Newser Story Index from June, 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.
Cash-Strapped Cities Ditch Fireworks
Los Angeles Times
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Jun 29, 2009 2:19 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Some 50 US cities are so strapped for money that they're ditching their July 4th fireworks displays, reports the Los Angeles Times . "It came down to this: Did we want to spend $150,000 on something that would be over in a few hours?" asked the mayor of a small Ohio town. "Or did we want to use that money to keep city workers employed?"...
Promising 'Trojan Horse' Cells Kills Animal Cancer
Sydney Morning Herald
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Jun 29, 2009 1:58 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Australian researchers have achieved promising results with a new approach to treating cancer, reports the Sydney Morning Herald . Scientists have developed mutant bacteria nanocells that slip into tumor cells to switch off drug-resistant genes, and allow cancer-fighting drugs inside, also delivered by the nanocells. The strategy has achieved near-universal...
Thai Elephants Pose as Pandas
Bangkok Post (Thailand)
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Jun 29, 2009 1:29 AM CDT
(Newser) -
A $20 million house for a newborn female panda and family at a Thailand zoo has rankled the staff of Ayutthaya Elephant Kraal, who are sick of the nation's panda obsession, reports the Bangkok Post . Concerned that the panda craze has diverted resources from Thailand’s national symbol, they've painted five elephants to resemble pandas.
Mistress Admits Relationship With Sanford
Associated Press
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Jun 28, 2009 10:28 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The Argentine woman identified as Mark Sanford’s mistress acknowledged her relationship with the South Carolina governor, the AP reports. María Belén Chapur confirmed that someone hacked her email account last year and sent her correspondence with Sanford to the State newspaper of Columbia, SC. However, contrary to previous reports,...
Jackson Played Peter Pan to Charm White America
Newsweek
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Jun 28, 2009 8:24 PM CDT
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A musical genius, yes, but Michael Jackson was also a master of performing roles. And his greatest may have been that of a de-sexualized, non-threatening black man who appealed to white audiences, David Gates writes in Newsweek . The King of Pop looked "blackest" on the cover of 1979's Off the Wall ; by Thriller , he had started to...
Iraq's Upbeat Mood Angers US Officials
Guardian (UK)
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Jun 28, 2009 7:40 PM CDT
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Baghdad's festive mood this weekend has left some Washington officials and military leaders simmering, the Guardian reports. While Iraqis prepare to celebrate US troops' withdrawal from city streets tomorrow, American officials say that local forces have gone untrained, forcing US troops to sustain casualties. Worse, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki...
Doc's Lawyer: Jackson Was Found With a Pulse
Associated Press
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Jun 28, 2009 7:01 PM CDT
(AP) -
Michael Jackson still had a faint pulse and his body was warm when his doctor found him in bed and not breathing, a lawyer for the doctor told the AP today. Lawyer Edward Chernoff said Dr. Conrad Murray was at the pop icon's rented mansion on Thursday afternoon when he discovered Jackson in bed and not breathing. The doctor immediately began administering...
Smartphone App Puts Infidelity a Few Clicks Away
Time
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Jun 28, 2009 6:49 PM CDT
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Mark Sanford emulators, take heed: A company that hooks up adulterous sex-seekers has released iPhone and BlackBerry apps to make extramarital flings even easier, Jeremy Caplan writes in Time . Unlike its website, AshleyMadison.com, which leaves an electronic trail spouses can track, the company's apps hide safely on cheaters' smartphones.
Jackson Penned Grisly Play Starring His Kids
News of the World (UK)
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Jun 28, 2009 6:23 PM CDT
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Michael Jackson wrote a bizarre play in which his own children confront a child murderer—and discover he’s not such a bad guy. Acquired by News of the World with other memorabilia and papers, the play stars Paris and Michael Prince II Jackson, who enter the “endless black forest” in search of a man who murders children with...
Brazil Rallies, Shocks US at Confed Cup
Associated Press
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Jun 28, 2009 6:00 PM CDT
(AP) -
Brazil’s “Beautiful Game” came alive in the second half today with three comeback goals in a 3-2 win over the upstart United States in the Confederations Cup final. Luis Fabiano scored two of the goals and Lucio added the third in the 84th minute to give Brazil its second straight Confederations Cup title and third overall. It was...
