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.
Ron Paul Can't Stop Stumping
Politico
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Apr 26, 2008 11:13 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Ron Paul conceded the GOP nomination months ago, but the Texas representative, buoyed by fervent followers, is still out on the stump, looking to the future. “There is no way I could turn it off," he tells Politico. "I went up to Penn State and had 1,500 people. So it’s just sort of going to go on.”
Gitmo Drives Detainees Crazy: Lawyers
New York Times
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Apr 26, 2008 10:48 AM CDT
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Osama bin Laden's driver can't help his lawyers prepare his defense because he's been driven mad by years of isolation at Guantanamo Bay, his lawyers say. The conditions "boil his mind" and prevent a fair trial, they say, an argument that will become increasingly common as lawyers begin preparing the first war crimes trials for Guantanamo...
Survey: Poor LA Students Scared, Depressed
Los Angeles Times
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Apr 26, 2008 10:22 AM CDT
(Newser) -
High-school students in poor LA neighborhoods fear for their safety, show signs of clinical depression, and say the district does a laughable job preparing them for college, the Los Angeles Times reports. A survey of thousands of students from south LA showed more than half felt hopeless and helpless. "They give us the short end of the stick,"...
Soccer Scouts Look Into Genetic Testing
Guardian (UK)
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Apr 26, 2008 10:00 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Scouts for the world's leading soccer teams spend millions every year trying to spot the next Ronaldo or David Beckham but they could soon be turning their attention to genetic tests as well as training grounds. DNA tests that identify genes associated with top athletic ability are already being marketed in Australia, the Guardian reports, raising...
Okla. Man Buys Santa Monica Ferris Wheel
Associated Press
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Apr 26, 2008 9:19 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The Santa Monica Pier Ferris wheel has been sold on eBay for $132,400—to a first-time eBayer and the son of a former Oklahoma City mayor, the Los Angeles Times reports. Grant Humphreys, a 32-year-old real estate developer who'd never set eyes on the crowd-pleaser, placed the winning bid yesterday just before the close of the auction that drew...
Opposition Holds Gains in Zimbabwe Recount
BBC
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Apr 26, 2008 8:40 AM CDT
(Newser) -
With recounts confirming results on seven more seats today, Zimbabwe’s opposition party seems less and less at risk of losing the new majority gained in parliamentary elections last month, the BBC reports. Ten seats remain in the recount, and Robert Mugabe’s Zanu-PF needs nine to regain power in the country’s lower house.
Winehouse 'Cautioned' After Night in Cell
Times (UK)
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Apr 26, 2008 8:01 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Amy Winehouse spent the night behind bars after showing up 3 hours late for questioning yesterday on Tuesday's head-butting and punching assault on two men outside a London bar, the Times reports. The visibly distressed singer was arrested and held overnight because a doctor deemed her “unfit to be interviewed.” This morning she was questioned...
McCain Claims Obama Is Hamas Choice
Talking Points Memo
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Apr 26, 2008 8:00 AM CDT
(Newser) -
John McCain's campaign plans to make an issue out of an alleged "endorsement" of Barack Obama by Hamas, TPM reports. In a conference call with bloggers yesterday, McCain defended a fundraising email that claimed Obama was the militant group's choice for president. "I think it's very clear who Hamas wants to be the next president of the...
Wachovia Targeted in Drug Money Laundering Probe
Wall Street Journal
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Apr 26, 2008 7:20 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Federal prosecutors have targeted Wachovia in an investigation into the use of money-exchange houses along the Mexican border to transfer money from US sales to Latin American drug lords, the Wall Street Journal reports. The bank invested heavily in the casas de cambio despite warnings that such firms were often used by drug cartels for money laundering.
Sect Children Slowly Meet Outside World
Houston Chronicle
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Apr 26, 2008 6:46 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The last of the 462 children removed from the compound of a polygamous sect have been placed in foster care in 16 locations around Texas, the Houston Chronicle reports. The caregivers have been given lengthy instructions on how to treat the children, including keeping them away from TV, radio, and the Internet, at least at first, and avoiding red...
