Newser Story Index from February, 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.
Newt: Jindal Will Be a Major Player for Years
Chicago Tribune
|
Feb 25, 2009 8:46 PM CST
(Newser) -
Guess who's the subject of a 60 Minutes profile this weekend? None other than Bobby Jindal, who's not having the best of days. But the Louisiana governor can take solace from Newt Gingrich, who tells Morley Safer during the show that Jindal "will automatically be a major contender for the presidency for many, many years," notes the Chicago...
Low-Carb or Low-Fat? Doesn't Matter
Associated Press
|
Feb 25, 2009 8:20 PM CST
(AP) -
Low-fat, low-carb, high-protein—the kind of diet doesn't matter, scientists say. All that counts is cutting calories and sticking with it, says a federal study that followed hundreds of people for two years. Millions have turned to popular diets such as Atkins, Zone, and Ornish that tout the benefits of one nutrient over another. But the new...
Obama Trying to Shift Burden to the Rich
New York Times
|
Feb 25, 2009 7:46 PM CST
(Newser) -
As details trickle out about President Obama's budget, one clear picture is emerging—he is dead-set on making the rich pay more, write Jackie Calmes and Robert Pear in the New York Times . In the latest example, he plans to fund half of his health-care reform through tax increases on the wealthy. At the same time, he intends to give low-income...
Mayor Sent Email With White House Watermelons
Orange County Register
|
Feb 25, 2009 7:10 PM CST
(Newser) -
The white mayor of Los Alamitos, Calif., thought it would be funny to send an email to a black constituent that contained a photo of the White House with a watermelon patch in front. Now, of course, Dean Grose is deeply apologetic for his "poor judgment" and says he meant no offense, the Orange County Register reports.
Puppy Love Fuels Twilight Author
Vogue
|
Feb 25, 2009 6:51 PM CST
(Newser) -
Stephenie Meyer, the author of the Twilight books, is not a shadowy vampire, Vogue reports. In fact, she is a shy, retiring Mormon mother of 3 living in a Phoenix suburb. Sure, the characters for the hit books came from a dream, but the substance is straight puppy love. “I miss those days of 10 and 13,” Meyer says, “when a boy...
Limbaugh Defends Jindal: 'He's Brilliant'
ThinkProgress
|
Feb 25, 2009 6:20 PM CST
(Newser) -
Bobby Jindal has been almost universally panned on both the left and right for his speech last night—with one notable exception. Longtime backer Rush Limbaugh defended Jindal today and warned his detractors to back off, reports ThinkProgress. "I love Bobby Jindal, and that did not change last night," said Limbaugh, who once referred...
White House Nabs Masked Bandit
Washington Post
|
Feb 25, 2009 6:05 PM CST
(Newser) -
Mission accomplished. National Parks workers have caught a wily raccoon that's been roaming the White House grounds for weeks, notes the Washington Post . After vegetarian fare failed to entice the masked critter, trappers successfully employed salmon. "They're a finicky bunch," says press chief Robert Gibbs. The good news: The unharmed...
Woods Cruises to First-Round Victory
Associated Press
|
Feb 25, 2009 5:41 PM CST
(AP) -
Eight months after his last tournament, Tiger Woods looked as though he'd never been away. Woods made a triumphant return to golf today in the Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona with a spectacular start that showed golf what it had been missing for 253 days. Woods defeated Brendan Jones of Australia 3-and-2 in match play to advance to the...
Democrat Governor May Reject Stimulus Funds
Tennessean
|
Feb 25, 2009 5:30 PM CST
(Newser) -
A Democrat has joined the ranks of GOP governors who may turn down stimulus funds. Gov. Phil Bredesen of Tennessee says the state may reject $143 million for unemployed workers because it won't be able to afford the long-term budget repercussions, reports the Tennessean . Six other governors, all of them Republican, have voiced similar concerns....
Fox Ribs Biden's Fumbling Over Web 'Number'
Fox News
|
Feb 25, 2009 5:16 PM CST
(Newser) -
Fox News is poking fun at Joe Biden for seeming a little clueless about the web. During an appearance on CBS' Early Show today, Biden sought to refer viewers to the government's new stimulus-tracking website, but he couldn't come up with its "number." His full line: "You know, I'm embarrassed. Do you know the website number?"...
