Newser Story Index from January, 2009
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.
Art World Still Divided on Wyeth
New York Times
|
Jan 17, 2009 9:32 AM CST
(Newser) -
Andrew Wyeth divided the art community throughout his life, and little seems to have changed with his passing yesterday. While many in the field call him one of the most important 20th-century American artists, others insist his mode of realism makes him more of an illustrator than a serious painter, the New York Times reports, and his work "corny...
Obamas Urged to Turn the White House Green
Wall Street Journal
|
Jan 17, 2009 9:22 AM CST
(Newser) -
Advocates for all kinds of green causes are hoping to find newly fertile ground for their ideas at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the Wall Street Journal reports. Several groups are pushing for the president-elect to lead by example and plant an organic garden on the White House's ample grounds. Others urge the president to install solar panels or an...
Fear of Crowds, Cold Deter Inauguration-Goers
New York Times
|
Jan 17, 2009 8:54 AM CST
(Newser) -
The biggest gathering in Washington DC's history may be a little smaller than expected, the New York Times reports. Would-be visitors for Inauguration Day are starting to take heed of warning about crowds and cold, and many have decided to celebrate in their hometown instead. Officials still expect a logistical nightmare, but have scaled back their...
Israel Pummels Gaza Before Ceasefire Vote
BBC
|
Jan 17, 2009 8:31 AM CST
(Newser) -
Israel launched 50 air strikes on Gaza last night ahead of a Cabinet vote on a unilateral ceasefire, the BBC reports. A tank shell hit a UN school, killing at least two children among hundreds of people who had taken refuge there, Palestinians say; Israel says it’s looking into the matter. A UN relief agency says Israel’s Gaza operations...
Florida 'Mini-Madoff' Missing With $350M
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
|
Jan 17, 2009 7:48 AM CST
(Newser) -
A Florida hedge fund manager is missing along with hundreds of millions of dollars of his clients' money, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reports. Art Nadel, 75, was reported missing Wednesday after his wife found a suicide note. Stunned investors have been told that Nadel's funds, thought to have totaled $350 million, are now nearly empty.
Swayze Out of Hospital
People
|
Jan 17, 2009 7:00 AM CST
(Newser) -
Patrick Swayze is on the mend after being released from the hospital after a weeklong stay being treated for pneumonia. The actor, whose new TV drama The Beast premiered Thursday, is fighting pancreatic cancer but says his spirit remains strong. "I am alive and plan on continuing to stay that way," he recently told People .
Man Nabbed in Mississippi for Obama Threats
Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice
|
Jan 17, 2009 5:45 AM CST
(Newser) -
A Wisconsin man was arrested in Mississippi yesterday after posting online threats to kill Barack Obama, the Daily Leader reports. Steven Joseph Christopher, 43, had written “ok we have 9 days until my Presidential Assasination” in an expletive-filled, anti-Semitic posting on the website alien-earth.org. He referred to Obama as “the...
Hudson Rescuers Reflect With Wonder
CNN
|
Jan 17, 2009 5:30 AM CST
(Newser) -
Rescuers who scrambled to save passengers from US Airways Flight 1549 look back in the day's events with disbelief, they tell CNN. Ferry captain Brittany Catanzaro, used to shuttling commuters back and forth, suddenly found herself piloting a challenging rescue mission. "I didn't have time to get nervous," she said. "I got the crew...
What Men Use Botox, and Why?
Time
|
Jan 16, 2009 8:00 PM CST
(Newser) -
Just who are all these men getting Botox, and why do they do it—especially during a recession? The number of male Botox users has soared to 300,000—or about 7% of total face-freezers—since 2001, and that percentage hasn't dipped in today's economy. Wondering what men lie behind these stats, Robyn Twomey, writing for Time , calls...
Obama Builds Even More Bridges to GOP
Politico
|
Jan 16, 2009 7:22 PM CST
(Newser) -
Barack Obama's courting of conservatives is well-known, but he's done even more quiet outreach behind the scenes, Politico reports. Obama has publicly extended an olive branch to the likes of John McCain, Rick Warren, and George Will—but he's also contacted prominent Republicans on Capitol Hill and organizations such as the Southern Baptist Church....