10 Cars That Changed Our Lives
Forbes
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Jun 28, 2009 5:37 PM CDT
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Cars can create or symbolize profound change—in lifestyle, financial status, and even forms of government. Forbes looks at 10 that changed the world: Toyota Prius. The flagship model for all hybrids, the Prius opened people's minds to the ugly environmental impact of driving. It remains the world's best-selling hybrid vehicle. ...
'Gayby Boomers' Slam Critics But Admit Ups and Downs
CNN
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Jun 28, 2009 5:12 PM CDT
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Experts are still debating the effects of gay parenting on children, but so-called "Gayby Boomers" are now old enough to speak up for themselves. Several in their 20s and 30s tell CNN that they grew up more empathetic than their peers, developed the courage to take unpopular stands, and never missed a mom or dad. Critics, the 'Boomers...
US-Built Bridge Supports Afghan Drug Trade
McClatchy Newspapers
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Jun 28, 2009 4:39 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A US-built bridge linking Afghanistan and Tajikistan that cost taxpayers $37 million has greatly benefited exporters of Afghan opium, McClatchy reports. The bridge over the Panj river was supposed to facilitate commerce between the two nations, but the surging flow of opium across Afghanistan’s northern border threatens to turn Tajikistan—still...
Firm Mulls Release of Final Jackson Rehearsal
The Wrap
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Jun 28, 2009 4:13 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Even in death, Michael Jackson may earn million of dollars for the company that was producing and promoting his comeback tour, The Wrap reports. The singer’s last rehearsal, recorded in Los Angeles the day before he died of heart failure Thursday, could be released as his last album. “We have a live album in the can," said one...
Amid Protests, Honduran Congress Names New Prez
Associated Press
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Jun 28, 2009 3:50 PM CDT
(AP) -
The Honduran Congress has named its leader to replace President Manuel Zelaya following his military ouster and forced exile in Costa Rica. A resolution read on the floor of Congress today accuses Zelaya of "manifest irregular conduct" and "putting in present danger the state of law," a reference to his refusal to obey a Supreme...
Transformers Sequel Stuns Box Office
Entertainment Weekly
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Jun 28, 2009 3:38 PM CDT
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Michael Bay’s Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen nearly toppled the 5-day opening record by earning $201.2 million since Wednesday, Entertainment Weekly reports. The Dark Knight remains unbeaten at $203.8 million, but Transformers still crushed the weekend competition with a $112 million gross. Filling out the top five were The...
Facing $24B Shortfall, Calif. Gets No Love From Feds
Politico
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Jun 28, 2009 3:16 PM CDT
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California may be the world’s 8th-largest economy and key to President Obama’s re-election, but requests for financial aid are falling on deaf ears in Washington, Politico reports. The Golden State remains deadlocked over a $24 billion budget deficit, and many of its own officials are unsympathetic. “Why would we bail out the state...
Infomercial Icon Mays Dead at 50
St. Petersburg Times
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Jun 28, 2009 2:50 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Television pitchman Billy Mays was found dead in his Tampa, Fla., home today, the St. Petersburg Times reports. He was 50. The promoter of everything from baking soda to cleaning supplies said he felt unwell last night after landing in a 737 airplane that blew out a front tire. Mays told a reporter "things from the ceiling started dropping"...
'No Red Flag' in Jackson Doc Interview: LAPD
Los Angeles Times
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Jun 28, 2009 2:26 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Los Angeles police interviewed Michael Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray, for 3 hours last night and found “no red flag” or indication of foul play in the pop icon's death, a source tells the LA Times . The LAPD says Murray is cooperating and is not a suspect, but Jackson's family doesn't want him cleared just yet, TMZ reports. They...
Why One Mom Drew the Line at Skype
New York Times
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Jun 28, 2009 2:05 PM CDT
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Today’s world of cellphones, tweets, and texts makes it possible to stay constantly in touch—but where do we draw the line between contact and privacy, connection and independence? When it comes to family intimacy over distance, that question comes into sharp relief, Peggy Orenstein reflects in the New York Times . Her parents wanted Skype...