Shareholders Rage at Apple Board's Silence on Jobs
Wall Street Journal
|
Feb 25, 2009 4:54 PM CST
(Newser) -
Apple shareholders left an annual meeting today upset at the company’s board for staying mum about CEO Steve Jobs’ health, the Wall Street Journal reports. Considered the company’s chief innovator, Jobs rattled Apple’s stock price last month with news that treatment for a hormone imbalance would sideline him until June. The...
Tears Lone Signal of Sadness: Study
Wired
|
Feb 25, 2009 4:50 PM CST
(Newser) -
Tears are more than just an indicator of sadness, Wired reports—they may be the indicator, as far as other people are concerned. People categorize identical images of a face totally differently if tears are present in one photo and digitally removed from the other, a new study found. “One of the startling things is that the faces not...
Long Work Hours Weaken Mental Skills
BBC
|
Feb 25, 2009 4:38 PM CST
(Newser) -
Working long hours may weaken mental skills, the BBC reports. Researchers administered a series of reasoning and memory tests to 2,214 British civil servants and found that those working more than 55 hours a week did significantly worse than those who worked around 40. The effect was cumulative, meaning the more hours over 55 employees worked, the...
Shoppers Embrace Coupon Clipping 2.0
Wall Street Journal
|
Feb 25, 2009 4:27 PM CST
(Newser) -
The recession has more Americans clipping coupons, sort of. While coupon use has jumped 10% since October, more of those discounts were downloaded to smart phones and supermarket rewards cards—not cut out from the newspaper. And digital advertising, still a 1% sliver of the discount pie, seems to benefit buyers and sellers alike, the Wall Street...
Miami Police: Father Kills 2 Daughters, Wife, Self
Miami Herald
|
Feb 25, 2009 4:16 PM CST
(Newser) -
A well-respected music teacher and former tenor with the Greater Miami Opera Chorus shot to death two daughters, ages 13 and 14, and his wife before killing himself this morning, police say. His 16-year-old son escaped the house during the rampage by Pablo Josue Amador, 54, the Herald reports. Police have not speculated about a motive.
Over Boos, A-Rod Homers in Spring Opener
Associated Press
|
Feb 25, 2009 4:06 PM CST
(Newser) -
Despite the cacophony of boos, cheers, and cat calls hurled his way, Alex Rodriguez hit a two-run home run today in his first spring-training game for the New York Yankees, the AP reports. The maligned third baseman played until the fifth inning at the Toronto Blue Jays’ ballpark—his first game since admitting he took performance-enhancing...
Obama to Create $634B Fund for Health Care
Washington Post
|
Feb 25, 2009 3:56 PM CST
(Newser) -
President Obama plans to create a $634 billion fund over the next 10 years to help the nation pay for comprehensive health care reform, the Washington Post reports. Obama—who will announce the fund when he unveils his budget tomorrow—plans to pay for it by cutting tax breaks for the wealthy and trimming government spending to insurers,...
Human Rights in Russia 'Under Siege': US State Dept.
Reuters
|
Feb 25, 2009 3:49 PM CST
(Newser) -
Human rights in Russia are "under siege," and the Chinese government is engaging in "serious human rights abuses," the US State Department says. The finger-pointing, in an annual report released today, comes just a week after Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited China and downplayed the US focus on rights abuses...
What Not to Name Your New Baby
BBC
|
Feb 25, 2009 3:40 PM CST
(Newser) -
Naming your child Anna Sasin, Paige Turner, or Hazel Nutt may seem funny, but they're Terry Bull ideas. Those are all real names in British phone books—and the jokes are no laughing matter for the people stuck with the monikers, researchers with TheBabyWebsite.com say. The kidding "got hugely boring after a while," Stan Still,...
Pakistan Court Upholds Ban on Sharif; Tensions Rise
BBC
|
Feb 25, 2009 3:29 PM CST
(Newser) -
Pakistan’s supreme court refused today to let opposition leader Nawaz Sharif or his brother hold elected office, prompting fears of political infighting that could further destabilize the country, the BBC reports. President Asif Ali Zardari immediately moved to dismiss the provincial government in Punjab led by Sharif’s brother Shahbaz,...