Peanut Probe Grows; Feds Trace Salmonella
Associated Press
|
Jan 16, 2009 6:49 PM CST
(AP) -
The latest national food safety investigation took on new urgency today as federal officials confirmed salmonella contamination at a Georgia facility that ships peanut products to 85 food companies, the AP reports. On Capitol Hill, the House Energy and Commerce Committee requested records as it opened its own inquiry. The outbreak has sickened...
Plow Producers File Grievance Against Piven
BroadwayWorld.com
|
Jan 16, 2009 6:21 PM CST
(Newser) -
Producers of David Mamet's Speed-the-Plow have filed a grievance with Actors' Equity against Jeremy Piven, who left the production with what his doctors called mercury poisoning, BroadwayWorld.com reports. No date for the arbitration proceedings has been set. Piven has gone to another set of doctors for a second opinion, but details have not been...
Real-Estate Pioneer Crow Dead at 94
Dallas Morning News
|
Jan 16, 2009 5:41 PM CST
(Newser) -
Visionary real-estate developer Trammell Crow, who pioneered strategies that helped him become one of the world’s largest landlords, has died, the Dallas Morning News reports. He was 94 and suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. Crow, who helped popularize the concept of building on spec—erecting structures before they were leased—often...
'Would Have Been Great' to Be in Obama Cabinet: Dean
Associated Press
|
Jan 16, 2009 5:25 PM CST
(AP) -
Outgoing Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean said today he would have liked to work in the Obama administration, but instead is embarking on a life in the private sector after nearly 30 years in politics. Some of his supporters have been upset that after all the former Vermont governor has done for Democrats, President-elect Barack Obama...
Top 10 Bush Gaffes on YouTube
Time
|
Jan 16, 2009 5:20 PM CST
(Newser) -
During his 8 years in office, George W. Bush created the biggest presidential blooper reel in history. Time narrows the field of YouTube gems to a top 10: Shoe toss in Iraq. Bush has no idea why a Iraqi might hurl footware at him, but the episode spawned scads of parodies. Locked-in in China. A jet-lagged prez tries to escape...
At Obama Swearing-In, Watchers Will Swear at Cold
USA Today
|
Jan 16, 2009 5:01 PM CST
(Newser) -
The presidential inauguration is shaping up to be a trying event, what with huge crowds, restrictive security measures, and now, a chilly forecast, USA Today reports. Contingency plans range from the prudent—heated tents for the unwell—to the desperate. Organizers are trying to have "as many tour buses as possible come as close to...
Jobs Mulls Liver Transplant
Bloomberg
|
Jan 16, 2009 4:41 PM CST
(Newser) -
With rumors rampant, Steve Jobs is considering a liver transplant. The Apple CEO’s announcement Wednesday that he’ll take a leave of absence to deal with his apparently deteriorating health has the rumor mill working 24/7, but he professes ignorance. Reached by phone, he asked a Bloomberg reporter, “Why don’t you guys leave...
Circuit City Liquidation Sales Will Begin Tomorrow
Reuters
|
Jan 16, 2009 4:35 PM CST
(Newser) -
Circuit City will begin the liquidation of $1.3 billion in inventory across 567 stores in special sales tomorrow, Reuters reports. The company hasn’t said anything specific on the discounts it might offer, but markdowns are likely to be deep. Gift cards from the chain will be redeemable at the sales, but worthless after the stores close.
Blago's Impeachment Lawyers Jump Ship
Chicago Tribune
|
Jan 16, 2009 4:25 PM CST
(Newser) -
Ten days before Rod Blagojevich’s impeachment trial in the Illinois senate is scheduled to begin, the disgraced governor’s legal team has stepped down, the Chicago Tribune reports. A short timetable and the fact they can’t call witnesses make the situation “fundamentally unfair,” said the attorneys, comparing the trial...
Both Engines Missing From US Airways Plane
New York Times
|
Jan 16, 2009 4:18 PM CST
(Newser) -
The US Airways plane that ditched in the Hudson River yesterday is missing both engines, crucial clues in the investigation, the New York Times reports. Police divers aided by sonar are searching for them even as officials prepare to hoist the plane out of the water tomorrow. Investigators needs them “because there would be physical evidence...
Libby Deserves Bush Pardon
Weekly Standard
|
Jan 16, 2009 4:16 PM CST
(Newser) -
“Simple justice” should compel President Bush to pardon Lewis “Scooter” Libby, writes Fred Barnes in the Weekly Standard . “Libby has either been punished far too severely for a very small offense,” writes Barnes “or he is an innocent man.” Libby was convicted of perjury and obstruction—but not...