Iran Police Clash With 3K Protesters
Associated Press
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Jun 28, 2009 1:47 PM CDT
(AP) -
Riot police clashed with up to 3,000 protesters near a mosque in north Tehran today, using tear gas and truncheons to break up Iran's first post-election demonstration in 5 days. Witnesses told the AP that some protesters fought back, chanting: "Where is my vote?" They said others described scenes of brutality—including the alleged...
Why Car Rentals Are Pricey in Great Recession
New York Times
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Jun 28, 2009 1:40 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Hoping for a cheap car rental in the Great Recession? Sorry, car rental fees are going up, thanks to agencies selling off chunks of their fleets and creating a false shortage, Michelle Higgins writes in the New York Times . Last month, the average weekly airport rental price jumped 73% over the previous year, from $199 to $345. “There’s...
Honduran Prez Recounts 'Brutal Kidnapping' in Coup
Los Angeles Times
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Jun 28, 2009 1:17 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Manuel Zelaya called upon the international community to “defend democracy” after the army forced him to leave Honduras in what the president called a “brutal kidnapping,” the Los Angeles Times reports. Zelaya said he awoke today facing the gun barrels of masked army officers who took him—still in his pajamas—to...
Sanford: I Considered Resigning
Associated Press
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Jun 28, 2009 12:55 PM CDT
(AP) -
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford considered resigning from office after his extramarital affair came to light, the Republican revealed today in an exclusive interview with the AP. But Sanford, who hasn't spoken publicly since Friday, said he spoke with close spiritual and political associates who advised him to fight to restore the public's—and...
Why Cancer Researchers Are Playing it Safe
New York Times
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Jun 28, 2009 12:40 PM CDT
(Newser) -
If you're a cancer researcher, it's harder to get money to investigate a potentially field-changing question than to find out whether a food's tastiness affects dieting. The reason is simple but problematic: With limited funding available and lots of research to do, grant-givers don't want to lose money on a long shot, writes the New York Times...
Yep, There's a Sex Tape, Says Edwards Aide
New York Daily News
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Jun 28, 2009 12:30 PM CDT
(Newser) -
What's a sex scandal without a sex tape? A source who got a peek at the tell-all book proposal penned by Andrew Young—the Edwards aide who claimed to be the father of Rielle Hunter’s child—tells the New York Daily News that Young found a videotape of Hunter 'getting political' with Edwards. The source added that Hunter reportedly...
Jacko Knew He'd Die Young: Lisa Marie
Los Angeles Times
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Jun 28, 2009 12:01 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The King of Pop was sure he would follow the King to an early grave, blogs Lisa Marie Presley. During his brief marriage to Elvis's daughter, Michael Jackson "stated with an almost calm certainty, 'I am afraid that I am going to end up like him.'" Jackson wasn't the only one to foresee an early end: Journalist Ian Halperin had also predicted...
Troubled Banks Have a New Benefactor: You
Washington Post
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Jun 28, 2009 11:31 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Your children aren’t the only ones who think you’re an ATM: Your bank does, too. Facing declining revenues and smacked with tough, new credit card legislation from Congress, banks are hiking overdraft, ATM, and checking account fees, the Washington Post reports. The average bounced check fee rose 2.5% from 2007 to nearly $30, while the...
Axelrod Won't Rule Out Second Stimulus
The Hill
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Jun 28, 2009 11:16 AM CDT
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With unemployment rates still rising, the White House isn’t ruling out the possibility of a second stimulus package, The Hill reports. On This Week , David Axelrod refused to “prejudge” the issue. But on Face the Nation , Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour countered, “The real long-term effect is very negative on interest rates,...
Soured Economy Spoiling Organic Milk Market
Boston Globe
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Jun 28, 2009 10:55 AM CDT
(Newser) -
"Got Milk?" isn't the question organic dairy farmers want to hear these days. Consumers couldn’t get enough of organic milk three years ago, but the souring economy and glut of new-to-the-market organic farmers have spoiled sales, which are expected to drop nearly 15% this year. “We’re hemorrhaging with an oversupply...
