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Los Angeles , California -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Gary Coleman 's ex-wife sold `` death photos '' of the former child actor in `` ongoing desperate attempts '' to profit from his death , according to the person Coleman named as executor of his estate . The photographs , taken inside the hospital where Coleman died last month , will be published this week in Globe magazine , according to a publicist for the magazine . `` We bought the photos , '' said Samantha Trenk , a spokeswoman for Globe parent company American Media . The magazine would not disclose how much it paid or who sold the images . Coleman divorced Shannon Price in 2008 , but they were living together in Santaquin , Utah , when he suffered a fall at home last month and died two days later of a brain hemorrhage in a Provo , Utah , hospital . `` Knowing Gary , as well as anyone could have , I assure his closest family , friends and fans that his disdain for this behavior would be unquestionable and paramount to any foregoing profession of ` love ' for Shannon that might have ever poured from his lips , '' Dion Mial said in an e-mail to CNN . Price , 24 , did not deny Mial 's accusation , but she did say in a statement from her publicist that she needed money because she had helped Mial pay for a lawyer . `` Dion , who claims to be a good friend of Gary , would know that Gary 's only wishes were to make sure that Shannon would be OK after he was gone , '' Price 's statement said . `` So if Dion was a good friend he would be assisting Shannon , not taking all her money , to pay for his attorney and then use it to take everything from her . '' Mial , a longtime friend and former manager of Coleman 's , was named in the actor 's will to be executor of his estate , according to a lawyer for Coleman 's parents . Price 's statement said Coleman made a comment just a day before his fatal fall , distancing himself from the man whom he had named executor . `` He said that he had not been friends with Dion for years , '' her statement said . `` When asked why , Gary said , ` All good things come to an end . ' Gary was stating that he had a falling out with Dion and did not wish to be close friends with him anymore . I can see why now by the way that Dion is also turning on Shannon as well . '' Mial did not immediately respond to Price 's Monday statement , but in an earlier statement he told CNN that Coleman 's ex-wife `` has absolutely no rights or authority with regard to the disposition of Gary 's remains , services , estate management . '' `` In light of Shannon Price 's ongoing desperate attempts to profit from the mysterious death of her ` beloved husband , ' by way of the sale and/or distribution of pre - or post-mortem ` death photos , ' moment-to-moment television interviews for pay , video tours of her former home , Gary Coleman 's personal effects , photographs or any items that have been removed from the home , without the written consent of a special administrator for or the executor of the Coleman estate , I emphatically request that all solicitations from Shannon , or from any individual holding themselves out as her representative , be categorically denied and refused , '' Mial said . Celebrity news website TMZ said Monday that its representatives were shown one of the death photos but declined to look at others . `` In the pic , Gary is in the hospital , his eyes are closed , and he is hooked up to a ventilation machine . It is not a pleasant sight , '' TMZ said . Funeral plans for Coleman are `` pending '' more than a week after his death , Mial said . Coleman 's parents dropped their bid to have the actor 's body returned to Chicago , Illinois , for burial after their lawyer was shown the will naming Mial as executor , the lawyer said . Coleman 's relationship with his parents was strained after he sued them 20 years ago for $ 1 million , claiming that they squandered his earnings as a child actor . Mial became Coleman 's manager when he fired his parents . Mial was a close companion of Coleman 's when he was a child actor on the TV show `` Diff ` rent Strokes . '' The body of the 42-year-old actor was at Lake Hills Mortuary in Sandy , Utah , as of Friday , the mortuary 's legal department said . Despite their divorce , Price had the legal authority to authorize his doctor to disconnect his life support , the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo said . `` Mr. Coleman had completed an Advanced Health Care Directive that granted Shannon Price permission to make medical decisions on his behalf if he was unable to do so , '' said the hospital statement , which Price authorized . The document was in effect when the decision to remove Coleman from life support was made May 28 , the hospital said . `` An Advanced Health Care Directive remains in effect regardless of a patient 's marital status , unless modified by the patient , '' the hospital statement said . Coleman was best known as the wisecracking youngster Arnold on `` Diff ` rent Strokes '' from the late 1970s to the mid-1980s . `` There was a touch of magic and a different stroke in Gary Coleman , '' said TV legend Norman Lear , who produced the show . `` He was the inspiration behind his show 's title . '' CNN 's Jack Hannah and Brittany Kaplan contributed to this report . | NEW : Globe magazine confirms it bought Coleman deathbed photos . Ex-wife Shannon Price says said she needs money after paying lawyer . Coleman executor : Price is trying to profit from his death . Funeral plans are pending , executor says . | [[1165, 1232], [151, 178], [2548, 2582], [2592, 2652], [3489, 3549]] |
San Francisco , California -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Just after Apple CEO Steve Jobs debuted the next version of his company 's iPhone to the world , the tech luminary had a bit of technical trouble . `` Well jeez , '' Jobs said , struggling to get the spanking new iPhone 4 to do much of anything without a connection to a Wi-Fi network . The technical faux pas came during Jobs ' keynote address at Apple 's Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco , California . At one point , Jobs turned toward the audience and seemed to ask a question of one of his technical directors : `` Got any suggestions ? '' he asked . `` Verizon ! '' shouted an audience member , in reference to the fact that AT&T , the sole cellular network that carriers the Apple iPhone , gets notoriously bad reception in San Francisco . Many tech bloggers and writers have called for Apple to open the iPhone to other networks , including Verizon Wireless . That did n't happen on Monday . The new iPhone will remain an AT&T - only device . It goes on sale on June 24 to AT&T customers for $ 199 or $ 299 , depending on the amount of storage . Any AT&T customer eligible for a phone upgrade this year can get the iPhone 4 on its debut date at those subsidized prices , Jobs said . After the event , tech industry analysts warned against reading too much into the network glitches during Jobs ' presentation . But , if nothing else , they do symbolize the growing frustration some phone consumers have over the lack of choice among wireless carriers . In a recent interview , for instance , Kevin Tofel , a blogger in the GigaOm network , said it is smartest for consumers to pick a wireless carrier first , rather than get the coolest phone . Otherwise , they 're buying an `` expensive brick , '' he said . Analysts said Jobs was having trouble connecting to a Wi-Fi network during his presentation , not AT&T 's troubled 3G network . `` It 's Wi-Fi , '' said Carolina Milanesi , research director for mobile devices at Gartner . `` You had so many people in there using Wi-Fi . I did n't read too much into it . '' Of AT&T , she laughed and said , `` It 's not always their fault . '' Van Baker , research vice-president for Gartner , said the `` Verizon ! '' comment from the audience was `` totally unfair ... because it 's not going over the 3G network . '' Jobs eventually resolved the issue himself . In a joking yet stern tone , he asked reporters and conference attendees to stop using Wi-Fi networks so that he could finish the presentation . Some 570 Wi-Fi stations were clogging up the connection he needed to complete the presentation , he said . If the attendees did n't comply , he said , he would simply not be able to show off the rest of the iPhone 4 's new features , including its higher-resolution screen , improved camera and video chat functionality -- which , by the way , is only available over Wi-Fi . | Apple CEO Steve Jobs has internet trouble during a presentation . Jobs was debuting the iPhone 4 at an event in San Francisco . Wi-Fi troubles stop his presentation at one point . Jobs asks conference attendees to get off network so he can continue . | [[143, 193], [1794, 1907], [57, 140], [143, 193], [1780, 1907], [1794, 1907], [2380, 2406], [2409, 2524]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The MV Rachel Corrie , a cargo ship loaded with humanitarian aid and bound for Gaza in defiance of an Israeli blockade , is on track to arrive there Saturday , according to the Free Gaza Movement . The 19 people aboard the vessel -- which is owned by the Free Gaza Movement -- include activists and crew members who are determined to reach Gaza , passengers told CNN . `` We 're not prepared to turn around , '' said Irish Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mairead Maguire , who is aboard the ship . `` We are prepared to go straight to Gaza . '' `` We will stay within the international waters , '' said Maguire . `` If Israel refuses that we get into Gaza and insists on boarding our boat , then we will sit down as non-violent activists . We will be very peaceful . We will not resist the Israeli navy coming aboard , arresting us and taking us by force to -LSB- the Israeli port city of -RSB- Ashdod , but we will not turn around . We will keep going . '' Organizers say the ship is carrying 550 tons of cement to help rebuild schools , homes and other buildings destroyed in Gaza . Maguire said the ship is also carrying `` tons '' of writing materials donated by Norway , pharmaceuticals and medical equipment -- including wheelchairs donated by Scotland -- and toys . Former Assistant U.N. Secretary-General Denis Halliday , also aboard the Rachel Corrie , said the passengers had no plans to confront the Israelis . `` We will stand back and show we are harmless and unarmed -- we will put up no resistance , '' he said . `` We 're not going to make any silly mistakes . '' Israel has offered to unload the vessel 's cargo in Ashdod , screen the material and deliver it to Gaza , but passengers aboard the ship rejected the offer , according to a statement from Micheal Martin , Ireland 's minister for foreign affairs . Israel said its naval blockade is in place to stop weaponry from reaching militants in Gaza intent on attacking Israel . `` If , as is their stated intention , the Israeli government intercepts the Rachel Corrie , the government demands that it demonstrate every restraint , '' said Martin . He called on Israel to lift its blockade . In Washington , National Security Council Spokesman Mike Hammer urged the passengers to accept Israel 's offer . `` In the interest of the safety of all involved , and the safe transmission of assistance to the people of Gaza , we strongly encourage those on board the Rachel Corrie and other vessels to sail to Ashdod to deliver their materials to Gaza , '' Hammer said . He called on all parties `` to avoid any unnecessary confrontations and to ensure the safety of all involved . '' In an incident Monday , violence erupted on one of six ships in a flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza , leading to the deaths of nine people , all Turkish citizens -- including one of dual Turkish-American nationality . A number of other people were wounded . Israel said the passengers initiated the attack ; the passengers said it was the troops who initiated it . On Friday , two Turkish ambulance planes left for Israel to carry five wounded Turkish citizens back to Turkey , the country 's state-run Anadolu news agency reported . Other Turkish activists on the ship have returned from Israel to a hero 's welcome . Turkish President Abdullah Gul said Thursday that the incident `` left an irreparable and deep scar '' in once-close Turkish-Israeli ties . On Friday , thousands of people attended a funeral for the victims in Istanbul . Many of the attendees chanted anti-Israeli slogans . Tensions among Palestinians are also simmering . `` Ongoing provocations and systematic discrimination against Palestinians signify Israel 's continuous disrespect of international law and human rights and destabilize the region , '' chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat said Friday . The tensions have sparked security concerns within Israel . Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told CNN a heightened police presence would keep the peace . Men under age 40 are not allowed to pray at the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem , he said . The violence sparked official and grassroots rage in governments and streets outside the Middle East on Thursday . South Africa recalled its ambassador to Israel . At the United Nations , the Security Council called for an inquiry into the flotilla raid and the Human Rights Council voted for a probe , but Israel said it alone -- and not an international entity -- should be investigating . It is Israel 's `` standard practice '' to carry out `` a prompt , professional , transparent and objective investigation in accordance with the highest international standards '' after military operations , said Mark Regev , a spokesman for the Israeli prime minister . The Israel Defense Forces military advocate general -- charged with ensuring the military upholds the rule of law -- said Israel 's interception of the flotilla was legal . It said international law allows a country to stop a vessel in international waters if it attempts to breach a naval blockade -- even before such a blockade is breached . Free Gaza activist Derek Graham has said the plan was for the Rachel Corrie to be unloaded in Gaza and then return to Ireland . `` We 're just hopeful the Israelis will let us make a small gesture for the people of Palestine , '' Halliday said . `` Because we believe Monday was a gross error . '' He added that Monday 's confrontation resulted from `` faults on both sides , '' saying the effort on the Rachel Corrie is a `` different ball game . '' The ship was named for a 23-year-old American woman who was killed in Gaza in 2003 while attempting to keep IDF forces from bulldozing the home of a Palestinian . CNN 's Ivan Watson , Paula Hancocks and Laura P. Maestro contributed to this report . | NEW : White House encourages activists to go to Ashdod . Passengers refuse Israeli offer to offload in Israel , Irish minister says . Ship to arrive Saturday . Activists vow not to stop until they reach Gaza . | [[1704, 1749], [152, 176]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Oil spill cleanup is under way at many beaches along the Gulf Coast , and beach-bound travelers are keeping a close eye on coastal conditions . Here are some of the latest updates from destinations affected by the oil spill : . Grand Isle , Louisiana . Oil is affecting more than 45 miles of Louisiana coast , according to a state emergency website . The site includes a roundup of oil sightings along the coast , including this report Monday from Grand Isle : `` Oil sheen filled with 10 foot wide tar balls extending from 50 yards off of the southwest tip of Grand Isle south into the gulf . '' iReporter Natasha Combs visited Grand Isle on Sunday to observe cleanup efforts . `` The beach was empty with the exception of the workers and the military . All of the cleanup crew were wearing HAZMAT suits . Bags of oil were gathered in piles along the beach , and workers were rinsing oil off of themselves in small plastic kid pools , '' Combs said . Gulf Islands National Seashore . All of the Gulf Islands National Seashore sites are open , according to the National Park Service website . The park service reports that crews found `` very light occurrences of oil '' on Horn and Petit Bois islands in Mississippi . Petit Bois island was cleaned up and has been free of oil as of Sunday , the site said . The Mississippi State Department of Health urges people to avoid swimming or boating in `` any waters visibly affected by oil . '' The spill also has affected parts of the Gulf Islands National Seashore in Florida . Cleanup crews have been working on medium and heavier oil coverage at Perdido Key , Fort Pickens and Santa Rosa . Gulf Shores and Orange Beach , Alabama . In Alabama , the Department of Public Health has issued an advisory against swimming in waters off Gulf Shores , Orange Beach and Fort Morgan or in bay waters close to Fort Morgan . The beaches remain open . The pier at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores is closed to fishing but open for sightseeing , according to the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau . State Gulf waters and some inshore waters have been closed to fishing by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources . Pensacola and Perdido Key , Florida . The waters in Pensacola and Perdido Key are open Tuesday for swimming and fishing , according to the Pensacola Bay Area Convention and Visitors Bureau . Officials have not issued closures or health advisories for the area , the bureau 's website said . iReporter Mike McHugh shot video over the weekend at Johnson 's Beach on Perdido Key . `` I came back to Johnson 's Beach to see how the cleanup was progressing and to see what high tide brought in . At 4:30 p.m. , the cleanup crews were gone . There were less tar balls , but still -LSB- they -RSB- are easy to find , '' he wrote . iReporter James Amerson has been tracking the oil in Pensacola , Florida . Tar balls were found late last week on Pensacola Beach , ranging in size from 2 to 3 inches up to 18 inches , Amerson said . `` Strange to think this stuff , millions of years old , came from several thousand feet underground and floated over a 100 miles until it came to rest our sugar white sands , '' Amerson wrote on iReport.com . The visitors bureau urges beachgoers to take precautions . `` According to -LSB- the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration -RSB- , tarballs do not pose a health risk to the average person , but visitors are advised not to pick them up , '' the website said . | Gulf Islands National Seashores sites open ; some oil detected on beaches . Health officials have issued an advisory against swimming in Alabama Gulf waters . Pensacola and Perdido Key , Florida , waters open Tuesday for swimming and fishing . | [[370, 477], [1112, 1237], [1142, 1237], [1458, 1467], [1473, 1542], [2240, 2321], [1698, 1708], [1711, 1879], [2240, 2321], [2240, 2279], [2324, 2392]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A killer whale at SeaWorld Orlando died Sunday while giving birth , the theme park said . The calf was stillborn . The father of the calf was Tilikum -- the killer whale involved in death of a trainer in February . SeaWorld canceled two shows on Sunday , but all shows were expected to resume Monday . `` We are very saddened by this loss , '' said Chris Dold , vice president of veterinary services for SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment . `` Although we understand that complications with pregnancy can occur here , just as they do in the wild , the loss of any animal affects all of us at SeaWorld . '' Taima , a 20-year-old killer whale , died from complications associated with the birthing process , SeaWorld said . Taima had successfully given birth to three calves previously . `` Preliminary indications suggest that her death was caused by a condition in which the placenta is delivered before the fetus , as well as an unusual position of the fetus in the birthing canal , '' SeaWorld said . `` She was not able to deliver the stillborn fetus naturally ; SeaWorld 's veterinarians attempted to assist , but her complications were too severe . '' SeaWorld has had 26 successful births of killer whale calves in captivity , according to Dold , who said the birthing success rate is about 50 percent in the wild and 85 percent in a `` zoological situation . '' A necropsy has been scheduled to determine the cause of death . | Killer whale at SeaWorld Orlando dies giving birth . Calf is stillborn . Father of calf was involved in death of a trainer in February . | [[0, 15], [54, 84], [109, 133], [172, 233]] |
St. Petersburg , Florida -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- As if the pictures of birds , fish and animals killed by floating oil in the Gulf of Mexico are not disturbing enough , scientists now say they have found evidence of another danger lurking underwater . The University of South Florida recently discovered a second oil plume in the northeastern Gulf . The first plume was found by Mississippi universities in early May . USF has concluded microscopic oil droplets are forming deep water oil plumes . After a weeklong analysis of water samples , USF scientists found more oil in deeper water . `` These hydrocarbons are from depth and not associated with sinking degraded oil but associated with the source of the Deep Horizon well head , '' said USF Chemical Oceanographer David Hollander . Through isotopic or microscopic fingerprinting , Hollander and his USF crew were able to show the oil in the plume came from BP 's blown-out oil well . The surface oil 's so-called fingerprint matched the tiny underwater droplet 's fingerprint . `` We 've taken molecular isotopic approaches which is like a fingerprint on a smoking gun , '' Hollander said . Full coverage of oil spill . BP has not commented on the latest development but in the past denied underwater oil plumes exist . `` The oil is on the surface , '' said BP 's Chief Executive Officer Tony Hayward . `` There are n't any plumes . '' Yet BP 's Managing Director Bob Dudley said recently , `` We 're all absolutely taking these ideas seriously and looking at them . '' Scientists on board the university 's research vessel Weatherbird II were not able to find the dissolved hydrocarbon or oil by sight . Instead the crew received sensor signatures from the equipment deployed into the water since the plumes appear to be clear . Are you there ? Send us your photos . USF is unsure on the exact size of the plumes . `` There are indications this is fairly wide spread , '' said the USF oceanographer . `` There is probably more than one leg of this plume . '' Scientist are concerned what effect the oil , not to mention the dissolvents used to break up the oil , will have on marine life . Laboratory tests show bacteria have begun eating some elements of the dissolved hydrocarbons . But the effect on fish `` is what needs to be understood , '' said Hollander . `` We are in uncharted territory . '' Impact your world : How to help . Water samples collected by USF were sent to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration labs . NOAA has yet to comment on their conclusions . NOAA and USF will hold a joint press conference Tuesday morning at the university 's St. Petersburg campus to release their final findings . | Scientists discover second oil plume . BP has denied presence of underwater plumes . Scientists worry about oil 's effect on marine life . | [[247, 344], [2013, 2143]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Seven people were electrocuted during heavy storms that hit the port city of Karachi after Cyclone Phet battered parts of southern Pakistan on Sunday , a provincial health chief told CNN . Phet lashed Pakistan 's southwestern coast early Sunday as it approached landfall . The Pakistani navy dispatched helicopters throughout the weekend to alert fishermen near Karachi and parts of Balochistan of the cyclone . About 1,000 people were rescued from Gwadar by Pakistani authorities and taken to a navy shelter on Saturday . Dr. Sagheer Ahmed , health minister of Sindh province , had no other details on the electrocutions . Also Saturday , officials safely brought 24 fishing boats and 129 fishermen back to shore , the Associated Press of Pakistan reported . The navy remained on high alert Sunday , should they be needed in the aftermath of the cyclone . Civilians along Pakistan 's coast will receive priority in the relief effort , dubbed `` Operation Madad , '' said Pakistani Chief of Naval Staff Adm. Nauman Bashir . On Friday , Phet dumped up to 25 centimeters -LRB- 10 inches -RRB- of rain on coastal Oman . It brought massive flooding to Muscat and whipped the capital with winds gusting above 200 kph -LRB- 125 mph -RRB- at the height of the storm . | NEW : 7 electrocuted during heavy storms in Karachi , Pakistan . Cyclone Phet batters southwestern Pakistan . Storm dumps 10 inches of rain on Oman . | [[19, 69], [57, 69], [75, 168], [57, 69], [75, 168], [208, 291], [1043, 1052], [1055, 1135]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Israel acknowledged Sunday that it edited recordings of what it said were anti-Semitic and anti-American radio calls by pro-Palestinian activists who tried to run the Gaza blockade and that it could not identify the origin of the broadcasts . The Israeli military released a 26-second recording Friday night in which a warning call to a ship in the flotilla was met with the reply of `` Shut up -- go back to Auschwitz . '' After another voice reports that the convoy has the permission of Palestinian officials to dock in Gaza , a third voice responds , `` We are helping Arabs going against the U.S. Do n't forget 9/11 , guys . '' But after the organizers of the aid convoy accused Israeli officials of manipulating the tapes , the Israel Defense Forces reported it had mistakenly identified one of the six ships in the activists ' `` Freedom Flotilla '' as the source of the broadcasts . And it released a nearly six-minute recording of radio traffic that included those calls and several others , along with bursts of static and calls in other languages on the same channel . `` So to clarify : The audio was edited down to cut out periods of silence over the radio as well as incomprehensible comments so as to make it easier for people to listen to the exchange , '' the Israeli military said in a statement posted on its Web site . And it added , `` Due to an open channel , the specific ship or ships in the ` Freedom Flotilla ' responding to the Israeli Navy could not be identified . '' Israeli commandos intercepted the convoy at sea on May 31 and stormed the largest vessel , the Turkish-flagged Mavi Marmara , killing nine people aboard . The ships were carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza , the Palestinian territory that has been blockaded by Israel since its takeover by the Islamic movement Hamas in 2007 , and the deadly raid sparked international condemnation . Convoy organizers from Free Gaza said Israel `` doctored '' the recordings `` in order to paint the flotilla passengers as anti-Semites . '' The group denied its vessels were the source of the broadcasts and said the Israeli accusations made `` no more sense with the explanation . '' `` All radio transmissions on the sea are heard by all captains , '' the group said . `` Once again , Israel is caught in a lie trying to defend itself for the murder and mayhem it committed the morning of May 31 , 2010 . '' On the full recording , an Israeli warship hails one of the vessels in the flotilla to warn it was approaching a blockade zone and warned that `` all necessary measures '' would be taken to prevent it from docking in Gaza . After three warnings , Free Gaza activist Huwaida Arraf replied that the blockade was a violation of international law and that the convoy was carrying only humanitarian aid . `` We do not carry anything that constitutes a threat to your armed forces , '' she says on the recording . | Edits made for easier listening , Israel says . IDF ca n't ID source of transmissions . Free Gaza : Israel `` doctored '' tapes . New story makes `` no more sense , '' group says . | [[19, 164], [19, 164], [1898, 1984], [2039, 2048], [2106, 2179], [2249, 2268]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A tornado touched down in central Illinois Saturday , police said , but there were no immediate reports of injuries . The Peoria County Sheriff 's Office said the tornado touched down in Elmwood , Illinois , on Saturday night . Pictures from CNN-affiliate WMBD showed a twisted gas station awning and streets covered with debris , branches and broken glass . The tornado ripped through downtown Elmwood and tore the second stories off buildings , WMBD reported . Authorities had closed major roads in the area , WMBD said . Severe weather was reported across much of central Illinois Saturday night as much of the area remained under a tornado warning , according to the National Weather Service . | No immediate reports of injuries in Elmwood , Illinois . Streets covered in debris , branches , broken glass . Sever weather reported across much of central Illinois on Saturday . | [[91, 136], [247, 377], [287, 377], [543, 637], [543, 557], [673, 716]] |
London , England -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Two nine-month-old twin girls were in a serious condition in hospital on Monday after being mauled by a fox as they slept in their London home , according to police . The two girls were attacked in their upstairs bedroom at a house in Hackney , east London , after the fox apparently entered the house through a door left open because of the heat while the twins ' parents watched television downstairs , police said . `` Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended and found two nine-month-old girls with injuries , '' a Metropolitan Police spokesman told CNN . `` Both babies were taken to an east London hospital where their condition is described as serious but stable . '' A fox caught in a trap placed at the rear of the property by local environmental officers was destroyed early on Monday , the spokesman said . `` On Sunday night a neighbor informed environmental health officers that an animal could be heard in one of the traps , '' he said . `` A vet was called to establish if it was safe to move the animal . It was determined it was not and the fox was humanely killed by the pest controller ... The traps will remain in situ for the time being . '' The twins , Lola and Isabella Koupparis , are being treated at London 's Royal Free Hospital . The twins ' four-year-old brother , who was also asleep upstairs , was not hurt , the UK 's Press Association said . The girls ' mother , Pauline Koupparis , told the BBC she had gone to check on the twins after hearing `` a funny cry , not a normal cry '' from the bedroom . `` It was quite muffled but very pained . I went into the room and I saw some blood in Isabella 's cot , I thought she had a nosebleed . `` I put on the light , I saw the fox , it just looked at me and it was n't even scared of me . I started screaming as I realised Lola was also covered in blood . '' Foxes are a common sight throughout London , especially in Hackney which backs onto the green spaces of Hackney Marshes , the Lea Valley Regional Park and the new Olympic site . A neighbor of the family told PA : `` We 've all got foxes at the bottom of our gardens . Some people have got two or three living in their garden . They 're all as bold as brass . You walk out into the garden and you have to shoo them away . '' Of the twin girls , she said : `` They 're beautiful little babies , really beautiful . '' Michael Parra , another neighbor , said police had warned residents not to leave doors open in the summer weather . `` We see a lot of foxes around here . They 're always in our garden . Something should be done about them . I would love to get them out of here . They 're really a nuisance and a danger . They 've terrorized our garden . '' A Hackney Council spokesman said the council did n't have dedicated environmental officers to deal with foxes but had called in a private contractor over the incident . He said the council usually received `` one or two phone calls a month '' from people concerned about foxes going through their trash . `` We have never had reports in the past of foxes attacking residents , '' the spokesman told CNN . `` All the expert advice we have had suggests that shocking incidents like this are incredibly rare , and our thoughts are with the children and their family . '' | Twin girls were asleep in upstairs bedroom when attack occured . Nine-month-olds ' condition described as `` serious but stable '' Fox caught in trap at property has been destroyed . Hackney Council says no past reports of foxes attacking residents . | [[203, 278], [40, 115], [635, 717], [721, 743], [811, 840], [3045, 3114]] |
New York -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced Monday lawsuits to permanently shut down three Brooklyn-based companies that targeted Haitian communities with fraudulent immigration services . The companies and their owners , who are not lawyers , are accused of illegally providing legal advice and services to Haitian immigrants , charging them thousands of dollars to process immigration applications that could be filed for a nominal fee or free through a waiver . Further , as non-lawyers , the owners are prohibited from providing legal advice or representing anyone before immigration authorities , according a press release from Cuomo 's office . The lawsuits also seek to compensate the victims . `` In light of the recent devastating earthquake in Port-au-Prince , New York 's Haitian residents have sadly been a target for immigration scams , bringing further pain to a community that has already suffered so much , '' Cuomo said in a statement . The U.S. Department of Homeland Security allowed all Haitians residing in the United States as of January 12 , when the powerful earthquake struck the island nation , to stay in the country for 18 months to seek Temporary Protected Status . After that announcement , the attorney general 's office received complaints that Haitian immigrants were targeted by companies offering fraudulent and illegal immigration services at high prices . `` These cases are a part of the Attorney General 's ongoing crackdown on immigration scams throughout New York , '' Cuomo wrote in the statement . `` I urge anyone who has been affected by this type of fraud to contact my office . '' The lawsuits were filed against Chay Pa Lou Community Center Inc. , Delegue Tax Consultant Inc. and their owner and operator , Jean Michel ; and Rincher 's Multi-Service , also known as Rincher Bookstore , Rincher Associates and Haitian American Entrepreneur 's Group LLC , and its owners and operators , Deslande Seixas-Rincher and Sharlene Seixas-Rincher . According to Cuomo 's statement , Michel 's companies face liability for more than 100 known violations ; the companies owned and operated by the Seixas-Rinchers face liability for more than 30 known violations . In addition , Cuomo 's office has obtained a court order against Chay Pa Lou Community Center Inc. , freezing its assets and precluding it from destroying documents and transferring assets . Calls to the three Brooklyn-based companies for comment were not returned . New York state law requires anyone providing immigration services to comply with advertising , signage and surety requirements , and to give consumers written contracts in both the consumer 's native language and English that detail their services and cancellation policy . Furthermore , it is illegal to mislead or defraud any person in immigration-related services . The Office of the Attorney General said it will coordinate with several New York legal associations to help handle the companies ' existing cases and to protect victims . | Companies accused of targeting Haitian community with fraudulent immigration services . Companies ' owners are not lawyers but provided legal advice , Cuomo says . Victims paid thousands for services that could be obtained for small fees , office says . Lawsuits seek to shut down companies and obtain restitution for victims . | [[118, 132], [133, 221], [118, 148], [154, 221], [222, 252], [277, 359], [804, 880], [1228, 1251], [1254, 1425], [240, 252], [259, 274], [222, 252], [277, 359], [371, 497], [0, 24], [67, 148], [684, 696], [702, 734]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The crew of the drill rig Deepwater Horizon may have been overworked and short of key personnel before the explosion that unleashed the worst oil spill in U.S. history , a leading Democratic congressman suggested Tuesday . Payroll records show that 20 crewmen -- including seven of the 11 who died on the rig -- had worked a 24-hour shift six days before the explosion , Rep. Nick Rahall wrote in a letter to Steven Newman , CEO of rig owner Transocean Ltd. . Rig workers typically work 12-hour days . And records showed only 18 people at work on the second shift on April 20 , the night of the explosion , `` with zero engineers , electricians , mechanics or subsea supervisors listed in the report , '' he added . `` Although these reports do not provide a complete picture of who exactly was working during the time of the explosion and in the days leading up to it , when combined with the ongoing BP internal investigation that suggests that inattentiveness may have been a contributing factor in the disaster , I have serious questions about whether enough people were working on the night of April 20 to adequately handle the complex operations that were being performed , or if crew fatigue caused by extended shifts may have played a role , '' wrote Rahall , D-West Virginia , the chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee . Rahall called on the company to give his committee more detailed logs and a further explanation of its staffing -- a request Transocean said it would meet . But Transocean said no worker put in a 24-hour day , and the documents Rahall cited did n't tell the whole picture . Daily drilling reports track operations and `` certain personnel , '' it said , `` but does not use them to catalog complete crew shifts or the actual hours worked by each crewmember . '' `` At the time of the accident , the Deepwater Horizon and its crew had compiled seven consecutive years of operations without a single lost-time safety incident , '' the company said in a written statement . `` The vessel was properly and professionally manned ; there was no shortage of technical expertise , nor did any crewmember work a 24-hour shift . '' CNN was given access to individual time sheets that appear to back up Transocean 's claim that no employees worked 24-hour shifts on April 14 -- six days before the explosion that eventually sank the rig . And other documents reviewed by CNN seem to indicate that additional salaried workers may have been on the job that do n't show up on time sheets , possibly refuting the committee 's claim the rig was shortstaffed on April 20 . Transocean , well owner BP and oilfield services contractor Halliburton have blamed each other for the disaster that followed the explosion . The undersea well the rig was drilling has been gushing up to 19,000 barrels -LRB- 798,000 gallons -RRB- of crude a day into the Gulf of Mexico since late April . Rahall 's committee is one of several in both houses of Congress to hold hearings into the spill , which now dwarfs 1989 's Exxon Valdez disaster . In addition , a presidential commission and a Coast Guard-Interior Department board in Louisiana are investigating . BP reported problems controlling the well and won a delay in testing a critical piece of equipment in March , according to documents released in late May . Stephen Stone , a laborer on the doomed rig , told the House Judiciary Committee that drilling had to stop four times in three weeks because of the loss of drilling fluid , `` either because the underground formation was unstable or because drilling too quickly caused the formation to crack . '' The well was five weeks behind schedule , and some of the survivors have told CNN that BP cut corners and pushed ahead with the well despite safety concerns . In addition , Doug Brown , the rig 's chief mechanic , told the Judiciary Committee that BP and Transocean managers argued over drill plans the day of the explosion and that cuts to Deepwater Horizon 's engineering staff left the crew with a backlog of preventive maintenance to perform . | New : Transocean documents appear to refute lawmaker 's claims . Owner says documents do n't tell whole story . Says rig staffed `` properly and professionally '' Congressman raises `` serious questions '' about staffing . | [[1575, 1634], [2032, 2045], [2063, 2084], [1036, 1170]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Rapper Lil Wayne was detained by U.S. Border Patrol agents in Texas on Friday after authorities found marijuana on two of his tour buses . The marijuana on the buses was detected by a drug dog , said Agent Joe Trevino . The rapper , whose real name is DeWayne Michael Carter , Jr. , was among a dozen being detained from his group . They were later released . Trevino said the buses were en route to Laredo , Texas , from a concert stop in Hidalgo . The case has been referred to the Brooks County Sheriff 's Office . Calls to Carter 's representatives were not immediately returned Friday . The Louisiana native was the 2008 best-selling artist , with 2.8 million records sold , and is signed to Cash Money Records . The rapper is scheduled to begin a prison sentence in February stemming from gun charges in New York . | Rapper Lil Wayne was detained by U.S. Border Patrol agents in Texas on Friday . A drug dog detected marijuana on two of his tour buses , an agent says . Police : Buses were en route to Laredo after a concert stop in Hidalgo , Texas . Prison sentence stemming from gun charges awaits rapper in New York . | [[0, 15], [26, 149], [0, 15], [26, 149], [158, 211], [379, 468], [392, 433], [737, 839], [737, 747], [761, 839]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- In a secretly recorded audiotape , the alleged ringleader of an anti-government Michigan militia expresses anger over the `` new world order '' and the `` brotherhood , '' of law enforcement officers . `` In this nation , we think we are free , but you need a certificate to be born , a license to drive , a permit to build , a number to get a job and even a paper after you die , '' says David Bryan Stone Sr. , 45 , the alleged head of the Hutaree militia , accused of conspiring to overthrow the government and plotting to kill police officers . `` These are permission slips from the terrorists organization called the new world order , '' Stone says in the tape , which was recorded clandestinely by an FBI agent who infiltrated the militia and obtained exclusively by CNN . Government prosecutors played the recording during an April 2 bond hearing for alleged Hutaree members , arguing that the defendants would be a danger to the community and a flight risk if they were freed on bail before trial . A federal magistrate in Detroit , Michigan , agreed and ordered eight militia suspects to be held in jail pending their trial . Stone , his sons , Joshua , 21 , and David Brian Stone Jr. , 19 ; as well as the eldest Stone 's wife , Tina Stone , 44 , have been charged with seditious conspiracy , attempted use of weapons of mass destruction , teaching the use of explosive materials and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence . Joshua John Clough , 28 ; Kristopher Sickles , 27 ; Michael David Meeks , 40 ; Jacob Ward , 33 ; and Thomas Piatek , 46 , face the same charges . Piatek , of Whiting , Indiana , is being held in Indiana . The eight ordered held in Michigan have pleaded not guilty . Prosecutors said the tape was recorded last winter when Hutaree members were driving to Kentucky for a meeting with other militias but were forced to turn back due to bad weather . Stone allegedly gave a speech inside the van . `` People in this nation as well as some around this world are waiting for those individuals like you see sitting in this room to actually make the decision to go to war against this evil , greedy new world order , '' Stone says on the tape . `` They need leaders who are not afraid to stand up and actually mean , ` No more . ' We are free and we should not be afraid or ashamed to admit that we are the American militia . We outnumber them . As long as we let them terrorize any American through fear and intimidation , then they are winning this battle and we should step up to the fight that they have started and finish it . '' Defense attorneys dismissed the tape as just talk -- words protected under freedom of speech . But prosecutors have portrayed the Hutaree militia as a dark-hearted group with evil intent . They said Stone 's plan was