Chrysler's Loan Arm Gets $1.5B Federal Loan
Washington Post
|
Jan 16, 2009 4:03 PM CST
(Newser) -
The Treasury Department will lend Chrysler’s financing arm $1.5 billion to encourage the struggling auto-loan market, the Washington Post reports today. The 5-year loan comes at an interest rate of about 1.36%, and carries limits on executive compensation: Chrysler Financial will have to cut its bonus pool by 40%. Chrysler responded by announcing...
Obama Pitches Public Service—On the Net
Time
|
Jan 16, 2009 3:55 PM CST
(Newser) -
Barack Obama, like John F. Kennedy before him, has issued a call to service in a novel medium. For Kennedy it was television, and Obama, unsurprisingly, is using the Internet to drum up volunteerism, Time reports. USAService.org allows willing citizens to find projects, or even organize them, and capitalizes on the successes of the plugged-in campaign.
French Pol's Baby Daddy May Be Gucci Heir
New York Post
|
Jan 16, 2009 3:40 PM CST
(Newser) -
When France's glamorous justice minister, Rachida Dati, gave birth to a baby girl this month, gossipmongers returned to a burning question: Who's the father? Speculation has centered on everyone from Spain's prime minister to Dati's boss, Nicolas Sarkozy. All wrong, reports the Post 's Page Six, which fingers Gucci heir Francois-Henri Pinault—already...
Dow Gains 68 Despite Banks
MarketWatch
|
Jan 16, 2009 3:29 PM CST
(Newser) -
US stocks clawed back to gains today amid turmoil in the financial sector and volatile price swings stemming from the expiration of January options contracts, MarketWatch reports. Although 100 points off its open at midday, the Dow finished with a gain of 68.73, to 8,281.22. The Nasdaq added 17.49, settling at 1,529.33, and the S&P 500 gained 6.38...
Delhi Bans Plastic Bags
Guardian (UK)
|
Jan 16, 2009 3:16 PM CST
(Newser) -
Officials in Delhi have banned the “use, storage, and sale” of plastic bags, the Guardian reports, after Indian environmentalists warned about the dangers of the non-biodegradable bags. Violators could be imprisoned for up to 5 years and fined over $2,000. Plastic bags have become a staple in Delhi amid a booming economy and the proliferation...
Courtney Love Knocks Jews ... in Jewish Magazine
New York Post
|
Jan 16, 2009 3:03 PM CST
(Newser) -
Courtney Love says she’s sober, but her recent anti-Semitic remarks in a Jewish magazine might give some observers pause, the New York Post reports. “Every time you buy a Nirvana record, part of that money is not going to Kurt’s child, or to me, it’s going to a handful of Jew loan officers, Jew private banks,” the former...
Inaugural Balls Can Be a Pain
Los Angeles Times
|
Jan 16, 2009 2:53 PM CST
(Newser) -
Inaugural balls aren't the fairytale occasions people imagine, jaded Washington vet Carla Hall writes in the Los Angeles Times . Instead of a sea of couples gliding past the newly sworn-in president on the dance floor, the galas tend to be a bunch of tired people crammed into a ballroom straining to catch a glimpse of the quickly-passing-through first...
Minneapolis Newspaper Files for Bankruptcy
Minneapolis Star Tribune
|
Jan 16, 2009 2:44 PM CST
(Newser) -
The Minneapolis Star Tribune has filed for bankruptcy protection after missing payments to creditors, the paper reports. Like most other 3-D news outlets, the 15th-largest daily in the country has seen a steep decline in advertising revenue. The Chapter 11 filing shows assets of $493.2 million and debt of $661.1 million. The Strib plans to...
Obama/Spider-Man Comic Gets Third Printing
MTV
|
Jan 16, 2009 2:34 PM CST
(Newser) -
Barack Obama loves Spider-Man, Spider-Man loves Obama—and the public apparently loves both of them. Amazing Spider-Man #583, which sees the web-slinger come face-to-mask with the president-elect, is already going back to press for a third printing, MTV reports. Marvel Comics’ announcement yesterday came just 24 hours after the first run...