Big Banks Up; Dow Down 80
Wall Street Journal
|
Feb 25, 2009 3:17 PM CST
(Newser) -
Stocks suffered modest losses today, though prominent financial institutions gained, the Wall Street Journal reports. Details of the Treasury’s “stress tests” and comments from Ben Bernanke disavowing nationalization buoyed Citigroup, Bank of America and Wells Fargo—but another dismal home-sales report depressed the broader...
Jindal's 'Stagecraft' Caught Me Off-Guard: Matthews
Huffington Post
|
Feb 25, 2009 3:13 PM CST
(Newser) -
Chris Matthews was surprised by the “peculiar stagecraft” preceding Bobby Jindal’s speech last night, an NBC rep tells the Huffington Post, leading the MSNBC host to mutter, “Oh, God” as the Louisiana governor appeared on screen. Matthews plans to elaborate during today’s Hardball , the rep added.
We Know What We're Doing, Bernanke Assures Congress
MarketWatch
|
Feb 25, 2009 3:00 PM CST
(Newser) -
Ben Bernanke defended the government’s response to the financial crisis today before Congress, saying regulators’ various approaches reflect different aspects of a unified strategy, MarketWatch reports. “We’re not making it up,” the Federal Reserve chief said. “We’re working along a program that has been applied...
Gitmo Abuse Worse Under Obama: Lawyer
Reuters
|
Feb 25, 2009 2:51 PM CST
(Newser) -
Prisoner abuse at Guantanamo Bay has gone up since the election of President Obama, who’s promised to close the facility, a lawyer tells Reuters. Detainees represented by Ahmed Ghappour complained of beatings, dislocation of limbs, overfeeding while on hunger strike, and pepper spray on their toilet paper. “Guards are just basically trying...
Son With Autism Charged in Mom's Murder
Cincinnati Enquirer
|
Feb 25, 2009 2:40 PM CST
(Newser) -
The autistic son of a Kent State professor has been charged with her murder, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. On Jan. 29, Sky Walker allegedly beat his mother, Gertrude Steuernagel, so severely that she died a week later from her injuries. Walker, 18, has been found incompetent to manage his own affairs, but that ruling has no bearing on his criminal...
Tarantino's Basterds Looks as Lousy as His Spelling
Guardian (UK)
|
Feb 25, 2009 2:27 PM CST
(Newser) -
The trailer for Quentin Tarantino’s new film, Inglourious Basterds , is just 100 seconds long, but that's enough. "Perhaps there will prove to be a level of postmodern self-ironising,” Paul MacInnes writes in the Guardian . “Perhaps serving up Kill Bill with the Holocaust as a backdrop will be a fabulously worthwhile endeavor.”...
Supreme Court Rules Against Utah Sect
New York Times
|
Feb 25, 2009 2:12 PM CST
(Newser) -
The Supreme Court today denied a Utah sect the right to erect a monument in a public park, settling a case that had serious implications for free speech and freedom of religion, the New York Times reports. Members of the Summum religion are free to espouse their beliefs in the park in Pleasant Grove City, but the First Amendment does not guarantee...
LC Prepares to Flee Hills
People
|
Feb 25, 2009 2:01 PM CST
(Newser) -
Even Lauren Conrad has had enough of Lauren Conrad. The Hills star says the upcoming fifth season of the MTV reality show will be her last. "This is as long as I can do it and stay sane," LC tells Seventeen . The wannabe fashion designer, whose past public relationships have failed, is even keeping her newest tryst from the cameras, reports...
Simon Isn't Planning to Freeze Himself After All
Daily Mirror (UK)
|
Feb 25, 2009 1:54 PM CST
(Newser) -
Ever the cool cat, Simon Cowell now says he was just kidding recently when he informed Britain’s prime minister he’d like to be frozen after his death, a rep for the American Idol judge tells the Mirror . The 49-year-old reportedly told Gordon Brown “I’d be doing the nation a service” by preserving himself for posterity....
... And He's Back
Associated Press
|
Feb 25, 2009 1:40 PM CST
(AP) -
Tiger Woods is back on the fairway and back in competition. Wearing his trademark white "TW" golf cap and swinging easily, the world's No. 1 player teed off today at the Accenture Match Play Championship near Tucson, Ariz. His first drive found the fairway. It's Woods' first tournament competition since he won the US Open in June 2008 on...