to create his own country carved out of four Michigan counties , then defend that country against attack by the `` One World Order '' army . The group allegedly planned to incite that attack by making a false 911 complaint , shooting any police who responded , and then attacking attendees at the funerals of those officers with improvised explosive devices . `` Every day , we watch ever so close for those evil blue helmets to appear on our streets -- but as long as through Interpol , law enforcement mercenaries called the brotherhood working for the new world order are doing such a great job , then we do n't need to watch for these foreign armies to come to our shores . They are already here , '' Stone says . Conviction on the charge of attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction would carry a maximum penalty of life in prison , while seditious conspiracy and teaching the use of explosive materials each would carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison ; the firearm charge would carry a mandatory minimum penalty of at least five years in prison , according to authorities . | Tape recorded last winter when Hutaree members were driving to Kentucky . Stone urges `` war against this evil , greedy new world order '' Defense attorneys dismissed the tape as just talk . | [[1730, 1780], [1747, 1851], [54, 153], [2591, 2649]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- `` At this time , we need a leader . '' `` I would try to stop the war in Iraq because I think they should have a talk with them , not a big war . '' Trevor Dougherty is too young to vote , but is doing everything he can to make sure others do . `` I 'd probably go for the drilling in Alaska . Nuclear power , I 'd keep that in mind . '' These Americans sounding off on the issues and the 2008 presidential election have a lot to say , but they wo n't be saying it at the ballot box -- they 're all too young to vote . In fact , most wo n't be voting for quite a few years . But that does n't mean that they have no interest in the race for the White House between Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain . As evidenced in videos posted at iReport.com , they care a great deal . Several of these videos were put together by school classes , like Matt MacFarlane 's 7th and 8th graders at Templeton Middle School in Templeton , California , who made a short video on the importance of voting . The students called for a `` person with integrity who knows right from wrong '' , `` a person of vision who not only knows what is but also what can be , '' `` a person with a moral compass to help -LSB- set -RSB- a course for our nation , '' and `` a person who has the ability to unite and inspire us as we face challenging times . '' MacFarlane 's students urged voters to consider their decisions carefully on November 4 . `` What 's at stake in this election ? '' asked one student . `` Everything . We 're counting on you . '' iReport.com : Watch the full video from Mr. MacFarlane 's class . Some children took to portraying the candidates , complete with clothes and wigs , like the students of Cabot Middle School in Cabot , Arkansas . All of the presidential and vice presidential `` candidates '' gave speeches , with Secret Service , prospective first ladies and family members in tow . Most members of Gov. Sarah Palin 's family were present , including a baby doll portraying Trig . This video was just a part of their learning experience about presidential elections . Library media specialist Jill Weir , who submitted the video to iReport.com , said that the students also participated in mock-campaigning , voter registrations , precincts and exit polling . iReport.com : The ` candidates ' speak . A church youth group in Winter Haven , Florida , took a more humorous approach , putting together campaign ads from `` John McHinkle '' and `` Barack Yo Mama , '' featuring cameos from `` Sarah Mailin ' '' and `` Joe Hidin ' '' . It was still a learning experience , though , said Pastor James Blewett , who posted two videos to iReport.com in which the pretend candidates teach lessons about dating and parental conflicts . iReport.com : Watch the campaign ad spoofs . Some iReporters decided to ask children directly what they thought about the election . `` I have a 6-year-old and he watches the debates with me , '' Vijay Sureshkumar of Seattle , Washington , said . `` He 's interested in what 's going on and that 's what triggered me . Why do n't I go around the neighborhood and ask the kids ? '' The responses he got were both funny and thought-provoking . Some children saw the war as a major issue , one wanted more funding for education , and another said he was in favor of drilling for oil in Alaska . Some children seemed to be in favor of Obama , some for McCain , at least one liked both , and two of them started yelling at each other over which candidate was better . When asked about the candidates ' families , one boy could easily name Obama 's wife and daughters ' names . When asked about McCain , he was a little fuzzier . `` He 's been around for a long time . Like he 's been around , -LSB- since -RSB- like 1966 . '' iReport.com : Kids sound off on the election . Tony Stampalia of Utica , New York , had a similar idea , asking students in an elementary school class whom they would vote for , based purely on the pictures of the candidates . Stampalia said that it was a tie between McCain and Obama , with one child for Ralph Nader . Obama `` voters '' in the class voted for their candidate because `` he has a cool suit , '' `` because he has the hair , '' `` because he has a nice smile . '' One Obama voter mistook him for President Bush , while another wore an Obama button but said she was supporting Sen. Hillary Clinton . McCain `` voters '' in the class liked his blue shirt and tie , and thought he was `` cute . '' One liked his `` white hair . '' Another one found that McCain `` made people do good stuff , '' but admitted that Obama did the same . All the children seemed to agree that `` your vote counts . '' iReport.com : Children pick their favorite candidate . Of course , this is not quite the first election in which children were asked about their choice for president . The Scholastic Election Poll has been doing that for at least 68 years . Poll takers said their poll has reflected the outcome of the actual election all but twice since 1940 . A quarter of a million students participated in the poll . This year , Obama won with 57 percent to McCain 's 39 percent . In many videos on iReport.com , children and teenagers speak out for their candidate of choice . In one case , a 4th grader named Liam Coakley of Long Beach , California went the extra mile by setting up a lemonade stand for Obama . iReport.com : Lemonade stand for Obama . Trisha Prabhu , 8 , of Naperville , Illinois , was so excited about Obama 's candidacy that she told her mother Bhanu to make a video of her giving reasons to vote for him . iReport.com : Watch Prabhu 's video . Trevor Dougherty of Ithaca , New York , said in a video : `` I 'm 16 years old and in this presidential election , I can not vote . That 's why I 'm begging you this November , if you can , to get out this November and vote . '' Trevor has been following the election very closely , and first submitted an iReport while en route to the Democratic National Convention . As part of the `` Voter Vlog Tag '' movement , Dougherty went out and registered voters in his hometown , then submitted the video evidence to iReport.com . `` Getting other people registered is a way to express myself and allow other people to be heard . iReport has helped me do all of this . '' iReport.com : Watch Dougherty register people to vote . Dougherty has iReported about many aspects of this campaign : the conventions , the debates and everything in between . He also rallied together a dozen members of the iReport community to speak about the importance of voting . iReport.com : Dougherty , iReporters urge others to vote . Although these young people are n't able to vote , the decisions made by the next president could certainly affect them . | iReports show how interested young Americans are in the campaign . iReports range from serious issues to silly spoofs . Does your kid have something to say about the election ? Tell us at iReport.com . | [[2796, 2883], [3772, 3783], [3786, 3818]] |
DHAKA , Bangladesh -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina 's Awami League won a landslide victory in Bangladesh 's first national elections in seven years , claiming nearly 230 of the 300 seats in parliament , the country 's electoral commission reported . Supporters of Bangladesh 's Awami League Party celebrate in Dhaka on Monday . With 295 contests decided , the Awami League had won 228 seats , giving it far more than the two-thirds majority needed to change the country 's constitution , the commission reported . The league 's closest rival , the Bangladesh Nationalist Party , won 27 seats , with one seat to be contested later . The results are an overwhelming win for Hasina over her longtime archrival , the BNP 's Khaleda Zia , in the first vote since an army-backed caretaker government took power in 2006 . The rivalry between the two former prime ministers runs so deep that they are known in the country as the `` Battling Begums , '' for an honorific given to women of rank in the country . Monday 's balloting went off peacefully , except for a few isolated incidents of skirmishes and people complaining of not finding their names on voter rolls . Asif Saleh , executive director of the human rights group Drishtipat , told CNN that the turnout was close to 70 percent . `` On one hand , it was sending a clear message that the people of Bangladesh believe in democracy , '' Saleh said . `` But on the other hand it 's also that they are looking for a sweeping change in the country . '' He said anti-incumbent sentiment appeared to damage the BNP , which was in power for the five years before a 2006 state of emergency that was lifted only weeks ago . `` What was surprising was the kind of scale of the change , '' he said . Political analysts say the true test of whether democracy can flourish in this Muslim-majority nation of 150 million people begins now . After its last stint in power ended in 2006 , the BNP handed over rule to a caretaker government to conduct elections , as mandated by the country 's constitution . But the Awami League refused to recognize the neutrality of the interim government , and Hasina accused Zia of stocking it with BNP backers . Supporters of both sides took to the streets in months of deadly clashes . To stem the tide of violence , a military-backed government took control in January 2007 and imposed an indefinite state of emergency , banning political events and postponing elections until it said it could clean up the country 's graft-ridden politics . Zia served a term as prime minister in 1991 , Hasina in 1996 and Zia once again in 2001 . As one took office , the other led strikes and street protests that kept the Muslim-majority country of 150 million people politically unstable and financially radioactive to international investors . Both face allegations of corruption , which each have dismissed as politically motivated . And Hasina was forced to curtail her campaign activities , relying on videoconferencing to address crowds as police investigated a report by CNN-IBN that a fundamentalist Muslim group had dispatched a six-member suicide squad to assassinate her . The group , Harkat ul Jihad al Islami is banned in Bangladesh . Hasina survived a prior attempt on her life in 2004 when extremists threw grenades at a rally , killing 20 and wounding hundreds . Past elections in Bangladesh have been marred by widespread instances of ballot box-stuffing and voter intimidation . To prevent a similar outcome this go-around , the election commission took unprecedented steps -- deploying 600,000 troops to maintain security and thousands of local and international observers to monitor the polls and issuing voter identification cards to 81 million eligible voters . The caretaker government that took power in 2006 adopted emergency powers that allowed authorities to arrest a person without a court warrant as long as there was reasonable suspicion that he or she was related to a crime , said the New York-based group , Human Rights Watch . A wave of detentions followed , and residents rejoiced at the drop in crime . By some estimates , more than 90,000 people were detained before some were released and others charged . The state of emergency was lifted on December 17 , leaving politicians less than two weeks to campaign . Among those arrested in the interim were more than 150 top politicians , including Hasina -- charged with taking bribes -- and Zia -- facing charges of graft of improperly awarding a multi-million dollar government contract . CNN 's Saeed Ahmed contributed to this report . | NEW : Awami League claims nearly 230 of the 300 seats in parliament . The rival Bangladesh Nationalist Party is in second with 31 seats . Polls were the first after two years of an army-backed caretaker government . The balloting went off peacefully , except for a few skirmishes . | [[8, 34], [173, 223], [781, 837], [1901, 1944], [1947, 2018], [2314, 2371], [1025, 1064]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A GOP-inspired effort to tinker with the Electoral College machinery in California is raising alarm bells among Democrats who fear it could doom the party 's chances of winning the White House in 2008 . A GOP-led group submitted a proposal to state Attorney General Jerry Brown that could sway the '08 presidential race . Democrats have come to rely on California 's block of 55 electoral votes -- the largest haul available in any state -- as part of their arithmetic to win the presidency with a majority in the Electoral College . A group called Californians for Equal Representation has submitted a ballot initiative to state Attorney General Jerry Brown that would change the current statewide winner-take-all system to a formula based on congressional districts . Republicans say the idea is aimed at attracting presidential candidates to campaign in California , which they rarely do because the statewide vote traditionally leans Democratic . Opponents call the proposal an attempt to grab Democratic votes . Under the proposal , the winning candidate in each of the state 's 53 congressional districts would get one electoral vote , with two votes going to the statewide winner . Supporters want to put the proposal on the ballot for next June 's state primary , which would put the change into effect for the 2008 election . Do to so , supporters will have to collect about 434,000 petition signatures from registered voters by November 13 , according to the secretary of state 's office . In the 2006 election , Californians elected 34 Democrats and 19 Republicans to the House . Had the proposed system been in effect in 2004 , President Bush would have captured 22 of California 's electoral votes . The extra electoral votes would have eliminated Bush 's need to carry the pivotal state of Ohio to win re-election . `` This would all but guarantee that the Republican nominee would get 20 extra Electoral College votes , which could certainly impact the outcome of the election , '' said Allan Hoffenblum , a Republican strategist . And that is exactly what has Democrats crying foul . `` The Republicans are doing this in California because they want a chunk of our vote , '' said Darry Sragow , a Democratic strategist . The ballot initiative was submitted by Thomas Hiltachk , a Sacramento election lawyer who is also general counsel for Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger . The purpose of the change is to make California more relevant in presidential elections by forcing candidates to campaign in the state , according to the initiative . `` Because this is a reliable Democratic state , none of the presidential candidates -- Republican or Democrat -- ever shows up in California , '' Hoffenblum said . On the other side of the divide , Democrats argue that California should n't make such a change when the vast majority of other states still operate under a winner-take-all system . `` This is very fair if it 's universal around the country , '' Sragow said . `` It is patently absurd it if only takes place in certain states . '' Under the Constitution , each state gets a number of electoral votes equal to its representation in Congress , including both representatives and senators . Currently , 48 states award all of their electoral votes to the candidate who wins the largest number of votes . Two states -- Nebraska and Maine -- have adopted the system that is being proposed for California , assigning their electoral votes based on who wins individual congressional districts , with the statewide winner getting the two votes derived from senators . But this has not generated controversy because both states have just a handful of votes , and the results have never resulted in splitting them between candidates . Ironically , while Democrats are up in arms in California over the idea of changing the Electoral College rules , their compatriots in Republican-leaning North Carolina have floated the idea of adopting the Nebraska-Maine system for their state . However , national Democratic leaders have tried to discourage that effort , because of concerns it would be difficult to support such a change in North Carolina , where it would help the party , while opposing it in California . The change also would help Democrats much less in North Carolina than it would hurt in California . In 2004 , the Democratic presidential nominee , Sen. John Kerry , would have garnered three more votes in North Carolina , while losing 22 in California . The disputed 2000 election , in which Bush won the electoral vote while losing the popular vote , has generated a flurry of proposals to abolish or alter the Electoral College , both at the federal and state level . In 2006 , Colorado voters rejected a constitutional amendment that would have divided up the electoral vote pie in proportion to each candidates ' share of the popular vote . A group called National Popular Vote also is lobbying state legislatures to adopt a system where all of a state 's electoral votes would be pledged to the winner of the national popular vote -- an idea which , if adopted by states holding a majority of electoral votes , would ensure that the popular vote winner always became president . While National Popular Vote says its plan has been introduced in 47 states , Maryland is the only one so far to pass it . And the change wo n't go into effect in Maryland until it gains approval in enough states to ensure that the popular vote winner would take the White House . E-mail to a friend . CNN 's Bill Schneider contributed to this report . | Proposal would change winner-take-all system for electoral votes in 2008 race . Strategists : Formula based on congressional districts would help GOP win votes . Republicans say idea aims to attract presidential campaigns to California . Democrats accuse initiative 's supporters of trying to grab their votes . | [[643, 677], [683, 753], [744, 788], [789, 886], [2414, 2548], [970, 1035], [985, 997], [1009, 1035], [2066, 2118], [2070, 2074], [2091, 2118]] |
SLEEPY EYE , Minnesota -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The father of a cancer-stricken 13-year-old boy whose mother has fled with him to keep him from undergoing chemotherapy appealed Thursday for her to bring him home . Doctors say Daniel Hauser 's lymphoma responded well to a first round of chemotherapy in February . `` Please bring Danny home so that we can decide as a family what Danny 's treatment should be , '' Anthony Hauser said , directing his halting comments to his wife , Colleen , as he stood in front of television cameras outside the family 's house . `` I know you 're scared and I feel that you left out of fear , maybe without thinking it all the way through , '' he continued . `` Danny is my son and the rest of the family is worried sick about Danny , how he is and how he 's going to come out . `` Please call me and let 's talk about how you can come back here and we can get this worked out , what 's best for Danny . '' The boy was diagnosed with Stage 2B Hodgkin 's lymphoma in January . The next month , he received a single course of treatment , which succeeded in shrinking a tumor in his chest but caused side effects that upset the family , doctors have said . Watch father urge the pair to come back '' Dr. Bruce Bostrom , the cancer specialist who oversaw that course of chemotherapy , told KARE-TV in Minneapolis that , without further treatment , Daniel 's odds of survival would plummet from 80 to 90 percent to about 5 percent . Daniel 's second round of treatment was to have begun March 5 , said the pediatric oncologist and associate professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School . In April , after the boy had not returned for the second course , Bostrom called the family and left a message threatening to report them for child neglect , he said . Colleen Hauser returned his call , telling him she was seeking a second opinion . But the doctor who ultimately cared for the boy has said he was only treating his symptoms , not the cancer itself , Bostrom said . So Bostrom reported the family to authorities , the first time he has taken such a step in 25 years of practice , he said . `` I think it 's our and my duty to do this , '' he said . Meanwhile , the opportunity to intervene is narrowing . `` He 's now almost three months late , that 's why it has regrown , '' Bostrom said , referring to another doctor 's interpretation of a chest X-ray that showed Monday the tumor had worsened . `` It means his cancer is back and he is in danger , '' Bostrom said . `` It could block his airway ; he could develop life-threatening breathing problems and possibly even die from it . It could be within a few weeks or a month at the most , I would say . '' Hodgkin 's lymphoma is a cancer of the immune system . Stage 2B refers to the two areas of the body where Daniel has it -- the chest and the neck -- and the symptoms he has experienced : tumor , fatigue , weight loss and night sweats . Authorities said Wednesday that Colleen and Daniel Hauser were near Los Angeles , California , perhaps en route to Mexico for more holistic treatment of his lymphoma . Brown County , Minnesota , Sheriff Rich Offmann cited `` reliable information '' in making the announcement to reporters . The sheriff 's office issued a felony arrest warrant for Colleen Hauser on Thursday in an effort to `` ensure extradition to Minnesota . '' Family spokesman Dan Zwakman said on Thursday that Anthony Hauser was not aware that his wife was taking the child . `` From all appearances , '' Zwakman said , `` it was a case of her decision by herself . '' Watch what legal issues are at stake '' The boy and his mother were last reported seen Monday in Minnesota . When mother and son failed to show up at a court hearing Tuesday , Brown County District Judge John R. Rodenberg issued an arrest warrant for Colleen Hauser . Court documents show that the doctors estimated the boy 's chance of five-year remission with more chemotherapy and possibly radiation at 80 percent to 95 percent . But the family rejected standard treatment , opting instead for a holistic medical treatment based on Native American healing practices called Nemenhah . In a written statement issued last week , an attorney for the parents said they `` believe that the injection of chemotherapy into Danny Hauser amounts to an assault upon his body , and torture when it occurs over a long period of time . '' Dr. Sanjay Gupta , CNN chief medical correspondent , said he had no doubts about what to do . `` My advice would be to treat him , without question , '' he said . `` He has a very , very good chance of surviving , being cured and never having to deal with this again . As a doctor , as a fellow citizen , I would say he should be treated . '' Watch Gupta discuss Daniel 's chances '' But Zwakman told CNN 's `` American Morning '' program Thursday that he knows five people who have been cured with natural healing . `` Yes , it 's happened many times , '' he said . Watch Zwakman speak to CNN '' Mankato , Minnesota , lawyer Calvin P. Johnson , who identified himself as the Hauser family 's attorney , said Thursday that forcing treatment would constitute `` assault and torture . '' Johnson said officials were forcing treatment neither the boy nor his parents want . `` Anthony and Colleen Hauser share Danny 's viewpoint : They do not approve of chemotherapy . Under the circumstances of this case , chemotherapy constitutes assault and torture , when given to a young man who believes that it will kill him , '' Johnson said in a written statement . CNN 's Chris Welch contributed to this report . | Dad : `` I feel that you left out of fear , maybe without thinking it all the way through '' Sheriff 's office issues felony arrest warrant for mother ; FBI involved . 13-year-old needs chemotherapy , doctors and court say . Police think Minnesota mom , son are in California . | [[587, 667], [3225, 3321], [3684, 3748], [3751, 3842], [1163, 1182]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A woman in California delivered what may be the nation 's second live-born set of octuplets on Monday morning , surprising doctors who expected seven babies . The first three to seven days will be critical for the infants , Dr. Mandhir Gupta said . The six boys and two girls -- ranging in weight from 1 pound 8 ounces to 3 pounds 4 ounces -- were generally doing well in incubators following their Caesarean-section delivery at Kaiser Permanente hospital in Bellflower , California , doctors said . Three of the babies need breathing assistance , but otherwise the eight do n't appear to have serious problems , doctors said at a news conference Monday evening . `` It was a truly amazing delivery , '' said Dr. Karen Maples , chief of the hospital 's obstetrics and gynecology department . Doctors initially believed the mother -- whom they did not identify -- was pregnant with seven fetuses . The woman was 23 weeks pregnant when she was hospitalized seven weeks ago and ordered to bed rest . Watch doctors explain what happened '' Over a seven-week period , a team of 46 physicians , nurses and other staff prepared for the births . When they started the delivery Monday -- more than nine weeks before the babies would be full term -- they were in for a surprise . `` After we got to Baby G , we were surprised by the discovery of a Baby H , '' Maples said . Getting the number correct with ultrasounds before delivery is difficult with so many babies , said Dr. Harold Henry , the hospital 's chief of fetal medicine . `` It is quite easy to miss a baby when you 're expecting seven , '' Henry said . The hospital said the woman did n't want her personal information released to the news media , and it would not answer questions about whether she 'd had fertility treatments . Preliminary research indicates this is the second set of live-born octuplets in the United States , according to the hospital . Eight babies believed to be the United States ' first set of live octuplets were born in Houston , Texas , in 1998 . One of the infants died days after birth . The seven other siblings recently celebrated their 10th birthday , the Houston Chronicle reported last month . The first three to seven days will be critical for the California babies , said Dr. Mandhir Gupta , one of the doctors at the news conference . The infants could be in incubators for six to eight weeks and in the hospital for 10 weeks , Gupta said . The mother is doing `` very well '' after the deliveries , which took about five minutes , Gupta said . `` She is very excited that she -LSB- has -RSB- all these babies and that the babies are looking good so far , '' Gupta said . | Babies may be U.S. 's second set of live-born octuplets , California hospital says . Doctors expected seven babies , did n't know of eighth until delivery . Octuplets delivered by Caesarean section Monday morning . Three require breathing assistance ; next seven days will be critical , doctor says . | [[0, 15], [41, 128], [1803, 1900], [131, 149], [154, 177], [811, 915], [811, 818], [882, 915], [0, 15], [41, 128], [1931, 2006], [178, 240], [519, 564], [2202, 2274], [2202, 2231], [2277, 2299]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A policeman and a former corrections officer say that on Friday they will unveil evidence of what they claim is their biggest find ever : the body of Bigfoot . The thawed body of a creature reputed to be Bigfoot reportedly weighs more than 500 pounds . Matthew Whitton and Rick Dyer , a pair of Bigfoot-hunting hobbyists from north Georgia , say they found the creature 's body in a wooded area and spotted several similar creatures that were still alive . The carcass of the furry half-man , half-ape is 7 feet , 7 inches tall and weighs more than 500 pounds , they say . However , the two are not disclosing the exact location of their discovery to protect the remaining creatures . Tom Nelson , chairman of the biology department at North Georgia College and State University in Dahlonega , said he 's `` pretty skeptical '' the world will feast its eyes on a new species Friday . `` That would certainly rock mammalogy , '' joked Nelson , who specializes in the study of mammals . `` I see a research grant in my future . '' Whitton and Dyer plan to unveil what they say is DNA and photo evidence of the discovery in Palo Alto , California , in conjunction with a group called Searching for Bigfoot Inc. . A photograph on that group 's Web site shows what appears to be the body of a large , hairy creature with an ape-like face , stuffed into a large freezer . According to a written release , the two announced the discovery on an Internet radio show , `` Squatch Detective , '' several weeks ago . iReport.com : Do you believe in Bigfoot ? `` The only person we would allow to come down and verify the body was ` the Real Bigfoot Hunter , ' Tom Biscardi , '' Dyer said , referring to Searching for Bigfoot 's CEO , who has been looking for the elusive , legendary creature in the United States and Canada since 1971 . Whitton is a Georgia police officer who is on administrative leave after being shot in the wrist during a pursuit . Dyer is a former prison guard . DNA tests on the body have begun , said the statement , and `` extensive scientific studies '' will be done on the body by scientists , including a molecular biologist , an anthropologist and a paleontologist . Nelson , the university professor , acknowledged that new species of animals have been discovered in recent decades and that , in science , `` we always acknowledge the possibility of something new . '' But he said that even in north Georgia , home to the Blue Ridge Mountains and the foot of the Appalachian Trail , it stretches the imagination to think a family of 7-foot-tall creatures could have eluded hunters , hikers and creeping development until now . `` To the average person , these places just seem like extreme wilderness where you 'll find lions and tigers and bears , '' he said . `` The reality is that you 're never more than a mile from a road . '' The group says the animal is male , has reddish hair and `` blackish-gray '' eyes and human-like feet , hands and teeth . CNN 's Doug Gross contributed to this report . | North Georgia men say they 've found a den of Bigfoot creatures . They say they 'll reveal details of one Bigfoot on Friday in California . The body of the furry half man-half ape is 7 feet , 7 inches tall , they say . Men wo n't reveal Bigfoot den 's location because they do n't want others disturbed . | [[0, 154], [476, 509], [512, 546], [602, 666]] |
San Francisco , California -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A man accused of threatening House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wept Thursday as he talked to his attorney before a federal court hearing . Gregory L. Giusti , 48 , was charged with making obscene , threatening or harassing phone calls . He was not asked to submit a plea and remained in custody pending a further hearing . A Justice Department news release said the maximum penalty for the charge was two years ' imprisonment and a fine of $ 250,000 . Giusti was arrested Wednesday in San Francisco , where Pelosi 's home district is located , according to FBI spokesman Joseph Schadler . Pelosi is the top Democrat in the U.S. House and was a leading figure in efforts to win congressional approval of sweeping health care legislation . A statement from Pelosi 's office said the arrest occurred `` after an investigation into threats against '' the speaker . It thanked law enforcement officials and said Pelosi would have no further comment at this time . Threats against U.S. senators and representatives increased as Congress completed work last month on the health care bill , which was unanimously opposed by Republicans . In addition , conservative activists around the country protested the bill . Most of the reported threats were against Democrats , though there were some against Republicans . On Tuesday , the Justice Department announced the arrest of a 64-year-old Washington state resident for allegedly issuing death threats against Democratic Sen. Patty Murray of Washington state , who supported the health care bill . A department statement said the suspect , identified as Charles Alan Wilson of Selah , Washington , made the threats in phone messages to Murray 's office between March 22 and April 4 . Wilson allegedly stated that Murray `` had a target on her back '' and that he wanted to kill her , according to the statement , which said the threats were in response to congressional passage of the health care bill . CNN 's Dan Simon contributed to this report . | NEW : Gregory L. Giusti speaker remains in custody pending a further hearing . Guisti , 48 , is accused of making threats against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi . FBI says arrest occurred `` after an investigation into threats against '' Pelosi . A man was arrested Tuesday for alleged threats against Sen. Patty Murray , D-Washington . | [[276, 278], [314, 361], [46, 101], [178, 195], [198, 275], [46, 101], [777, 899], [816, 885], [1345, 1355], [1358, 1444], [1405, 1537]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- New York 's famous skyline may be getting a new addition : Wind turbines . New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg says he wants to generate alternative energy for the city . New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced plans to generate power from skyscraper-mounted turbines and offshore wind farms as part of an ambitious alternative-energy program . During a Tuesday night speech at an energy conference in Las Vegas , Nevada , Bloomberg vowed to `` kick alternative energy production into high gear in the Big Apple . '' Bloomberg said the city is already asking companies with strong track records in producing renewable energy for `` their best ideas for creating both small - and large-scale projects serving New Yorkers . '' He was not specific about which of the city 's skyscrapers or bridges would be candidates for turbines , but aides said some companies are experimenting with smaller turbine models that could be made to appear part of the design , reducing potential changes to the city 's famous skyline . For offshore locations , city aides told CNN the city is looking at the windy coast off Queens , Brooklyn and Long Island for turbines that could generate 10 percent of the city 's electricity needs within 10 years . Bloomberg said he would also ask investors and private companies to study how these technologies can be built and integrated into the city 's fabric . `` When it comes to producing clean power , we 're determined to make New York the No. 1 city in the nation , '' he said . Watch Bloomberg outline his alternative energy hope for New York '' But he said the alternative power projects that are now on the drawing board `` wo n't produce their first kilowatts of electricity for many years . '' | New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced plans to generate power . Plan calls for skyscraper-mounted turbines and offshore wind farms . Tuesday in Las Vegas , Bloomberg challenged companies for ideas . He did not say specifically which skyscrapers might be part of the plan . | [[94, 186], [132, 186], [187, 363], [364, 430], [442, 532], [1525, 1592], [187, 363], [259, 269], [270, 310], [744, 813]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The hospital where actor Gary Coleman died said Thursday it confirmed his former wife had legal authority to authorize his doctor to disconnect his life support last week . Coleman 's parents are working with lawyers to gain custody of his body , their spokesman told CNN . Coleman divorced Shannon Price in 2008 , but he signed a document giving her power to make the decision , according to a statement from the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo . `` Mr. Coleman had completed an Advanced Health Care Directive that granted Shannon Price permission to make medical decisions on his behalf if he was unable to do so , '' said the statement , which Price authorized . Coleman 's attorney confirmed for CNN that the couple divorced nearly two years ago , but he did not know if they had remarried since then . Coleman , 42 , and Price , 24 , were living together in Santaquin , Utah , when he suffered a fatal fall last week . `` An Advanced Health Care Directive remains in effect regardless of a patient 's marital status , unless modified by the patient , '' the hospital statement said . The document was in effect when the decision to remove Coleman from life support was made last Friday , the hospital said . Coleman suffered from a brain hemorrhage from a fall at his home on May 26 . He died two days later after he was removed from life support , a hospital spokeswoman said . While he appeared `` lucid and conscious '' Thursday morning , his condition worsened by the afternoon , leaving him unconscious and on life support , she said . He died Friday after he was removed from life support , she said . His parents , who live in Chicago , are hoping to learn more about how their son died , their spokesman , Victor Perillo , said . SInce Coleman was not married when he died , they believe they have a right to his remains , Perillo said . They are working with a lawyer to get the paperwork done so Coleman can be transported to Chicago , he said . Coleman is best known as the wisecracking youngster Arnold on TV 's `` Diff ` rent Strokes '' from the late 1970s to the mid-1980s . `` There was a touch of magic and a different stroke in Gary Coleman , '' said TV legend Norman Lear , who produced the show . `` He was the inspiration behind his show 's title . '' CNN 's Brittany Kaplan and Jack Hannah contributed to this report . | Lawyer : Gary Coleman and Shannon Price divorced in 2008 . Hospital : Coleman gave Price written authority to make medical decisions . Coleman , 42 , died two days after fall at home . | [[293, 331], [698, 781], [338, 468], [509, 542], [548, 620], [919, 955], [1245, 1321], [1322, 1383]] |
Buras , Louisiana -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The sign out front points the way : birds , please enter to the right ; humans , enter on the left . Huddled in a pen and covered in brown streaks of oil , a dozen pelicans await treatment after exposure to the pools of crude on the surface of the Gulf of Mexico . Increasing numbers of birds are arriving at the Fort Jackson Oiled Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in this coastal Louisiana town as the environmental disaster in the Gulf stretches on . At least 50 birds were treated on Tuesday alone . Wildlife workers say the birds get oiled when diving for fish . Their efforts at preening sometimes worsen the coating of crude on their feathers . The lucky ones are found by state workers and volunteers in time to save their lives . `` The animals that are coming in are covered in oil , '' the center 's Rebecca Dunne says . `` But they are pretty healthy animals . So that makes us feel like like we have a chance to save them . We have been pretty successful so far . '' While around 200 birds have been dead on arrival at the center , so far none of the 400 birds brought in alive have died . But not all of them express their gratitude . `` If you let 'em loose , they 'll bite ya , '' says one volunteer holding shut the bill of a brown bird tucked under his arm . New arrivals get a physical , and a day to `` de-stress . '' Next , it 's time for a scrubbing . They 're washed with Dawn soap , rinsed and dried . Finally , it 's out to the aviary pens out back -- labeled `` pelican island '' -- where they are kept for observation and recovery . On Tuesday , top football stars from the Super Bowl-winning New Orleans Saints came out to thank the center 's volunteers . `` It 's all about doing whatever we can down here in south Louisiana and the Gulf Coast , to help these people come back , '' quarterback Drew Brees told CNN 's John King . After rehab , the birds are scheduled for release in Florida , where they are less likely to repeat their run-in with the spilled oil . But not all birds are so lucky . `` For every bird they rescue , there are other birds that are oiled , but that they could n't rescue , '' Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal says . `` That is what is so heartbreaking to the people of Louisiana . '' The latest Consolidated Fish and Wildlife Collection report says 380 oiled birds and 50 sea turtles have been rescued ; 594 birds and 250 sea turtles have been found dead . For better or for worse , more birds are being found and brought in each day . Workers are planning to build eight more receiving pens in the coming days to handle the increasing influx of winged guests . CNN 's Brian Todd contributed to this report . | About 50 birds treated Tuesday at Fort Jackson Oiled Wildlife Rehabilitation Center . After rehab , the birds are scheduled for release in Florida . Workers planning to build more receiving pens to handle increased influx of birds . | [[488, 537], [302, 430], [2523, 2648], [2523, 2530], [2544, 2597], [2582, 2648], [2523, 2530], [2598, 2648]] |