Israel Nears Decision on Gaza Ceasefire
Jerusalem Post (Israel)
|
Jan 16, 2009 2:24 PM CST
(Newser) -
Israel’s security cabinet will meet tomorrow to discuss, and likely approve, a unilateral ceasefire in Gaza, the Jerusalem Post reports. The move comes after negotiations in Egypt and the signing of an agreement with the US designed to halt smuggling of arms into Gaza. The ceasefire does not include Hamas as a direct party, as Israel does not...
Gorilla Fine After Rare Surgery
Associated Press
|
Jan 16, 2009 2:21 PM CST
(Newser) -
A 32-year-old female gorilla underwent a rare gynecological procedure in Hungary yesterday, the AP reports. Doctors operated for three hours on Liesel, who they suspected had a malignant tumor on her right ovary. No tumors were found during the surgery, but the gorilla will be kept under observation and apart from other primates at the Budapest Zoo.
'Bad Bank' for Toxic Assets Among Feds' TARP Options
Bloomberg
|
Jan 16, 2009 2:12 PM CST
(Newser) -
Support is growing for the latest proposed use of bailout funds: a federally sponsored “bad bank” to purchase toxic assets from troubled financial institutions, Bloomberg reports. “A lot of work has been done on an aggregator bank,” Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said today; FDIC chief Sheila Bair recently said the idea has...
Noonan: Set Aside Cynicism, and Soak It In
Wall Street Journal
|
Jan 16, 2009 2:03 PM CST
(Newser) -
The sights and sounds of a presidential inauguration are enough to inspire the most jaded of observers, if they’re so willing, writes Peggy Noonan in the Wall Street Journal . Sure, presidencies come and go, with victories and failures. But at the majestic ceremony, the best option is to forget partisanship, forget dashed hopes, and soak it...
Boost's $50 Prepaid Cell Plan Could Trigger Price War
USA Today
|
Jan 16, 2009 1:52 PM CST
(Newser) -
A new prepaid calling plan from Sprint’s Boost may spark a price war in the wireless market, USA Today reports. Boost will offer unlimited calling, texting and web browsing for a flat $50 a month fee. The plan may prove so attractive to cash-strapped wireless customers Boost could start taking customers away from the bigger telecoms—maybe...
I'm Not Out of Control: Winehouse
Daily Mail (UK)
|
Jan 16, 2009 1:43 PM CST
(Newser) -
Despite photos and reports that suggest otherwise, Amy Winehouse says she isn’t a drunken mess—wreaking havoc at a Caribbean resort is her idea of a good time. “I’m not out of control,” she tells the Daily Mail . “Yes, I’ve had a few drinks, but I’m on holiday—I’m just young and having fun.”...
RNC Candidates Must Measure Up to Dems' Kaine
Politico
|
Jan 16, 2009 1:34 PM CST
(Newser) -
Since Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine took over the Democratic National Committee last week, Republicans—in the midst of choosing Kaine’s RNC counterpart—are concerned that their contenders aren’t quite in Kaine’s weight class, reports Politico. Imagining the inevitable on-air debates, one Republican stresses the importance of...
Inauguration Announcer Been at Mic Since Ike
USA Today
|
Jan 16, 2009 1:25 PM CST
(Newser) -
Charlie Brotman, the octogenarian MC stationed closest to the presidential reviewing stand during Tuesday’s Inaugural Parade, has had a front-row seat to history since 1957, when he was chosen to announce President Eisenhower’s, USA Today reports. Brotman expects Barack Obama’s inauguration will be the most spectacular ever. “All...
YouTube Comes to TV— Through PlayStation 3, Wii
PC World
|
Jan 16, 2009 1:18 PM CST
(Newser) -
YouTube has come to the boob tube—clips from the video website can be watched on a conventional TV using either Sony or Nintendo’s current video-game consoles, PC World reports. Using the web browser built into the PlayStation 3 or Wii consoles, viewers can access a streamlined version of YouTube via www.youtube.com/tv (only available...
Boy George Gets 15-Month Jail Term
Telegraph (UK)
|
Jan 16, 2009 1:10 PM CST
(Newser) -
A London court today sentenced Boy George to 15 months in prison for imprisoning an escort he accused of theft, the Telegraph reports. The judge called the pop star’s actions “gratuitous violence” that “traumatized” 29-year-old Audun Carlsen. The singer, 47, reportedly didn’t testify because he didn't want to embarrass...