Jazzman Giuffre Dead at 86
New York Times
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Apr 26, 2008 6:26 AM CDT
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The iconoclastic clarinetist and composer Jimmy Giuffre died Thursday, two days before what would have been his 87th birthday, the New York Times reports. The Texas-born jazz legend's 50-year career took him from big-band hits with Woody Herman to minimalist trios, with a stint playing in mess halls as a GI in WWII. Giuffre's experimental, blues-infused...
Daily News Owner Makes Newsday Bid
New York Times
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Apr 26, 2008 6:02 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Daily News owner Mort Zuckerman has matched Rupert Murdoch's bid for Newsday , the New York Times reports—but didn't go a penny over the $580 million the New York Post owner offered. Instead Zuckerman claimed his bid is the better one because, unlike Murdoch's, it doesn't run the risk of running into an FCC tripwire.
Lee's Homer Gives Astros 6th Straight Win
Associated Press
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Apr 26, 2008 5:30 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Carlos Lee's home run capped a three-run rally off Jason Isringhausen in the ninth inning, helping the Houston Astros beat the St. Louis Cardinals 3-2 on Friday night for their sixth straight victory. Miguel Tejada had an RBI triple and Lance Berkman's sacrifice fly for the second out tied it before Lee hammered a first-pitch fastball well over the...
Sanchez Shuts Down Griffey, Cincinnati
Associated Press
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Apr 26, 2008 1:10 AM CDT
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Jonathan Sanchez dominated the Cincinnati Reds in Dusty Baker's Bay Area return. Sanchez pitched into the ninth and matched his career high with 10 strikeouts, outdueling Reds ace Aaron Harang and keeping Ken Griffey Jr. at 597 career home runs in the San Francisco Giants' 3-1 victory Friday night. Sanchez retired 16 straight during one stretch and...
Morrow's OT Goal Lifts Stars Past Sharks
Associated Press
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Apr 26, 2008 1:09 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Brenden Morrow scored his second goal of the night 4:39 into overtime, and the Dallas Stars opened their second-round series with a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Friday. Mike Modano also scored, while Marty Turco made 25 saves in the Stars' seventh win in their last eight trips to Silicon Valley.
Parker Nets 41, Spurs Near Sweep of Suns
Associated Press
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Apr 26, 2008 1:06 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The San Antonio-Phoenix series was supposed to be a spectacular first-round matchup of potential NBA champions. Instead, it's become a Spurs smackdown. Tony Parker had a career-high 41 points along with 12 assists and San Antonio routed the Suns 115-99 on Friday night to take a 3-0 series lead. It's the first three-game losing streak for the Suns this...
Big Unit Beats Punchless Padres
Associated Press
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Apr 26, 2008 12:32 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Randy Johnson got his first victory since having back surgery in August, leading the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 5-1 win over San Diego on Friday night. Johnson held the Padres' popgun offense to one run on three hits while striking out seven in six innings. The last-place Padres lost for the ninth time in 10 games.
Florida Tops Milwaukee, 3-0 in 10
Associated Press
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Apr 26, 2008 12:31 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Hanley Ramirez raced home on a grounder to short with the infield in to score the game's first run and the Florida Marlins beat the Milwaukee Brewers 3-0 in 10 innings Friday. With one out and the infield playing for a play at the plate, Wes Helms hit a ground ball to shortstop J.J. Hardy but Ramirez beat Hardy's throw home.
Haynes' 11th-Inning Single Gives Rays a 5-4 Win
Associated Press
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Apr 26, 2008 12:11 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Nathan Haynes singled with no outs in the 11th inning, driving in Carl Crawford from second base and giving the Tampa Bay Rays a 5-4 victory over Boston. Haynes lined Mike Timlin’s pitch to right field after Crawford, who scored three runs, began the rally with a single and stole second. Timlin walked B.J. Upton before giving up the game-winning...
Rangers Snap 7-Game Losing Streak With 6-5 Win Over Twins
Associated Press
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Apr 26, 2008 12:09 AM CDT
(Newser) -
David Murphy hit a 10th-inning RBI single and Texas beat the Minnesota Twins 6-5 on Friday night, snapping the Rangers' seven-game losing streak. Hank Blalock hit a one-out double against pitcher Juan Rincon (2-1). With two outs and the outfield pulled in, Murphy hit a fly ball to the warning track in left-center field and pinch-runner German Duran...