-LRB- CNN Student News -RRB- -- June 2 , 2010 . Download PDF maps related to today 's show : . • Gaza • Denver , Colorado . Transcript . THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT . THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED . CARL AZUZ , CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR : It 's Wednesday , I 'm Carl Azuz , this is CNN Student News , bringing you 10 minutes of commercial-free headlines from around the globe . In fact , our first story is about a global response . First Up : Flotilla Response . AZUZ : This international reaction is aimed at Israel , and it is not positive . Protesters around the world speaking out against Israel . The United Nations Security Council criticizing the violence . Turkey calling it a massacre . Even the U.S. , one of Israel 's closest allies , says it 's open to an investigation . All of this is in response to Monday , when Israeli troops stormed a group of ships bringing aid to Gaza . Israel set up a blockade to control what goods are allowed into Gaza . This group of ships tried to break that blockade . Some of the activists who were taken into custody during the incident have been released , and Israel says the aid that was on board the ships has been delivered into Gaza . The anger is over what happened on those ships , and the two sides tell very different stories . DANNY AYALON , ISRAELI DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER : They have a history of arms smuggling and deadly terror . On board the ship , we found weapons prepared in advance and used against our forces . The organizers ' intent was violent , their method was violent , and the results were unfortunately violent . AUDREY BOMSE , FREE GAZA MOVEMENT LEGAL ADVISER : There could not have been guns on board , and besides , there is no evidence of it . There is a live streaming from the Turkish boat . You see Israeli soldiers jumping out of helicopters onto the boat shooting . There is no crossfire . Had there been crossfire at close range , some Israeli soldier would have been shot . Security Headlines . AZUZ : We 're checking out a couple security headlines now , starting with what could be a serious blow to the al Qaeda terrorist group . It reportedly announced the death of Mustafa Abu Yazid yesterday . He was the number three man in al Qaeda and the commander of its operations in Afghanistan . Yazid was also responsible for maintaining al Qaeda 's relationships with other terrorist groups , like the Taliban . One group of experts says his death is one of the most significant blows against al Qaeda recently . But it also pointed out that the terrorist organization plans for these kinds of losses . In the United States , Major Nidal Hasan , whom you see here , made his first court appearance in connection with last November 's attack at Fort Hood , Texas . Hasan , who is a U.S. Army psychiatrist , is accused of killing 13 people in a shooting spree.Yesterday 's hearing was the military version of a grand jury . Hasan answered questions that were asked by the judge , and his lawyers asked for an extension so they can gather evidence for the case . The judge agreed to that request . Is This Legit ? TOMEKA JONES , CNN STUDENT NEWS : Is this legit ? The U.S. sees more tornadoes per year than any other country . True ! The U.S. has an average of about 1,000 tornadoes a year . Canada is second with around 100 . Colorado Tornado . AZUZ : Around 25 percent of those tornadoes form in an area that 's called Tornado Alley . Colorado is part of that , and it 's where this tornado showed up on Monday . These pictures are amazing ; look at this . Twisters like this one can sometimes do a lot of damage . But early reports indicated no injuries or major problems with this one , just a lot of power lines knocked down . Tornado Alley sees a lot of twisters pop up in the spring . But forecasters point out that these storms can happen anywhere , at any time . Dealing with the Spill . AZUZ : Attorney General Eric Holder says he 's launching a criminal investigation into the Gulf of Mexico oil spill . And down in the Gulf , there 's more bad news for the fishing industry . Officials have closed off more waters to fishing . Nearly a third of the Gulf now is off limits . Meanwhile , BP is starting the `` cut and cap '' plan . We told you about this yesterday . They 're going to cut part of the leaking oil well and then put a cap on it . Hence , cut and cap . Making the cut , though , could increase the flow of oil spilling into the Gulf by up to 20 percent . Now , you 've heard a lot from Rob Marciano since this oil leak started . He 's one of our reporters covering the story from down on the Gulf Coast . Today , he explains how hurricane season could impact the oily situation . -LRB- BEGIN VIDEO -RRB- . ROB MARCIANO , CNN METEOROLOGIST : Almost five years later , signs of Hurricane Katrina are still evident in Plaquemines Parish , Louisiana . And this year 's NOAA hurricane forecast calls for up to 23 named storms . Oil from the BP spill is already in the barrier wetlands here . BILL NUNGESSER , PRESIDENT , PLAQUEMINES PARISH : I 'm scared to death . You saw Pass a Loutre . You saw the pelicans . Imagine a storm rolling that oil up and bringing it in here and laying it down . MARCIANO : That 's just the kind of unimaginable devastation that Dauphin Island , Alabama is trying to avoid . UNIDENTIFIED MALE : What you see here is the tide is down right now . So , the water is below the basket . MARCIANO : The Alabama National Guard is erecting a four-and-a-half mile barrier to keep the oil from impacting protected wildlife here . The baskets are filled with a polymer powder which can turn the wet oil into a solid , making it easier to collect by hand . But what happens to these oil barriers if a major hurricane hits ? DAN KOONTZ , CI AGENT SOLUTIONS : They 'll be gone just like everything else around here too . That category five will take out the houses and take out every building and structure on this island , probably . MARCIANO : We 're out on part of the thick oil here in the Gulf of Mexico . What does the oil do for hurricanes ? Well , it would have a hard time developing right over the oil , because the oil actually suppresses evaporation . But that 's actually one of the ways that the water actually cools . So , between the lack of evaporation and the darkness of that oil , actually heats up the Gulf . This is going to actually feed it , if anything , and bring it onshore and everything with it , including this big mess . -LRB- END VIDEO -RRB- . Shoutout . MATT CHERRY , CNN STUDENT NEWS : Today 's Shoutout goes out to the students at Wordsworth Academy in Pennsylvania ! When would you wear a mortar board ? Is it while : A -RRB- Judging , B -RRB- Graduating , C -RRB- Welding or D -RRB- Scuba diving ? You 've got three seconds -- GO ! A mortar board is an academic cap , so you 'd wear it while graduating . That 's your answer and that 's your Shoutout ! Defying Odds . AZUZ : And that 's what you seniors all across the U.S. are doing right now , putting on your mortar boards and graduation gowns as you get your diplomas . Finishing high school , as you know , does n't automatically mean going on to college ... unless you go to Arrupe Jesuit High in Denver , Colorado . Nelson Garcia of affiliate KUSA fills us in on the school 's graduation streak . -LRB- BEGIN VIDEO -RRB- . NELSON GARCIA , KUSA REPORTER : The sounds are the same , and so are the excited faces . But the graduation here at Arrupe Jesuit High School is like no other . This is the fourth year in a row every single senior is going to college . REVEREND STEVEN PLANNING , ARRUPE JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL PRESIDENT : Sixty percent of you all are the first in your families to graduate high school . JOSE MADRID , ARRUPE JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL 2010 VALEDICTORIAN : And it changes the history of our family , and it creates a whole different way of seeing the future . GARCIA : Jose Madrid . MADRID : Good morning , ladies and gentlemen . GARCIA : He is valedictorian and one of 54 students who spent one day a week working in a corporation , earning money to pay for Arrupe while getting business experience . School founder Father Steve Planning says that this is at the heart of Arrupe 's success . PLANNING : They get to see , feel and touch the future that we want them to have . GARCIA : Though Arrupe services low-income neighborhoods , with obstacles that challenge every inner city school ... PLANNING : The 54 of you have earned together a combined total of more than $ 3.85 million in merit-based scholarships . GARCIA : That averages to more than $ 70,000 in scholarship money per student . MADRID : There was no opportunity for me to fail because so many people believed in me that I had to believe in myself . PLANNING : Abeline Angeles , Colorado State University . GARCIA : The sounds may be the same ... PLANNING : Jose Eduardo Madrid , Georgetown University . GARCIA : ... But this graduation is like no other . It 's the last ceremony for Father Planning . He 's leaving . PLANNING : It 's always sad to leave anywhere , but it 's particularly sad to leave a place that you were involved in the start up of , so it 's gon na be sad to say goodbye . GARCIA : Leaving behind a thriving program which continues to make a difference in northwest Denver . -LRB- END VIDEO -RRB- . Promo . AZUZ : The school year is just about finished for us , too . Just two more shows to go . But there are lots of ways to stay in touch with us over the summer . You can always check out what you see right here : that 's CNNStudentNews.com . We 'll be posting new blogs there over the summer . Or you can head to our Facebook page : Facebook.com / CNNStudentNews . Before We Go . AZUZ : Before we go , there are some things you just have to see to believe . This one , we 're still not sure . This YouTube video shows a bear at a zoo in Japan . He 's obviously got some smooth moves . But right here , watch this . He flips it up , waits for it to drop back down , he caught it and he keeps on going . Now , we had a reporter check into this , and experts say it 's possible with enough training . Goodbye . AZUZ : But you do have to paws and really think it over . I mean , do we believe it 's real ? Bearly . Either way , it 's food fur thought . You guys have a great day . For CNN Student News , I 'm Carl Azuz . | Investigate varying perspectives about an Israeli raid on an aid flotilla . Envision how a Gulf hurricane could significantly worsen an oily disaster . Take a seat at a school that 's sending every one of its seniors to college . Use the Daily Discussion to help students understand today 's featured news stories . | [[1265, 1308], [4636, 4641], [4644, 4710], [7547, 7548], [7553, 7594]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Veteran Los Angeles Lakers guard Derek Fisher has been praised by his teammates after helping the defending champions to a 91-84 victory over the Boston Celtics in the third game of the best-of-seven series NBA finals . As Lakers star Kobe Bryant 's points tally began to dry up , the 35-year-old scored 11 points in the last quarter to seal victory for his team and a 2-1 series advantage . With less than a minute to go he produced a crucial layup that gave the West Coast side a seven-point lead which the Celtics could not recover from . Bryant , who finished with a team-high 29 points from 29 shots , was full of praise for Fisher -- who scored 16 in total and was mobbed by his teammates at the final whistle . `` Fisher is our vocal leader , the heart and soul of this team , '' Bryant told the official Lakers Web site . `` He 's been criticized quite a bit for his age . It 's a huge thrill for him and for all of us to see him come through in these moments . '' Game two : Celtics level series . `` I love what I do . I love helping my team win , '' Fisher added on his team 's official Web site . `` To come through tonight , again , for this team , 14 years in after so many great moments , it 's always quite surreal . '' Celtics coach Doc Rivers , whose team last won the NBA title back in 2008 , also admitted that Fisher 's performance played a pivotal role in the Lakers win . `` He was the difference in the game , '' Rivers told the official NBA Web site . `` He 's just a gutty , gritty player . He basically took the game over . '' Game one : Lakers win opener . Rivers ' East Coast team lost the first game of the series in Los Angeles on June 3 but took home-court advantage away from the Californians , beating them in the second game on June 6 . Play now remains in Boston for game four on Thursday , and the New England side will be hoping they can once again get the better of the Lakers , this time on their home court . `` You ca n't really write the story until the next game . As a team we 're just going to come out and play with a lot of energy , '' the Celtics ' Rajon Rondo , who scored just 11 points in what was a disappointing night for his team , told the official NBA Web site . `` I think we lost our composure tonight in a couple possessions and that hurt us . '' After two poor games , Kevin Garnett was Boston 's top scorer with 25 points . But off-days from Paul Pierce and Ray Allen -- who scored an impressive 32 in game two -- allowed the Lakers to open up a lead of 12 points at halftime . The Celtics did attempt a comeback in the second half , reducing their opponents ' advantage to just one , but they were not strong enough to overtake the Lakers . The Lakers are defending the title they won against Orlando last year , while the Celtics are looking to reclaim the crown they have won a record 17 times -- their last victory coming over the L.A. side in 2008 . | L.A. Lakers beat Boston Celtics 91-84 in the third match of the best-of-seven NBA finals . The Lakers are now leading the series 2-1 with the next game to be played in Boston . Derek Fisher scored 11 in the last quarter and Kobe Bryant 29 in the game to aid the Lakers win . Kevin Garnett scored 25 for Celtics but Paul Pierce and Ray Allen had poor scoring days . | [[0, 15], [52, 238], [1791, 1843], [300, 398], [561, 567], [574, 623], [2326, 2346], [2349, 2404], [2409, 2448], [2495, 2558]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- `` We will restore science to its rightful place . '' When those words came out of President Obama 's mouth during his inaugural speech , public health nerds such as myself rejoiced heartily . We believe that policy , especially health policy , should be based on scientific evidence . Funny , then , that we ignore this important piece of evidence : When scientific facts go up against moral ideologies , ideology usually wins . I 've worked for more than a decade in the field of HIV prevention . That means working with sex and drugs -- two areas where there is no shortage of good science , and an abundance of ideology . The science tells us , for example , that making clean needles universally available to drug injectors can more or less wipe out HIV transmission in this group . The ideology tells us that providing such services for injectors is tantamount to condoning an illegal behavior that wrecks lives and families and increases crime . If you were running for election , faced with the choice of paying for clean needles and health services for injectors or with putting more cops on the streets and cells in the jails , which do you think would play best with the voters ? Read more about Elizabeth Pisani at TED.com . HIV has taught us something about the nature of democracy as well as the more personal decision-making that my TED talk addresses . The fact is that many of the most effective public health policies have been put in place by governments that Americans think of as ideological , even undemocratic . Iran has one of the world 's better prevention programs inside its jails , and sterile needles are available to injectors from dispensing machines around Tehran . The Kyrgyz Republic gives clean needles to prisoners . China makes needles available to injectors through pharmacies at subsidized prices . These countries are not exactly synonymous with liberalism . Government officials can afford to do nice things for junkies because they do n't need to worry much about what might happen in midterm elections . And they need to be pragmatic because they expect to be in power for some time . Better to put in place prevention programs that deal with a distasteful headache now than to deal with a much greater headache in the future . That 's harder to do in a democracy ; if you do something upsetting to the majority of voters now , you wo n't be around to reap the benefits of your far-sighted action in the future . It 's hardly surprising , then , that for the last 20 years , the U.S. Congress put politically popular ideology ahead of science , denying federal funding for needle exchanges . -LRB- Congress repealed the ban last year . -RRB- . At the local level , though , things often look different . Many cities , realizing that they would have to pick up the pieces of the nation 's failed war on drugs , have scraped out their pockets and provided services to injectors . The result has been a huge decline in new HIV infections among drug users and their sex partners ; the burden on the health system has of course fallen , too . And there is no evidence at all that these programs have led to a rise in injecting -- a specter commonly raised by the ideologues . The truth is , people who 've never injected drugs in their life do n't suddenly say : `` Oh look , a clean needle dispenser . Maybe I 'll try shooting up heroin . '' This disconnect between national and local policies is instructive about the way democracy works . At a national level , politicians seem to respond to what they think the electorate wants to hear . Ideology and rhetoric rule . At the local level , however , they are more likely to respond to what the electorate really needs -- workable solutions to real problems . The only workable solutions are the ones that are based on good , solid , scientific evidence . In my little corner of public health , the Obama administration is following through on its promise to put the science back into policy . Since the ban on federal funding for safe injecting programs was dropped in December , the sky has not fallen , and if the government falls , it certainly wo n't be because of this small piece of pragmatism . But two decades of banging the `` evidence-based '' drum does make me think that we scientists need to learn from the evidence . Scientifically sound solutions can only be implemented where they can be made politically workable . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Elizabeth Pisani . | Elizabeth Pisani says Obama 's embrace of science in setting health policy is encouraging . But political and moral ideology , she says , often wars with science-based policy . Data show that giving drug users clean needles stalls HIV 's spread , she says . Pisani : Science-based solutions must be made politically workable to be implemented . | [[375, 422], [687, 806], [228, 236], [255, 304], [4340, 4440], [4395, 4440]] |
NEW YORK -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The two top executives at struggling Countrywide Financial Corp. , the nation 's largest mortgage lender , are slated to receive a combined $ 19 million in payouts , a regulatory filing shows . Angelo Mozilo helped lead Countrywide as it grew into the nation 's largest mortgage lender . The payments are part of the company 's pending takeover by Bank of America . Countrywide CEO Angelo Mozilo is set to receive $ 10 million in stock , and President David Sambol will get about $ 9 million , according to documents Bank of America filed this week with the Securities and Exchange Commission . Sambol will receive another $ 28 million in cash and stock to stay with the combined company , the document states . Their compensation is tied directly to the performance of the company via stock and options that the executives have held over time , according to the filing . Bank of America agreed in January to buy Countrywide for $ 4 billion . Mozilo and Sambol , along with ex-Citigroup chief Charles Prince , came under fire this month by members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee , who chastised the executives for helping foster the current mortgage crisis . Lawmakers accused the executives of leaving homeowners at risk of losing their homes while fattening their own wallets . In their defense , the executives said they also lost billions of dollars in the subprime meltdown . Mozilo , Sambol and Prince made headlines in the past year for their lofty compensation after their companies suffered heavy losses in the U.S. housing market . Between 2002 and the close of 2006 , the three executives were paid $ 460 million , according to a report issued by the House committee in March . Mozilo , who grew Countrywide from its modest beginnings into the nation 's largest mortgage lender , reportedly stood to collect a windfall of $ 115 million after his firm agreed to a yet-to-be-completed sale to Bank of America . After facing heavy criticism from lawmakers , Mozilo forfeited $ 37.5 million in payments tied to the deal . E-mail to a friend . CNN 's Amy Sahba contributed to this report . | Countrywide CEO Angelo Mozilo is set to receive $ 10 million . Countrywide President David Sambol will get about $ 9 million . Bank of America agreed in January to buy the struggling mortgage lender . Lawmakers have chastised the executives for helping foster the mortgage crisis . | [[394, 463], [466, 519], [316, 393], [341, 352], [356, 393], [900, 970], [971, 1035], [1038, 1130], [1103, 1130], [1137, 1210], [1972, 2015], [2018, 2061]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The search for a missing 7-year-old Oregon boy is now in its fifth day . Police said they are not ready to call Kyron Horman 's disappearance a criminal investigation yet , while the boy 's parents have indicated they will release a statement to the public sometime Wednesday . `` We 're not prepared to call it a criminal investigation at this point , '' Captain Jason Gates of the Multnomah County Sheriff 's Office told reporters Tuesday , `` But we are certainly prepared to call it a missing endangered child investigation . '' He also narrowed the scope of the incident . `` What I can tell you is that we have no reason to believe that this is anything other than an isolated case , '' Gates said . Kyron was reported missing by his stepmother Friday afternoon after he did not return home from school , authorities said . According to investigators , Kyron 's stepmother said she last saw him Friday morning walking down a hallway towards his second-grade classroom at Skyline Elementary School . The school was holding a science fair at the time , officials said . `` We can tell you that we have completed 99 percent of the interviews with the children at Skyline Elementary School , '' Gates said . `` We 've also completed the majority of interviews with the staff and parents at Skyline . '' The sheriff 's office said no one at the school saw Kyron after 8:45 a.m. Friday and that Kyron never made it to his classroom . Authorities continue to pursue hundreds of tips , most of them from Oregon and Washington . `` The leads that are being provided would not suggest that it would be a national search at this point , '' Gates said . `` We do n't have enough information to satisfy the criteria to complete an Amber Alert or issue an Amber Alert , '' Gates explained . `` Amber Alerts are designed to find children very quickly when we have specific information . '' Anyone with information on Kyron Horman 's whereabouts is asked to call the Multnomah County Sheriff 's Office at 503-261-2847 . | Police not ready to call disappearance a criminal investigation . Kyron Horman 's parents to release statement Wednesday . 7-year-old was last seen headed to class . Police pursuing tips , mostly from Oregon and Washington . | [[92, 189], [300, 369], [192, 296], [878, 1023], [1453, 1544]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Agents on Wednesday will release dozens of interviews conducted during the investigation of sexual assault allegations against star professional quarterback Ben Roethlisberger . Roethlisberger was cleared of criminal wrongdoing in the investigation but was slapped with a six-game suspension from the National Football League for what the league called `` detrimental conduct . '' The investigative file contains more than 50 DVDs of audio and videotaped interviews and photographs , the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said . The file is sure to provide intimate details of the case that hurled the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback from the sports page to the front page earlier this year . Roethlisberger , who led the Steelers to Super Bowl titles in 2006 and 2009 , faced the threat of criminal charges after a 20-year-old woman accused him of raping her in a Milledgeville , Georgia , bar in March . The quarterback 's lawyer said no sexual assault took place , and prosecutors decided in April that they could not prove that a crime had been committed . Although prosecutors determined that no charges would be filed , the investigation showed that Roethlisberger had provided underage college students with alcohol , National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell has said . Along with the suspension , Goodell ordered that Roethlisberger undergo a `` comprehensive behavioral evaluation by medical professionals . '' The Steelers quarterback is not the only NFL player dealing with allegations of sexual assault . Seven players from the Green Bay Packers were questioned as part of an investigation into the alleged sexual assaults of two women on June 6 , police said . Six of the men were later released and are not considered suspects . A seventh man , who was not identified , was also questioned and released , and remains under investigation , according to Lake Delton , Wisconsin , Police Chief Thomas Dorner . | Agents will release dozens of interviews conducted during probe . Ben Roethlisberger was cleared of criminal charges . Quarterback still got six-game suspension from NFL . | [[0, 15], [39, 72], [62, 175], [197, 211], [272, 364]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- When you think of iconic tennis venues , top of the list are New York 's sprawling Flushing Meadows , the green grass of traditional Wimbledon in London and the rusty red clay of chic Roland Garros in Paris . But next month some of the sport 's top players will grace a new stage : the glittering $ 1.2 billion Cowboys Stadium in Dallas , which hosts Super Bowl XLV next year . U.S. star Serena Williams plays glamorous Russian ace Maria Sharapova in a battle of world number ones present and past , while Texas-based Andy Roddick takes on fellow big-serving American John Isner in the men 's match-up . Roddick , who lives in Austin 300 kilometers away , is excited by the prospect of being able to take the freeway to a tournament , as well as his sport breaking new ground in the hot-bed of gridiron . He will be action on July 10 , just six days after the men 's final at Wimbledon in England , where last year he lost an epic title match to Roger Federer . `` I can drive there . With my friends from home , we might just make a weekend of it and have some fun , '' Roddick said when the Texas event was announced . `` I think it will be cool . I do n't know if we 're going to fill it , but tennis getting into kind of mainstream venues like that more often is a good thing . Selfishly , I like it . '' Roddick 's fears over filling the 80,000-seater stadium -- which will expand to around 100,000 for the Super Bowl -- are probably misplaced as the matches will be played across one of the end zones . The configuration will mean a seating capacity of 20,000 , but still one of the biggest audiences for a tennis event . The biggest capacity at a regular tournament is 23,200 for the Arthur Ashe Stadium Court at Flushing Meadows during the U.S. Open . The center court at Wimbledon can take 15,000 spectators , and all four players in the Dallas exhibition will be hoping to be involved in the finals of the grass-court grand slam the weekend before . Williams took the women 's singles title last year and Sharapova won in 2004 , while Roddick suffered a heartbreaking five-set loss to Federer last year . For the Dallas Cowboys and owner Jerry Jones , it is another string to the bow of their new state-of-the-art stadium . It has already hosted soccer , this year 's NBA All-Star game and world title boxing as Filipino sensation Manny Pacquiao beat Ghana 's Joshua Clottey earlier this year . `` We have seen the flexibility our new stadium has for holding spectacular events of all kinds , and this event should be like no other , '' Jones said . `` Being able to attract some of the best tennis players in the world under one roof for a night like this will be something special . '' Filling big stadiums for tennis one-offs looks set to become a regular feature on the calendar for the world 's elite players . Just two days before the Dallas exhibition , Belgian rivals Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin will be looking to break a world record in a battle between two former top-ranked stars in the 40,000-capacity King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels . It is an attempt to break the record crowd of 30,492 that assembled for the legendary `` Battle of the Sexes '' match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs at the Houston Astrodome in Texas in 1973 . `` The Best of Belgium '' match is expected to easily surpass that attendance , but maybe Cowboys Stadium will wrest the honor back for the Lone Star state in the future . | Tennis breaks new ground with glittering exhibition in Dallas Cowboys ' NFL stadium . Serena Williams will play Maria Sharapova and Andy Roddick takes on John Isner . Cowboys Stadium , which will host the 2011 Super Bowl , will be reduced to 20,000 capacity . Belgium 's King Baudouin Stadium hopes to set attendance record for tennis two days earlier . | [[397, 516], [525, 622], [349, 355], [364, 396], [1528, 1584], [2845, 2887], [2890, 3083]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- South Africa becomes the center of global attention Friday as the World Cup , sport 's most avidly followed competition , kicks off four weeks of soccer action both on and off the pitch . Thousands of spectators from Africa and around the world are expected to pack the Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg for the opening ceremony ahead of the opening match at 4 p.m. -LRB- 10 a.m. ET -RRB- between hosts South Africa -- known as `` Bafana Bafana '' -- and Mexico . Why the World Cup is sports ' biggest occasion . Everyday life will stop for millions of fans around the world -- albeit temporarily -- as they follow the tournament on television , radio and online , including social media networks such as Twitter . CNN teams up with Foursquare for World Cup . Former South African president Nelson Mandela is expected to attend the kickoff , his grandson Nkosi Mandela said Tuesday -- but will not be able to stay for the whole of the match . Mandela , who is 91 , played a key role in bringing the World Cup to South Africa but has made limited public appearances recently , although he did meet the South Africa squad last week . Pre-tournament celebrations have included a concert staged in Soweto on Thursday that featured Hugh Masakela and the Black Eyed Peas . The World Cup is arguably the biggest sporting event in the world , with only the Summer Olympics commanding as much global attention . FIFA , soccer 's governing body , predicts a cumulative TV audience for the tournament of 26.29 billion viewers . Will you be following the World Cup ? Send videos , stories , photos . South Africa 2010 marks the first time that the tournament , which was inaugurated in 1930 and is held every four years , has been staged in Africa . It follows FIFA efforts to take the tournament from soccer 's traditional heartlands in Europe and South America to relatively under-developed markets such as the U.S. -LRB- 1994 -RRB- and South Korea and Japan -LRB- 2002 -RRB- . FIFA now boasts more than 200 member states -- more than the United Nations . Argentina , Germany , Brazil and current world champions Italy have each won the current trophy , introduced in 1974 , twice . Brazil was allowed to keep the original trophy after winning it for a third time in 1970 . How you can sound like a World Cup expert . The finals , which will take in 64 matches and run for a month , are the climax of a three-year qualification campaign , which kicked off in August 2007 when New Caledonia beat Tahiti 1-0 . | South Africa 2010 is the first time the World Cup has been staged in Africa . The inaugural World Cup took place in Uruguay in 1930 . This year 's tournament sees 32 teams contest the trophy . FIFA boasts more than 200 member states -- more than the United Nations . | [[1609, 1728], [1609, 1626], [1723, 1758], [1609, 1728], [1989, 2066]] |
Kabul , Afghanistan -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Suspected Taliban militants have executed a 7-year-old boy , accusing him of spying for the government , officials in southern Afghanistan said Thursday . The execution took place Tuesday in the Sangin district of Helmand province , said Dawoud Ahmadi -- the provincial governor 's spokesman . In the past , militants have carried out similar killings of those accused of spying , Ahmadi said . Three years ago , a 70-year-old woman and a child in the Musa Qala district of the province were executed following the same allegations , he said . During a news conference Thursday , Afghan President Hamid Karzai said officials were looking into reports of the execution and said he condemned the act if it is confirmed to be true . `` I do n't think there 's a crime bigger than that that even the most inhuman forces on earth can commit , '' Karzai said . `` A 7-year-old boy can not be a spy . A 7-year-old boy can not be anything but a 7-year-old boy , and therefore hanging or shooting to kill a 7-year-old boy ... is a crime against humanity . '' `` If this is true , it is an absolutely hiorrific crime , '' British Prime Minister David Cameron said during the news conference on an unannounced stop in Kabul . `` If true , I think it says more about the Taliban than any book , than any article , than any speech could ever say . '' | NEW : Afghan president calls execution a ` crime against humanity , ' if true . Boy was accused of spying for the government . Official : Other such executions have taken place in the province . | [[583, 616], [619, 648], [711, 739], [1110, 1145], [8, 35], [100, 141], [100, 141], [144, 193]] |
Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- More than 1,000 American troops have now been killed in Afghanistan , according to CNN calculations . The United States passed that grim milestone Tuesday , when an improvised explosive device killed two of its troops in southern Afghanistan , bringing the total to 1,001 . The death toll does not include those killed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in other countries . But the large number of casualties is in sharp contrast to the rates from another recent war . The deaths of these service members come 104 months since the start of the war in Afghanistan , compared with the war in Iraq , where more than 1,000 U.S. troops were killed in the first 18 months of fighting . But Afghanistan is getting deadlier by the day . From 2001 through 2006 , the American casualty rate never reached 100 in any single year . But that number started going up in 2007 and spiked to more than 300 last year . If the current rate continues , 2010 will be the deadliest year of the war , nearly a decade after it started . The milestone comes just 24 hours after the single deadliest day for coalition forces in Afghanistan this year . Insurgents killed 12 NATO soldiers on Monday , seven of them Americans . Officials with the International Security Assistance Force say it was no single event but six separate attacks in southern and eastern Afghanistan . It was the most fatalities among NATO troops in a single day since October 26 , when 11 Americans were killed in two helicopter crashes . Coalition forces are working to secure Helmand Province and establish a legitimate government there and are launching an offensive to target up to 1,000 Taliban fighters in Kandahar . `` We all expect the fight to get tougher as we carry out the new campaign , '' Defense Secretary Robert Gates said . Added Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen , `` I think we 've been very clear for months now that this was going to be a very difficult fight in the south . And the expectations , try to set expectations ... as tragic as it is , for these losses . '' A defense official says that American troops and their allies are tightening security around the city of Kandahar but that the operation there will take months and will not resemble a typical battle . More than a million Afghans live in Kandahar , and the Taliban are embedded in the population . The official says the goal will be weeding out the Taliban , as well as the drug gangs and warlords that control much of the area 's economy . | Death toll at 1,001 after explosion in southern Afghanistan . But fatalities have come slower than in Iraq war . Coalition forces working to secure Helmand Province . New offensive will target Taliban fighters in Kandahar . | [[0, 26], [30, 97], [274, 303], [1523, 1539], [1552, 1578], [1523, 1539], [1627, 1706]] |
New York -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Do n't think raising money for nonprofits is an overly sexy undertaking ? Do n't tell actor and activist Edward Norton . `` Crowdrise is pretty much the most fun you can have making a difference without taking any illegal substances , '' Norton said about the online initiative he announced Tuesday at the Mashable Media Summit . The summit , co-sponsored by CNN.com , is part of Internet Week New York . At Crowdrise.com , Norton and his colleagues have set up what they hope will become a crowdsourced community of volunteers and fundraisers to support a host of causes -- from global environmental threats to local clean-up projects . Norton , a longtime activist who 's been involved in issues ranging from environmental protection to affordable housing , took his first plunge into online fundraising last year . He ran the New York City Marathon and , in the months leading up to it , took to Twitter and a website to raise pledges that would go to the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Fund -- a charity working for sustainable development in eastern Africa . In that effort , Norton and other supporters offered gifts and other incentives to inspire giving . `` When we came out the back side of it , we definitely felt it was like a beta test on how to create a good tool for anybody to do the same thing we were doing , '' Norton told CNN . `` We took a lot of lessons we learned from the Maasai run and created something that anybody could use . '' Norton , whose credits include `` Fight Club '' and `` The Incredible Hulk , '' said his group wanted Crowdrise to be fun and easy to use . It lets anyone create a profile , register a cause , ask for donations then communicate with supporters in creative ways . Nonprofits already using the site include both large and small organizations . `` Crowdrise is the only website that makes it so easy to turn our base of passionate grassroots advocates into a base of passionate fundraisers , '' said Danielle Murray , associate director of the Conservation Lands Foundation . | Norton , colleagues have set up a web community of volunteers , fundraisers to support causes . Crowdrise lets users register a cause , ask for donations , communicate with supporters . Large , small nonprofits already using Crowdrise . | [[433, 449], [452, 665], [939, 1022], [1625, 1675], [1625, 1627], [1678, 1700], [1686, 1747], [1748, 1781], [1748, 1826]] |
New York -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Enjoy hypocrisy ? This past weekend you could glut the appetite . On Monday , Israeli ships stopped a flotilla carrying materials that could be used for war , including cement that Israel maintained could be used to build bunkers , to Hamas-ruled Gaza . The crew of one boat resisted violently , triggering a firefight in which nine people were killed , most of them Turkish nationals . Turkey is protesting vigorously . But , question : Turkey is a NATO ally , an applicant to the European Union . What is it doing allowing its nationals to smuggle cement that could build bunkers ? Especially when those nationals belong to a group , the Turkish IHH -LRB- Insani Yardim Vakfi -RRB- that Israel has designated a terrorist organization ? The flotilla departed from Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus . Turkey 's occupation of half of Cyprus is deemed illegal by the European Union and the United Nations . If the government of Turkey feels so strongly about ending disputed occupations , why does it not start with the disputed occupation it is operating itself ? The flotilla followed a breathtaking Friday at the United Nations . The 189 signatories of the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty agreed on a final list of resolutions for a safer world . The nuclear threat from Iran ? Unmentioned . Instead , the NPT resolution targeted -- what a surprise -- Israel . Shamefully , the Friday resolution was joined by the United States . Yes , the Obama administration issued a statement at the same time that `` deplores the decision to single out Israel '' and also `` the failure of the resolution to mention Iran . '' The administration deplored -- but it signed . The Obama administration 's signature marks an abrupt departure from previous U.S. policy . Since the 1960s , the United States has accepted Israel 's nuclear arsenal on condition that Israel not threaten its neighbors . Israel has more than met that condition . In 1973 , Egypt outright invaded Israel , in full confidence that Israel would not go nuclear so long as Egypt stopped short of attacking Israel 's cities . It 's important to understand that Israel -LRB- like India and Pakistan -RRB- has never signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty . So Israel 's nuclear force violates no commitments or pledges : unlike , say , the nuclear programs of Syria , Libya , Iraq and Iran , to name just four of the Middle Eastern countries that have been caught violating the NPT . Iran by contrast is violating the NPT . Iran is the world 's leading state sponsor of terrorism . And Iranian leaders have threatened to use the nuclear weapons they are seeking to annihilate Israel . On Monday , the International Atomic Energy Agency reported that Iran has accumulated enough nuclear material for two bombs , when fully enriched . And the latest round of U.N. sanctions will do nothing to stop that bomb , because they omit the most crucial measures : . • A ban on exports of gasoline to Iran -LRB- Iran now imports half its gasoline -RRB- . • Measures to sever Iran 's central bank from the global payments system . The measures adopted by the Security Council last week are not only toothless , but they even contain a loophole legalizing the sale of Russian air defenses to Iran , the better to protect nuclear facilities from action by the United States or Israel . OK , so maybe it is not news that the U.N. system is hypocritical and useless . What is news is this : The Obama administration has broken with 40 years of precedent and has affixed its signature to a document suggesting that it is Israel 's weapons -- not Iran 's -- that ought to be priority No. 1 in the Middle East . And now , post-flotilla , the Obama administration stands in danger of being drawn into the attempt to open Hamas-ruled Gaza to military-capable imports , and to force Israel to engage in some kind of negotiation with Hamas . Former Ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk , who is close to Obama administration thinking , outlined in the New York Times Monday the contours of just such a deal : . `` The administration needs to work on a package deal in which Hamas commits to preventing attacks from , and all smuggling into , Gaza . In return , Israel would drop the blockade and allow trade in and out . '' It 's a pretty thought . Pro-Hamas groups did not go to the trouble of organizing a flotilla of supplies that could be used for war in order to end smuggling of war material into Gaza . Nor are pro-Hamas groups seeking to ship the material into Gaza in order to thwart future attacks on Israel . Rebuilding Hamas ' bunkers is not a step toward peace . But as with the Obama administration 's joining the anti-Israel resolution at the United Nations on Friday , followed by after-the-fact explanations that Israel had nothing to fear , so the Obama administration is now being drawn into another anti-Israel action , again cushioned by assurances that , `` This is for your own good . '' Monday morning , ABC 'S Jake Tapper reported an unnamed administration official promising `` no daylight '' between the United States and Israel . But the same administration official who promised `` no daylight '' also told Tapper : `` The president has always said that it will be much easier for Israel to make peace if it feels secure . '' Meaning : first we soothe you , then we squeeze you ? The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of David Frum . | David Frum says Gaza flotilla was carrying war materials . Turkey 's criticism of Israel ignores Turkey 's occupation of northern Cyprus , he says . New U.N. non-proliferation resolution targets Israel but ignores Iran threat , Frum says . | [[128, 203], [793, 800], [801, 827], [1327, 1354], [1358, 1385]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Italy 's World Cup captain Fabio Cannavaro has made a surprise decision to end his career in Dubai . The 36-year-old has signed a two-year deal with reigning United Arab Emirates league champions Al Ahli after failing to find a new club in Serie A following the end of his deal with Juventus . In a statement on its official Web site on Wednesday , the Dubai-based club confirmed that Cannavaro would move to Al Ahli after the World Cup in South Africa , which starts on June 11 . `` We announce that we have signed Fabio Cannavaro for two years , '' Abdullah Al Nabooda , chairman of Al Ahli 's board of directors said . `` This deal with a player like Cannavaro is one of the most important deals for us because he 's a player with great experience and talent , while he 's also a leader on the field . '' Cannavaro -- who has 132 caps for his country and led the Italians to victory over France in the 2006 World Cup final -- is planning to retire from international football after the South African tournament , which will be his fourth . He played at Inter Milan and Real Madrid before moving to Juventus in 2009 , and had hoped to earn a deal with his hometown club Napoli , where he began his career . `` The option to extend my deal with Juventus has expired . I want Napoli , but they do n't want me , '' he told Italian sports paper Tuttosport last week . However , Cannavaro said he was now happy to make the move to the Middle-East . `` I am happy to sign for Al Ahli for the next season . I was already planning to go and live in Dubai , I love that city . It 's a dream come true , '' he told Italian newspaper La Gazetta dello Sport . Meanwhile , British media have speculated that Al Ahli is also interested in signing manager Harry Redknapp , 63 , from London-based English Premier League side Tottenham next season . | Fabio Cannavaro signs a two-year deal with UAE champions Al-Ahli . The move was confirmed on the club 's official Web site on Wednesday . The Italian captain will join the Dubai side after the World Cup in South Africa . His contract with Juventus had expired and he could not find a new club in Italy . | [[120, 312], [120, 132], [163, 312], [500, 564], [313, 365], [368, 471], [313, 365], [368, 471], [120, 312], [120, 132], [163, 312], [1228, 1241], [1265, 1287]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Looking for love , or perhaps just for some cafeteria food or spelling lessons , an alligator was found Monday inside a middle school in suburban Tampa , Florida . Tampa Police were notified around 7 a.m. that the gator had set itself down in a prime spot , `` in front of the cafeteria '' in Stewart Middle School , the department said in a written statement . Although school does not let out for another week , no children were inside the school when the reptile was discovered , said Hillsborough County School District spokesman Steve Hegarty . The school is near the Hillsborough River , so it 's not too far-fetched to think an alligator might make its way inside , Hegarty said . Still , he does n't recall any similar incidents . `` The gator was contained in one of the hallways , '' police said . Trappers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission caught the creature . No one was injured . It 's currently alligator mating season . According to the conservation commission 's website , alligator `` courtship '' begins in early April , with mating occurring in May or June . | Alligator was trapped inside school by wildlife experts . Stewart Middle School is near the Hillsborough River . It 's currently gator mating season . | [[98, 170], [569, 610], [938, 979]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Rafael Nadal made light work of Marcos Daniel in his first grass outing of the season at the Aegon Championships in London . The world number one took just 50 minutes to win 6-2 6-2 over the Brazilian serve-and-volleyer at the Queen 's Club . Just three days after securing his fifth French Open title in Paris , Nadal showed little sign of heavy legs , in securing his 23rd successive victory . Nadal raced into a 3-0 lead in the opening set before Daniel saved a series of break points to get back in the match . Nadal broke again with the score at 5-2 to seal the set . A short rain break delayed the game in the second set but Nadal broke to lead 4-2 when the players returned , before closing out the set . When asked whether Sunday 's victory in Paris was still on his mind , Nadal told the official ATP Tour Web site : `` Oh , sure it is still on my mind because it was emotional moment for me . `` I 'm happy to be playing on grass another time , because for me I enjoy -LSB- it -RSB- a lot because I have to do different things . `` For me it is always a challenge to be here and to practice these new things : the serve , the volley , the slice , return more inside than clay . So I enjoy doing this transition . After Wimbledon , I 'm going to have time to enjoy the victory of Roland Garros and to enjoy Majorca . '' Nadal will now meet Uzbekistani Denis Istomin after he beat Dustin Brown , from Jamaica , 7-6 6-4 . Second seed Novak Djokovic also enjoyed a comfortable straight sets win over Italian Paolo Lorenzi . The Serb won 6-3 6-3 in just 73 minutes . Elsewhere , eighth seed Feliciano Lopez beat Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov 6-2 6-4 , while ninth seed Julien Benneteau , from France , edged past South African Kevin Anderson 7-5 6-3 . | Rafael Nadal wins his first game on grass in the 2010 season . Nadal beats Brazilian Marcos Daniel 6-2 6-2 . World number one 's victory is his 23rd in a row . | [[19, 143], [19, 143], [144, 261], [144, 160], [186, 261], [332, 337], [373, 414]] |