Crisis Turns Econ Theory on Its Ear:
New York Times
|
Jan 16, 2009 1:03 PM CST
(Newser) -
Classical economics is based on the idea that “reason rides the passions the way a rider sits atop a horse,” David Brooks writes in the New York Times —which means classical economics is pretty much out the window right now. The recession proves the market is a psychological entity, governed by participants’ emotions, insecurities...
Crash Passengers Arrive Home
Charlotte Observer
|
Jan 16, 2009 12:53 PM CST
(Newser) -
They experienced a bit of turbulence along the way, but the passengers of US Airways flight 1549 have begun reaching their final destination. About 10 passengers arrived in Charlotte shortly after midnight, the Charlotte Observer reports, reporting a “raucous atmosphere” of celebration aboard the flight. Weren’t they afraid to fly...
Speechwriter Obama Gets Competitive
Politico
|
Jan 16, 2009 12:50 PM CST
(Newser) -
Barack Obama has nearly completed his inaugural address, and he's uniquely qualified to take on a seemingly insurmountable challenge: living up to the example set by the likes of Abraham Lincoln and John Kennedy. "I would think we would hear the most eloquent speech since JFK’s 48 years ago," Kennedy speechwriter Ted Sorensen tells...
ABC Delays Canceled Dramas' Finales Till Summer
E! Online
|
Jan 16, 2009 12:43 PM CST
(Newser) -
Dying to know how the recently canceled series Eli Stone , Pushing Daisies , and Dirty Sexy Money will end? Come back in the summer, says ABC. The network, which originally scheduled the final episodes of Daisies to start airing last week, has more ratings-friendly plans for the time slots, E! reports. Fans of all three shows will get closure...
Palin Off List for Bipartisan McCain Fete
Mother Jones
|
Jan 16, 2009 12:33 PM CST
(Newser) -
The Obama inaugural committee is throwing a dinner honoring John McCain as an advocate of bipartisanship, but there's a gap in the guest list. Notably absent is running mate Sarah Palin, Daniel Schulman blogs for Mother Jones . “I don’t know if she was invited,” says a Palin spokesman. The inaugural committee passed up multiple opportunities...
Hotel for Dogs a Tail-Wagger
Rotten Tomatoes
|
Jan 16, 2009 12:24 PM CST
(Newser) -
For what it is—a family flick about smart kids running a secret dog inn— Hotel for Dogs is actually an enjoyable film, critics say. There’s “lots of sneaking around, very cool gadgets, excellent stunts and some clever kids,” writes Betsy Sharkey in the Los Angeles Times . “All in all it's a very pleasant way to...
Beyoncé Will Sing for Obamas' Inaugural Dance
Associated Press
|
Jan 16, 2009 12:15 PM CST
(Newser) -
Beyoncé will sing for the Obamas' first dance on inauguration night, the AP reports. The inaugural committee is tight-lipped about the specifics—"It is our hope that we can keep the song secret until the moment,” a rep said—but it's a good bet the singer/actress will be closer to the "At Last" section...
Bush White House Empties Out Today
Politico
|
Jan 16, 2009 12:06 PM CST
(Newser) -
By the close of business today, the White House will be almost empty of staff, reports Politico. By Monday, there will be no physical trace of the Bush administration left in the building, as if 8 years of history could be unwritten by the crew of cleaners and painters. Says Dan Bartlett, a former presidential counselor, “In many respects it’s...
Hamas Divided Over Continued Fighting
Economist
|
Jan 16, 2009 12:00 PM CST
(Newser) -
Hamas is split over its next steps in the continuing bloodshed in Gaza. Local leaders want an end to the violence, while exiled bosses in Syria want to keep battling until all their conditions are met, the Economist reports. Outside leaders are putting pressure on Hamas, particularly its Syrian arm, to settle with Israel, which maintains the upper...
NY Crash Is Sign That Bird Strikes Are Soaring
Time
|
Jan 16, 2009 11:57 AM CST
(Newser) -
Yesterday’s US Airways crash is just the most high-profile illustration of the growing problem of bird strikes, Time reports. Such run-ins quadrupled from 1,759 in 1990 to 7,666 in 2007. The problem, ironically, may be improving technology: Most jets now have two engines rather than four, leaving them with fewer backups in a strike—and...