Preteen Gets Her Last Wish: A Wedding
ABC News
|
Feb 25, 2009 1:36 PM CST
(Newser) -
Nine-year-old Jayla Cooper dreamed of her wedding day, and even a grim medical diagnosis couldn't keep her from her wish. The 9-year-old, suffering from an aggressive form of leukemia that has left her with just weeks to live, recently "married" her 7-year-old sweetheart, a fellow leukemia patient at a Texas hospital, ABC News reports....
While DC Burns, Congress Twitters
Washington Post
|
Feb 25, 2009 1:22 PM CST
(Newser) -
Washington has a problem, writes Dana Milbank in the Washington Post. No, not just pork, or the influence of lobbyists—Twitter. President Obama gave a speech last night that was solemn but hopeful, bold yet pragmatic. And how did our lawmakers respond? “They whipped out their BlackBerrys and began sending text messages like high school...
Pilots Among 9 Dead in Amsterdam Crash
Times (UK)
|
Feb 25, 2009 1:08 PM CST
(Newser) -
All three pilots died in the crash of a Turkish Airlines jet at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport this morning, the Times of London reports. Six others perished and 84 people were injured, six critically and 25 severely. The plane, which carried 135 people, remains in a rain-soaked field 3 miles from the airport as officials investigate. The engines...
US Nabs 750 in Mexico Drug Crackdown
Associated Press
|
Feb 25, 2009 1:00 PM CST
(AP) -
Federal agents have rounded up more than 700 suspects in a wide-ranging crackdown on Mexican drug cartels operating inside the US. An official familiar with the sweep said the arrests culminated in a series of DEA raids around the country last night and this morning. The operation has led to the arrests of 751 individuals and the seizure of $59 million...
Lookin' for Love, 1 in 4 Turn to Arms of Networking Sites
Telegraph (UK)
|
Feb 25, 2009 12:52 PM CST
(Newser) -
For those looking for love in all the wrong places, the right place might just be Facebook, reports the Telegraph , citing a new poll that shows one in four Britons are dating or have dated a person met through a social-networking site such as MySpace or Bebo. And in further evidence that websites are replacing the local bar as the meat market, one...
Golf Looks for a Tiger Bailout
USA Today
|
Feb 25, 2009 12:37 PM CST
(Newser) -
Professional golf is looking to Tiger Woods’ return today as a stimulus package for the sport, which has seen recession undermine sponsorship deals and Woods’ 8-month absence siphon off fans, USA Today reports. Even fellow competitors are juiced ahead of the Match Play Championship outside Tucson, Ariz. “He’s carried this...
Pakistan: US Strikes Boost Local Qaeda Threat
New York Times
|
Feb 25, 2009 12:26 PM CST
(Newser) -
US drone strikes are heightening al-Qaeda’s threat to Pakistan, even as the attacks hurt the organization's ability to coordinate on a global scale, Pakistani officials say. The strikes have helped decentralize the group, but pockets focused on local jihad are fighting back. The officials also worry that an upcoming US troop surge in Afghanistan...
Passenger in Freeman Crash Sues Actor
Radar
|
Feb 25, 2009 12:10 PM CST
(Newser) -
The woman injured in a car crash with Morgan Freeman last year is filing suit against the actor, RadarOnline reports. Demaris Meyer has vowed to reveal the nature of her relationship with Freeman and release details—including explicit photos—of the crash. Freeman announced he was divorcing his wife shortly after the August accident on a...
Swedish Princess Will Marry Personal Trainer
Times (UK)
|
Feb 25, 2009 12:03 PM CST
(Newser) -
In what sounds like a real-life Disney movie, the crown princess of Sweden lifted her country out of a glum mood—at least for one day—by announcing her engagement to her personal trainer, the Times of London reports. Crown Princess Victoria's fiancé has undergone a royal makeover: no more baseball caps or long hair, and he now...
Accused Pa. Killer, 11, Moves to Juvie
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
|
Feb 25, 2009 11:54 AM CST
(Newser) -
Jordan Brown, the 11-year-old Pennsylvania boy charged with murdering his father’s pregnant girlfriend, has been moved from county jail to a nearby juvenile facility, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. Officials had said the jail wasn’t appropriate for the young suspect, and a judge OK’d the transfer yesterday. “I know he...