Nieves Hits Ninth-Inning Blast to Lift Nationals
Associated Press
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Apr 26, 2008 12:08 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Wil Nieves hit his first major league homer, a two-run shot in the ninth inning, to give the Washington Nationals a 5-3 win over the Chicago Cubs on Friday night. Nieves drove an 0-2 pitch from Chicago's Bob Howry (0-2) into the Washington bullpen in right field for the Nationals' second straight victory after dropping 16 of 19 games.
Nowitzki, Terry Pull Mavs Back Into Series
Associated Press
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Apr 26, 2008 12:05 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks finally made the Hornets look like playoff novices, pestering Chris Paul and David West to go a combined 6-for-30 well into the fourth quarter on the way to a 97-87 victory in Game 3. Nowitzki had 32 points, 19 rebounds and six assists to pull the Mavericks within 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday night in Dallas.
Buck's Doubles Lift Royals Over Blue Jays
Associated Press
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Apr 26, 2008 12:04 AM CDT
(Newser) -
John Buck doubled twice and drove in a pair of runs, helping the Kansas City Royals rally for an 8-4 victory Friday night over the Toronto Blue Jays that snapped a seven-game losing streak. Buck's double in a six-run eighth inning scored pinch-runner Esteban German with the go-ahead run. The eight runs were a season high for Kansas City.
Peralta, Indians Bug Yankees Again, Win 6-4
Associated Press
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Apr 25, 2008 11:38 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Jhonny Peralta hit a three-run homer off Andy Pettitte in the fifth inning and the Cleveland Indians won their fourth straight Friday, beating New York, 6-4, in the Yankees' first visit since last year's AL playoffs when they were bombarded by swarming bugs. Peralta had four RBIs and Jamey Carroll had a run-scoring single and stole two bases for the...
Guerrero Homers, Santana Stays Unbeaten For Angels
Associated Press
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Apr 25, 2008 11:04 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Vladimir Guerrero homered to highlight a four-run fourth inning and the Los Angeles Angels held off Detroit, 4-3 on Friday night, ending the Tigers' four-game winning streak. Santana pitched 6 1-3 innings, allowing three runs and six hits. Justin Speier escaped jams in the seventh and eighth innings, and Francisco Rodriguez pitched the ninth for his...
Phillies' Pen Holds Off Pirates' Rally in 6-5 Win
Associated Press
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Apr 25, 2008 11:03 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Chris Coste had three hits and three RBIs, and the Phillies' bullpen pitched more than five innings of effective relief in Philadelphia's 6-5 win over Pittsburgh on Friday night. Jayson Werth hit his fourth home run in five games and had two RBIs for Philadelphia while Tom Gordon (2-2) pitched one inning of relief to pick up the win.
Wild Win For Jurrjens, Braves
Associated Press
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Apr 25, 2008 10:47 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Jair Jurrjens walked three consecutive batters with the bases loaded in the third inning, then got his first major league hit ahead of Kelly Johnson's tiebreaking, two-run homer to help the Atlanta Braves beat the struggling New York Mets, 6-3, on Friday. Johnson had four RBIs for the Braves, who sent the Mets to their fifth loss in six games.
Malkin Caps Frantic Comeback Win for Pens
Associated Press
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Apr 25, 2008 10:44 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Evgeni Malkin deflected Sidney Crosby's one-timer from the right point on a Pittsburgh power play with 1:41 remaining to finish a frantic comeback, and the Penguins rallied from a three-goal deficit against the New York Rangers for a 5-4 victory in their second-round playoff series opener Friday. Pittsburgh’s Petr Sykora and Marian Hossa scored...
76ers Crush Pistons to Take 2-1 Series Lead
Associated Press
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Apr 25, 2008 10:20 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Andre Miller was spot on with his mid-range jumper and scored 21 points, and the rest of the 76ers ran all over the court in a dominating 95-75 victory over playoff-tested Detroit on Friday, taking a 2-1 lead in their first-round series. Samuel Dalembert had 22 points and 16 rebounds for the Sixers in their first home playoff game since 2005.