Istanbul , Turkey -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad lashed out at Israel and warned the United States against pushing for new sanctions on his country a news conference on the sidelines of an Asian security summit here Tuesday . A key item on the agenda at the summit is last week 's Israeli raid on an aid flotilla in the Mediterranean . Ahmadinejad said the confrontation revealed Israel 's `` devilish '' nature . `` It showed violence and hatred and war-mongering attitudes , '' he said at the news conference . `` The devilish sound of the uncultured Zionists was coming out from their deceit . ... They were holding up the flag of the devil itself . '' The raid led to the deaths of nine people , all Turkish citizens -- including one Turkish-American . Turkey is urging Israel to accept an international probe into the incident . Ahmadinejad congratulated Turkey , which has been in a war of words with Israel following the raid , for its response . Israel 's envoy to Turkey later walked out on an Ahmadinejad speech at the conference . Ambassador Gabby Levy walked out in protest when Ahmadinejad started criticizing the `` Zionist regime , '' said Amit Zarouk , a spokesman for the Israeli Embassy in Ankara . Both Israel and Iran are members of Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia -LRB- CICA -RRB- . Ahmadinejad and Levy did appear together in a group photo of delegates to the conference , along with dozens of other attendees . `` Beleaguered '' was how one Western diplomat described Levy 's disposition during Tuesday 's meeting . Host country Turkey , once Israel 's close Middle Eastern ally , has called on member countries to condemn Israel 's raid on the aid convoy . The incident has pushed Turkey to side with Israel 's enemies Iran and Syria , in harshly condemning the Jewish state . Russia , which is also a member of CICA , condemned the attack as well , Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said in remarks carried on Russian state TV . `` Generally speaking , such actions against civilian vessels are unacceptable , '' Putin said . `` The fact that they were conducted in neutral waters raises many questions , and the incident must be thoroughly investigated . We are sorry for the victims of the incident , and we hope nothing of this kind will happen again . '' Iran 's nuclear program has been another major topic at the summit . The United States expects to bring a new resolution on increased sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program to a vote in the United Nations Security Council this week . A draft resolution saying Iran had failed to meet international requirements and U.N. resolutions was circulating at the world body on Tuesday . CNN obtained a copy from a Western diplomat . The resolution -- which could still be changed before it comes to a vote -- is set to call for tighter restrictions on people , companies and organizations , including the Revolutionary Guard Corps . The targets of the sanctions are still being worked out , the diplomat said . By calling for a resolution instead of sitting down for talks with Iran , the United States is `` gravely mistaken , '' Ahmadinejad said . `` Within the framework of respect and justice , we 're ready to negotiate with everyone . Anyone who is going to resort to the language of force and aggression , the response is clear , '' he said . Ahmadinejad went on to commend Turkey and Brazil for recently negotiating a deal with Iran on a uranium enrichment swap . `` The initiative marked the beginning of a new path -- the beginning of an end to unilateralism in the world , '' he said . The United States , he added , missed an opportunity by not embracing the deal . Putin said sanctions against Iran should not be `` excessive , or put the Iranian leadership , and above all the Iranian people , in a false position that would put obstacles in the way of Iran 's peaceful nuclear energy development . '' Asked whether the raid on the flotilla last week will change the way countries vote in the Security Council , Ahmadinejad said the raid will actually change many things . For Israel , he said , `` it has actually rung the final countdown for its existence . It shows that it has no room in the region and no one is ready to live alongside it . Actually , no country in the world recognizes it , and you know that the Zionist regime is the backbone of the dictatorial world order . '' In fact , many countries recognize Israel . He added , `` Maybe at the Security Council , it will impact temporarily . The Zionist regime , with what it has done , it actually stopped its possibility to exist in the region anymore . '' CNN 's Ivan Watson and Maxim Tkachenko contributed to this report . | NEW : Draft resolution slapping tighter sanctions on Iran circulates at U.N. Russian PM Putin says Israel raid on aid flotilla is ` unacceptable ' Israeli ambassador walks out on Ahmadinejad speech . Iranian president says last week 's flotilla raid showed Israel 's ` devilish ' nature . | [[2413, 2586], [2448, 2525], [2587, 2731], [1865, 1871], [1907, 1927], [1938, 1983], [983, 1070], [1071, 1173], [0, 8], [40, 98], [255, 364], [365, 442], [382, 442]] |
WASHINGTON -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A new national poll indicates that white and black Americans do n't see eye to eye on last month 's arrest of Harvard University professor Henry Louis Gates . Sgt. James Crowley and professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. sit for beers with the president and vice president Thursday . The CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey released Tuesday also suggests a racial divide over President Obama 's initial comments on the incident . The arrest sparked a national discussion on the issue of racial profiling , which was amplified when President Obama weighed in on the matter . In a prime time news conference on July 22 , Obama said `` the Cambridge police acted stupidly in arresting somebody when there was already proof that they were in their own home . '' Fifty-four percent of people questioned in the poll said they do n't think Cambridge , Massachusetts , police office James Crowley acted `` stupidly '' when he arrested Gates at the professor 's home after Crowley responded to a call that someone was breaking into the house . Thirty-three percent said Crowley did act stupidly . But there 's a major racial divide , with 59 percent of black respondents saying Crowley acted stupidly compared to 29 percent of whites questioned . Fifty-three percent of those polled felt Gates acted stupidly in the incident , with 30 percent saying no . Broken down by race , 58 percent of whites said Gates acted stupidly , with African-Americans split on the question : 44 percent said yes and 43 percent said no . Two days after Obama 's remarks , after criticism from police unions and after speaking with Crowley , Obama said `` because this has been ratcheting up , and I obviously helped to contribute ratcheting it up , I want to make clear that in my choice of words , I think , I unfortunately gave an impression that I was maligning the Cambridge Police Department or Sgt. -LSB- James -RSB- Crowley specifically and I could have calibrated those words differently . And I told this to Sgt. Crowley . '' Fifty-four percent of people questioned said they think the president acted stupidly when he commented on the Gates arrest , with 32 percent disagreeing . But again , the poll indicates a racial divide , with 63 percent of whites feeling Obama acted stupidly and 26 percent of black respondents agreeing . Sixty-one percent approve of how the president has handled race relations , with 92 percent of African-Americans and 56 percent of whites approving . Did Obama 's initial comments damage his political standing ? `` One-third of whites say that Obama 's comments about this matter made them feel less favorable toward him , compared to only 4 percent of whites who feel more favorably toward Obama due to his comments , '' said CNN Polling Director Keating Holland . `` But the majority of whites say that Obama 's comments did not affect their views of him , and most whites approve of how Obama is handling race relations . '' Fifty-two percent of Americans feel racism among police officers is common , with 44 percent saying it 's rare . Whites are split on that question -- 47 percent said it 's common , 49 percent said it 's rare -- with 86 percent of black respondents feeling racism among police offices is common . Sixty-six percent of whites said a white homeowner would have been arrested for the same behavior . Twenty-five percent of blacks agree . `` That difference may be due to life experiences -- more than half of blacks say they have been treated unfairly by the police because of their race , but only a handful of whites report the same kind of treatment , '' Holland said . The poll indicated that both blacks and whites believe Friday 's `` beer summit '' at the White House , in which Obama was host at a meeting with Gates and Crowley , was a good idea . But was it a `` teachable moment , '' as mentioned by the president ? `` Not according to the public -- blacks and whites agree that the whole controversy did not teach Americans a lesson that will lead to better race relations , '' Holland said . The CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll was conducted Friday through Monday -LRB- July 31-August 3 -RRB- , with 1,136 adult Americans , including 226 African-Americans and 773 whites , questioned by telephone . The survey 's sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points for the overall sample and plus or minus 6.5 percentage points for the breakdown by race . | CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll released on Tuesday . Poll takes a look at opinion of Obama 's comments on the Gates arrest . 54 percent polled say Cambridge Police did n't act `` stupidly '' as Obama said . Just over half of those polled feel that Gates acted stupidly in the incident . | [[307, 361], [2072, 2149], [779, 807], [831, 930], [1259, 1287], [1295, 1336], [1415, 1435], [2027, 2111]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Andrew Wyeth , the American painter perhaps best known for his painting of a young woman in a field , `` Christina 's World , '' has died , according to an official with the Brandywine River Museum in Pennsylvania . Andrew Wyeth received the National Medal of Arts from President Bush in November 2007 . Wyeth , 91 , died in his sleep Thursday night at his home near Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , according to Lora Englehart , public relations coordinator for the museum . The acclaimed artist painted landscapes and figure subjects and worked mostly in tempera and watercolor . He was widely celebrated inside and outside of the art world . Wyeth received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1963 , and President Nixon sponsored an exhibition of Wyeth 's paintings at the White House . In 2007 , President Bush awarded Wyeth the National Medal of Arts in recognition of his lifetime achievement and contribution to American arts and culture . Two years earlier , Wyeth and his wife , Betsy , presented to the White House his painting `` Jupiter , '' which is displayed in the residence 's family sitting room . Bush issued a statement Friday saying that he and first lady Laura Bush `` deeply mourn '' the death of Wyatt . `` Mr. Wyeth captured America in his paintings of his native Pennsylvania and Maine , '' Bush said . `` On behalf of the American people , Laura and I offer our sincere condolences to Betsy and the Wyeth family . '' Wyeth , who lived in Chadds Ford , Pennsylvania , and Maine , `` has been enormously popular and critically acclaimed since his first one-man show in 1937 , '' according to a biography in InfoPlease . His main subjects were the places and people of Chadds Ford and Cushing , Maine . `` Christina 's World , '' painted in 1948 , shows a disabled Maine neighbor who drags herself through a field toward her house in the distance . The painting , displayed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York , has been regarded as Wyeth 's most popular . `` His ` Helga ' pictures , a large group of intimate portraits of a neighbor , painted over many years , were first shown publicly in 1986 , '' the InfoPlease biography says . Those were painted in Pennsylvania . Wyeth , the youngest child of painter N.C. Wyeth , formally studied art with his father as a teen , `` drawing in charcoal and painting in oils , the media of choice for N.C. Wyeth . It was during the family 's annual summer vacations in Port Clyde , Maine , that Andrew was able to experiment with other media to find his own artistic voice , '' according to a biography in the Farnsworth Art Museum in Maine . | NEW : Bush says Wyeth 's work `` captured America '' Wyeth died in his sleep at home in Pennsylvania at 91 . His most famous painting is that of a young girl in a field . His `` Helga '' portraits were first shown in 1986 . | [[323, 328], [336, 398], [34, 54], [68, 118], [2029, 2078], [2107, 2117], [2124, 2140], [2118, 2140]] |
Teachers and Parents : Watch with your students or record `` Black in America 2 '' when it airs on CNN on Wednesday , July 22 at 9 p.m. ET and Thursday , July 23 at 8 p.m. ET . By recording the documentaries , you agree that you will use the documentaries for educational viewing purposes for a one-year period only . No other rights of any kind or nature whatsoever are granted , including , without limitation , any rights to sell , publish , distribute , post online or distribute in any other medium or forum , or use for any commercial or promotional purpose . -LRB- CNN Student News -RRB- -- With `` Black in America 2 , '' CNN deepens its investigation of the most challenging issues facing African-Americans . CNN 's Soledad O'Brien journeys to South Africa and criss-crosses the U.S. , reporting on groundbreaking solutions that are transforming the black experience in America . O'Brien uncovers pioneers who are making a difference : people inspiring volunteerism , programs that are improving access to quality health care and education , and leaders working to address financial struggles and develop strong families . Before and after viewing these programs , use our free Discussion Questions and Learning Activity to facilitate a conversation with your middle and high school students . Black in America 2 : Part I - Today 's Pioneers Program overview : In `` Today 's Pioneers , '' O'Brien profiles community organizers across the country who are facilitating progress at a local level . These pioneers address health , education , and other critical needs of the black community . Black in America 2 : Today 's Pioneers airs in HDTV on Wednesday , July 22 at 9:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. EDT . Click here to access Discussion Questions for Black in America 2 : Today 's Pioneers . Black in America 2 : Part II - Tomorrow 's Leaders Program overview : `` Tomorrow 's Leaders '' focuses on people who are developing future African-American leaders . The importance of education , mentoring programs and diverse experiences are explored as black Americans strive for success in a competitive world . Black in America 2 : Tomorrow 's Leaders airs in HDTV on Thursday , July 23 at 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. EDT . Click here to access Discussion Questions for Black in America 2 : Tomorrow 's Leaders . Before-Viewing Discussion Questions Before watching Black in America 2 , ask students to share their responses to these questions : . Black in America 2 : Part I - Today 's Pioneers Post-Viewing Questions : After viewing the first part of Black in America 2 , offer these questions for student consideration and discussion . There are specific questions for each new story within Black in America 2 . Marriage . Triple Negative Breast Cancer . Project Choice . Project Brotherhood . The Harlem Children 's Zone . Tyler Perry . Black in America 2 : Part II - Tomorrow 's Leaders Post-Viewing Questions : After viewing the second part of Black in Amertica 2 , offer these questions for student consideration and discussion . There are specific questions for each new story within Black in America 2 . Journey for Change . Management Leadership for Tomorrow . Tuxedo Ball . Capital Prep . Post-Viewing Summary Discussion Questions After watching Black in America 2 , use these general questions to facilitate a discussion focused on the issues and solutions raised in the documentaries . Post-Viewing Learning Activity . Discuss the success stories you have seen in Black in America 2 and your reactions to them . Then , look around your community for other solutions to the problems facing African-Americans today . Is there a community or church leader , an organization or a business trying to improve the quality of life for others where you live ? Conduct interviews with leaders and participants in these programs to help others see what can be learned from their experiences . Produce a video , an online news article or a Web special to share with others , that highlights the positive work being done to address issues facing black Americans . | CNN 's Soledad O'Brien investigates challenging issues facing African-Americans . O'Brien reports on solutions that transform the black experience in America . O'Brien uncovers pioneers and leaders making a difference in their communities . Use these questions and activity to facilitate a discussion about the programs . | [[663, 717], [3578, 3623], [795, 888], [889, 942], [1396, 1455], [1132, 1138], [1174, 1302], [2310, 2345], [2383, 2439], [2465, 2514], [2570, 2634], [2858, 2910], [2968, 3032], [3196, 3237], [3274, 3328], [3278, 3364]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Police were searching for a wildlife medical dart off the coast of New York on Friday after an unsuccessful attempt to euthanize a beached baby humpback whale Thursday night , according to East Hampton Village Police Chief Jerry Larsen . The dart bounced off the whale and ricocheted into the Atlantic Ocean . Larsen said Friday afternoon that the dart is encased in stainless steel but that it could pose a serious danger to swimmers in the months ahead . `` We 're sending divers ... to retrieve the needle as soon as the surf dies down , '' Larsen said . Police also closed the area of beach , saying the dart might wash ashore . The whale was found on Main Beach in East Hampton on Tuesday and was deemed too sick to save , according to Charles Bowman , president of the Long Island-based Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation . `` The whale was debilitated , '' Bowman said . `` It was a thin and a young juvenile still dependent on its mother and could n't survive on its own . '' By Friday , the whale was unable to free itself from the beach , and Bowman 's foundation advised the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that it was appropriate to euthanize the whale . `` It 's heartbreaking for us . We 're used to saving animals , getting them back in the ocean , '' Bowman said . `` It 's just one of these situations that there 's just no chance for it , -LSB- and we are -RSB- trying to get people to recognize that . '' A NOAA official shot and killed the whale Friday morning . | Baby humpback was beached near East Hampton Village , New York . Whale was too debilitated to survive on its own , official says . Medical dart bounced off and washed away ; it could pose threat to swimmers . | [[652, 712], [652, 661], [705, 744], [872, 900], [903, 912], [257, 328], [257, 265], [292, 328], [406, 475]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The search for a second-grade student who disappeared last week after he arrived at his Portland , Oregon , elementary school intensified Monday . Kyron Horman , 7 , did not return home Friday from Skyline Elementary School , police said . According to investigators , the boy 's stepmother said she last saw Kyron on Friday morning while he was walking down the hallway toward his classroom . `` There was a science fair here at the school , '' Portland Public Schools spokesman Matt Shelby told CNN . `` You had a situation with lots of parents and friends coming through the school , going class to class . '' `` Kyron was here with his stepmother , seen with his stepmother , '' Shelby said . The science fair was held before the beginning of classes , Shelby added , `` so working parents could come and participate . '' The Multnomah County sheriff 's office reported that no one at the school saw Kyron after 8:45 a.m. Friday and that the child never made it to his classroom . Searches in the school area were conducted Friday and over the weekend by several agencies , including the Portland Police Bureau , Gresham Police Department , Fairview Police Department , Oregon State Patrol , and the FBI . Authorities have also utilized Portland Police Bureau 's air unit in an attempt to locate the child . `` My heart , and the hearts of everyone who is a part of Portland Public Schools , goes out to Kyron Horman and his family , '' Superintendent Carole Smith said in a written statement . `` We are all wishing for Kyron 's safe return as quickly as possible and we are grateful for the efforts of all the law enforcement agencies who have worked so tirelessly over the past 48 hours to determine the cause of Kyron 's disappearance , locate him and return him safely home . `` The reported disappearance of a student from one of our schools is unprecedented and deeply troubling . Portland Public Schools is doing everything we can to assist the authorities in their effort to find Kyron . '' Counselors have been made available today to children and teachers at Kyron 's school , Shelby said . `` Our focus is on supporting the students and staff , '' he said . Anyone with information on Kyron Horman 's whereabouts is asked to call the Multnomah County Sheriff 's Office at 503-261-2847 . | NEW : A science fair was being held the morning Kyron Horman disappeared . The boy went missing after arriving at his elementary school . His stepmother says she last saw him walking toward his classroom . A multiple-agency search has not located the 7-year-old . | [[413, 459], [716, 773], [34, 56], [61, 115], [89, 144], [166, 178], [185, 242], [1807, 1870], [288, 400], [352, 412], [1004, 1094]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Sen. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas won the Democratic primary Tuesday , beating back a challenge from Lt. Gov. Bill Halter , whose campaign was fueled by unions and liberal activists . Voters in 12 states held primary elections Tuesday night , but the outcomes of two contests in South Carolina will be delayed by another two weeks . A runoff will be held June 22 for the Republican gubernatorial nomination as well as for a GOP congressional seat in the northern part of the state . California Republican voters chose two women to vie for two of the state 's highest offices : Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman will face Attorney General Jerry Brown , a former governor , for the governor 's office , and former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina will take on Sen. Barbara Boxer for her seat . And in Nevada , Tea Party-backed Sharron Angle beat the GOP establishment candidate to earn the right to take on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in November . At the same time , embattled Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons , a Republican , became the state 's first incumbent governor in 100 years to lose a primary race . The South Carolina GOP gubernatorial contest captured national attention because of accusations of extramarital affairs . The candidates are vying to succeed scandal-plagued Gov. Mark Sanford , a fellow Republican . A year after Sanford made national news for disappearing and then admitting to an affair with a woman from Argentina , allegations of infidelity surrounded state lawmaker Nikki Haley . Haley has denied the accusations over the last two weeks , which she said rival campaigns were pushing . Haley cruised to a commanding lead but fell short of the 50 percent threshold needed to avoid a runoff election , scheduled for June 22 . She 'll face U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett , who came in at a distant second . `` You saw us push against the establishment and push against the money and push against the power , '' Haley said at her election-night celebration in Columbia , South Carolina . `` And boy did they push back . '' Haley told supporters , `` Over the last two weeks , we said no to the dark side of politics . '' Haley , Barrett headed for runoff . In California , Whitman topped Steve Poizner in the gubernatorial primary . Whitman , who also was an adviser and surrogate for Sen. John McCain 's 2008 presidential bid , spent around $ 70 million of her own money in the race . Poizner , California 's insurance commissioner and a self-made multimillionaire , injected some $ 25 million of his money into his campaign . California Republicans batter each other in primaries . The winner in November will succeed Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger , who ca n't seek re-election because of term limits . Fiorina easily won the Republican Senate primary , and polls suggest that Boxer faces a tough re-election battle . In neighboring Nevada , Reid also is considered vulnerable in November . A crowded field of 13 Republicans were competing for a chance to challenge the Senate majority leader in his bid for a fifth term in the Senate . Angle , a former Nevada Assembly member , won endorsements from many conservative organizations , including significant financial backing from the Tea Party Express , a national Tea Party group best known for running cross-country bus caravans , and the Club for Growth , a fiscally conservative organization . Gibbons ' loss makes him the first incumbent governor to lose a primary this year . Former federal Judge Brian Sandoval won the state 's GOP gubernatorial contest . Nevada Republicans in ` slugfest ' for right to take on Reid . In Arkansas , Lincoln was able to survive a primary runoff despite an anti-incumbent wave , but she 'll face a tough general-election fight against Rep. John Boozman , the GOP nominee . `` We 've got a lot worth fighting for . A whole lot worth fighting for . We 're going to make sure , as we regroup tomorrow , we put this campaign on a trajectory toward November and a victory in November , '' Lincoln said after the results came in . Lincoln fights ` incumbent ' label . Iowa , Maine , Montana , New Jersey , North Dakota , South Dakota and Virginia also held primaries Tuesday . Former state Rep. Tom Graves , a Republican , won the runoff in Georgia to fill the seat of former Rep. Nathan Deal . Deal , also a Republican , stepped down this year to run for Georgia governor . CNN 's Kevin Bohn , Peter Hamby , Kristi Keck , Mark Preston , Charles Riley and Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report . | Sen. Blanche Lincoln wins Arkansas runoff . Nikki Haley , Rep. Gresham Barrett face runoff in South Carolina governor 's race . Meg Whitman wins battle for GOP gubernatorial nomination in California . Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons loses in primary . | [[3616, 3627], [3630, 3705], [351, 500], [1763, 1801], [2151, 2156], [2159, 2186], [2187, 2200], [2203, 2262], [985, 1010], [1094, 1118]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The bodies of two men -- both decapitated and showing signs of torture -- were found early Sunday in Ciudad Juarez , Mexico , the state attorney general 's office said . The victims were found in the Colony of Los Nogales neighborhood in Ciudad Juarez , Chihuahua . Their hands and feet had been bound with duct tape , state attorney general 's office spokesman Arturo Sandoval said . Investigators were still working on identifying the victims , Sandoval said . Attached to the bodies were two notes from a drug cartel , Sandoval said . He would not elaborate on what was written on the notes . `` This phenomenon -LSB- of violence -RSB- here ... we 've been seeing it , and living it in Juarez for the last two years , '' Sandoval said . The killings were the latest in a nearly four-year-old eruption of drug-related violence in Juarez and surrounding Chihuahua state . At least 883 people have been killed in drug-fueled violence in Juarez this year , officials say . According to a report released in April by the Mexican government , Chihuahua is the country 's hardest-hit state by drug violence , with more than 6,757 people killed since the start of the drug war at the end of 2006 . But despite local reports and contrary to popular belief , the violence in Juarez has lessened recently , said Sandoval . `` Before we had 10 homicides a day , now we have six . This has been constant for the last two years . It comes and goes , '' he added . The body of another man was found Sunday morning dumped in front of a church in the Valley of Juarez two miles outside Juarez proper , Sandoval said . Drug cartels often dump bodies in front of churches in Juarez as a tactic to intimidate priests from repeating details of drug violence heard during confessionals . On Friday in the Valley of Juarez , six men were killed after they were shot by assailants and their van crashed into a kindergarten , municipal police department spokesman Jacinto Seguro said . Two others involved in the crash , identified by police as Enrique Torres , 33 , and Francisco Manuel Torres , 26 , were injured and were still recuperating in a hospital , according to state prosecutors . `` We have not had a chance to interview them yet , but we will . We 're waiting for them to recuperate before we start the interrogation process , '' Sandoval said . `` But we have already started the investigation , '' he added . | Notes from drug cartel attached to tortured , decapitated bodies of two men . Body of another man found Sunday morning in front of church outside Juarez , spokesman says . Discoveries come two days after six men shot , killed as van crashes into kindergarten . At least 883 people killed in drug-fueled violence in Juarez this year , officials say . | [[33, 40], [44, 60], [482, 538], [0, 15], [82, 133], [1472, 1604], [1788, 1920], [759, 891], [826, 830], [831, 891], [892, 972], [975, 990]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The proposed super-fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jnr has been thrown into doubt because of a dispute over the timing of a pre-match blood-test according to Golden Boy Promotions . Richard Schaefer , chief executive of Golden Boy who promote Mayweather , announced on the company 's official Web site that the Filipino would not agree to blood-testing in the immediate run up to the welterweight fight which had been expected to take place in March . Mayweather 's management have requested the fighters submit to Olympic-style blood testing as outlined and mandated by the United States Anti Doping Agency -LRB- USADA -RRB- 30 days prior to the bout . But Schaefer claims that Pacquiao has refused to have blood taken so close to a fight with the American . `` Pacquiao would only agree to have blood drawn before the kick-off press conference and after the fight . It is unfortunate to hear this from Manny Pacquiao 's representatives , particularly since both parties had worked out all other issues related to this fight , '' Schaefer said on the Golden Boy Promotions Web site . Mayweather , who was informed of Pacquiao 's reluctance shortly after Schaefer received word of the impasse , empathized with his possible opponent but hopes he will undergo the tests . `` I understand Pacquiao not liking having his blood taken , because frankly I do n't know anyone who really does , '' Mayweather said . `` I hope this is either some miscommunication or that Manny will change his mind and step up and allow these tests , which were good enough for all these other great athletes , to be performed by USADA . '' USA Today reported an angry response from Pacquiao 's promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank , who said the fight was now in jeopardy . `` The press release is absurd , the plug -LSB- on the fight -RSB- is pulled . The fight is off as far as we 're concerned , '' he said . Arum , who has previously represented Mayweather added : `` It proves Mayweather is a coward and he 's looking for a way out of the fight . `` The Nevada commission has been doing drug testing for the last 40 years . To appease Mayweather , we agreed they could do urine analysis anytime they wanted . But Manny does n't want them to draw his blood when he 's in training because it weakens him , '' he told the American newspaper . Pacquiao became a five-weight world champion following his WBO welterweight title win over Miguel Cotto in November , while Mayweather returned from a 21-month retirement to beat Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez in September . Their super-fight was widely reported to be set for the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on March 13 , with only the final details to be thrashed out and an official announcement early next month . | The Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather fight is in doubt over the timing of a pre-match blood test . Golden Boy Promotions chief executive Richard Schaefer claims Filipino Pacquiao is refusing a test 30 days before the bout . Mayweather called on Filipino to undergo the test to ensure a fair fight . Pacquiao 's promoter Bob Arum says the `` plug has been pulled '' on the fight . | [[0, 15], [77, 218], [0, 15], [77, 218], [339, 410], [695, 796], [489, 579], [1653, 1736]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- During a recent commencement address at Hampton University in Virginia , Barack Obama described the way today 's internet-powered media environment `` bombards us with all kinds of content . '' He warned students that iPads , Xboxes , and other popular digital gadgets can turn information into `` a distraction , a diversion , a form of entertainment '' rather than a means `` of empowerment . '' As soon as the president 's remarks were made public , knees began jerking throughout the blogosphere . One online pundit said that Obama sounded `` like a grumpy old man . '' Another suggested that in criticizing technology he was acting like an `` old fogy . '' Even the normally restrained Economist magazine rushed out an editorial accusing Obama of `` technophobia '' and `` Luddism . '' By the reaction , you would have thought our BlackBerry-toting president had called for a return to horse-drawn carriages , outhouses , and whalebone corsets . Instead of drawing ridicule , Obama 's words should have drawn our attention -- and our concern . Over the past decade , most of us have been dramatically ratcheting up the time we spend surfing the web , exchanging electronic messages , and hanging out in social networks like Facebook and MySpace . At the same time , we 've been showering our kids with laptops , iPods , PlayStations and smartphones . The average American today spends more than eight hours a day peering into a screen -- TV , computer , or cell phone -- and the average teen sends or receives well over 2,000 text messages a month . But even as we 've been enjoying the seemingly endless bounties of the net , neurobiologists and psychologists have been carrying out studies which suggest that the way we gather information online impedes comprehension , weakens understanding , and in general hinders learning . Worse yet , the ill effects of heavy web use appear to continue to afflict us even when we turn our computers off . The cognitive penalties can be particularly severe for students . In one revealing experiment , researchers at Cornell University divided a class into two groups . One group was allowed to use their laptop computers to surf the web during a lecture . The other group attended the same lecture but had to keep their computers closed . Immediately afterward , the students took a test measuring how well they remembered the lecture 's content . The students who used their laptops performed significantly worse on the exam . It did n't matter , moreover , whether they surfed sites related to the subject of the lecture or unrelated sites . All the surfers performed relatively poorly . Other researchers have found that students who read text with hyperlinks , as you routinely find online , end up with a weaker understanding of the material than students who read the same text in a traditional , linear format , as you 'd find in a printed book . Each link appears to act as a little distraction , breaking the reader 's concentration . As the number of links mounts , comprehension diminishes further . The multitude of messages and other bits of information that the Web fires at us , from emails to tweets to Facebook updates , have also been found to interrupt our thoughts in a way that impedes the formation of memories and the building of knowledge . The more information we juggle , the less able we are to make sense of it all . Last year , a team of Stanford researchers reported that heavy media multitaskers have trouble concentrating even when they 're not online . They 're considerably less able , for example , to distinguish important information from trivial information than are people who engage in multitasking less frequently . `` Everything distracts them , '' one of the researchers said of the heavy multitaskers . Patricia Greenfield , a leading developmental psychologist who teaches at UCLA , warned in a 2009 Science article that a growing body of scientific evidence indicates that spending a lot of time with computers , smartphones , and other such devices weakens people 's ability to think deeply , critically , and creatively . As we rush around the web gathering little pieces of information , we seem to be training our brains to be quick but superficial . Only a curmudgeon would deny the many benefits that our computers and electronic networks have brought us . The internet and related technologies have made it much easier to stay in touch with friends and family members , to discover interesting and useful information , to express ourselves , and to collaborate with others . Since the World Wide Web was invented two decades ago , we have been celebrating these benefits -- and rightly so . But we 've been paying much less attention to the negative consequences of our online lives . The time has come for us to take a more balanced view of the net , looking at its costs as well as its benefits . That 's particularly true when it comes to educating our children . Sticking a kid in front of a computer screen is probably not the best way encourage the development of a strong , creative , and supple mind . As President Obama implied , information should be a source not of distraction but of enlightenment . As important as it is to be able to find lots of information quickly , what 's even more important is to be able to think deeply about the information once we 've found it . We need to slow down . | Author says we should pay attention to Obama 's words on Internet media overload . Average American today spends more than eight hours a day peering into a screen . Ill effects of heavy use appear to continue to afflict us even after computers are off . | [[1000, 1046], [1375, 1444], [1431, 1491], [1854, 1863], [1866, 1931], [1866, 1898], [1906, 1969], [3410, 3419], [3422, 3533], [3462, 3550]] |
