw Paw to his pals) got Nerve's Nicole Pasulka ruminating on her top celeb best friends. A sampling: Millie, First Dog for the first President Bush: "Pet lovers that we are, we’d much rather have Bush dog as prez than Bush son," Pasulka...
Carter Wants US to End Pariah Diplomacy
New York Times
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Apr 28, 2008 8:23 AM CDT
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The US needs to put its failed “pariah diplomacy” strategy out to pasture, writes Jimmy Carter in today’s New York Times . By ostracizing its enemies, the US is making it unlikely they will moderate their policies. “The path to peace lies in negotiation, not isolation,” Carter writes, offering as proof his recent successes...
The Draft's Winners and Losers
ESPN
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Apr 28, 2008 8:10 AM CDT
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The Chiefs made all 13 of their 2008 draft picks count by tapping defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey and picking up sleepers, writes Mel Kiper Jr for ESPN. The Cowboys would have made out equally well but didn't draft a wide receiver, and the Redskins got big guns despite trading out of the first round. But not everyone drafted smart.
Mars Buys Wrigley, With Assist From Buffett
New York Times
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Apr 28, 2008 8:05 AM CDT
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M&Ms-maker Mars, backed by Warren Buffett, has made a deal to buy Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. for about $23 billion, reports the New York Times . The acquisition is likely to force other candy makers like Hershey and Cadbury Schweppes into mergers to maintain market share against a powerful conglomerate of recognized brands with global presence.
Obama Shifts Blue-Collar Strategy
New York Times
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Apr 28, 2008 7:18 AM CDT
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Moving to beef up his appeal to blue-collar voters in Indiana, Barack Obama is changing the tone of his campaign there, trading big rallies for more intimate town-hall sessions; the weekend included stops at a Methodist church and a basketball court, the New York Times reports. “I’ve got to be more present,” Obama said on Fox News....
Mortgage Biz Battles Fed Reforms
New York Times
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Apr 28, 2008 7:05 AM CDT
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As the Federal Reserve moves toward stricter lending rules, mortgage providers are firing back, calling the rules too broad and arguing that they could limit loans to borrowers who don't have credit problems, the New York Times reports. Regulation, bankers say, could raise the price of mortgages by increasing paperwork and the risk of lawsuits. The...
Wright Lashes Out at Media
Detroit News
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Apr 28, 2008 6:40 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The controversial pastor who triggered trouble for Barack Obama delivered a fiery, unapologetic speech to a sold-out NAACP crowd in Detroit yesterday, blasting "corporate media" for painting him as un-American . "I am not running for the Oval Office," said the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. "I have been running for Jesus, and...
Miley 'Ashamed' of Provocative New Photos
E! Online
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Apr 28, 2008 6:34 AM CDT
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Hannah Montana star Miley Cyrus is upset about provocative new Vanity Fair photos, including one showing her barely wrapped in a satin sheet on the cover, reports E! Online. The teen says she's now embarrassed by pics snapped by photographer Annie Leibovitz. The Disney Channel has accused Vanity Fair of manipulating the 15-year-old star, but...
70 Killed in China Train Crash
AFP
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Apr 28, 2008 6:12 AM CDT
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At least 70 people were killed early today when a high-speed passenger train traveling from Beijing jumped the tracks and slammed into another train, AFP reports. Some 250 injured were pulled from the mangled wreckage in the city of Zibo in Shandong province. Officials discounted terrorism and blamed human error for the crash, the worst in China in...