Do We Have the Old Britney Back?
Reuters
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Apr 25, 2008 10:08 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Britney Spears might be on the rebound, as the court-appointed custodianship of her father shepherds her back to her kids, the gym, and the recording studio, Reuters reports. Apart from a minor traffic accident, the pop star has been out of the news and out of the hospital, focusing instead on mending broken relationships. Even people paid to watch...
Executive Privilege Goes to Court
Mother Jones
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Apr 25, 2008 9:48 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The civil suit brought by Congress as it investigates the 2005-06 firings of US attorneys is becoming a groundbreaking constitutional tussle that could decide the true scope of executive privilege. The precedent that could be set in the ruling from a US district court is now more significant than the truth behind the firings, Mother Jones reports.
2 Dead, 21 Hurt in Chicago Truck Crash
Chicago Sun-Times
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Apr 25, 2008 9:14 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A speeding semitruck barreled into a Chicago train station today, killing two people and injuring 21—11 critically, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Coming off a freeway in rush hour, the truck hit a bus stop, wedged under a train overpass, and crashed "several steps" up the train platform escalator, one witness told the Chicago Tribune...
Edwards Fans Move Decidedly Toward Obama
The Hill
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Apr 25, 2008 8:49 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Donors to John Edwards, as well as his congressional backers, have noticeably chosen Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton—a fact which, combined with the expected landslide in North Carolina’s primary, could lead Edwards to tap the Illinois senator, the Hill ’s Alexander Bolton argues. Nine US representatives have switched to Obama,...
Huckabee Hops on 'Straight Talk Express'
CNN
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Apr 25, 2008 8:25 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Former rivals John McCain and Mike Huckabee stumped side-by-side in Arkansas today, reviving rumors that they may form a joint ticket for the November election, CNN reports. Huckabee "can be a great asset to our campaign," McCain said. Huckabee, who has announced a new book and political action committee, joined McCain on his tour of economically...
Torch Relay Fires Up Thousands in Japan
BBC
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Apr 25, 2008 8:04 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A pro-China crowd peppered with protesters welcomed the Olympic torch relay in Japan today, BBC reports. Japan's national baseball manager kicked off the run in Nagano with 40 riot cops on each side, mostly blocking the view of thousands of onlookers. Cops nabbed one protester for trying to grab the torch and made two arrests, BBC reports.
Between Barack and a Hard Place
National Journal
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Apr 25, 2008 7:42 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Hillary Clinton can’t win the Democratic nomination, Charlie Cook concedes in the National Journal , but if she keeps winning primaries, she’s stuck in “political purgatory:" She can’t quit, either. The primary system is such that for all Clinton's big-state victories and the media flak buffeting Barack Obama, she can’t...
Joie de Vivre Sapped, French Turn to Web
Der Spiegel
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Apr 25, 2008 7:20 PM CDT
(Newser) -
French website Vie de Merde is receiving all the misery it can handle, Der Spiegel reports. Since its February launch, France’s answer to group therapy (translated "life is shit") has posted 2,400 tales of woe. Another 40,000 are waiting in the wings, says its founder.
Obama Needs 'Act II'
Wall Street Journal
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Apr 25, 2008 6:49 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Act I was his grand entrance, and Act III will be his acceptance speech at the party convention, but now Barack Obama needs an Act II, Peggy Noonan writes in the Wall Street Journal —and the subject of the act should be America. John McCain carries love of country “in his bones,” but Obama hasn’t closed the deal because ordinary...
Google Book Scans Go Slow at Research Libraries
Associated Press
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Apr 25, 2008 6:30 PM CDT
(Newser) -
In its ongoing effort to digitize the world's 50-100 million books for online book searching, Google is funding scanning efforts for rare volumes at leading libraries. The AP observed one such digitizing—the oldest Bible with Arabic type, scanned manually at 600 pages per day—which, to protect the work, can't use Google's standard, and...