Appalachian Hikers Trudge Through Recession
NPR
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Jun 28, 2009 10:43 AM CDT
(Newser) -
They won’t find Mark Sanford, but those hiking the Appalachian Trail are finding an escape, however temporary, from the recession, writes Thomas Pierce for NPR. On the trail, hikers get new identities: nicknames like “Pusher,” an ibuprofen-hawking walker who was an office manager in a previous life. He quit his job to walk his way...
Better Health Care Might Have Saved Jon and Kate
Washington Post
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Jun 28, 2009 10:08 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Could better health care coverage have saved Jon and Kate? Maybe, writes Liza Mundy in the Washington Post , explaining that the Gosselins opted for a cheaper fertility treatment in their quest for one more baby after having twins—and got six kids. Had their health insurer been required to pay for in vitro fertilization, "the most sophisticated,...
Iran Detains British Embassy Staff
Associated Press
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Jun 28, 2009 9:46 AM CDT
(AP) -
Iranian authorities have detained several local employees of the British Embassy in Tehran, a move that Britain's foreign secretary today called "harassment and intimidation" and reflected a hardening of the regime's stance toward the West. Iranian media said eight local embassy staff were detained for an alleged role in post-election protests,...
Director Plans 'We Are the World' Jackson Tribute
Los Angeles Times
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Jun 28, 2009 9:20 AM CDT
(Newser) -
A Michael Jackson tribute based on his 1985 song "We Are the World" may be the best way to honor the King of Pop, the director of Jackson's comeback concerts told the Los Angeles Times. Kenny Ortega says he envisions using the choreography, costuming, and musical staging Jackson had planned to use in his upcoming "This Is It"...
In Affair, Mark Became Marco, 'Canoodling Lothario'
New York Times
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Jun 28, 2009 9:02 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Mark Sanford’s affair stemmed from his love of a woman—and his love of the “dashing new version of himself he saw in her molten eyes,” writes Maureen Dowd in the New York Times . Mark, the Sanford we knew, “was the self-righteous, Bible-thumping prig who pressed for Bill Clinton’s impeachment,” while “Marco,...
62% Want Sotomayor on Court: Poll
Washington Post
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Jun 28, 2009 8:34 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Some 62% of Americans want Sonia Sotomayor confirmed to the high court, with 55% saying her place in the political spectrum is "about right," the Washington Post reports. Her numbers, however, vary on partisan lines: About eight in 10 Dems and two-thirds of independents want her on the court, compared to just 36% of Republicans, who call...
Wreck Your Car? You Can Still Sue GM
Wall Street Journal
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Jun 28, 2009 7:59 AM CDT
(Newser) -
General Motors had hoped to emerge from bankruptcy with a protective coating against future product-liability suits. No such luck, reports the Wall Street Journal . Bowing to government pressure, GM has agreed to change its bankruptcy terms, allowing drivers injured in accidents that stem from vehicle defects to sue the company, rather than join other...
Ky. Church: Praise the Lord, Pack Your Heat
Courier-Journal (Louisville, Ky.)
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Jun 28, 2009 7:09 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Some 200 pistol-packing parishioners filled a church in Louisville, Ky., yesterday to celebrate the somewhat unlikely combination of freedom of religion and the right to bear arms, reports the Courier-Journal . Church members checked to ensure the weapons were unloaded and holstered before pastor Ken Pagano led the congregation in patriotic songs...
Ugliest Dog Fetches Owner Cash Prize
Associated Press
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Jun 28, 2009 6:01 AM CDT
(AP) -
He may not look like much, but boxer-mix Pabst dug up $1,600 for his owner by winning the annual World's Ugliest Dog contest. Rescued from an animal shelter by Californian Miles Egstad, Pabst and his remarkable looks—a pronounced under-bite, crumpled face, and floppy ears—took first prize in the Sonoma-Marin Fair contest.
Energy Drinks: The Manic Lure of Liquid Uppers
Gourmet
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Jun 28, 2009 5:37 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Energy drinks are experiencing such a boom that every group seems to have its own—like the Christian “1 in 3 Trinity” beverage, “fused with both ‘fruit of the spirit’ and 1000 mg of taurine,” writes Julia Langbein for Gourmet. Drink makers “obviously want to get them into the hands of everyday people,...