New York -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A man who faces a trespassing charge for allegedly triggering a security breach at the Newark , New Jersey , airport was released from custody early Saturday , Port Authority police said . Haison Jiang , 28 , of Piscataway , faces a charge of defiant trespass , the Port Authority said . Security video from the incident Sunday shows an officer of the federal Transportation Security Administration who left his post unattended a few minutes after he asked an unidentified man in a light-colored jacket to stay behind the rope line . Moments later , the man ducks under the rope and walks the wrong way through security to greet a woman , prompting a security breach that shut down Terminal C for hours and forced the rescreening of thousands of passengers . A law enforcement source briefed on the investigation said Jiang was arrested in Piscataway , about 25 miles south of Newark . On Thursday , the TSA said the action 's of the officer on the video led to the breach . `` We will use this hard lesson to reinforce the sharp focus and tight discipline at all our stations across the country and ensure we maintain the public trust , '' spokeswoman Ann Davis said . Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg , D-New Jersey , had called on the man to turn himself in to authorities . `` The message can not go out to terrorists , people who would do damage to our citizens , that you could take a chance and get in , '' he told reporters Friday night . `` This has to be seen as the equivalent of a terrible crime . `` What he did was a terrible injustice to the 16,000 people who were inconvenienced terribly , '' he said . `` This fellow was responsible for it . As such he has to pay whatever the maximum price is . '' The senator praised Port Authority police on the arrest , saying that with it , `` law enforcement will be able to take a closer look into how and why this incident occurred and make sure that it never happens again . '' Lautenberg will participate in a Senate Transportation Committee hearing on U.S. aviation security on January 20 . Davis said earlier this week that although authorities were unable to locate the man , any threat he may have presented was eliminated `` by rescreening everyone and recombing the airport to make sure he did n't introduce anything to the environment or hand anything off to anyone . '' | NEW : Haison Jiang , 28 , of Piscataway , faces a charge of defiant trespass . Video shows man walking wrong way through security to greet a woman . TSA officer left post after talking to the man , before man breached security . | [[28, 33], [38, 121], [217, 250], [253, 287], [562, 575], [578, 585], [611, 647], [28, 33], [38, 121], [376, 426], [431, 530]] |
LAS VEGAS , Nevada -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Now you see it , now you do n't . David and Janelle Shimshi 's lack of income has left them struggling to pay for daughter Shalom 's preschool . Las Vegas magician David Shimshi used to work as house magician at the famous Mirage hotel and performed with the World 's Greatest Magicians show at the Greek Isles Casino . Now Shimshi , as he 's known to everyone , including his wife Janelle , has seen his gigs disappear , a victim of the struggling economy . `` We 're in a challenging time right now , '' says Terry Jicinsky , senior vice president of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority . Shimshi 's job these days is Mr. Mom , taking care of his 3-year-old daughter Shalom , while his wife Janelle works for a local caterer . Janelle Shimshi has her own loss to deal with . Her life-long dream of owning a small business went bust . The Shimshis took their life savings and invested in a Smoothie King franchise . `` It looked so promising and it just grew every month , '' says Janelle Shimshi . But nine months after they opened , the customers stopped coming in . `` You think about it ... Do I want to spend $ 4.50 on a smoothie or do I want to go put gas in my car ? '' she says . The Shimshis are n't the only ones to lose . They once pulled in more than $ 10,000 each month , much of which they put right back into the Las Vegas economy . They cancelled their home phone service , pool service , and a monthly pest control service that kept a scorpion problem in check . Restaurants are out along with the tanning spa for Janelle . When their large-screen TV died recently , there was no money to replace it , said the Shimshis . Watch the magician 's struggle '' The couple 's daughter Shalom attended a preschool five days a week . With neither parent working , they could n't afford the $ 875 monthly tuition . But the school stepped in to help . Ner Tamid preschool director Lonnie Kritzler says she has been hearing from a family each week that a job is lost and tuition will be hard to make . `` The Rabbi is helping out , '' says Kritzler . The school is providing `` scholarship money to help in that situation . There 's no way we could close the doors to any of the children or their parents . '' Shimshi is no vanishing act . He 's working on a business plan to perform at trade-show display booths for major companies . He 's willing to work just to prove he can bring in the crowds . He even says he 's willing to take his pay later , when the company 's business improves . CNN 's Dan Simon and Paul Vercammen contributed to this report . | Work dried up for Las Vegas magician David Shimshi because of the economy . The family investment in a Smoothie King grew and then flopped with economy . They once pulled in more than $ 10,000 each month and spent throughout Vegas . `` We 're in a challenging time right now , '' Las Vegas visitors senior vice president says . | [[472, 496], [886, 898], [927, 966], [1284, 1333], [500, 538]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Oil coming ashore on the Gulf Coast has tourists keeping a close eye on conditions . States and visitors bureaus are working hard to keep the public updated and reassure beach-bound travelers . Most of Florida 's beaches have not been affected by the oil disaster , according to Visit Florida , the state 's tourism corporation . `` There have been no reports of Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill-related oil products reaching the shore beyond the Northwest Florida region , '' Visit Florida 's website said . The state has not closed any beaches . `` Florida 's 825 miles of beaches , 1,260 miles of coastline and 14 seaports , including cruise ships , remain open for business , '' the site said . iReport : Track the oil disaster . Here are some of the latest updates from destinations affected by the oil disaster : . Northwest Florida . The Emerald Coast area , which includes Destin , Fort Walton Beach and Okaloosa Island , is urging travelers to visit . `` Our white-sand beaches remain open and our emerald-green waters remain clear . In addition , offshore fishing is still going strong , with captains simply taking a more easterly course and reporting great success out on the water , '' the Emerald Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau 's website said . Destin Mayor Sarah `` Sam '' Seevers told CNN a few , small tar balls came ashore this week but added that spotting occasional tar balls on the beach there is not unusual . `` We may go five years and not see any tar balls , and then we 'll see a few . That 's just a way of life on the Gulf of Mexico , Seevers said . The water at Pensacola Beach is open for swimming and fishing , according to the Pensacola Bay Area Convention and Visitors Bureau . Gulf Islands National Seashore . The National Park Service reported heavier oiling at Perdido Key earlier in the week . The area is part of the Florida portion of Gulf Islands National Seashore . All of the Gulf Islands National Seashore sites , which are located in Florida and Mississippi , are open , the park service 's website said . A health advisory has been issued for beaches stretching from the Florida-Alabama line to the entrance of Johnson Beach on Perdido Key , the Pensacola Bay Area visitors bureau said . Swimming and fishing in the affected waters are not advised . More than 140 people participated in cleanup on Perdido Key , according to the park service . Undetonated military ordinance was found onshore during the cleanup , the service 's website said . A naval explosives disposal team reportedly detonated the shell . Crews of 40 participated in cleanup of light oiling at Fort Pickens and Navarre Beach , the park service 's site said . The visitors bureau urges beachgoers to take precautions . `` According to -LSB- the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration -RSB- , tar balls do not pose a health risk to the average person , but visitors are advised not to pick them up . '' Gulf Shores and Orange Beach , Alabama . BP has purchased 10 additional beach-raking machines for more efficient cleanup at the urging of officials in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach , the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau website said . The Alabama Department of Public Health has extended an advisory against swimming in waters off Gulf Shores , Orange Beach and Fort Morgan or in bay waters close to Fort Morgan , Bayou St. John , Terry Cove , Cotton Bayou or Old River . The beaches remain open . Perdido Pass , the main water access point to the town of Orange Beach , is closed to recreational boats for incoming tides . Boats may navigate the pass during outgoing tides , the visitors bureau site said . The pier at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores is closed to fishing but open for sightseeing , according to the visitors bureau . Grand Isle , Louisiana . Oil is affecting more than 45 miles of Louisiana coast , according to a state emergency website , although most of the coast is unaffected . iReport from Grand Terre Island , Louisiana . `` The primary affected area is from the mouth of the Mississippi River extending east . Over 75 percent of Louisiana 's coastal waters extend westward from the mouth of the Mississippi River , '' according to the Cajun Coast Visitors and Convention Bureau website . Grand Isle has closed its public beach , the site said . iReport from Grand Isle . | Health officials have issued an advisory against swimming in Alabama Gulf waters . Visitors advised not to swim in waters from Florida-Alabama line to Perdido Key . Pensacola Beach , Florida , waters open for swimming and fishing . | [[2071, 2157], [2254, 2315], [3198, 3353], [2071, 2157], [2254, 2315], [2696, 2754], [3198, 3353], [1599, 1660]] |
Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Potentially hundreds of American veterans and their family members who were laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery were misidentified or mislocated , including some in an area that includes grave sites from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan , according to a new Army investigation . The investigation culminated in a change in leadership at the historic cemetery that has been home to U.S. veterans since 1864 . `` I deeply apologize to the families of the honored fallen resting in that hallowed ground , who may now question the care afforded to their loved ones , '' Secretary of the Army John McHugh said . McHugh launched the Army inspector general 's investigation last fall after reports of cremated remains being buried in the wrong grave sites , according to Army officials . It was an expansion of an ongoing investigation into cemetery management issues launched by previous Secretary Peter Geren . The investigation cited missing burial records , unmarked graves and burial urns put in a spillage pile , where dirt dug up for grave sites is left . Investigators also said inaccurate burial maps are a `` systemic problem , '' which did not allow them to visit all the graves in question . Army investigators found a `` lack of established policies and procedures , a failure to automate records , and long-term systemic problems , '' documents show . After reviewing the investigation , McHugh made immediate changes but did not fire anyone . Instead , he ordered punishments to the cemetery 's leadership . Longtime Superintendent John C. Metzler was reprimanded , and his deputy , Thurman Higginbotham , was temporarily removed pending further review . The general in charge of the Army investigation , Lt. Gen. Steven Whitcomb , said that two of the 211 mismarked graves were those of troops buried in the section reserved for those killed in Iraq and Afghanistan . McHugh said those problems had been resolved . The other 209 or so were scattered among three other sites at the cemetery during an unknown period of time , Whitcomb said . `` I do n't know that there could be many more , but there could be more , '' he said . With the cemetery holding more than 300,000 graves going back almost 150 years , the Army admits it ca n't guarantee that all will be accounted for . McHugh would not identify the names of the remains affected by the mismanagement . `` While the inspector general 's team found that -LSB- cemetery -RSB- employees performed their jobs with dedication and to a high professional standard , they also found them hampered by dysfunctional management , the lack of established policy and procedures and an overall unhealthy organizational climate , '' McHugh said . `` That ends today . '' Some 330,000 veterans and their family members are buried at the tree-covered and hilly Arlington , Virginia , site overlooking the nation 's capital . McHugh said during a Pentagon press briefing Thursday that Metzler , the 19-year superintendent , will receive a letter of reprimand to last three years in his permanent work file . Additionally , Metzler will receive reduced benefits for his poor management of the facility . Before Thursday 's announcement , Metzler had filed for retirement effective July 2 . But McHugh will not let him serve out his full duties , according to his letter of reprimand . Metzler will be responsible for funeral operations until his retirement , and the cemetery 's management duties will be given to an interim superintendent . `` Given your decision to retire , I have elected not to initiate more severe disciplinary action , '' McHugh said in the letter of reprimand . McHugh also created a position to oversee operations at Arlington and will himself oversee the superintendent position . Metzler 's final duties will include ensuring a smooth transition for the person coming into this new position . While Metzler is blamed for poor management , deputy Higginbotham is being looked at for improper activities , including making false statements to Army investigators , creating a hostile work environment , having unauthorized access to employee e-mails and signing a false document , according to Pentagon officials close to the case . According to a Pentagon official not authorized to speak publicly about the case , the Army will ensure that Higginbotham will not work at the cemetery . The Army has created a call center to address family concerns regarding burial discrepancies at Arlington National Cemetery . The number is -LRB- 703 -RRB- 607 - 8199 and will be open from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. beginning Friday . | Hundreds of graves misidentified or mislocated , Army inspection finds . Two were in section reserved for those killed in Iraq , Afghanistan . Cemetery superintendent receiving letter of reprimand . Deputy was put on administrative leave . | [[0, 26], [150, 182], [0, 26], [172, 182], [185, 194], [0, 26], [277, 316], [715, 786], [1701, 1748], [1778, 1881], [1876, 1914], [2995, 3095], [3281, 3287], [3333, 3371], [1616, 1626], [1652, 1700]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A 54-year-old man accused of fathering seven children with his daughter was arrested this week in Pinheiro , Brazil , police said , according to CNN affiliate Record TV . Jose Agostinho Bispo Pereira was arrested after complaints that he sexually abused his daughter , whom he kept captive , said police chief Adriana Meireles said . According to police , Pereira had sex with his daughter since she was 12 years old . Now 29 , the daughter has seven children from her father . `` It is a crime . I know that it is a crime , '' Pereira told Record TV . `` But she was committing the crime as well , was n't she ? Then , I had to do it . '' `` A farmer only does things because the other consents , because if the other does n't consent , the person does n't do -LRB- it -RRB- , '' he added . Police are now investigating whether Pereira also sexually abused a 2-year-old granddaughter or his other children . `` The authorities are going to request physical exams for the two daughters that Pereira had with his daughter , ages eight and six years old , '' Meireles told Record TV . `` The 8-year-old has already confessed to police that Pereira was touching her , and we are going to corroborate with exams . '' The seven children range in age from two months old to 12 years . They were found in poor condition , dirty and with no shoes or clothes , inside the house he shared with his daughter , police said . The children were moved to the custody of child services in Pinheiro , Record TV reported . | Jose Agostinho Bispo Pereira accused of sexually abusing his daughter . He was arrested Tuesday in Pinheiro , Brazil . Pereira fathered 7 children with his daughter . Police investigating whether he abused others . | [[190, 285], [254, 308], [0, 15], [48, 72], [438, 444], [447, 496], [1010, 1039], [811, 825], [840, 927], [811, 817], [822, 927]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Taiwan 's former leader Chen Shui-bian and and his wife Wu Shu-jen have been sentenced to 20 years in jail , the island 's High Court reported . Both had initially been sentenced to life imprisonment after their convictions in 2009 on charges of corruption . The court fined Chen 170 million New Taiwan Dollars -LRB- U.S. $ 5.3 million -RRB- and fined his wife 200 million New Taiwan Dollars -LRB- U.S. $ 6.2 million -RRB- . During his trial , prosecutors said Chen embezzled 600 million New Taiwan dollars -LRB- U.S. $ 18.5 million -RRB- , took bribes , laundered money and illegally removed classified documents from the president 's office . Chen countered that the bribe money was actually political donations . He also said that a special presidential fund from which he is accused of embezzling does not clearly say what the money can and can not be used for . Wu was convicted on charges that she helped her son , daughter and son-in-law provide false testimony . Prosecutors said the former first couple 's son has a Swiss bank account with $ 22 million they think are illegal proceeds . The challenge for prosecutors was to prove that Chen handed out political favors in exchange for money . The former president said he was being persecuted politically by his successor . Chen 's party favors independence for Taiwan . His successor , President Ma Ying-jeou , favors closer ties with mainland China . | NEW : Former Taiwanese leader and wife fined total of 370 million New Taiwan Dollars -LRB- U.S. $ 11.5 million -RRB- . Sentences reduced to 20 years from life for former president and first lady . Prosecutors said Chen Shui-bian embezzled 600 million New Taiwan dollars . Chen said the money was political contributions . | [[0, 15], [81, 125], [444, 460], [463, 557], [664, 734], [684, 734]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A Chinese court sentenced a man to death Friday for injuring 16 primary school children and a teacher with a knife , state media reported . The attack took place in late April . Although none of the children died in the attack , Chen Kangbing was convicted of murder by Intermediary People 's Court of Zhanjiang City in southeastern China 's Guangdong province , according to the Xinhua news agency . `` Chen hacked at the children and teacher in a very cruel manner , causing great harm , '' the verdict said . The Chinese penal code says a person can be convicted of intentional homicide for acting on an intent to kill , the news agency reported . Chen , a teacher at another primary school , entered Leicheng No. 1 Primary School in Leizhou City with a 40-centimeter -LRB- 16-inch -RRB- knife and attacked children on April 28 . Since March at least four knife and cleaver attacks on school children in China have been reported . Guns are strictly regulated in China , but until recently large knives were not . Chinese authorities have recently issued a regulation requiring people to register with their national ID cards when they buy knives longer that 15 centimeters . Other measures have been put in place . In April , the Ministry of Education ordered kindergartens , elementary and secondary schools to restrict strangers from entering the campuses . The ministry instructed schools across the country to hire security guards , install security facilities and ensure that pupils were escorted home . Schools were also urged to teach pupils to how to protect themselves . In some schools , security guards have been armed with `` forks , '' long poles with semi-circular prongs that can be used to fight assailants . | Death sentence given to man who attacked children and teacher . There have been at least four attacks involving knives and cleavers since March . China has recently started regulating large knives after several similar attacks . | [[19, 28], [35, 110], [60, 120], [423, 485], [670, 674], [820, 851], [852, 952], [1035, 1068], [1076, 1146]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Former South African President Nelson Mandela will not attend Friday 's opening of the World Cup soccer tournament after the death of his great-grandchild in a car crash , a representative said . `` It would therefore be inappropriate for him to personally attend the FIFA World Cup opening celebrations , '' said Sello Hatang , from the Mandela Foundation . `` We are sure that South Africans and people all over the world will stand in solidarity with Mr. Mandela and his family in the aftermath of this tragedy . '' Zenani Mandela , 13 , died early Friday morning while returning from the World Cup soccer tournament 's kick-off concert , the foundation said . She was in a car returning from the show at Orlando Stadium when the wreck occurred . No other vehicle was involved in the wreck , the foundation said . The driver was arrested for culpable homicide and drunk driving , police told CNN . Zenani turned 13 on Wednesday . She was one of Mandela 's nine great-grandchildren . The former leader had been expected to attend Friday 's World Cup kickoff , his grandson Nkosi Mandela confirmed on Tuesday . Mandela , who is 91 , played a key role in bringing the World Cup to South Africa but has made limited public appearances recently , although he did meet the South Africa squad last week . | Mandela played key role in bringing World Cup to South Africa . Great-granddaughter died in wreck after World Cup kick-off concert . Driver charged with drunk driving , police said . | [[1131, 1138], [1153, 1212], [0, 15], [65, 188], [538, 552], [560, 658], [836, 899]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Hosts South Africa opened the 2010 World Cup with a 1-1 draw with Mexico on Friday as the world 's greatest sporting spectacle arrived on the African continent for the first time . An estimated global audience of hundreds of millions watched as the home side 's Siphiwe Tshabalala crashed home the first goal of the tournament early in the second half to send Johannesburg 's Soccer City stadium into ecstatic celebrations . Mexico 's Rafael Marquez leveled the scores with 11 minutes left , beating goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune from close range . But South Africa 's Katlego Mphela missed a golden opportunity to win the match in the final moments as his shot bounced back off the post . Hosts denied by Marquez equalizer . A deafening drone sounded around the 94,000-capacity showpiece arena as home fans greeted the teams by blowing on vuvuzelas -- the plastic horn that has become a symbol of South African football . South African President Jacob Zuma , Mexican President Felipe Calderon and FIFA President Sepp Blatter were introduced to the two sides before kickoff . `` Ladies and gentlemen , we as a country are humbled by this honor to host one of the biggest tournaments of the world , '' Zuma said . `` Africa is indeed happy . This is the African World Cup . I declare the 2010 FIFA World Cup open . '' Earlier , a spectacular tribal-themed opening ceremony featured a dazzling array of dancers in traditional costumes , as well as music from Grammy winner R Kelly . Archbishop Desmond Tutu was among other dignitaries in attendance but former president Nelson Mandela was absent following the death of his great-grandchild in a car crash early on Friday morning . FIFA President Blatter paid tribute to Mandela , who was instrumental in South Africa 's campaign to host the tournament . `` A dream came true even if he 's not here tonight , but the spirit of Mandela is in Soccer City , '' said Blatter . Mandela misses World Cup ceremony . Fans had gathered outside the stadium hours before the gates opened , many dressed in the yellow jersey of the South African team and carrying vuvuzelas and the country 's post-apartheid rainbow flag . Others displayed homemade banners , one reading : `` 49 million South Africans vs. 11 Mexicans . '' Another said : `` I believe we can win the World Cup ! Because this is a country of possibilities . '' `` We are all so excited . We woke up at 5 a.m. just to make sure we would get here in time but we only left at 7 because we were singing and dancing at home , '' Hope Zini , who was first into the stadium , told FIFA.com . `` The World Cup is inside us . We are eating , sleeping and feeling it . '' Will you be following the World Cup ? Send videos , stories , photos . The month-long tournament , which takes place every four years , marks the World Cup 's first visit to the continent of Africa in its 80-year-history . Ten venues around the country will host 64 matches , culminating in the final on July 11 at Soccer City . Why the World Cup is sports ' biggest occasion . Thirty-two teams are taking part with world champions Italy defending the title they won in Germany four years ago . European champions Spain and five-times winners Brazil are considered the favorites . As well as the hosts , Ivory Coast , Nigeria , Cameroon and Algeria are carrying African hopes . Star players such as the current world footballer of the year Lionel Messi of Argentina , Portugal 's Cristiano Ronaldo , Brazil 's Kaka and England 's Wayne Rooney are hoping to follow in the footsteps of former legends such as Pele and Diego Maradona by writing their names into World Cup history . How you can sound like a World Cup expert . South Africa 's team -- who rank just 83rd in the world -- face a massive challenge if they are to avoid becoming the first host nation to be eliminated in the first round . South Africa have won just one match in their two previous appearances at the World Cup . After Mexico , they also face France and Uruguay , who drew 0-0 later Friday in Cape Town . The top two teams from each of eight four-team groups advance to a knockout round of 16 . CNN teams up with Foursquare for World Cup . The tournament could be the loudest World Cup ever due to South African fans ' habit of turning up to matches with vuvuzelas -- a plastic horn which has attracted criticism from some players and officials because of its ear-splitting noise levels . `` This World Cup will have a completely different sound to any other , '' said Pinto . `` I 've never seen anything like this , '' said CNN 's Pedro Pinto . `` Africa is ready for an historic moment . You can really feel the energy in the air . '' But there was sadness Friday over the death of Mandela 's 13-year-old great-grandchild , Zenani Mandela , in a car crash as he was returning home from a World Cup kickoff concert in Soweto . Mandela , an icon of black South Africans ' struggle against white rule , played a key role in bringing the World Cup to South Africa . FIFA President Sepp Blatter said the 91-year-old would be `` be with us in spirit . '' `` The entire football family mourns with you and your family , and today we stand by their side , '' Blatter wrote in a letter to Mandela . The World Cup is the world 's biggest sporting event with FIFA , football 's governing body , predicting a cumulative TV audience for the tournament of more than 26 billion . Just seven countries have won the World Cup , which was first staged in Uruguay in 1930 . Brazil have won five times -LRB- 1958 , 1962 , 1970 , 1994 and 2002 -RRB- ; Italy four times -LRB- 1934 , 1938 , 1982 , 2006 -RRB- ; Germany -LRB- as West Germany -RRB- three times -LRB- 1954 , 1974 , 1990 -RRB- ; Argentina twice -LRB- 1978 , 1986 -RRB- , and England -LRB- 1966 -RRB- and France -LRB- 1998 -RRB- once each . | South Africa draw 1-1 with Mexico in opening game of the 2010 World Cup . South Africa is the first African nation to host the 80-year-old tournament . 32 teams competing for glory ; Brazil , Spain considered favorites . Fan : `` The World Cup is inside us . We are eating , sleeping and feeling it . '' | [[0, 9], [19, 63], [105, 199], [2749, 2774], [2814, 2900], [3056, 3115], [3173, 3258], [2601, 2632], [2633, 2674], [2633, 2635], [2662, 2674]] |
Salt Lake City , Utah -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Ronnie Lee Gardner , who is set to die next week before Utah 's firing squad , said something Thursday he did n't plan to : He supports capital punishment . But , Gardner told the five-member Utah Board of Pardons and Parole , he thinks the death penalty needs to be `` as fair as you can get it . '' Testifying at his commutation hearing , Gardner said he accepts responsibility for killing two men and seriously wounding a third . But , he added , executing him on June 18 would not be fair because he 's never had the chance to present evidence in court that might have swayed jurors from a death sentence . Gardner choked up as he said he has n't been able to apologize to the families of his victims , saying they do n't want to hear from him . He did not take that opportunity to apologize to the family members who were in the audience at the hearing . `` It makes me sad , '' he said , wiping his eyes . `` I know killing me is going to hurt them just as bad , '' he said . `` I 've been on the other side of the gun . I know . '' Now 49 , Gardner is scheduled to be executed June 18 by firing squad for the murder of attorney Michael Burdell during an escape attempt at a Salt Lake City courthouse . Gardner , who had a long history of violence and escape , was at the courthouse on April 2 , 1985 , for a pretrial hearing in the 1984 slaying of Melvyn Otterstrom . He was killed at the Salt Lake City bar where he was working to earn extra money . An acquaintance handed Gardner a gun at the courthouse ; he fatally shot Burdell , who was there for another case , and shot and wounded bailiff Nick Kirk . Friends and relatives of his victims were split Thursday on whether Gardner deserves to die . `` Michael would not have wanted Ronnie Lee killed , '' Donna Nu , Burdell 's fiancée , tearfully testified . `` I 'm asking to honor his wishes and commute the sentence to life without parole . '' But Craig Watson , Otterstrom 's cousin , called for Gardner 's execution . He testified that Otterstrom died while Gardner was robbing the Cheers bar , walking away with less than $ 100 . Gardner fired a gun in Otterstrom 's face and `` blew his head off , '' Watson said . `` In our minds , he did it just for fun . '' Kirk 's daughter , Tami Stewart , sobbed as she recalled how her father 's shooting resulted in years of pain and five surgeries for him , and left him unable to go fishing and camping -- activities they previously had enjoyed as a family . `` That was the day that ruined my life , '' her father , who died in 1995 , said of the day he was shot , Stewart testified . Otterstrom 's son said he does n't know what sentence his father 's killer should receive . `` I 've been told stories of how much my dad loved me , how he was a wonderful father , '' said Jason Otterstrom , who was 3 when his father was killed . `` I will never know . I will never know him . '' Otterstrom said he is torn about whether to support the death penalty or life in prison without parole for Gardner . Whatever decision is made , he said , it should be permanent . `` Our families need peace . Our families deserve the opportunity to place this action in the past . '' Closing arguments are set for Friday in the hearing , and the board will deliver its decision on Monday . Gardner 's attorney , Andrew Parnes , pointed out that jurors in the Burdell murder trial were not given the option of deciding to sentence him to life in prison without the possibility of parole . Parnes said it was suggested during the trial that if jurors did n't sentence Gardner to death , he might one day be released . Gardner pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in Otterstrom 's death and the Burdell jury was not told of the judge 's recommendation in that case that he never be freed from prison , Parnes said . Jurors also did not hear about Gardner 's childhood , marked by poverty , neglect and abuse ; his use of inhalants beginning at about age 6 ; and his being institutionalized in a mental hospital at age 10 or 11 . Craig Haney , a professor of psychiatry at the University of California , Santa Cruz , said he has studied many death-row prisoners , nearly all of whom have had disadvantaged childhoods . `` I can tell you that Mr. Gardner 's life stands among the very worst , '' he testified . Gardner 's mother asked to be sterilized after his birth , he said , telling hospital personnel she could not care for the children she already had . In 1963 , Gardner , then 2 , was found wandering in the street , clad only in a diaper . The record of neglect `` never wavered and it never varied '' throughout Gardner 's childhood , Haney said . While social workers and others made frequent notes of the situation , no one appears to have done anything to rectify it . His placement in the mental hospital at age 10 or 11 came not because of mental illness , Haney said . Instead , it stemmed from a need to keep Gardner away from his family and , authorities noted , introduce him to a `` normal '' way of life . Doctors at the hospital noted that Gardner was already addicted to sniffing glue and paint , which could have caused brain damage , Haney said . The account painted a picture of a little boy who felt stupid , unloved and with no place in the world . But it did not move ValDean Kirk , bailiff Nick Kirk 's widow , who plans to witness Gardner 's execution . While many people have bad childhoods , she said afterward , they overcome it . `` He just wants to get out , '' she said of Gardner . While he may have had disadvantages , she said , `` He knew right and wrong . That 's all you need to know . '' Gardner testified that he realizes he will spend the rest of his life in prison if he is not executed . `` I have changed , '' he said , noting that he -- once a `` nasty little bugger '' -- has had no discipline problems in prison in the last five years and only minor incidents in the last decade . `` It was just time to grow up and accept what I 've done , '' he said . Nu told reporters she was never angry about the murder of the man she planned to marry . `` Michael ... believed in life . He did n't believe that when you die , it 's over , '' she said . Nu is a member of Summum , a Salt Lake City-based religious movement , as was Burdell . Belief blog : What is Summum ? Gardner 's execution , she added , is not going to bring peace to the victims ' families . `` Closure does n't come from the outside , '' she said . `` It comes from the inside . '' | Condemned killer Ronnie Lee Gardner testifies at commutation hearing . He is schedule to be executed by firing squad on June 18 . Family members of victims differ on support of the death penalty . Utah Board of Pardons and Parole will announce its decision on Monday . | [[342, 379], [382, 473], [41, 117], [0, 4], [73, 117], [1089, 1191], [1089, 1096], [1133, 1208], [1656, 1749], [3272, 3323]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Twitter has become a vital tool over the past few years , allowing folks to chronicle everything from the Hudson River plane crash to performances of Romeo and Juliet . A recent study from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign suggests the microblogging site can improve relationships in RL -LRB- that 's Real Life -RRB- . But it 's also become a venue by which people may -- to put it plainly -- overshare . There 's a big difference between tweeting about something personal in an interesting , relevant fashion -LRB- like when blogger David Chen live-tweeted his naturalization oath ceremony -RRB- and telling your poor Twitter followers every thought that crosses your cranium -LRB- `` I like pigeons ! '' `` Quarters are shiny ! '' `` My left boob is bigger than my right ! '' -RRB- . It can be tough to recognize when you 're beating the TMI drum just a little too loudly -- the need for a reaction from your followers can often outweigh your better judgment -- but sometimes a simple edit is all you need to avoid the dreaded `` unfollow . '' Observe : . The TMI tweet : `` OMG ! I 'm going to Hawaii with my super hot GF & we 're gon na lie in the sun !! #FYeahCruise ! '' Why people hate you : Hmm , let 's see : You 're going on a freaking cruise while the average follower is sitting in a cubicle counting down the miserable moments until another sad Happy Hour with his/her single friends . Maybe people are , I du n no , jealous ? Twit fix : `` Excited for a well-deserved vacay . Can anyone suggest must-see spots in Maui ? '' If you share your joy while also asking for advice , you engage your followers , thereby alleviating the tedium of their comparatively bleak days . Be sure to tweet back at those kind enough to answer . The TMI tweet : `` I just ate a bagel , some chips and a Dr. Pepper . My tummy hurts . '' Why people hate you : First , you said `` tummy . '' Second , NO ONE CARES . Third , you 're whining , and that 's annoying . Twit fix : `` Just had a great wrap at Grey Dog Cafe in Manhattan . Get the marinated tofu -- healthy and delish . '' If you insist on telling everyone what you had for lunch , at least have a good lunch . Moaning about pretty much any banal First-World problem on Twitter rates high on the annoying scale . Instead , offer your readers some kind of value -- i.e. a fabulous alternative to the brown bag lunch Mom packed -LRB- yes , some of your followers likely still live at home -RRB- . The TMI tweet : `` I just went on the best date ever with the hottest guy ever and I think I love him ! '' Why people hate you : In this case , you 're more likely to inspire fear rather than outright hate -LRB- unless your jealous ex follows you -- and he totally does -RRB- . If your new love interest sees your tweet , it could come off as a little intense and scare him away . Plus , it sends a signal that you 'll probably dish more sordid details as the relationship develops -- and no one wants his sex life to become a trending topic . Twit fix : `` For some reason I have this jam stuck in my head -LSB- insert link to ambiguously lovey-dovey song here -RSB- . '' -LRB- Tools like Song.ly and Blip.fm make this super easy . -RRB- . If homeboy happens to see this tweet , he will be sweetly intrigued . Also , you 're providing your followers -LRB- remember them ? -- the people who actually read your tweets because they care what you have to say ? -RRB- with a new tune . Everyone wins . The TMI tweet : '' -LSB- Insert name here -RSB- is about as intelligent as that kid in pre-K who sat in the corner , eating googly-eyes and drooling on the teacher 's shoulder . '' Why people hate you : Ha . Your followers actually would love you for this -- -LSB- insert name here -RSB- , not so much . Twit fix : Twitter feuds are about as classy as vajazzling -LRB- which is to say , not at all . -RRB- Just refrain from getting out the claws , or if you must let your negative ions rip , limit your rants to an e-mail to your snarkiest friend -LRB- the one with whom you get frequent gossip hangovers -RRB- . Better yet , may we suggest creating a venomous blog complete with an alter ego ? Hey , it worked for us ... | Meet Andrea Bartz and Brenna Ehrlich , CNN.com 's `` netiquette '' columnists . The need for a reaction from your Twitter followers can often outweigh your better judgment . Sometimes a simple edit is all you need to avoid the dreaded `` unfollow '' | [[909, 962], [972, 992], [909, 952], [957, 992], [1000, 1074]] |
Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The Supreme Court unanimously ruled against the National Football League over its exclusive contract with an apparel maker in one of the most important sports law cases in decades . In a 9-0 decision Monday , the justices said the league can be considered 32 separate teams , not a single business . The court allowed a lawsuit against the league to continue , saying the licensing of intellectual property `` constitutes concerted action '' that is not part of the broad antitrust protection enjoyed by professional baseball . Such protection allows individual teams to act as one business when making a host of financial decisions , including marketing their logos and trademarks . The outcome could affect other sports franchises with similar limited antitrust exemption , as well as businesses that have cooperative networks , such as credit card companies . The National Basketball Association , the National Hockey League , the National Collegiate Athletic Association , NASCAR , professional tennis and Major League Soccer backed the NFL in its appeal , seeking similarly broad antitrust protection . `` Decisions by NFL teams to license their separately owned trademarks collectively and to only one vendor are decisions that ` deprive the marketplace of independent centers of decisionmaking , ' '' Justice John Paul Stevens wrote for the court , `` and therefore of actual or potential competition . '' The case involves a lawsuit from American Needle Inc. , an Illinois-based sports apparel maker that was one of several companies with long-standing contracts with NFL Properties , a separate corporate entity that develops , licenses and markets the intellectual property of each team . But in 2001 , the league entered into an exclusive 10-year contract with Reebok to manufacture hats , jackets and other clothing featuring team logos . American Needle is no longer able to negotiate with individual teams . Some fans have complained that the prices on such gear have skyrocketed in the absence of competition from other apparel makers . A Baltimore Ravens `` replica jersey '' with the name of star quarterback Joe Flacco , for example , now is listed for $ 108 on the team 's Web site . American Needle complained that the deal violated a 120-year-old antitrust law designed to limit cartels and monopolies , and to foster fair competition in the marketplace . The key section of the law bans business rivals from conspiring to blunt competition or hurt consumers , by either increasing prices or limiting choices . `` The court vindicated the position of American Needle , '' said Glen Nager , attorney for the company . The ruling reinstates the firm 's lawsuit against the NFL . Nager said the result of the Reebok deal was that the league 's 32 teams `` put all of their intellectual property under the control of a single licensee , Reebok , and prices -LSB- went -RSB- up by 150 percent . '' `` The case has to go forward , and American Needle is entitled to its day in court , '' Nager added . He said he was not surprised by the unanimous decision . The ruling overturned of a 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision that the league was one , not 32 . Baseball is the only sports league that enjoys complete antitrust protection . The NFL has long sought similar status . The dilemma is acute because of the unique nature of pro sports , including American football and its 32 teams . Those teams , including top apparel sellers the Dallas Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers , compete against each other on the field and off -- for victories , for players and for their own brands . But the league maintains unilateral rules and structure that all teams must follow to ensure parity and an equal playing field . The NFL negotiates national television contracts and deals with the players ' union through collective bargaining . The league says trademark licensing primarily benefits the on-field competition . `` A sports league produces a single entertainment product , '' the league told the high court , `` a structured series of athletic competitions leading to a championship , that no member club could produce on its own . '' But American Needle countered that the structure does not erase the fact that `` the teams are separately owned and controlled profit-making enterprises . They are actual and potential competitors in numerous areas , including the licensing of intellectual properties . '' The Obama administration supported neither side , saying the league can be considered a single business in some areas but not others . Stevens noted that the ruling will not completely hamstring the league . `` Football teams that need to cooperate are not trapped by antitrust law , '' he wrote . `` The fact that NFL teams share an interest in making the entire league successful and profitable , and that they must cooperate in the production and scheduling of games provides a perfectly sensible justification for making a host of collective decisions . But the conduct at issue in this case is still concerted activity under the Sherman Act . '' The ruling throws the dispute back to the lower federal courts to sort out the parameters of a possibly reworked licensing agreement that presumably would favor American Needle . Retail sales of NFL-licensed merchandise in the United States and Canada was about $ 3.2 billion in 2007 , according to the trade journal Sports Licensing Report . The combined total for football , baseball , hockey , basketball and soccer is more than $ 9 billion annually . Among those backing the league are credit card companies , fearing that a ruling against the NFL could set a precedent that would hurt the federation of banks that constitutes the credit card network for companies like Visa and MasterCard . Workers ' rights groups feared that a win for the sports league could have boosted its power in other off-field activities , perhaps giving owners immunity from lawsuits in areas like television rights , video-game licenses , franchise relocation and possibly athlete salaries . Unions also expressed concern that the current legal fight could lead to labor unrest and possible player strikes , since the leagues might be protected legally from accusations owners conspired to keep down salaries . Athletes say salaries , free agency rights and pensions could also have been affected by a ruling against them . The NFL Players Association backed American Needle in the high court appeal . The case is American Needle v. National Football League -LRB- 08-661 -RRB- . CNN Radio 's Bob Costantini contributed to this report . | American Needle says NFL deal with Reebok violates antitrust law . Court says licensing of intellectual property is not part of antitrust protection . Manufacturer 's lawsuit against league can continue . Outcome of case could affect other sports franchises . | [[1443, 1496], [2233, 2406], [330, 376], [2668, 2727], [714, 827]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A deathbed photo of Gary Coleman appeared Wednesday on the cover of Globe Magazine , showing the actor 's ex-wife staring into the camera next to the former child actor . The man named executor in Coleman 's will accused Shannon Price of profiting from her ex-husband 's death by selling the image to the tabloid , and suggested she is destined for the `` life of a social and professional outcast . '' Coleman divorced Price in 2008 , but they were living together in Santaquin , Utah , when he suffered a fall at home last month and died two days later of a brain hemorrhage in a Provo , Utah , hospital . Globe parent company American Media confirmed it bought the photo , but spokeswoman Samantha Trenk would not disclose how much was paid or who sold the image . A Utah judge appointed Dion Mial , Coleman 's longtime friend and former manager , as special administrator of the estate while the will goes through the probate process . A will signed in 1999 named Mial as executor . Mial threatened to have Price , 24 , arrested unless she returned property he said had been taken from Coleman 's home since his death . She must also stay away from the Santaquin home where they lived together , Mial said . While Coleman was not believed wealthy when he died , his personal possessions may be valuable to collectors . `` These items include , but are not limited to , numerous televisions and video game systems , a black 2005 Dodge pick-up truck -LRB- registered to Coleman -RRB- , cargo trailer -LRB- registered to Coleman -RRB- , model train sets , computers , telephones , musical instruments , and furnishings , '' Mial said . `` It is our hope that Miss Price should immediately and respectfully comply with the court 's order , so as to avoid the filing of criminal charges against her , '' Mial said . Mial was unable to stop the Globe from publishing the death images , which he accused Price of peddling to tabloids in an `` ongoing desperate attempt '' to profit from his death . `` These actions simply illuminate and magnify the truth that our gift of free will may , ultimately , relegate us to a long life of bondage and imprisonment that the life of a social and professional outcast , indeed , will bring , '' Mial said Wednesday . `` May God bless Miss Price and her ` free will . ' '' A statement released by Price 's publicist Monday did not deny Mial 's accusation , but did say she needed money because she had helped Mial pay for a lawyer . `` Dion , who claims to be a good friend of Gary , would know that Gary 's only wishes were to make sure that Shannon would be OK after he was gone , '' the statement said . `` So if Dion was a good friend he would be assisting Shannon , not taking all her money , to pay for his attorney and then use it to take everything from her . '' | NEW : Coleman estate administrator says ex-wife will become `` outcast '' Deathbed photo shows Gary Coleman and his ex-wife , Shannon Price . The two divorced in 2008 , but were living together at the time of Coleman 's death . Company confirms it bought the photo , but declines to say from who or for how much . | [[190, 197], [338, 418], [422, 452], [455, 497], [1172, 1190], [1197, 1216], [627, 692], [699, 786]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The Mexican government is requesting a quick and transparent investigation into the fatal shooting by a U.S. Border Patrol agent of a Mexican teen in Ciudad Juarez on Monday night , the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday . The teen was shot during a rock-throwing incident , Mexican and U.S. officials said . Mexico `` reiterates that the use of firearms to repel a rock attack represents a disproportionate use of force , particularly coming from authorities who receive specialized training on the matter , '' the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday in a news release . The teen 's death was the second at the hands of U.S. border authorities in less than two weeks . Monday night 's incident started around 6:30 p.m. when Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol agents responded to a report of a group of suspected illegal immigrants being smuggled into the United States near the Paso del Norte port of entry , FBI Special Agent Andrea Simmons said . A suspect identified as Oscar Ivan Pineda Ayala was initially detained on the Rio Grande levee , said the FBI , which is leading the investigation . `` Another agent arrived on his bicycle along the cement apron that forms the riverbank on the U.S. side , '' Simmons said in a release . `` That agent detained a second subject , Augustin Alcaraz Reyes , but other subjects ran into Mexico and began to throw rocks at the agent . `` This agent , who had the second subject detained on the ground , gave verbal commands to the remaining subjects to stop and retreat , '' Simmons said . `` However , the subjects surrounded the agent and continued to throw rocks at him . The agent then fired his service weapon several times , striking one subject who later died . '' Simmons told CNN earlier that she did not know whether the person who was shot was on the Mexican or U.S. side of the border , but that the agent never left U.S. territory . The body was found on the Mexican side of the border , Simmons said . The attorney general 's office in Chihuahua identified the dead 14-year-old boy as secondary student Sergio Adrian Hernandez Guereca . Belmonte said Hernandez had been shot in the head . `` The young man was not armed , '' Ciudad Juarez spokesman Sergio Belmonte said . `` He did not have the physical size to threaten anyone . The aggression -LRB- by the U.S. agent -RRB- is evident . '' The shooting occurred underneath the Black Bridge , a railroad span that connects the two countries , the Mexican official said . The FBI said the `` area where this incident occurred is a known high-risk crime area where rocks are regularly thrown at Border Patrol agents and where other assaults have been reported . '' The FBI , which has jurisdiction in any assault on a federal officer , is leading the U.S. investigation with assistance from the El Paso Police Department , the Border Patrol and other federal agencies , Simmons said . The shooting comes less than two weeks after the May 31 death of a Mexican illegal immigrant who had been detained three days earlier by border agents in California . San Diego police , who are investigating the death of Anastasio Hernandez , said he was beaten with a baton and shot with a stun gun after he became combative . California medical officials ruled his death a homicide . The investigation in that case continues . Mexican officials complained Tuesday that they see an increasing trend . `` The growing frequency of this type of event reflects a worrisome increment in the use of excessive force on the part of some border authorities , '' the Foreign Ministry said . According to the ministry , the number of Mexicans who have been killed or wounded by U.S. border authorities has increased from five in 2008 to 12 in 2009 and 17 so far this year . Mark Qualia , a spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection , said he could not comment because he does not know where the Mexican government obtained its statistics . But Qualia said there were 799 assaults on border agents from October 1 , 2009 , through May 31 , up from 745 assaults for the same time period in 2007-08 and 658 for the same span in 2008-09 . Lethal force , he said , is allowed `` when an agent is in imminent threat of physical or bodily harm , which could cause death or injury or in protection of an innocent third party . '' The determination of when to use lethal force , Qualia said , is made by each individual agent at the scene . From October 1 through May 31 , he said , Custom and Border Protection agents have used their firearms 31 times . Rock-throwing can be considered a dangerous assault , Qualia said : `` They 're not chunking pebbles . '' CNN 's Nick Castillo contributed to this report . | Shooting followed rock-throwing at Border Patrol agent , FBI says . Teen 's death near border was second in less than two weeks . 14-year-old boy was killed by U.S. border agent , Mexican official says . FBI confirms Border Patrol agent in El Paso , Texas , shot someone . | [[237, 286], [1296, 1304], [1325, 1339], [1360, 1395], [580, 677], [2908, 3000], [19, 198], [2468, 2495], [1636, 1645], [1692, 1729]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The BP oil spill has brought into the public 's eye the tragedy of oiled wildlife . The pictures last week of pelicans completely covered in oil were horrific and rightly produced an outcry of rage from the public . Should these birds , and other oiled wildlife , be saved ? Much like the struggle to contain the oil itself , there are no quick fixes or easy answers . First , we need to emphasize that rescue and rehabilitation of oiled wildlife must be performed by trained wildlife professionals and volunteers . Without proper training , would-be rescuers can inadvertently harm or further stress oiled wildlife or be harmed themselves , either by struggling animals or the oil itself . Rescuers must go through a weeklong training on the handling of hazardous materials as well as proper wildlife rescue techniques . Wildlife rehabilitation is difficult . It is more than simply retrieving , washing and releasing wildlife contaminated with oil . Rehabilitators not only clean wildlife but provide veterinary care and feeding . Some animals are desperately ill , while others may need only minimal care . Each animal is individually assessed and then treated appropriately . Experts may make the difficult decision that some creatures ca n't be saved . Read why some experts say birds should be euthanized . Even if we do everything right , the long-term survival of rehabilitated wildlife may be uncertain . Beyond the short-term threats of oil poisoning and hypothermia , surviving wildlife face potential loss of their food sources and habitat . And it 's not as simple as moving affected individuals to a new location -- if a species moved 500 miles away from where it was originally lived , it might not be able to locate food and in some cases might even return to the original , oil-polluted location . Wildlife at risk from the BP oil spill include five species of threatened or endangered sea turtles , including the most endangered sea turtle in the world , the Kemp 's Ridley sea turtle , which is largely dependent on the Gulf of Mexico . The brown pelican , in addition to having symbolic importance as Louisiana 's state bird , was only recently taken off the Endangered Species List . For species that are threatened or endangered , every individual is critically important to help contribute to the survival of these species . Some have argued that we should n't bother to try to save any oiled birds , that given the long odds many face , we should simply euthanize all of them . That line of thinking overlooks recent advances in wildlife rehabilitation . It also lumps the sickest birds together with ones that may only be mildly ill . More broadly , it misses the point that this is n't just about playing the percentages . Humanity is an important factor in the decision to rehabilitate oiled animals . People caused this problem , and many feel it is our ethical duty to try to help the wildlife suffering as a result , even if the task is difficult and the outcome uncertain . At the National Wildlife Federation , we 've heard from so many Americans who feel a sense of helplessness as the oil continues to gush and as BP 's attempts to stop it continue to fail . Knowing that efforts are being made to save the innocent wildlife victims of this disaster not only helps the emotional stress of the public , it also gives them hope and rallies them to get involved , whether it 's making a donation to the response effort or contacting their elected officials . The sad reality is that many of the Gulf 's most critical species are now swimming against the current . Rehabilitation is difficult , and survival is uncertain . This only underscores the critical importance of clean energy and climate legislation now so we can prevent these disasters from happening in the future . That 's the only real way to ensure that we do n't have to see more images of oiled wildlife struggling and dying in disasters of our own making . The best way to help personally is to give , which you can do by texting WILDLIFE to 20222 to donate $ 10 to the NWF Gulf Oil Spill Restoration Fund . If you 're in Louisiana and want to report oiled wildlife , call -LRB-866-RRB- 557-1401 . Sign up for NWF 's Gulf Coast Surveillance volunteer teams to help spot and report oiled wildlife throughout the Gulf at www.nwf.org/oilspill . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of David Mizejewski . | Rehabilitating oiled birds is a difficult and risky effort , says David Mizejewski . Naturalist says birds may not survive the return to a natural environment . But saving birds can help ensure survival of endangered species , Mizejewski says . People caused this problem ; many feel ethical duty to save as many birds as possible , he says . | [[2974, 3023], [2848, 2874], [2881, 2913], [2897, 2963]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Three human heads and three decapitated bodies with notes aimed at high government officials were found Thursday in different parts of Guatemala 's capital , national police said . The notes were addressed to Interior Minister Carlos Menocal and Eddy Morales , the nation 's director of prisons . One of the notes said the officials must impose order in the nation 's prisons or these atrocities would continue , police said . The other said that impunity against lawlessness must end , according to police . The heads were inside plastic bags , one of them in front of the main doors to the national Congress in Guatemala City , police said . `` That 's obviously a first for Guatemala , '' said Samuel Logan , an expert on Latin American gangs and founding editor of the Southern Pulse intelligence report . `` That 's something we 've seen the Zetas -LRB- drug cartel -RRB- do in Mexico . '' Donald Gonzalez , a spokesman for the national police , attributed the slayings to the Zetas or another narcotrafficking group , the Prensa Libre newspaper reported . Gonzalez did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment . Logan did not discount the possibility that anti-crime vigilantes could have been responsible . `` It could also be death squads , '' he said . `` Off-duty police officers or other types hired by local businessmen who say , ` Go after the street gangs . ' `` There 's a lot of moving parts to this story , '' said Logan , who recently wrote a book on the Mara Salvatrucha gang of Central America and is working on a book about the Zetas , which has emerged as Mexico 's most ruthless drug cartel . Logan said in an interview last year that there are two main criminal elements in Guatemala : drug cartels that deal in large-scale exportation and street gangs that sell drugs at the retail level and are involved in other crimes , such as robbery and extortion . In some cases , they work together . When those criminals get arrested , they continue their activities inside prison , said Fernando Carrera Castro , director of the Central American Institute for Fiscal Studies in Guatemala City . `` The prisons , in general , are centers of corruption , '' Carrera said last year . `` From inside prison , they direct kidnappings , extortion , drug trafficking . '' Prison officials are often targeted for violence . In September , three coordinated attacks killed four prison officials in a five-hour span . Left dead were a prison assistant director , a warden and two guards . One guard and a shooting suspect were wounded , as were three citizens . One of the wounded was a woman in the eighth month of pregnancy , news accounts said . At least three prison guards have been killed and five wounded in five attacks this year , published reports say . Logan said that all of Central America is under attack from organized crime cartels , because the region is pinched between Colombia and Mexico , the two biggest sources of drugs in the area . U.S. interdiction efforts that have targeted the flow of drugs through the Caribbean Sea also have forced cartels to travel through the Central American isthmus , Logan said . Within Central America , he said , Guatemala , Honduras and El Salvador have the worst problems . Among those three nations , Guatemala stands out . `` When you talk about a country being hollowed out by organized crime , Guatemala is at the top of the list , '' Logan said . There are two main reasons , he said : geography and an incompetent and corrupt government . `` Guatemala bunches right up against Mexico , '' Logan said . `` Any spillover effect is almost certainly going south . '' Said Heather Berkman , a Central America analyst with the Eurasia Group consulting firm , `` The narcos are coming down from Mexico . '' In addition , Logan said , the federal government is not able to control large segments of the country . For example , Peten state in northern Guatemala , bordered on two sides by Mexico , is lawless , he said . Berkman made the same point in an interview last year . `` The narcos control about 40 percent of the territory down there , which is pretty amazing , '' she said . Berkman also pointed out that the Guatemalan government reduced anti-crime spending in the 2010 budget because of the nation 's dire economic situation . `` If you do n't have resources , you ca n't pay for troops and supplies and intelligence , '' she said . Journalist Alexia Rios Hayashi contributed to this report . | NEW : Beheadings are `` a first for Guatemala , '' analyst says . Notes to top officials found with bodies . Notes said atrocities would continue unless order brought to prisons . Severed head found in front of national Congress . | [[71, 111], [338, 394], [398, 429]] |
Lima , Peru -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Joran van der Sloot told investigators during an interrogation that he knows the location of Natalee Holloway 's body , but he would neither identify the location nor say what happened to her the night of her disappearance , a Peruvian police official told CNN Thursday in Lima . `` He says he knew the location of the American citizen but that he was going to explain everything to Aruban police , '' said Miguel Canlla , head of the homicide division of the Peruvian national police investigative unit . Van der Sloot , twice detained but never charged in the disappearance of Holloway five years ago in Aruba , was arrested last week in connection with a different case : the slaying of a 21-year-old Peruvian woman in Lima , the nation 's capital . He confessed to the Peruvian woman 's slaying earlier this week , police said . Van der Sloot was transferred from a police facility to the national attorney general 's office Thursday morning , according to images broadcast by CNN affiliate America TV . His attorney , Maximo Alonso Altez Navarro , told CNN his client will go from the attorney general 's office to the Justice Ministry , where a judge will determine which jail he will go to . The lawyer said he has spoken with the director of jails in Lima to make sure van der Sloot is safe once he is moved to one of the city 's maximum-security prisons . Altez said he planned to ask the judge in the case to strike down van der Sloot 's confession in the Peruvian case , because he was not properly represented when he was interrogated . The attorney said police got a public defense attorney to be present at the interrogation and subsequent confession , but that van der Sloot never agreed to this lawyer . Altez also said he has found indications that the handling of the evidence was tainted , especially the way the body was handled during the crime scene investigation . He intends to go to trial , Altez said . The body of Stephany Flores was found last week in a hotel room registered to van der Sloot . Hotel surveillance video shows the pair entering his room and van der Sloot leaving alone more than three hours later . Altez said Flores attacked van der Sloot first , after he confronted her for going through his computer . Police said Flores was badly beaten and suffered a broken neck . Van der Sloot confessed Monday night after a seven-hour interrogation to killing Flores , a source with direct knowledge of the investigation told CNN . The Dutch citizen told investigators that he left the hotel room to buy bread and coffee at a gas station next to the hotel , the source said . Upon van der Sloot 's return , he found Flores going through his laptop , where she found something linking him to Holloway 's disappearance , the source said . At that point , Flores wanted to leave , and the pair started arguing , according to the source . Flores slapped van der Sloot , and he hit her back , and then grabbed her neck , the source said . Van der Sloot told investigators he had smoked marijuana before the confrontation , the source said . Although Flores ' body was found half-dressed , there was no evidence that she had sexual intercourse that night , the source said . Van der Sloot , 22 , was arrested in Chile on June 4 and returned to Peru the next day . While he was never charged in connection with Holloway 's disappearance in 2005 , he has been charged in Alabama with extortion and wire fraud charges . According to a document from Interpol , van der Sloot contacted a representative of Holloway 's mother , Beth Holloway , on or around March 29 to ask for $ 250,000 in exchange for information on the whereabouts of Natalee Holloway 's remains . Van der Sloot received $ 25,000 last month , officials said . A representative for Holloway 's mother who paid the money was an undercover FBI agent , a federal law enforcement official told CNN . However , the FBI and the U.S. attorney 's office in Birmingham , Alabama , said Wednesday that the FBI did not supply the money . `` Some news accounts have suggested that the FBI provided $ 25,000 in funds that were transmitted to van der Sloot . This is incorrect . The funds involved were private funds , '' the FBI and U.S. attorney 's office said in a statement . The FBI and U.S. attorney 's office in Birmingham arranged for a meeting in which van der Sloot was paid $ 10,000 in cash and another $ 15,000 in a wire transfer , a source familiar with the case said . The meeting took place in May , according to the U.S. attorney 's office in Birmingham . Interpol documents show that the $ 15,000 was transferred to a personal bank account in the Netherlands . The information about Natalee Holloway that van der Sloot provided to the FBI was not true , according to the documents . Although the investigation involving alleged extortion had been in motion for several weeks at the time of Flores ' death , `` it was not sufficiently developed to bring charges prior to the time van der Sloot left Aruba , '' the FBI statement said . `` This is not due to any fault on the part of the FBI or the U.S. attorney 's office , where agents and prosecutors were working as hard as possible to bring the case to fruition when they learned of the murder . A case based on events outside of the United States is a complex matter , and work was proceeding with all deliberate speed to prepare the evidence , the charges and the necessary procedures to obtain custody of van der Sloot , '' the statement said . CNN 's Mayra Cuevas and Rafael Romo contributed to this report . | NEW : Van der Sloot wo n't say where body is , official says . Van der Sloot held in Peru in connection with different case . Lawyer says he will try to have confession in Peru slaying dismissed . Van der Sloot not properly represented during interrogation , lawyer says . | [[537, 550], [637, 703], [1438, 1510], [1513, 1557], [1438, 1510], [1513, 1557], [1521, 1579]] |
Cape Canaveral , Florida -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Friday 's test launch of the Falcon 9 rocket was `` essentially a bullseye , '' SpaceX officials said after the rocket successfully pushed past the earth 's atmosphere and deposited a mock-up of its Dragon space capsule in orbit . The successful launch is the latest step toward commercial space ventures that could eventually ferry astronauts and cargo to the international space station . SpaceX CEO Elon Musk , co-founder of PayPal , sent out the technical details of the successful launch , which he said performed its mission to deposit the Dragon mock-up into a 155-mile -LRB- 250-km -RRB- orbit to near perfection . `` Nominal shutdown and orbit was almost exactly 250 km , '' Musk said in a written statement . `` Telemetry showed essentially a bullseye : 126 ; 0.2 % on perigee and 126 ; 1 % on apogee . '' The capsule is expected to orbit for about a year and eventually burn up in the atmosphere . NASA administrator Charles Bolden congratulated the SpaceX team . `` Space X 's accomplishment is an important milestone in the commercial transportation effort and puts the company a step closer to providing cargo services to the International Space Station , '' he said . Former Apollo astronaut Rusty Schweickart was high on the launch 's possibilities . `` As a former Apollo astronaut , I think it 's safe to say that SpaceX and the other commercial developers embody the 21st century version of the Apollo frontier spirit . It 's enormously gratifying to see them succeed today , '' he said . NASA hopes companies such as SpaceX can take over transportation to the international space station . `` It 's time for NASA to hand that over to commercial industry who can then optimize the technology and make it more reliable , make it much lower cost and make it much more routine , '' said Musk in an interview with CNN last month . Musk says he believes the United States is at the beginning of a profound , fundamental renaissance in space exploration , perhaps greater than when President Kennedy declared the United States was going to the moon during the infancy of the space program . `` If the country executes and the administration and Congress execute in that direction , the impact of these changes will be on par , perhaps even greater , than ... the task that Kennedy put us on to , '' he said . This push toward the privatization of space is part of President Obama 's blueprint to allow NASA to do bigger and better things with its budget , such as a mission to Mars . NASA has been flying shuttles in low Earth orbit and going to and from the space station for 30 years . The administration would like to see whether private companies can do it cheaper and more efficiently , as the shuttle program is about to fly into retirement . NASA selected SpaceX and another company , Orbital Sciences , to each develop an orbital vehicle because the United States will not have its own way to get to the space station . The United States will be renting space from the Russians aboard their Soyuz spacecraft . `` They 're standing on NASA 's shoulders , so they 're designing rockets based on the experience we 've had for 50 years or more , going into space , '' said George Musser , editor of the Scientific American . `` And any enterprise that learns from past experience will hopefully do better , '' he said . But the competition is rabid . SpaceX is the first company to reach the launchpad . So far , its spent almost $ 400 million to get there . `` They probably hate each other 's guts , but the competition is really good for space and for all of us , '' said Musser . `` Ultimately , what do we want from this ? We want to get into space cheaply , so our kids and grandkids someday can go into space and explore the planets , '' he said . But SpaceX acknowledges there will be failures , as there have been since the the beginning of aviation . `` This is an all-new rocket . There 's a lot that can go wrong , and during the test phase -- that 's why you have a test phase , because things may go wrong , '' he said . Ken Bowersox is a vice president for SpaceX . In his previous life , he flew five space shuttle missions as a commander and pilot . He also lived on the space station for more than five months as its commander . `` Either way , we 're going to learn something , '' he said . `` If we have a problem , we can move forward accepting a higher level of risk . That 's how we can be more cost-effective . If all goes as planned after a series of test flights , Musk says SpaceX will be ready to begin flying cargo to the space station next year . If NASA awards SpaceX a contract , Musk says they can begin ferrying astronauts to the space station within three years . He says his company is profitable , but his motivations go beyond dollars . `` We want to see a future where we are exploring the stars , where we 're going to other planets , where we 're doing the great things that we read about in science fiction and in the movies , '' Musk said . CNN 's Rich Phillips contributed to this report . | Space Exploration Technologies launches Falcon 9 rocket Friday . With shuttle program about to end , NASA looking to private companies to fill gap . U.S. will rely on Russians to get to and from the international space station for now . Founder hopes SpaceX will be ready to begin flying cargo to space station next year . | [[1552, 1653], [1672, 1717], [2645, 2771], [2752, 2805], [323, 348], [354, 370], [377, 434], [1019, 1047], [1118, 1211], [4552, 4637]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- It 's amazing what a little spring cleaning can turn up . Fourth-grade teacher Michelle Eugenio was in for quite a shock when she stumbled upon a document dating back to 1792 while emptying out an old classroom at the school where she teaches in Peabody , Massachusetts . She found the document , apparently a receipt for payment of a debt , buried among some old textbooks and papers . `` I looked at it , and I saw it was in plastic , which kind of told me there was a chance it was real , '' said Eugenio in an interview with CNN Radio . Eugenio says she shared the document with her social studies classes , and her students urged her to find out if it was real . She brought it to the Peabody Historical Society , which was able to authenticate the 218-year-old find . It turns out the document originally belonged to Jonathan Bates , a Vermont man who had served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War . The paper appears to convey that Bates had paid off a debt , according to Paul Carnahan , a librarian with the Vermont Historical Society in Barre , Vermont . `` What 's fascinating is that this turned up in a school classroom so far from Vermont , '' said Carnahan . How that happened is uncertain . Eugenio says the school building where she found it only dates back to the 1930s . However , she does have a theory . `` The only thing I can think of is that a teacher who was there before me or a student brought it in to show . Then it was put up onto a shelf and forgotten about , '' said Eugenio . The document reveals little else about Bates beyond his military service and his debt payment , according to Carnahan . He says records show Bates was born in Williamstown , Vermont , and died in 1808 at the age of 63 . Bates ' gravestone was recorded during a WPA inventory in the 1930s and in burial records in Williamstown . But Carnahan says people who have gone to the cemetery looking for the grave in the past week were not able to find it -- possibly because a lot of the gravestones in the cemetery are damaged or have deteriorated over a period of time . You might think a document like this would be worth a pretty penny . But Eugenio says she does n't plan to test the market . `` If I hold on to it I 'll show it to my grade next year . Or , we 'll give it to the historical society . The kids are excited . To find something of that kind of historical value is really important , '' she said . | Schoolteacher finds 1792 document buried among textbooks and papers . Paper belonged to Vermont man who served during the Revolutionary War . Documents appears to be a paid-in-full notice for the soldier . Vermont records show soldier died in 1808 , but grave-seekers have n't found his headstone . | [[163, 193], [352, 358], [361, 405], [793, 856], [857, 872], [877, 942], [943, 1001], [1666, 1668], [1687, 1692], [1734, 1765]] |
Aboard Development Driller III , Gulf of Mexico -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The news ? They ca n't watch it anymore . Outsiders criticizing their progress , saying they 're not working fast enough or smart enough -- it 's too much to bear . They understand how awful the situation is . They are , after all , working on the waters where friends and relatives died . Those losses , and the stories they hear from workers who survived the Deepwater Horizon explosion , are with them every day . It 's a weight they carry as the world watches . These men and women are working to drill a relief well -- 16,000 to 18,000 feet below the seafloor , Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen says . It is the only surefire way to stop the oil that 's spewing into the Gulf of Mexico . `` It takes time to dig a relief well safely and efficiently , which is what we 're trying to do , '' Capt. Lee Crowe says . `` Our goal is to stem the flow of oil -- the long-term solution , not the short-term solution . '' As of Thursday , BP says the drill for this relief well has reached a depth of 13,978 feet . See a BP image of both relief well statuses , last updated on May 30 . There are fewer than 200 workers on board at any one time . They are marine biologists , scientists , construction and tool experts . They must understand the physics of what they 're doing . Simple hired hands ? Not even close . They work on the rig in three-week shifts , living in simple quarters and eating in a space not unlike a school cafeteria . Mementos from home , pictures of the families they leave behind to do this work , appear on desks . Most of them come from Mississippi , Louisiana and Texas -- the very places that will be hardest hit by the oil-riddled waters . So for them , what they 're doing is more than a job , the kind of job that 's been passed on through generations . They are trying to protect their own homes . And they 're trying to right what has gone so horribly wrong . `` Part of the problem is that there is a lot of outside scrutiny on what it is that we 're doing out here , '' Capt. Nick Schindler says . `` The American population is wanting this well done . They want it now . We all want it done now . But we all have to understand that this is a well that killed 11 people ... and sunk a rig . So we 're not going to speed up , and we 're going to do this as safe as possible . '' To get to where disaster struck on April 20 takes a one-hour helicopter ride from New Orleans , Louisiana . From the air , heading out there , one can see efforts to contain the spreading oil . Large floating booms arc in the water to absorb the crude . The large black slicks or dark pools one might expect to see are not visible . Instead there are orange pancake-like deposits , the result of oil that 's been exposed to the elements . Allen , during the flight , notices what no outsider can . The shifting winds change the flow trajectory in the water . Based on this , he predicts Pensacola , Florida , will be hit with oil in a couple of days . A couple of days later , it is . But the smell -- like fresh tar -- ca n't be missed by anyone . It only grows stronger as the Coast Guard helicopter reaches its destination , landing on Development Driller III . Across the water , Development Driller II works on the backup relief well , while Discover Enterprise tries to cap the gushing oil . It is beneath that rig that underwater cameras are trained on the oil the world is seeing . Support vessels between the three rigs are busy offering their own help to the massive effort . Two boats fire fresh water from their sterns , a move meant to lessen the fumes emanating from the contaminated water . Safety is top of mind on this rig . Visitors landing on the rig must go downstairs to watch a safety video , take off accessories like earrings and put on a hard hat , goggles and steel-toed boots . A woman working at a desk thanks the CNN crew for finally telling the workers ' story . Nearby , on a table , are copies of a special magazine memorializing the Deepwater Horizon workers who died . The operation is enormous , the equipment and technicalities overwhelming . In meeting rooms , screens monitor progress and maps dot walls . The diagrams the Coast Guard admiral draws to help explain matters leave a journalist 's head spinning . But he tries to explain in simple terms . `` The intention is to intercept the wellbore , well down below the surface near the reservoir , then pump heavy mud in to counteract the pressure of the oil coming up , '' Allen says . `` That will allow them to basically plug or kill the well . Once that 's done , you could do things like remove the blowout preventer , bring it to the surface and try to find out what happened . '' Get a taste of the chaos that is Adm. Thad Allen 's life . On deck , it 's a loud and constant operation . Voices call back and forth , giving directions amid massive equipment that towers above . People operating the drill and two cranes maneuver across the rig in a carefully orchestrated ballet . The incessant drilling brings an endless vibration . There is no idle chit-chat for these Transocean employees , who are working 12-hour shifts , around the clock . It 's intense , serious , focused . `` I just want everybody to know that we 're doing everything we possibly can , '' says Schindler . `` We 're not going to rush . We 're not going to hurt anybody . We 're going to protect everybody , and we 're going to remember that this is a place where we had a catastrophic event . '' | CNN 's Kyra Phillips gets exclusive access to rig drilling relief well to stop gushing oil . Workers put in 12-hour days and feel weight of world watching and criticizing them . The men and women feel the loss of friends and family who died in waters there . `` We 're doing everything we possibly can , '' but must stay safe , not rush , captain says . | [[484, 532], [490, 498], [504, 532], [5132, 5160], [5165, 5191], [311, 321], [328, 356], [2322, 2367], [3677, 3712], [5252, 5326], [5352, 5378]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Curtis Flowers has stood before five juries in the past 13 years on capital murder charges , accused of killing four people in a Mississippi furniture store . Now , prosecutors are hoping his sixth trial will be the last . Flowers , 40 , is believed to be the only person in recent U.S. history to be tried six times on the same capital murder charges . His trial began last week in Montgomery County Circuit Court in downtown Winona , just a few blocks from the furniture store where four people were shot to death nearly 14 years ago . Bertha Tardy , the owner of Tardy 's Furniture , and three employees were shot execution-style in the head the morning of July 16 , 1996 , inside the store , court records say . The shootings rattled the sleepy central Mississippi town , with a population of about 5,500 that has declined in the 14 years since then . Like most of the businesses still operating in downtown Winona , Tardy 's was a relic of another era , having opened its doors in the 1940s . Bertha Tardy and her husband were prominent members of the community , and nearly everyone in Winona could claim some connection to the victims . After months of interviews and a $ 30,000 reward for information , Flowers was arrested in January 1997 on four counts of capital murder . He has been in custody ever since . Flowers has been convicted three times and sentenced to death twice , but the Mississippi Supreme Court reversed those verdicts and ordered a new trial each time . His two most recent trials ended in hung juries , leading his supporters to question why the Montgomery County District Attorney 's Office continues to seek a conviction . The prosecution 's case is based largely on circumstantial evidence . There is no DNA , the alleged murder weapon has not been found and eyewitnesses who say they saw Flowers the day of the shooting have provided conflicting accounts . Still , Montgomery County District Attorney Doug Evans says it 's a straightforward case of a disgruntled worker taking out his anger against his former employer . Others , who believe Flowers is innocent , say the case has turned into a crusade and suggest that race has played a major role in the prosecution and convictions of Flowers . `` The fact they 're trying this case for the sixth time suggests to me there 's some racial motivation here , because there 's no way in the world I can see a white guy accused of doing the same thing being tried six times to procure a conviction , '' said Jackson City Councilman Chokwe Lumumba , who represented Flowers in his second trial in 1999 . Flowers ' supporters say it is a classic example of a case built upon weak circumstantial evidence and shaky eyewitness testimony intended to blame an easy target : a poor black man . `` What does it say about the prosecution that they have chosen to ignore two jury verdicts ? '' said Alan Bean , executive director of Friends of Justice , a nonprofit organization that monitors due process violations in the criminal justice system . `` I really think the only way to save Winona from this nightmare is to force the Montgomery County district attorney to step aside and appoint the attorney general 's office . If you did that , I am convinced you would n't see the prosecution of Curtis Flowers , because the evidence just is n't there . '' To Evans , though , Flowers ' prosecution is about seeking justice for the victims and bringing closure to the community . `` Any time that we feel there is evidence to prove a case , we 're going to pursue it , '' said Evans , who tried the five previous cases and will lead the prosecution this time . Evans declined to elaborate on lessons learned from the previous trials or to say if his strategy will be different this time around , but he said the two hung juries did not affect his decision to try Flowers again . `` Any case that 's on the docket I want to try and dispose of it , '' he said . Evans and Flowers ' current lawyer , Ray Carter , said they expected much of the evidence to be the same this go-round as it has been in previous trials . In all five trials , Sam Jones , an employee of Tardy 's since it opened in 1942 , testified that Bertha Tardy called him around 9 a.m. on July 16 about coming in to train two new employees . When Jones arrived at the store around 9:30 a.m. , he discovered the bodies of Tardy , bookkeeper Carmen Rigby and Robert Golden lying near the counter in pools of blood . Nearby , Jones saw 16-year-old Derrick `` Bobo '' Stewart on the floor , blood pouring from his head with each labored breath . He died a week later . Prosecutors allege that Flowers , a former employee , stole a gun from his uncle 's car and shot Tardy because she had fired him two weeks before the killings and docked his pay for damaging a pair of batteries . He allegedly shot the others to eliminate witnesses , and then took money from the cash register , which elevated the offense to capital murder and made him eligible for the death penalty . The .380 - caliber pistol used in the shootings has not been found , but investigators matched bullets at the scene to shell casings from the gun owned by Flowers ' uncle , which has also not been recovered . Another witness who came forward months after the shooting and said she saw Flowers `` leaning '' on his uncle 's car around 7:15 a.m. the day of shootings . The same day , his uncle , Doyle Simpson , reported that a gun had been stolen from his car . A neighbor said she saw Flowers around 7:30 a.m. outside his home wearing Fila sneakers . Another witness testified that he saw two men standing across the street from Tardy 's around 10 a.m. , and that one of them was Flowers . Another woman said she saw Flowers running out of the store the morning of the shootings while she was driving toward the store with a friend . A trace analyst expert determined that a bloody footprint at the scene came from a size 10.5 Grant Hill Fila sneaker ; investigators found a shoebox for a 10.5 Grant Hill Fila at the home where Flowers lived with his girlfriend , but found no sneakers . The three different teams of lawyers to represent Flowers have argued that witnesses who said they saw him that morning came forward with shaky stories months after the shootings , enticed by a $ 30,000 reward . They also said prosecutors failed to conclusively link Flowers to the weapon or the crime scene through the bloody footprint , and questioned whether the evidence proved that money was taken from the cash register . `` The reward offer really poisoned the case by giving rise to fabricated eyewitness testimony , '' said defense lawyer Lumumba . `` I do n't think the witnesses recognized the consequences of what they were doing , that they were going to help put this man to death . '' In Flowers ' second through fifth trials , the defense called witnesses to dispute eyewitness accounts of the woman who said she saw Flowers running out of the store . Prosecutors at first attempted to try Flowers separately for each murder , but the first two convictions were reversed after the Mississippi Supreme Court found that evidence of the other deaths was improperly introduced . The court found that prosecutors used excessive displays of crime scene photos and testimony regarding the nature of the other deaths . `` By using this tactic or trial strategy , the state improperly prejudiced the jury and denied Flowers his fundamental right to a fair trial , '' the justices wrote in two nearly identical opinions issued in 2000 and 2003 . The third trial in 2004 also ended in a conviction that was later reversed after the state Supreme Court ruled that prosecutors dismissed black jurors based on race , fueling allegations of racial bias against the district attorney 's office . In the case of one black female whom the prosecution voted to dismiss because of her attitude toward the death penalty , the court noted that her views `` were nearly indistinguishable from those of two white jurors who ultimately served on the jury , suggesting disparate treatment . '' The next two trials -- Flowers 4 and 5 , as they are called by the lawyers who tried them -- ended in hung juries after the panelists failed to reach a unanimous decision . The first jury was split along racial lines , with five black jurors voting to acquit and seven white jurors choosing to convict . The lone black juror on the panel in the fifth trial , who voted to acquit Flowers , was charged with perjury , but the charges were ultimately dismissed . Flowers ' supporters say the first three convictions and the racial divides in the last two trials can be attributed to the racist attitudes that still prevail in Mississippi , especially when a low-income black person is accused of killing a prominent white member of the community . Tardy and two of the other victims were white ; the fourth victim was black . `` I 'm not accusing white jurors of overt racial prejudice -- maybe some racial insensitivity -- but I think the real problem is they do n't have enough social knowledge to evaluate the credibility of testimony and I think black jurors do , and that 's what disturbs me about this tendency to eliminate black jurors and to disregard the black jurors ' verdicts , '' said Bean . There will be a few differences in the sixth trial . Among them , the absence of two jailhouse informants from Flowers 1 , who testified that the defendant admitted to the shootings . The two later admitted to lying under promises of monetary reward from law enforcement , according to Lumumba . Another difference involves the testimony of Charles `` Porky '' Collins , the man who said he saw Flowers across the street from the store around 10 a.m. with another man . It will be read to the jury , because Collins is dead . Bean , who plans to observe the trial , said he is especially looking forward to the jury selection phase , in which prospective jurors are questioned on their beliefs . `` The racial dynamics are right there on the surface . There 's no pretense of equal justice , so I 'm hoping this story can be instructive in that regard , whatever the outcome may be . '' | Curtis Flowers is accused of shooting and killing former employer , 3 others in 1996 . Three convictions reversed due to prosecutorial misconduct , racial bias in jury selection . Two more trials ended in hung juries that split along racial lines . Montgomery County District Attorney says evidence is there to convict Flowers . | [[0, 15], [112, 177], [478, 497], [504, 556], [557, 569], [610, 683], [1412, 1465], [2074, 2080], [2117, 2249], [7054, 7133], [7382, 7422], [7601, 7613], [7619, 7667], [7644, 7806], [8006, 8022], [8059, 8091], [8268, 8311], [8555, 8653], [8580, 8695], [8921, 8925], [8930, 8977], [1502, 1549], [1502, 1528], [1552, 1673], [8158, 8161], [8188, 8267], [8555, 8653], [3487, 3528]] |