Sharpton: Bell Verdict 'Abortion of Justice'
CNN
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Apr 25, 2008 6:12 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Rev. Al Sharpton blasted today's acquittal of three NYPD officers who killed an unarmed man in a 50-slug fusillade in 2006, CNN reports. "Justice didn't miscarry," Sharpton said. "This was an abortion of justice. Justice was aborted." Mayor Michael Bloomberg urged citizens to respect the “authority” of the court; meanwhile,...
Facebook Used to Search for Darfur Criminals
BBC
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Apr 25, 2008 5:50 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A humanitarian group is using Facebook to search for two war criminals involved with genocide in Darfur, the BBC reports. The War Crimes Watch List issued an open call on the social network for sightings of Ahmed Haroun and Ali Muhammad Ali Abd al-Rahman, who face 51 counts of crimes against humanity for allegedly planning atrocities by Janjaweed militias.
NYT Columnist Pied at Brown
Associated Press
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Apr 25, 2008 5:30 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Two environmental activists threw cream pies at New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman at an Earth Day speech Tuesday at Brown University, the AP reports. Friedman’s speech was about the corporate world's ability to help the environment with schemes such as cap-and-trade for carbon emissions. One of the pie-chuckers, a Brown student, faces...
Bush Sees Rebate Checks Offsetting 'Slowdown'
Bloomberg
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Apr 25, 2008 5:11 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Again steering clear of the R-word, President Bush said today that the tax rebates scheduled to be distributed starting next week will "give our economy a boost to help us pull out of this economic slowdown," Bloomberg reports.
$7 Gas? Analyst Sees It by 2012
MarketWatch
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Apr 25, 2008 4:54 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Oil and gas prices could double in the next four years, analysts say—with $7 per gallon possible by 2012. "It is increasingly clear that the outlook for oil supply signals a period of unprecedented scarcity," an analyst at investment bank CBIC tells MarketWatch.
Blogger Weighs Health Care Plans, Flunks McCain
Glamour
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Apr 25, 2008 4:40 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Hacking through the forest of reporting on the presidential candidates' health care plans, Glamour blogger Megan Carpentier weighs in. Writing "as someone born with a birth defect who has been known to get sick," she bluntly begins, "I know enough about my own health insurance situation over the last decade to be able to say with absolute...
Grand Theft Auto Pushes Buttons
USA Today
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Apr 25, 2008 4:24 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Ahead of Tuesday’s release of the latest game in the hugely popular Grand Theft Auto series, the violent games—and others like them—face widespread controversy, USA Today reports. Chicago is pulling ads from buses and parents’ groups are urging retailers not to sell to kids; meanwhile, legal action in Congress and five states...
AT&T Delays New BlackBerry Rollout
Fortune Magazine
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Apr 25, 2008 4:12 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Research in Motion’s latest BlackBerry has been delayed two months, Fortune reports. The Meteor phone, to run on AT&T’s 3G network, was pushed back from June to August. No reason was given, but sources say AT&T had concerns about audio quality.
Shark Kills Man; SoCal Beaches Closed
San Diego Union-Tribune
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Apr 25, 2008 3:58 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Beaches north of San Diego were closed today after a man was fatally injured by a shark, the Union-Tribune reports. While witnesses could identify “the culprit” only as a “big gray shark,” an expert contacted by the Los Angeles Times said, “This almost certainly was a great white shark.” Attacks in the area are...
So That's What's Under the Beehive
Times (UK)
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Apr 25, 2008 3:50 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Amy Winehouse may not always look like $20 million, but that’s how much she’s worth, according to the Times of London. The 24-year-old singer has had a troubled year—today, for example, she was arrested for assault after an alleged rampage Wednesday night—but she’s together enough financially to crack the Times’...
AmEx Leads Dow Rally
Bloomberg
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Apr 25, 2008 3:39 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Stocks were mixed today as financials rallied but Microsoft dragged down the tech sector. Nevertheless, all three major indexes recorded back-to-back weekly gains for the first time since February, Bloomberg reports. The Dow closed up 42.91 at 12,891.86, the Nasdaq dipped 5.99 to 2,422.93, and the S&P 500 rose 9.02 to 1.397.84.