Hef Ex, Beau Marry at Playboy Mansion
E! Online
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Jun 28, 2009 5:03 AM CDT
(Newser) -
Kendra Wilkinson went from girl next door to something of an honest woman yesterday, reports E! Online, exchanging vows with beau and soon-to-be babydaddy Hank Baskett at the Playboy Mansion in front of 500 guests, swirling paparazzi, and 83-year-old ex Hugh Hefner. Wilkinson's fellow Girls Next Door co-stars served as bridesmaids. The reality...
Rioter Reflects on Stonewall 40 Years Later
Associated Press
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Jun 27, 2009 7:40 PM CDT
(Newser) -
As New York City gears up for the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, one of the original protesters admits he never thought "it would turn out to be much of anything," the AP reports. Raymond Castro, now living with his partner of 30 years, says the crowd on June 28, 1969, inspired him to resist arrest outside the Stonewall Inn—a...
Pitcher Attacked Me Over 'Roids Remarks: Fan
St. Petersburg Times
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Jun 27, 2009 7:03 PM CDT
(Newser) -
A Florida baseball fan says Philadelphia Phillies pitcher JC Romero attacked him over a few wisecracks about steroids, the St. Petersburg Times reports. Robert Eaton, 25, said he was soliciting Phillies players for autographs when he asked Romero for "some juice"—slang for steroids. Romero, recently suspended for 50 games for using...
Jackson's Legendary Lean: It's Patented
ABC News
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Jun 27, 2009 6:36 PM CDT
(Newser) -
When Michael Jackson and his dancers leaned over at a gravity-defying angle for the “Smooth Criminal” music video, it was pretty cool. When he replicated the stunt for his live show, fans were flabbergasted. And MJ apparently thought the trick was worth protecting, ABC News reports: In 1992, he and two other inventors filed for a patent...
Mousavi Turns Down Partial Vote Recount
Reuters
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Jun 27, 2009 6:13 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Iranian presidential challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi today rejected offers for a partial recount of the June 12 election that has sparked massive rallies and left at least 20 people dead, Reuters reports. "This kind of recount will not remove ambiguities," said Mousavi on his website. Iran's Guardian Council, which has decreed that no major...
Jackson Nanny: 'I Had to Pump His Stomach Many Times'
Times (UK)
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Jun 27, 2009 5:49 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Michael Jackson's former nanny says the pop icon was so addicted to prescription drugs that she had to pump his stomach regularly, the Times of London reports. “There was one period that it was so bad that I didn’t let the children see him," said Grace Rwaramba, 42, who flew to Los Angeles from London yesterday to see Jackson's...
Sanford Went AWOL, But Other Govs Easy to Find
Associated Press
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Jun 27, 2009 5:25 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Mark Sanford may have been frolicking in Argentina, but the nation's other governors would like you to know they're hard at work, thank you very much. After Sanford’s tearful admission, the AP called state offices to fix other chief executives' whereabouts. Sarah Palin: in Eastern Europe. Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley: gone fishing with...
Climate Bill Doesn't Go Far Enough
Time
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Jun 27, 2009 5:00 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The Waxman-Markey climate change bill isn’t as bad for business as its detractors claim, and “that’s the problem,” Bryan Walsh writes in Time . Because of concessions to coal and farm states that depend on the carbon economy, the bill is watered down and seeks to achieve emission reduction through efficiency and offsets. “But...
US, Russia Clash Over Cyber-Security
New York Times
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Jun 27, 2009 4:34 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The cold war may be going digital, the New York Times reports, as the US and Russia clash over how to combat attacks in cyberspace. Washington has dismissed Moscow’s call for an international treaty, preferring to promote cross-border cooperation in hunting down hackers. “We really believe it’s defense, defense, defense,”...
Jackson Doc Hires Attorney to Meet LAPD
Associated Press
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Jun 27, 2009 4:10 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Dr. Conrad Murray, the man at the center of suspicion surrounding Michael Jackson’s death, hired a lawyer before meeting again with police today, the Los Angeles Times reports. But Murray’s attorney says authorities have assured him the cardiologist isn’t a suspect. “We’ve been told more than once that this is not a...