To Combat Digital Piracy, Try Stealing
Christian Science Monitor
|
Feb 25, 2009 11:47 AM CST
(Newser) -
A Hollywood composer wants you to stop illegally downloading music, and he's willing to put his freedom in jeopardy to make his point. Because the public doesn't seem to equate swapping digital files with stealing, Richard Gibbs is pushing for people to swipe other products in a nationwide "day of sharing," reports the Christian Science...
Here Comes Jindal; 'Oh, God,' Says MSNBC
Fox News
|
Feb 25, 2009 11:37 AM CST
(Newser) -
After Keith Olbermann introduced Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal’s rebuttal to President Obama’s congressional speech last night, MSNBC broadcast snickers and a hushed voice intoning “Oh, God,” Fox News reports. The voice is thought to have been Olbermann’s or that of co-host Chris Matthews. Both have been publicly critical...
Meet Madge's New Face
ABC News
|
Feb 25, 2009 11:23 AM CST
(Newser) -
“When all else fails and you long to be / Something better than you are today.” Sound familiar, Madonna? The Queen of Pop seems to be looking better these days, notes ABC News. Has she had work done? Nothing surgical, say experts, but just about everything else. “It looks like she had a sapphire abrasion or a vibra facial,”...
Britney's Dad Seeks Restraining Order
Los Angeles Times
|
Feb 25, 2009 11:08 AM CST
(Newser) -
Britney Spears' dad yesterday asked an LA court for help in keeping the troubled pop star away from three men he fears are attempting to interfere with her recovery. Jamie Spears, who has legal control of his 27-year-old daughter's affairs, appeared weary as he offered a peek into daily life with the singer, the Los Angeles Times reports. “Sometimes...
Our Skivvies, Ourselves: Saudis Seek Female Sellers
BBC
|
Feb 25, 2009 10:56 AM CST
(Newser) -
Saudi women aren’t allowed to be alone in a room with an unrelated man, but they have to buy their undergarments from men, a situation some are calling unacceptable. In theory, women are permitted to work in shops selling women’s products, but the traditional society has, somewhat ironically, ensured that only men take those jobs, the BBC...
Recession May Kill Pricey Death Penalty
New York Times
|
Feb 25, 2009 10:42 AM CST
(Newser) -
Death and taxes may always be with us, but that doesn’t mean we can’t fiddle with them. Specifically, as the recession decreases tax revenue for states, some are considering abolishing the death penalty, which can cost millions. “And we can’t afford that, when there are better and cheaper ways to reduce crime,” Maryland...
Rosie's Menopause Guru? Madonna
Us Weekly
|
Feb 25, 2009 10:37 AM CST
(Newser) -
The Material Girl can add another talent to her resume: menopause counselor. At least according to Rosie O'Donnell, who happily overshared in an interview on The Tyra Banks Show . Between investigating the source of all the sweat in her bed and cutting out booze, O'Donnell still has time to check in with pal Madonna, reports Us Weekly .
Octu-Mom Offered $1M to Do Porno
TMZ
|
Feb 25, 2009 10:31 AM CST
(Newser) -
Nadya Suleman may not be getting her own reality show, but she could make $1 million starring in a porno, TMZ reports. Porn distributor Vivid Entertainment also promised Suleman and her 14 kids medical and dental insurance if she makes more than one. The offer comes on the heels of Radar’s second installment of the bizarre video interview with...
Chinese Soften on Same-Sex Marriage
Guardian (UK)
|
Feb 25, 2009 10:25 AM CST
(Newser) -
Gay men and lesbians took to the streets of Beijing in tuxedos and wedding gowns last week to voice their support for same-sex marriage, the Guardian reports. Acceptance is growing in China, which only a decade ago criminalized gay sex and listed homosexuality as a mental illness. But the Chinese marriage debate has a different tenor: Although gays...
And the Winner Is ... Portuguese Water Dog
People
|
Feb 25, 2009 10:20 AM CST
(Newser) -
After a wait that felt almost as long as the presidential campaign, the Obamas have decided to adopt a Portuguese water dog, People reports. Her daughters can hardly wait, Michelle Obama said. “So Sasha says, 'April 1st.' I said, 'April.' She says, 'April 1st.' It's, like, April!" the first lady said. “You can't get a new dog and...