Minneapolis , Minnesota -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Jason Gerling always knew he would make a major impact as a musician . An accomplished drummer , he was at the top of the local music scene in 1994 , winning local drumming competitions and performing regularly at hot spots in the Twin Cities . He was 23 years old , and planned to move to New York , or perhaps Nashville , to launch his music career . Then one night , everything changed . Heading home from a late night gig , Gerling fell asleep at the wheel . `` The car flipped over five or six times , that 's what they told me , '' he said . `` They said I looked like something out of a horror movie ... They had to use the jaws of life to snip through the car doors to get me out . '' He was lucky to be alive . But then came the bad news . '' -LSB- The doctors -RSB- said ` you 're probably never going to walk and probably never going to play the drums again , ' '' he remembered . `` It was like a nuclear bomb was dropped on my life . I thought my career was over . '' The accident had left him paralyzed from the chest down . Gerling refused to give up his passion from drumming . Within a few years , he regained the use of his arms . But he never got back the use of his legs . To this day , Gerling remains in a wheelchair . That has hampered his ability to play a drum set which requires a foot pedal to operate the bass drum and the hi-hat cymbal . For a while , he got by with a special setup that triggered a bass drum noise when he hit a certain pad with a drumstick . That did n't cut it for Gerling . So he invented a system that allows him to trigger a bass drum sound while continuing to play the snares , cymbals , and the rest of the drum set . Gerling uses a mouthpiece trigger provided to him by Origin Instruments , a company with a line of products aimed at helping people with disabilities -- particularly quadriplegics -- operate computers . Gerling rigged the mouthpiece to control tiny rubber sensors under each cymbal . Anytime he sucks on the mouthpiece while simultaneously hitting one of the cymbals , a bass drum noise is triggered from a small subwoofer situated directly inside the bass drum casing . He can move the sensors under any of part of the drum set . `` This is over 10 years in the making , '' he said , smiling behind his state-of-the-art drum set . Despite his hard work , Gerling said he has no desire to patent his invention . `` If people want to know how to build their own triggers , then , by golly , they can just contact me , '' he said . `` I 'll give them the information for free . Encouragement should n't come at a price . '' One glance at Gerling 's Facebook inbox reveals a worldwide fan base many of whom are exactly that : encouraged . He reads over one letter from someone who had their legs amputated last year : `` Thanks for being my inspiration . '' Another one reads , `` I 'm back playing rock and roll , using some of your techniques . Thanks for being my inspiration . '' Another fan writes , `` Thanks for your effort in helping change the paradigm in the music industry . '' That particular `` thank you '' note is special for Gerling . Getting the music industry to include more disabled musicians -- to look `` between the wheels '' of his wheelchair as he puts it -- is exactly what he aims to do . `` There 's so many musicians who are disabled who do n't get the chance to play live , '' he said . `` So I want to tell them to knock on doors and encourage the music industry to be willing to hire a person with a disability . '' And he seems to be on his way . On April 28 , Gerling debuted his mouthpiece technology -- accompanied digitally by music he composed himself -- for the very first time during a private event at Minneapolis ' famous Guthrie Theatre . To him , it was his first step to getting back on the road , doing what he loves more than anything , and at the same time urging others in similar situations to pursue their dreams and change the world . Not surprisingly , the evening was capped off with a standing ovation . Now that he 's made his invention public , Gerling said he plans to show others how to create the technology through `` innovative drumming clinics '' that could grow into a music tour with other artists . `` People need encouragement , '' Gerling said , `` and if I can be in the position to help someone else , that 's just an honor you ca n't take lightly . '' | A car accident in 1994 left drummer Jason Gerling a quadriplegic . Gerling used a set-up that required him to hit a pad to trigger the bass drum and hi-hat cymbal , normally controlled by the feet . That took away from his drumming , so he invented a way to trigger the bass and hi-hat using a mouthpiece . He debuted his invention at an April concert in Minneapolis . | [[1302, 1305], [1314, 1409], [1439, 1454], [1460, 1532], [1284, 1332], [1567, 1708], [1582, 1590], [1596, 1708], [3592, 3603], [3606, 3681]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Oil coming ashore on the Gulf Coast has tourists keeping a close eye on conditions . States and visitors bureaus are working hard to keep the public updated and reassure beach-bound travelers . Here are some of the latest updates from destinations affected by the oil disaster : . Northwest Florida . Small bits of tar were found at Henderson Beach State Park , just east of Destin , over the weekend , according to the Emerald Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau . `` These were easily removed , and no further oil has been spotted , '' said a post this week on the bureau 's website . The Emerald Coast area , which includes Destin , Fort Walton Beach and Okaloosa Island , is urging travelers to visit . `` Our white-sand beaches remain open and our emerald-green waters remain clear . In addition , offshore fishing is still going strong , with captains simply taking a more easterly course and reporting great success out on the water , '' the site said . Destin Mayor Sarah `` Sam '' Seevers told CNN a few , small tar balls came ashore this week but added that spotting occasional tar balls on the beach there is not unusual . `` We may go five years and not see any tar balls , and then we 'll see a few . That 's just a way of life on the Gulf of Mexico , Seevers said . Navarre Beach is open , including waters for fishing , according to the Santa Rosa County website . Oil sheen and tar balls have been reported on the Alabama-Florida state line and off Navarre Beach . iReport from Santa Rosa Beach . The water at Pensacola Beach is open for swimming and fishing , according to the Pensacola Bay Area Convention and Visitors Bureau . The National Park Service reported heavier oiling at Perdido Key on Tuesday afternoon . A health advisory has been issued for beaches stretching from the Florida-Alabama line to the entrance of Johnson Beach on Perdido Key , the visitors bureau website said . Swimming and fishing in the affected waters are not advised . The visitors bureau urges beachgoers to take precautions . `` According to -LSB- the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration -RSB- , tar balls do not pose a health risk to the average person , but visitors are advised not to pick them up , '' the website said . Gulf Islands National Seashore , Mississippi and Florida . All of the Gulf Islands National Seashore sites are open , according to the National Park Service website . Light oil occurrences at Horn and Petit Bois islands in Mississippi and Fort Pickens and the Santa Rosa area in Florida have been cleaned up . Cleanup of heavier oiling at Perdido Key is ongoing . Health departments in both states urge people to avoid swimming in areas affected by the oil spill . Gulf Shores and Orange Beach , Alabama . In Alabama , the Department of Public Health has extended an advisory against swimming in waters off Gulf Shores , Orange Beach and Fort Morgan or in bay waters close to Fort Morgan , Bayou St. John , Terry Cove , Cotton Bayou or Old River . The beaches remain open . The U.S. Coast Guard has closed Perdido Pass , the main water access point to the town of Orange Beach . The pier at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores is closed to fishing but open for sightseeing , according to the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau . Grand Isle , Louisiana . Oil is affecting more than 45 miles of Louisiana coast , according to a state emergency website , although most of the coast is unaffected . iReport from Grand Terre Island , Louisiana . `` The primary affected area is from the mouth of the Mississippi River extending east . Over 75 percent of Louisiana 's coastal waters extend westward from the mouth of the Mississippi River , '' according to the Cajun Coast Visitors and Convention Bureau website . Grand Isle has closed its public beach , the site said . iReport from Grand Isle . | Health officials have issued an advisory against swimming in Alabama Gulf waters . Visitors advised not to swim in waters from Florida-Alabama line to Perdido Key . Pensacola Beach , Florida , waters open for swimming and fishing . | [[1754, 1840], [1926, 1987], [2622, 2694], [2764, 2774], [2777, 2924], [1754, 1840], [1926, 1987], [1988, 2046], [2622, 2694], [2764, 2774], [2777, 2924], [1533, 1594]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A few days before the 1968 California Democratic primary , Washington Post reporter Richard Harwood told his editor he wanted to stop covering Robert F. Kennedy 's campaign for president . Robert Kennedy 's campaign for president lasted 82 days before he died on June 6 , 1968 . `` I 'm falling in love with the guy , '' he said , according to Thurston Clarke 's `` The Last Campaign : Robert F. Kennedy and 82 Days That Inspired America '' -LRB- Henry Holt -RRB- . It was easy to see why . During his ill-fated run for the presidency , Kennedy appeared to be that rarest of candidates , the truth teller . By many accounts , he meant every word he said , particularly those about fighting prejudice and poverty . He refused to kowtow to his audiences , and he wore his emotions on his sleeves -LRB- adoring crowds sometimes shredded his cuffs -RRB- . And he pondered questions before offering thoughtful , sometimes stammering , answers . Indeed , if Clarke 's careful and moving book has a problem , it 's that the author also seems to have fallen a little in love with his subject . The hard-nosed -- the preferred adjective was `` ruthless '' -- RFK who shrewdly managed his brother 's presidential campaign gets short shrift . The book sometimes seems to exist in its own bubble , lacking the uncertainty that afflicted Kennedy in fighting his uphill nomination battle . But if you can get past the occasional hagiography , what emerges is a fine addition to the Kennedy canon . Watch photographer , writer recall RFK 's last days '' Clarke 's book is illuminated by his interviews with Kennedy beat writers and audience members , which give his retracing of the campaign 's exhaustive travels a striking immediacy . Given that there 's no shortage of material on the man himself -- Arthur Schlesinger 's mammoth 1978 `` Robert Kennedy and His Times '' and Evan Thomas ' 2000 biography `` Robert Kennedy : His Life '' come to mind -- that 's a worthy achievement . Clarke usually works on a grass-roots level , providing welcome glimpses of Kennedy 's sense of humor and showing how even small RFK gestures stayed with people for decades . What they often remember is the challenge of the man , a candidate unafraid of campaigning among the poorest of the poor in cities and on reservations . While Hubert Humphrey preached the `` Politics of Joy '' in that brutal year -- and Eugene McCarthy simply lectured -- Kennedy answered questions with questions , at his best when he asked as much from his audience as he did from himself . Indeed , Kennedy seemed to revel in hostile audiences , Clarke observes . Some he won over with his candor . Others he could n't have cared less about accommodating . At a speech at the Indiana University Medical School , he faced a stony crowd of doctors-to-be . `` All these programs sound very find and nice and all that , but where 's the money gon na come from ? '' one student asked about Kennedy 's proposals to help the poor . Having listened to several similar questions , Kennedy had had enough . `` From you ! '' he roared , pointing at people around the hall . `` From you ! ... You ! '' Probably only Mr. Smith , `` The Candidate 's '' Bill McKay and Jay Bulworth could have gotten away with that . In Clarke 's telling , the end comes quietly , two pages after the June 5 shooting . There 's no investigation of conspiracy theories , no long recollections by friends . It 's appropriate to his tone . Watch Clarke talk about why RFK resonates '' There is , however , a fascinating postscript . Clarke found RFK 's post-California schedule in the Kennedy Library , and the document shows what might have been , at least for 10 days : campaigning in his home state New York primary , bicycling in Central Park , attending a firemen 's association event . Whether it would have led to the presidency is a cruel question history never answered . And with Robert Kennedy , questions are all that 's left . `` Some men see things as they are and ask why . Others dream things that never were and ask why not , '' he often said , quoting George Bernard Shaw . Edward Kennedy read those words at his funeral . | Reviewer : `` The Last Campaign '' worthy addition to Robert Kennedy books . Thurston Clarke 's work follows RFK through his 82-day presidential run . Book sometimes glorifies Kennedy , but with apparent reason . | [[1448, 1502], [208, 297]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Australian authorities on Friday made contact with a 16-year-old American girl who triggered a distress signal while attempting to sail solo around the world . But it could be a day before a French fishing vessel pulls Abby Sunderland and her boat , Wild Eyes , to shore , the Australian Maritime Safety Authority said . `` She 's in the boat . The boat 's seaworthy . It 's not taking on water , and she 's equipped for the conditions down there , we believe , '' said Mick Kinley of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority . Sunderland triggered the distress signal Thursday during rough seas . `` She 's been dismasted . The rigging 's over the side and in the water , '' Kinley told reporters Friday . He said Wild Eyes was in the Southern Ocean about 2,000 miles southwest of Perth , Australia , when rescuers contacted her Friday . `` That 's a long way from any merchant shipping , '' he said . `` We 're just fortunate that the French fishing vessel was in that region . '' Family spokesman Christian Pinkston said Sunderland communicated with rescuers via marina radio . `` We know that Australian search and rescue has contacted her ... and she is alive and well , '' Pinkston said early Friday morning . Sunderland 's parents , Laurence and Marianne , wrote on her blog : `` We have just heard from the Australian Search and Rescue . The plane arrived on the scene moments ago . Wild Eyes is upright but her rigging is down . The weather conditions are abating . Radio communication was made and Abby reports that she is fine ! `` We do n't know much else right now . The French fishing vessel that was diverted to her location will be there in a little over 24 hours . Where they will take her or how long it will take we do n't know . '' Mom talks about dangers her daughter faces on high seas . Earlier Friday , the Australian Maritime Safety Authority had taken over the search for Sunderland , noting the stormy seas that prompted her to activate her distress beacons had calmed . `` The weather is moderating . It is improving slightly , '' Carly Lusk of the AMSA said at the time . `` Now , it 's not perfect , but any improvement in the weather is a positive when you 're looking at a search and rescue operation . '' Sunderland 's vessel is adrift in the middle of the Indian Ocean some 2,000 miles east of Madagascar , 2,000 miles west of Australia and 500 miles north of the French Antarctic Islands . Sunderland 's family began scrambling to organize a search-and-rescue effort for her after they learned her emergency beacon was detected just an hour after they last spoke to her on Thursday , according to Jeff Casher , an engineer on her support team . The government of Reunion -- a French island -- diverted a fishing boat toward her last known position , but it is not expected to reach the area until Saturday , Casher said . An Australian military ship , more than two days sail away , has also been dispatched , Casher said . Electronic signals from the boat indicate it is drifting at just a mile per hour , which means it is still afloat but not under sail , Casher said . iReporter follows the story . Sunderland began her journey from Marina del Rey , California , on January 23 with the goal of sailing her 40-foot boat around the world without stopping . Mechanical troubles forced her to make two stops for repairs , including at Cape Town , South Africa , in May . She has kept in touch with family and followers through a satellite telephone . Her website has published frequent blog updates , including one posted Wednesday . `` The last few days have -LRB- been -RRB- pretty busy out here , '' Sunderland wrote in her last blog entry . `` I 've been in some rough weather for awhile with winds steady at 40-45 knots with higher gusts . With that front passing , the conditions were lighter today . '' Sunderland is a `` very determined '' and `` very capable sailor , '' Thomas said . `` She 's pretty much unfazed by most everything , but she had been fatigued by this period of winds which she 's been going through for several days now , '' he said . When Abby 's older brother Zac sailed around the world alone last year , with stops , he became the youngest person to ever do so at 17 . Mike Perham of the United Kingdom , a younger 17-year-old , took over the distinction weeks later . Last month , Australian Jessica Watson , days before her 17th birthday , claimed to have become the youngest person to have completed a non-stop , unassisted solo circumnavigation -- a mark held by then 18-year-old Jesse Martin of Australia since 1999 . However , sailing journalists have said -- and her team has n't disputed -- that Watson 's route was less than 21,600 orthodromic nautical miles , which is the length of the equator and the distance generally used for round-the-world sailing records . Abby has been on a schedule to complete her global journey about two months before her 17th birthday , which is on October 19 . CNN 's Samuel Gardner , Ed Payne , Irving Last and Allison Blakely contributed to this report . | NEW : Authorities say 16-year-old has tools to survive at sea . Australian maritime officials say they 've made contact with missing girl . Family spokesman says she 's `` alive and well '' Fishing boat could reach Sunderland 's last position on Saturday . | [[826, 857], [1100, 1192], [1599, 1624], [1650, 1700], [2699, 2724], [2747, 2801], [2808, 2859]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- An unusual movie promotion stunt threatened to turn deadly Tuesday when a World War II-era biplane flipped over while landing near the nation 's capital . Nobody was hurt , though one of the main runways at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport was closed for roughly an hour after the crash , an airport spokeswoman said . The plane was righted by a crane . The 1943 Stearman , a popular training aircraft during the war , was one of nine flying to Reagan National from Virginia 's Manassas Regional Airport to help promote the movie `` Legends of Flight , '' a film meant to provide a window into `` a century of aviation trial and error , '' according to its Web site . The two-seat , open-cockpit plane `` took a back-end bounce , '' as it landed , movie executive producer Doug Freeman told CNN . `` The pilot and passenger got out unhurt '' and later relaxed over a cup of coffee . The pilot was identified as Michael Truschel of Nokesville , Virginia -- located near Manassas . The accident occurred at the end of a roughly 20-minute flight under clear skies and light winds . `` It looked like -LRB- Michael -RRB- was up on the main gear , and then the nose went down and the tail went up , '' said pilot Dave Brown , who was directly behind Truschel 's aircraft . `` I sidestepped -LRB- Truschel -RRB- and landed right behind him , '' Brown told CNN . Air traffic controllers directed the other planes to land on another runway . Brown told CNN that `` by the time it happened , -LRB- Truschel -RRB- was going really slowly , so when it flipped over on its nose it just went on over on its top wing . '' The main body of the overturned plane remained high enough off the ground for Truschel and his passenger to release their harnesses and then climb out . `` It shows how rigid Boeing made the plane , '' Brown noted . `` They were built as trainers for cadets who flipped them like this quite often . '' Brown said there was damage to the tail , a wing and the prop of Truschel 's plane . | WWII-era biplane flips while landing at Reagan National Airport near Washington , D.C. The flight was part of a promotion for the movie `` Legends of Flight '' The plane was a 1943 Stearman , a popular training aircraft during the war . Nobody was injured in the crash . | [[0, 15], [19, 173], [382, 399], [532, 578], [828, 869]] |
Atlanta , Georgia -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Prosecutor Jack Mallard was waiting for the moment Wayne Williams , on trial in the Atlanta child murders case , would take the witness stand in his own defense . `` I knew he figured he could out-talk the prosecutor , '' Mallard says . `` He had tried out-talking everybody else , and I knew I 'd be ready . '' Under cross-examination , Williams blew up at the prosecutor , saying , `` You must be a fool , '' and then telling Mallard , `` You want the real Wayne Williams ? You got him right here . '' In his closing statement , Mallard would quote that outburst to the jury in describing Williams as `` a Jekyll and Hyde '' personality . A day later , the jury convicted Williams on two counts of murder . He was eventually sentenced to two life sentences in prison . `` I think I made my point that he had a dual personality , '' Mallard told reporters when the 1982 trial ended . `` I thought I 'd stay after him until he showed it . And it took longer than anyone else before . '' `` I was my own worst enemy , '' says Williams , who still argues he is innocent . `` I could almost see the shock in the jurors ' faces . '' Mallard says , `` I have to admit , it was a high point of perhaps my career . '' Now in his mid-70s , Mallard was a prosecutor for 40 years , winning a number of Atlanta 's highest profile trials : a drug-dealing lawyer who had his wife murdered in front of their own children to silence her ; a woman who poisoned two paramours with anti-freeze . Early in his career , defense attorneys began calling Mallard `` Blood '' because of the way he went for the jugular in the courtroom . In retirement , living on a lake north of Atlanta , Mallard has written his own book on the Atlanta child murders , subtitled `` The Night Stalker . '' While Williams was convicted only of killing two adults whose bodies were found downstream from the river bridge where police spotted him , Mallard believes Williams was responsible for many more deaths during two years of terror in the city . `` I would say about 25 of the 28 male victims on the list . '' | Williams prosecutor nicknamed `` Blood '' for going for jugular in courtroom . The prosecutor , Jack Mallard , says Williams `` had a dual personality '' Decades later , Williams says he could `` see the shock in the jurors ' faces '' | [[1600, 1650], [256, 273], [541, 565], [568, 677], [811, 865], [1110, 1162]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The two New Jersey men suspected of attempting to fly to Somalia to join a terrorist organization were denied bail at a court hearing on Thursday . Mohamed Mahmood Alessa , 20 , of North Bergen , New Jersey , and Carlos Eduardo Almonte , 24 , of Elmwood Park , New Jersey , are charged with one count each of conspiracy to kill , maim and murder persons outside of the United States , which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison . The men , who were taken into custody at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Saturday , intended to take separate flights to Egypt on their way to Somalia `` to join designated foreign terrorist organization Al-Shabaab and wage violent jihad , '' according to federal prosecutors . The criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Newark alleges that in 2007 , Alessa and Almonte traveled together to Jordan , where they intended to enter Iraq in order to commit violence against U.S. troops there . The U.S. attorney 's office in New Jersey said the investigation of the two men began with a tip to the FBI -- from someone who knew them -- in October 2006 . | Bail denied for two men accused of trying to join a terror group . The two were arrested at an airport on June 5 . The FBI was investigating the two suspects since 2006 . | [[19, 37], [52, 116], [0, 15], [94, 166], [457, 547], [550, 619]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Millions of sea turtles have been the unintentional victims of the world 's fisheries in the past 20 years , according to a report published Tuesday . The first ever global survey of sea turtle bycatch conducted by Conservation International and Duke University in the United States suggests that the Mediterranean and the Eastern Pacific are locations where the marine turtle populations are in danger of collapse . The report says that the increase in fishing gear , like longlines and gillnets , in marine habitats is directly linked to the increase in the accidental capture of sea turtles . Bycatch occurs when fishing gear inadvertently snag animals other than the intended catch . Sea turtles , along with sharks , dolphins , and albatrosses , are among the most frequently accidentally captured . They often perish as a result of swallowing sharp J-shaped hooks , or by drowning in nets . The report , published this week in `` Conservation Letters '' investigated the impact of bycatch on sea turtles around the globe from 1990 to 2008 . Their findings show that tens of thousands of marine turtles have been reported as bycatch in the past 20 years . Dr. Bryan Wallace , Science Advisor for Conservation International 's Sea Turtle Flagship Program believes the number may be far higher . `` Because the reports we reviewed typically covered less than 1 percent of all fleets , with little or no information from small-scale fisheries around the world , we conservatively estimate that the true total is probably not in tens of thousands , but in the millions of turtles taken as bycatch in the past two decades , '' he said in a press statement . Sea turtles are highly migratory animals that cover vast areas of ocean between nesting and feeding grounds . They are subject to several threats , including capture for their meat and collection of eggs , destruction of nesting beaches and pollution of the ocean . However , Wallace and the reports ' co-authors believe bycatch is the most serious threat to sea turtle populations around the world . Six of the seven marine turtle species are currently categorized as `` vulnerable '' , `` endangered '' , or `` critically endangered globally '' by the International Union of Conservation of Nature 's -LRB- IUCN -RRB- Red List . They include loggerheads , leatherbacks , hawksbills , Olive Ridleys , Kemp 's Ridleys and green sea turtles ; the flatback , an endemic to Australia , is currently categorized as Data Deficient . The highest reported bycatch rates for longline fisheries occurred off Mexico 's Baja California peninsula , the report said , adding that the highest rates for gillnet fishing took place in the North Adriatic region of the Mediterranean and the highest rates for trawls were found off the coast of Uruguay . The report suggests that a lack of integrated management of fishing in the Mediterranean Sea is to blame for the region 's high bycatch rates . It has some of the world 's highest concentrations of longline fishing and trawling . `` We have only begun to scratch the surface about the realities of sea turtle bycatch , '' said Wallace . `` Our review revealed important data gaps in areas where small-scale fisheries operate , especially Africa , the eastern Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia . '' `` Sea turtles are sentinel species of how oceans are functioning . The impacts that human activities have on them give us an idea as to how those same activities are affecting the oceans on which billions of people around the world depend for their own well-being . '' said Wallace . `` Our hope is that this study gives governments and fisheries alike the impetus for bolstering on-going efforts to reduce sea turtle bycatch and to promote more sustainable fishing practices as soon as possible . '' | Millions of turtles believed to have died as fishing bycatch in last 20 years . New report looked at impact of longlines , gillnets and trawls on turtles . Mediterranean and eastern Pacific are areas with most threatened turtle populations . | [[0, 15], [19, 125], [1066, 1179], [1091, 1179], [1592, 1640], [1573, 1599], [1643, 1676], [0, 15], [128, 149], [436, 614], [955, 1055], [170, 220], [302, 371], [362, 371], [378, 435]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Former South African president Nelson Mandela will attend the World Cup opening ceremony on Friday , according to his grandson . Nkosi Mandela said his grandfather would be on hand to greet the crowd at the Soccer City Stadium , but that he would n't stay for the entirety of the opening game between South Africa and Mexico . He told a press conference : `` The current discussion is that we afford him time to come in whether it is ten minutes or 15 minutes to walk around the stadium and wave at the crowd . `` But I think to have him sit there an entire 90 minutes of soccer would really impact his state of health because it is winter after all , so we have to guard against that . `` As South Africans we wish him to live for many more years to come . '' The 91-year-old played a pivotal role in bringing the World Cup to South Africa but has made limited public appearances recently . However , he did meet the South Africa squad last week . Current president Jacob Zuma paid tribute to Mandela at an event to mark the opening ceremony of the 60th FIFA Congress . `` Nelson Mandela worked hard that we should win the right to host this tournament . We dedicate the World Cup to him , '' he was quoted as saying by the UK Press Association . `` There are a few moments that define a nation 's history . We stand on the threshold of one as we draw closer and closer to Friday , June 11 when the World Cup officially begins . `` What an honour and what a privilege for this 16-year-old democracy . Our country has become a stage for the international community to celebrate humanity , achievement and friendship . '' As World Cup fever grows in South Africa , thousands of South Africans poured onto the streets of Johannesburg on Wednesday as the national team paraded through the city . | Nelson Mandela will attend the World Cup opening ceremony says his grandson . Former South African president will greet the crowd at Soccer City Stadium . Current president Jacob Zuma dedicates the World Cup to Mandela . | [[0, 15], [50, 117], [0, 15], [120, 147], [162, 199], [968, 1078], [1175, 1207]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Amnesty International has joined the ranks of those criticizing the U.S. Border Patrol , calling for a `` full , impartial and transparent investigation '' into a shooting this week that left a 15-year-old Mexican boy dead . `` This shooting across the border appears to have been a grossly disproportionate response and flies in the face of international standards which compel police to use firearms only as a last resort , in response to an immediate , deadly threat that can not be contained through lesser means , '' said Susan Lee , Americas director at Amnesty International , in a statement Wednesday on the organization 's website . The Mexican government also has requested a quick and public investigation into the fatal shooting at the border between El Paso , Texas , and Ciudad Juarez , Mexico , on Monday night . The teen was shot during a rock-throwing incident , Mexican and U.S. officials said . On Wednesday , State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said the United States will ensure a thorough investigation . `` We pledge that -LRB- the -RRB- investigation will be fully transparent , '' he said . `` We understand the concern that they have about not just this incident , but multiple incidents where we 've had tragic loss of life at the border , '' Crowley added . A long-term solution to avoid these kind of incidents would be the passage of comprehensive immigration reform , he said . Border Patrol agents responded to a call of a possible immigrant smuggling taking place on the border , the FBI said . The agents were able to apprehend two suspects while others crossed back into Mexico and threw rocks at an agent , who then fired shots . Sergio Adrian Hernandez Huereca was killed by a shot to the head , officials said . It was unclear whether Hernandez was on the U.S. or Mexican side of the border when he was shot , though his body was found on the Mexican side , the FBI said . There were videocameras in the area that the FBI is reviewing , El Paso FBI spokeswoman Andrea Simmons said . Simmons said the FBI will decline further comment until the investigation is complete . The agency 's version of events is based not just on the Border Patrol 's statements but on interviews with civilians and other evidence , Simmons said . `` I do n't want it to seem like it was one-sided information , '' she said . The border patrol agent `` was a coward . He should n't have done that because my son was in Mexico , not the United States , '' Hernandez 's mother , Maria Guadalupe Huereca , told CNN en Español on Wednesday . The boy was not going to cross into the United States , she said . Instead , he had gone to visit his brother , who works for the Mexican customs agency , to pick up some money so he could by school supplies , Huereca said . After picking up the money , the boy went near the international bridge , where he hid behind a pillar when the shots rang out , she said . `` If -LRB- the border patrol agent -RRB- has children , he will see my child 's face when he killed him , '' Huereca said . `` May God forgive him for what he did to my son . '' The shooting comes less than two weeks after the May 31 death of a Mexican illegal immigrant who had been detained three days earlier by border agents in California . San Diego police , who are investigating the death of Anastasio Hernandez , said he was beaten with a baton and shot with a stun gun after he became combative . California medical officials ruled his death a homicide . The investigation in that case continues . CNN 's Arthur Brice contributed to this report . | NEW : State Department pledges transparent investigation . Amnesty International condemns shooting of 15-year-old boy by border patrol agent . Mexican government has called for a quick investigation . Boy 's mother says her son was not going to cross border . Victim was picking up money for school supplies . | [[0, 15], [108, 200], [933, 945], [948, 1049], [1050, 1123], [180, 200], [206, 243], [661, 683], [689, 826], [2576, 2629], [2674, 2677], [2731, 2783]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Israel `` has never negotiated the exchange of nuclear weapons with South Africa , '' its president 's office said Monday , after a British newspaper claimed such talks had taken place . The Guardian published what it said were previously secret South African documents saying the two countries ' defense ministers had discussed the possible Israeli sale of nuclear weapons to the apartheid-era state in 1975 . The newspaper said the documents were the first written proof that Israel had nuclear weapons . Israel has always refused either to confirm or deny that . But Monday , President Shimon Peres ' office issued a statement saying , `` There exists no basis in reality for the claims published this morning by the Guardian that in 1975 Israel negotiated with South Africa the exchange of nuclear weapons . `` Unfortunately , The Guardian elected to write its piece based on the selective interpretation of South African documents and not on concrete facts , '' the statement said . Peres was defense minister at the time of the alleged negotiations , and the Guardian says his signature is on one of the memos . Part of that memo has been blacked out , but a part that is visible mentions `` all information , know-how and materials , '' then has several words blacked out , followed by `` schematics , plans and drawings supplied or transmitted ... in the course of negotiations or in pursuance of any of the aforesaid agreements . '' Much of the rest of the visible part of the document is about keeping the agreement secret . It makes reference to an `` Annex A , '' which does not appear in the Guardian article . The document , posted with others on the Guardian 's website , is apparently signed by South African Defense Minister PW Botha and dated April 3 , 1975 . A signature appearing to be Peres ' is not dated . The document is stamped `` Top Secret '' and `` Declassified 2006-05-30 . '' Another memo , apparently bearing Peres ' signature and published on Israeli Ministry of Defense stationery , thanks South African Information Secretary E.M. Rhoodie for his `` great efforts '' in ensuring successful meetings between Israel and South Africa in December 1974 . The document says a `` vitally important cooperation between our two countries has been initiated , '' but does not go into details . A third document purports to detail talks between Botha and Peres . Botha asks for `` the correct payload '' and Peres tells him it is `` available in three sizes , '' according to the South African minutes of the meeting . The documents -- all South African -- were obtained by a researcher , Sasha Polakow-Suransky , for a book on the close relationship between the two countries , the Guardian says in its article by Washington correspondent Chris McGreal . The book , `` The Unspoken Alliance : Israel 's Secret Relationship with Apartheid South Africa , '' is due to be published Tuesday , according to Amazon.com . Israel said the newspaper did not seek Israeli official comment before publishing the article . Israel has long been assumed to have about 200 nuclear warheads . | Paper claims defense ministers discussed nuclear weapons deal in 1975 . Israel says it has `` never negotiated '' nuclear weapons sales with South Africa . UK 's Guardian says documents are first written proof that Israel has nuclear weapons . | [[149, 205], [206, 429], [271, 429], [0, 15], [19, 99], [430, 496], [449, 525]] |
TEHRAN , Iran -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- He 's been labeled by many as the `` reformist , '' a man who can take Iran beyond the truculent anti-Western rhetoric of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad . Moussavi was not seen as a reformer during his stint as prime minister during the 1980s . So , when Iran 's government announced over the weekend that Mir Hossein Moussavi had lost in his bid to become the country 's next president , young Iranians took to the streets by the thousands alleging ballot fraud . Thousands of others around the globe championed the cause on social-networking Web sites and agreed to wear green on Monday in solidarity with Moussavi 's supporters . But what is often lost in the outrage is whether Iran would look different under a Moussavi presidency . Watch more about the vote '' Though the 67-year old is credited for successfully navigating the Iranian economy as prime minister during a bloody eight-year war with Iraq in the 1980s , he also was a hard-liner whom the Economist described as a `` firm radical . '' He , like most Iranians in power , does not believe in the existence of Israel . He defended the taking of hostages at the U.S. Embassy in Iran in 1979 , which led to the break in ties between the countries . He was part of a regime that regularly executed dissidents and backed the fatwa against British author Salman Rushdie . And as late as April , he opposed suspending the country 's nuclear-enrichment program but said it would not be diverted to weapons use . `` I would n't go as far as -LRB- call it -RRB- a ` Velvet Revolution , ' '' Trita Parsi , president of the National Iranian American Council , said of the phrase many are using to describe the rallies in Iran . `` At the end of the day , Moussavi has been more involved and been there from the very beginning of the revolution in a way that Ahmadinejad never was , '' Parsi told `` CNN Newsroom '' on Sunday . `` Moussavi was one of the founders of the revolution . '' Moussavi was named prime minister in 1980 . A year earlier , Iran had become an Islamic republic after the ruling monarchy was overthrown and Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was forced into exile . The same year , a group of students in support of the Islamic revolution took 52 Americans hostage and held them for 444 days . In an interview with The New York Times in 1981 , Moussavi defended the hostage-taking as the beginning of `` second stage of our revolution . '' `` It was after this that we rediscovered our true Islamic identity , '' he said . The incident , Moussavi added , ended the `` problem of pro-American circles and their following in Iran . `` After this , we felt the sense that we could look Western policy in the eye and analyze it the way they had been evaluating us for many years . '' In 1988 , author Salman Rushdie released his fourth novel , ` The Satanic Verses , ' which Iran said insulted Islam . The country 's supreme leader called for the death of Rushdie . And Moussavi , in a radio broadcast , said the order would be carried out . Moussavi told the Financial Times in April that he would not halt Iran 's uranium enrichment program if he were president . `` No one in Iran would accept suspension , '' he said . Since his stint as prime minister , Moussavi has been absent from politics . For the past 10 years , his official job has been to head the state-owned Art Center . He is a painter . The long `` 20 years of silence , '' as the Iranian media dubbed it , is working to Moussavi 's advantage . Of Iran 's population of 70 million , almost 60 percent are younger than 28 -- too young to have lived through the 1979 revolution . To them , Moussavi represents a sea change from Ahmadinejad . While the president calls the Holocaust a myth , Moussavi has condemned the killing of Jews . While Ahmadinejad has unleashed the morality police to ensure that women cover their hair in public , Moussavi has pledged his support for women 's rights . Most importantly , the youth are unhappy about the faltering economy under Ahmadinejad , with the unemployment rate topping 30 percent by some accounts . They are hungry for anyone who represents change , analysts have said . `` We have really an interesting moment of historic irony here , '' Afshin Molavi , a fellow at the New America Foundation , said on the CNN talk show Fareed Zakaria GPS . `` Moussavi is a child of the revolution . Moussavi was never a real reformer , either , when he was prime minister . `` And now he 's being faced with the question : Should he unleash the young people out onto the streets who supported him -- thus threatening the very system that he fought for ? '' Shahriar Etimani , an Iranian-American who was part of a demonstration Sunday in Washington , D.C. , to protest the election results , said he realizes Moussavi is part of the establishment , but he remains hopeful . `` The cynical part of me says that these guys have 30 years ' of experience of survival . So this will be another blip on the radar ? '' he said . `` The hopeful part of me says that , ` You know what ? There needs to be a catalyst and we do n't know where that catalyst comes from . We do n't know where that tipping point will come from . ' '' CNN 's Saeed Ahmed in Atlanta contributed to this report . | Mir Hossein Moussavi was named prime minister in 1980 . He steered Iranian economy through eight-year war with Iraq . He opposed suspending the country 's nuclear-enrichment program . Has been absent from politics for the past 10 years . | [[1973, 2016], [806, 953], [1365, 1385], [1388, 1451], [3038, 3138], [3219, 3295]] |
LOS ANGELES , California -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Singer Michael Jackson took more than 10 Xanax pills a night , asking his employees to get the prescription medicine under their names and also personally traveling to doctors ' offices in other states to obtain them , said a confidential document from 2004 that CNN obtained Thursday . Los Angeles detectives are waiting on the coroner 's report on the death of Michael Jackson . The document from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff 's Department contains confidential interviews conducted with two of Jackson 's former security guards as officials prepared for Jackson 's child molestation trial in 2005 . The singer was acquitted after the 14-week trial . But the information about the pills , and the lengths Jackson went to get them , adds to a growing mountain of claims tying the insomniac singer to drugs in recent days . According to the drug 's Web site , Xanax is for the treatment of panic disorder . Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton said Thursday detectives have spoken to a number of doctors who have treated Jackson over the years , and are looking into the singer 's prescription drug history . Doctors who did not cooperate with investigators were issued subpoenas , a source told CNN Thursday . If needed , authorities will issue more , the source said . Jackson died on June 25 . Authorities are awaiting toxicology reports from the coroner 's office to determine the exact cause of death . `` And based on those , we will have an idea of what it is we are dealing -LRB- with -RRB- : are we dealing with a homicide or are we dealing with an accidental overdose ? '' Bratton said . The speculation that prescription drugs , particularly sedatives , could have played a role in Jackson 's death keeps coming up with each new nugget of information -- and there have been many . The Jackson family knows that the probe into his death can turn into a criminal case , a source close to the family told CNN on Thursday . `` The family is aware of a potential criminal prosecution , '' said the source , who did not want to be identified . The amount of Xanax that Jackson allegedly took surprised CNN chief medical correspondent Sanjay Gupta . In addiction cases , people develop a tolerance to drugs and have to take more and more pills , Gupta said . `` No matter how you cut it , this is an extremely high dosage of Xanax , '' Gupta said . `` It is a huge red flag , even with the tolerance that I was talking about . This dosage is exceedingly high for any human being . '' Jackson 's attempt to battle sleep disorder . The 2004 document details a dark picture of Jackson 's attempts to battle his sleeping disorder . One security guard that sheriff 's deputies interviewed said he expressed his concern about Jackson 's use of 10-plus pills a night to another staffer . The second staffer replied : `` Jackson was doing better because he was down from 30 to 40 Xanax pills a night , '' according to the document . One of the guards said he and three other employees would get prescriptions for Jackson under their names . The second guard backed up the claim , saying he had picked up medicines for the singer that were in other people 's names . The document contains the names of five doctors -- some in California , some in New York and Florida . It was not immediately clear whether police have spoken to them as part of their investigation into Jackson 's death . After the doctor visits , Jackson would be `` out of it and sedated , '' one guard said . According to the sheriff 's office document , the guard who provided the bulk of the information quit his job after Jackson `` fell on his face '' in a hotel room and hurt himself . The employee told Jackson he was not comfortable getting prescriptions for him and left , he later told investigators . Years later in 2006 , Jackson was in Las Vegas , Nevada , trying to jump-start his career . Deal-maker Jack Wishna , who was helping the singer land a long-running show in Vegas , told CNN the singer would appear `` drugged up '' and `` incoherent '' -- often so weak and emaciated he had to use a wheelchair to get around . The comeback shows were canceled because of Jackson 's condition , Wishna said . Around that time , sister Janet Jackson was so worried about Jackson that she tried to stage an intervention with assistance from her other brothers , two sources close to the Jackson family told CNN Wednesday . Jackson reportedly ordered his security guards not to let the family members in . He also refused to take calls from his mother , Katherine , CNN has learned . At the time , the Jackson family released a statement to People magazine denying the alleged intervention . But Janet Jackson was not among the signatories . Along with the police investigation , which is being aided by the state attorney general 's office and the Drug Enforcement Administration , the Los Angeles County coroner 's office has also drawn up a list of Jackson 's doctors and is trying to talk to them to determine what drugs they may have prescribed him . Among them are Dr. Arnold Klein , Jackson 's dermatologist , and Dr. Conrad Murray , his cardiologist . Klein told CNN Wednesday that Jackson was addicted to drugs at one point but had kicked the habit . Murray , who has been interviewed by police , has repeatedly said he will withhold comment until the coroner 's tests are back . Among others who have indicated that Jackson may have been using dangerous prescription medication are a nutritionist , Cherilyn Lee , who said Jackson pleaded for Diprivan despite being told of its harmful effects . Sources close to Jackson told CNN that the insomniac singer traveled with an anesthesiologist who would `` take him down '' at night and `` bring him back up '' during a world tour in the mid-90s . Another source involved with the probe told CNN that investigators found numerous bottles of prescription drugs in the singer 's $ 100,000-a-month rented mansion in Holmby Hills . The Associated Press and the Los Angeles Times , citing unnamed sources , said police found Diprivan . Diprivan is a powerful sedative that is administered intravenously and is known by its generic name Propofol . Bratton did not elaborate on what was discovered . `` At the time of the death with search warrants , we were able to seize a number of items from the residence where the death occurred and those will assist in the investigation , '' he said . CNN 's Randi Kaye , Susan Chun , Scott Bronstein and Nancy Baker contributed to this report . | 2004 document details security guards ' accounts of singer 's pill consumption . Document describes Jackson 's attempt to battle sleep disorder . Death investigation could turn into a criminal probe , authorities say . | [[263, 310], [2612, 2637], [2650, 2683], [1844, 1982], [1874, 1928]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The 2010 Census is nearly under way , but do n't expect an e-mail from the U.S. Census Bureau asking you personal questions in its head count of America . Cyber criminals have information about millions of people , but they do n't use it against everyone . If you do get one , it 's a scam . `` Like most large organizations , we have seen e-mail scams and phishing attacks that cite the U.S. Census Bureau , '' agency spokesman Neil Tillman wrote in an e-mail . The Census Bureau stresses that it will not request personal information from you via e-mail , such as PIN codes , passwords , Social Security numbers , credit-card numbers or other financial account information . A news-based phishing scheme like this one is one of several risks you face online . Cybercriminals have gotten craftier , often looking toward popular trends and events -- such as tax season , the mortgage meltdown and the growth of social media -- to scam people into giving them sensitive information . To protect their privacy online , computer users need to stay informed about the criminals ' methods and to learn basic principles of caution . Online attackers have information on millions of consumers , said Ravi Sandhu , a professor of cyber security at the University of Texas at San Antonio . However , he added , the rate at which they can use that information is considerably lower . `` It 's a bit like a lottery . To have identity theft actually occur against you , you need to have a little bad luck . There is some comfort in numbers , '' Sandhu said . In addition to criminal scams , corporate data breaches can leave your privacy compromised . As of September 22 , there have been 379 data breaches reported by the Identity Theft Resource Center in 2009 , affecting more than 13 million records . Companies with data breaches included financial institutions , travel companies , health care operations and schools . `` It 's not one or two companies that are acting irresponsibly with consumer data , '' said Andrea Matwyshyn , a law professor who teaches technology regulation at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania . `` It 's a large-scale problem where industry norms of care are arguably not adequate to address the challenges of data security optimally . '' Safeguard your Social Security number . Exercising caution before you submit sensitive information can save you a lot of aggravation down the line . For instance , most businesses really wo n't need your Social Security number , the key number for identity theft , so think twice before you provide it online . Social Security numbers are used `` to establish new lines of credit or for tax purposes . How many things are you doing online that have to do with taxes ? '' said Linda Foley , co-founder of the Identity Theft Resource Center . So before you share the information , be certain that you are on that Web site of a real company -- as opposed to an imposter conducting a phishing scheme . Also , ask yourself why a Web site would need your Social Security number , said Michael Kaiser , executive director of the National Cyber Security Alliance . `` I always encourage consumers to supply the minimum amount of information possible . A lot of times , you get these long forms and you get the little star that 's required , but people are collecting other -LSB- data about you -RSB- , '' Kaiser said . `` Do n't fill it out if you do n't want to . '' Still , even visiting a legitimate Web site has its share of risks , because online attackers may inject malicious content onto them by hacking them or placing advertisements that deliver malware , Sandhu said . If a criminal does obtain your Social Security number and creates a fraudulent identity , it can be a much bigger hassle than if he or she uses your credit card number . Credit card companies often pick up the tab for fraudulent charges , and they send you a new card with a different number . It 's more difficult to get a new Social Security number , and a stolen identity could affect your credit rating . Where is your information going ? If you conduct an online transaction that requires you to reveal personal data , the online privacy policy will explain whether your information could be shared with third parties . A company may tell you in that policy it will share your data with its `` trusted partners '' and however it deems appropriate in the course of business , said Matwyshyn , editor of the upcoming book `` Harboring Data : Information Security , Law , and the Corporation . '' `` That 's a signal that your data is going to be licensed many times over , and it 's going to be touched by a greater number of hands . '' That becomes a problem , Matwyshyn said , because `` you 're only as good as the weakest link in the chain . '' That is , the `` trusted partners '' who can access the data may not have optimal security . Storing sensitive data such as a credit card number on a business ' Web site , though convenient , may also pose a risk , Matwyshyn said . `` The longer they store that credit card number in their systems , the longer the period of time that someone else can gain unauthorized access to that credit card number , '' she said . Privacy at the mercy of others . Even if you practice a high level of caution with how much you reveal about yourself online , other people may inadvertently expose information about you . For instance , a friend or relative may post a photo of you on a blog or social networking Web site that reveals your name , shows a street sign indicating your address and displays your car 's license plate number , Kaiser said . Kaiser recommends periodically looking up your name on one or two search engines to see the personal information about you on the Internet but adds that search probably wo n't tell you whether someone stole sensitive information , such as your credit card , address or Social Security number . For that , monitor your credit report for suspicious activity , suggests the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse . The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act allows you to access a free credit report each year from each of the three credit bureaus : Equifax , Experian and TransUnion . `` Just like in health care , you should be the first one to notice when something goes wrong with you , '' Sandhu said . `` If you do n't perceive a symptom and convey it to a physician , nobody 's going to be able to help you , '' he said . `` So here , also , consumers need to be vigilant and watch over their accounts and look out to see if anything strange is happening . '' | Cybercriminals have data on many people but can use it only against a finite number . Most businesses do n't really need your Social Security number . Privacy policies reveal whether a company will share your information with others . | [[174, 231], [1146, 1204], [2459, 2521], [4189, 4291]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer made famous the phrase , `` I 'm sick and tired of being sick and tired . '' For me , I 'm sick and tired of Democrats having power and being unwilling to use it . I 've always respected Republicans when they had power because they were willing to use it and maybe apologize later . Today , President Obama walked into the White House briefing room and took some questions , and one of them revolved around recess appointments . He has watched Republicans block many of his appointments , and now he says he made it clear to them that he will `` consider '' making some when the U.S. Senate goes into recess . `` One senator , as you all are aware , had put a hold on every single nominee that we had put forward due to a dispute over a couple of earmarks in his state , '' President Obama said . `` In our meeting , I asked the congressional leadership to put a stop to these holds in which nominees for critical jobs are denied a vote for months . Surely we can set aside partisanship and do what 's traditionally been done to confirm these nominations . If the Senate does not act -- and I made this very clear -- if the Senate does not act to confirm these nominees , I will consider making several recess appointments during the upcoming recess , because we ca n't afford to allow politics to stand in the way of a well-functioning government . '' This is where the president needs to show his toughness and just do it . Forget the threats . The actions of Sen. Richard Shelby , R-Alabama , and other Republican obstructionists will continue if President Obama allows them to run roughshod over him . When you 're the top dog , you do what you have to do to govern . Allowing Republican senators to continue to deny your appointments is nonsense . If all of them choose to support a filibuster , then you take it to the American people and show the obstructionists for what they are . You get your grass-roots movement fired up to stand up and do something . The political right used its base to go after Democrats who blocked appointments to the federal bench and other positions . So why not be just as aggressive ? If there are members of your own party who stand in the way , such as Sen. Ben Nelson , D-Nebraska , then you also blast them and make them pay for acting so foolishly . This president got rolled by the Senate over health care . His team made some boneheaded mistakes , and now they are paying for them . Continuing to play footsie with opponents will only get him into more trouble . He should set a deadline to have his folks confirmed . If not , appoint them all during the recess and go on about your business . Obama 's critics keep blasting him for Chicago-style politics . So , fine . Channel your inner Al Capone and go gangsta against your foes . Let 'em know that if they are n't with you , they are against you , and will pay the price . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Roland Martin . | Roland Martin says Obama should n't put up with senators who are holding him up . GOP has blocked Obama appointments ; Martin says he should go around it . Martin says Obama should n't `` consider '' recess appointments , he should make them . | [[487, 544]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Climate scientists are getting desperate . After years of enduring politically motivated attacks , they are still scrambling to defend their findings . In a letter last month to Science , 255 of the nation 's most prominent scientists -- all members of the National Academy of Sciences , including 11 Nobel laureates -- repeat conclusions that by now should be entirely familiar , even tedious , to anyone who has followed the science at all . Our planet is warming because of increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere . Burning fossil fuels and deforestation have caused most of the increase . Climate change is a threat to coastal communities , food and water supplies , and ecosystems . And contrary to some recent claims , it is not too late to do something about it . The scientists conclude , in obvious exasperation , that one `` snowy winter in Washington does not alter '' these basic facts . The immediate trigger for the letter Virginia State Attorney General Kenneth T. Cuccinelli 's recent demand that climate scientist Michael Mann , director of the Earth System Science Center at Penn State University , produce a large volume of paperwork related to his scientific research and communications with fellow scientists during his years at University of Virginia from 1999 to 2005 . `` McCarthyite '' is how the scientists characterize Cuccinelli 's action , filed under the state 's Fraud Against Taxpayers Act . Many have dismissed Cuccinelli as silly , particularly in light of his efforts to impose Christian modesty on the state seal of Virginia , and his actions could be shrugged off if they were isolated . But they are the latest example of a persistent , and worrisome , trend : attacking scientists who have done key work that demonstrates the human impact on climate . Mann is the principal author of the `` hockey stick curve '' -- a graph that boldly illustrates the dramatic rise in average global temperatures over the past 50 years , a rise unlike anything in the previous 1,000 years . Because the hockey stick curve is visually compelling , it 's been reproduced many times , and in 2001 the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change featured it in their third assessment report . It 's also made Mann a target for those who do n't want to admit that global warming is a real problem . Mann testified about his work in the U.S. Congress in 2003 , in hearings sponsored by Sen. James M. Inhofe of Oklahoma , who has called global warming a `` hoax . '' Two years later , Texas Rep. Joseph Barton demanded that Mann supply copious documentation related to his testimony , based on what Barton , who has no scientific training , alleged were `` methodological flaws and data errors '' in his work . Peter Gleick , the lead author of the Science letter , was threatened with a lawsuit by contrarian Patrick J. Michaels in 2003 . Michaels has long denied the scientific evidence of human-caused warming , and Gleick said those views flew in the face of overwhelming scientific evidence and likened them to believing in a flat Earth . In 1995 , a group called Global Climate Coalition , composed of the American Petroleum Institute and a host of fossil-fuel dependent corporations , attacked Benjamin Santer , a scientist at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory who had done key work demonstrating the human `` fingerprint '' on climate . Without any substantive evidence , the group accused Santer of committing `` scientific cleansing '' of the IPCC 's Second Assessment Report by removing mention of uncertainties to make global warming appear more certain than it was . A handful of physicists attached to another think-tank , the George C. Marshall Institute , splashed the accusation onto the pages of the Wall Street Journal , ensuring millions of Americans saw them . Santer was later vindicated -- all the co-authors testified he had made no unauthorized changes . Yet the impression of wrong-doing remained . Perhaps no scientific name is more associated with global warming than Roger Revelle , mentor to Al Gore , who first warned of the risks of human-caused climate change in the 1950s . In 1992 , a paper was released that claimed Revelle had changed his mind about global warming and no longer believed it was a problem . The claim was repeated many times in the mass media , including The New Republic and The Washington Post . Revelle was elderly and seriously ill at the time , and died before he had a chance to respond . His graduate student , Justin Lancaster , tried to set the record straight by publicly disputing the claim . He was soon sued by the author of the claim , and lacking funds to defend himself , was forced to settle out of court , leaving his personal and professional life in tatters . But it is n't just climate scientists who have been vilified , personally attacked , and threatened with lawsuits and congressional investigations . Since the early 1990s , there has been a sustained history of attempts to undermine any science that suggested that contemporary industrial society might be doing irreparable harm to human health and the natural environment . This included the science that demonstrated the harms of DDT , the dangers to children of second-hand smoke , the causes of acid rain , and the reality of the ozone hole . Often the same people were involved in several or even all of these attacks . The common feature in all these cases was a link to think tanks promoting free markets and opposing government regulations . One does n't have to be a conspiracy theorist to see the pattern : People are loath to admit that our free market system has created problems that the free market has proved ineffectual to solve . Nicolas Stern , former chief economist at the World Bank , has called global warming `` the greatest and widest-ranging market failure ever seen . '' Deaths from tobacco smoking , environmental destruction from DDT and other pesticides , acid rain and the ozone hole were market failures , too . Insufficiently regulated market capitalism created these problems , and it took government interventions -- and in some cases , international agreements -- to fix them . If you tried to argue that global warming is not a market failure , you 'd just look silly . So extremist defenders of the free market have found themselves an easier target . Science is arcane and scientists are frankly often incomprehensible . But the important point for us to understand is this : Scientists have done nothing wrong . On the contrary , they 've been repeatedly vindicated in their work on environmental change . The real crime is not to be found in some pile of obscure scientific documents or the e-mails of harassed scientists . The real crime is that our best science is being undermined by ideologues , confusing us about some of the most important issues of our time . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the authors . | Oreskes , Conway : 255 scientists wrote letter to reiterate global warming findings . Authors : Letter came after attack on scientist whose work shows human impact on climate . They say attacks similar to those aimed at science on DDT , second-hand smoke , acid rain . Common to all , they say , is link to think tanks promoting free markets , opposing regulations . | [[171, 204], [207, 253], [366, 412], [1703, 1712], [1723, 1766], [1723, 1743], [1748, 1814], [3269, 3314], [3319, 3391], [4968, 4990], [5000, 5154], [5405, 5529], [5447, 5529], [5405, 5442], [5496, 5529]] |
Langley , Arkansas -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- One person remained missing Monday from last week 's flash flood at an Arkansas campground that left 19 dead , and `` there 's still a possibility there could be others , '' Gov. Mike Beebe told CNN . Rescuers found a 19th body over the weekend about half to three-quarters of a mile downstream from the campground , Arkansas State Police Capt. Mike Fletcher told reporters . Eighteen of the 19 bodies recovered so far have been identified , Fletcher said . A wall of water swept through the Albert Pike Recreation Area before dawn Friday , when most campers were sleeping . The park is located along the Caddo and Little Missouri rivers , and the flood struck so quickly there was little chance for campers to escape , officials said . `` I do n't think any of this has been a good day , '' Fletcher said . `` I think we need to keep these families in our thoughts and our prayers . '' But , he said , `` We 're just going to keep on doing what we do and come to a conclusion on this . '' More than 100 people combed the rugged woodlands of the Ouachita National Forest until nightfall Sunday , said Mike Quesinberry , the head of the rescue effort for the U.S. Forest Service . Fletcher said one searcher was overcome by heat exhaustion in Sunday 's sweltering temperatures , which ranged into the mid-90s with high humidity . Quesinberry said the last two bodies found have been in piles of wood , rock and other debris along the riverbanks , and those are now the focus of the search . Six dog teams were included in the rescue effort , and authorities were planning to bring in more dogs and new equipment , he said . `` Some of these piles are just massive amounts of rock and debris , '' Quesinberry said . `` It 's unsafe to get individuals in there with chainsaws and those type tools , so we 've got heavy equipment coming in . '' Funerals for two of the victims killed in the flash floods at a federal campground in Arkansas were scheduled for Tuesday . Services for Kylee Sullivan , 7 , will be Tuesday morning , while her grandmother , Julie Freeman , will be buried that afternoon , Texarkana Funeral Home Director Kendall Hudson said . Authorities released the names of 15 of the dead Saturday , with six children among the victims , including one girl as young as 2 years old . Ages of the adult victims ranged from 23 to 69 . Several groups of people with the same last name were listed . The victims identified were largely from Texas and Louisiana , with one person from Foreman , Arkansas . The warning system intended to notify campers on federal land about potentially devastating weather will be re-examined in Arkansas and throughout the nation , U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Saturday . | NEW : `` There could be others '' as search for flood victims goes on , governor says . 19 dead , 1 missing after Arkansas flood . Debris piles hide bodies . Funerals for two victims set for Tuesday . | [[153, 164], [173, 206], [0, 7], [10, 34], [38, 128], [1367, 1481], [1879, 1910], [1965, 2002], [2003, 2030], [2033, 2034], [2037, 2060]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Two New Jersey men arrested last week at John F. Kennedy International Airport allegedly on their way to fight with an al Qaeda-affiliated group in Somalia were followers of an extreme Islamist group based in New York , CNN has learned . CNN has obtained an image of the two suspects , Mahmood Alessa and Carlos Eduardo Almonte , attending a protest in New York organized by the Islamic Thinkers Society on June 1 of this year . They appear to have been taking part in a demonstration against Israel . One is holding a banner , the other an Islamic Thinkers Society poster that includes the slogan , `` Exterminate the Zionist Roaches . '' The society 's video of the event , posted on its YouTube channel , has since been removed . The rally took place just a week before the two suspects were arrested at JFK airport . `` My soul can not rest till I shed blood . I wan na like be the world 's -LSB- best -RSB- known terrorist '' Alessa is alleged to have told an undercover agent in the United States late last year . Later he said , `` We 'll start doing killing here , if I ca n't do it over there . '' Another image -- from late in 2008 -- shows Almonte at a different rally , holding a poster that says `` Death to all Juice '' -LRB- sic -RRB- . It 's not clear whether that rally was organized by the Islamic Thinkers Society . Several calls to the Islamic Thinkers Society about Alessa 's and Almonte 's involvement with the group were not returned . On its website , the Islamic Thinkers Society says , `` Our struggle is always intellectual & political non-violent means . '' But counterterrorism officials say that the group and another called Revolution Muslim have come under scrutiny for their anti-Western rhetoric and for endorsing the actions of al Qaeda and other terrorist groups . The two groups often hold joint events . While they have few full-time members and their rallies are sometimes sparsely attended , the Islamic Thinkers Society and Revolution Muslim have thousands of followers online , many of them American . According to counterterrorism officials they also organize private gatherings in the greater New York area . `` In a sense they are almost bug lights for aspiring jihadists , '' the director of intelligence analysis of the New York Police Department , Mitch Silber , told CNN earlier this year . `` They 've got an anti-Western , anti-democratic , anti-U.S. , pro-al Qaeda message . '' In April , Revolution Muslim posted a warning on its website that the creators of the cartoon `` South Park '' risked being killed for their depiction of the Prophet Mohammed in a bear suit . The warning was widely seen as a threat . Alessa and Almonte are by no means the first Americans alleged to have had links to the groups . CNN revealed in its recent documentary `` American Al Qaeda '' that Bryant Neal Vinas , a Catholic convert to Islam from Long Island , moved in Islamic Thinkers Society circles in New York before he left the United States . Vinas went to Pakistan determined to wage jihad against U.S. troops in Afghanistan . He subsequently confessed to helping al Qaeda plot a bomb attack on the Long Island Railroad . CNN revealed in the documentary that followers of the Islamic Thinkers Society not only helped radicalize Vinas , but also helped him connect with militants in Pakistan . Several other Americans recently charged in terrorism cases were followers of these groups . Counterterrorism officials say Colleen LaRose , a Pennsylvania woman also known as Jihad Jane , was an online follower of the Revolution Muslim YouTube Channel . LaRose was charged in March with plotting to assassinate a Swedish cartoonist ; she has pleaded not guilty . Tarek Mehanna , a Boston resident , was charged last year with planning violent jihad in the United States -- including planning to attack shopping malls . He had connections with members of Revolution Muslim , according to Yousef al Khattab , one of the group 's founders . CNN can not independently confirm those connections . Khattab has since left the United States , says he has quit Revolution Muslim , and is now living in Morocco . Mehanna has not entered a plea . Counterterrorism officials tell CNN that before he founded Revolution Muslim , Khattab was the chief ideologue of the Islamic Thinkers Society . In an interview with CNN 's Drew Griffin last year , Khattab said he had met Vinas , the Long Island al Qaeda recruit , and made no secret of his radical views . `` I love Osama bin Laden like I ca n't begin to tell you , '' Khattab said . The Islamic Thinkers Society and Revolution Muslim are offshoots of Al Muhajiroun , a pro-al Qaeda British extremist group that has seen several of its supporters convicted of terrorism offenses in the United Kingdom . Like Revolution Muslim , the Islamic Thinkers Society is still active on New York streets . In April it held a protest rally outside the Israeli Consulate . After the rally , the group 's spokesman , Abu Mujaddid , told CNN that the group plans to step up its activities in New York and was successfully recruiting supporters . The activities of both Revolution Muslim and the Islamic Thinkers Society are protected by First Amendment guarantees . `` As much as the Islamic Thinkers Society might put out an extremist message , it seems they go right up to the line of the First Amendment . For the most part they , themselves as a group , are n't acting , '' NYPD 's Silber told CNN recently . Terrorism experts believe that groups like the Islamic Thinkers Society are dangerous nonetheless . According to Marc Sageman , a former scholar in residence at the NYPD , `` Even if they do not have the connections to help -LSB- young radicals -RSB- go further , they articulate the glory of fighting Jihad , the glory of doing something , of being active . And this very much inspires young people . '' | Mahmood Alessa and Carlos Eduardo Almonte spotted at earlier rally . Men appear to be followers of al Qaeda-supporting Islamic Thinkers Society . `` Our struggle is always intellectual & political non-violent means , '' group says . Suspects in several other terror-related cases also have ties to group . | [[257, 346], [305, 323], [349, 380], [0, 15], [175, 218], [1478, 1492], [1495, 1528], [1532, 1601], [1531, 1601], [3355, 3447]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Lightning strikes apparently caused a major fire at a gasoline pipeline company 's `` tank farm '' in North Carolina early Sunday morning , fire officials said . The blaze started at Colonial Pipeline Company in Greensboro after midnight , said David Douglas , an assistant fire chief in Greensboro . A tank holding about 20,000 barrels of gasoline -- about half that tank 's capacity -- caught fire . While some of the gasoline burned , some of it was safely transferred to another tank , according to Steve Baker , Colonial Pipeline 's director of communications . Firefighters used foam to extinguish the flames on the tank , Baker said , adding that Greensboro firefighters kept water hoses trained on other tanks in the sprawling complex to keep them cool and prevent the fire from spreading . The huge facility is near Piedmont Triad International Airport , and the massive blaze sent plumes of smoke throughout the area . The blaze caused the temporary closure of a portion of Interstate 40 , the North Carolina Department of Transportation said . There were no evacuations , Douglas said . CNN 's Divina Mims contributed to this story . | Lightning suspected in major fire at gasoline pipeline company . A tank holding 20,000 barrels of gasoline caught fire . Firefighters used foam to extinguish blaze . Fire closed portions of Interstate 40 . | [[19, 135], [320, 367], [320, 340], [387, 403], [407, 420], [586, 645], [948, 1016]] |
-LRB- AOL Autos -RRB- -- Some drivers would say that the United States is a crazy quilt of speed limits , with an emphasis on the `` crazy . '' A sign indicating the highest speed limit in the country stands by Interstate 10 outside of the West Texas town of El Paso . Since 1995 , states have been free to set their own maximum speed limits , leading to long debates on safety standards . To some folks , the speed limits are just insane -- either too low or too high , depending on their views about what makes driving safe . Advocates of low speed limits wo n't find much to like about Texas . True to its frontier roots , it stands out as the land of the fast getaway . The top rural speed limit is normally 70 mph , but in 2006 it set a maximum daytime speed of 80 miles per hour , the highest speed limit on the country , on more than 500 miles of rural interstate in its southwest corner . This includes parts of Interstate 10 between Kerrville and El Paso and of I-20 between Monahans and the I-10 interchange . The speed limit for rural roads in Montana is 75 mph . As a result , it takes just three hours to travel the 228 miles from Billings to Butte at the posted speed . But that 's much slower than a Montana driver could have made the trip in early 1999 . At that time there was a six-month speeders ' honeymoon when the state had almost no control over rural speeds , partly as a result of an unfavorable court ruling . St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands is at or near the other end of the spectrum . In the U.S. territory the speed limit is 20 mph in the city and 30 out in the country . When it comes to accident rates , though , you would be far better off on a Montana interstate than competing with the island 's frenetic drivers on the way to Paradise Point . Nationwide , maximum speeds range from 60 miles per hour in Hawaii to 75 in most of the West . Meanwhile , much of the eastern Midwest and the Northeast has opted for maximum speeds of 65 mph , although Michigan and Indiana chose the 70 mph standard more common to the South and the Great Plains states . So if you are cruising west along I-90 out of Ohio , you can enjoy the increase in speed across 150 miles of Indiana before Illinois ' lower speed limit -- or its state police -- reins you in . As you continue west , interstate speed limits bump up to 70 in Iowa , and then you can maintain a steady 75 from Nebraska through to the California line , where interstate speeds drop off to 70 again . Should you choose to detour into Oregon , you 're back down to 65 . From a highway safety standpoint , the patchwork of speed limits at least seems to make sense . Speeds are slower in more populous Eastern states and faster in the wide-open West , although the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety argues that some of the new , higher speed limits out West and elsewhere are costing lives . It estimates that deaths on interstates and freeways have increased 15 percent due to the higher speed limits . But some researchers are skeptical about the link between accidents and high speeds on rural highways , if not on city streets and rural two-lanes . They point to the lower fatality rates on European highways , even though the speeds are generally higher . The maximum legal speed is roughly 80 mph in Poland , Austria , France and a few other countries . There is no speed limit on much of Germany 's autobahn , although some sections are restricted to about 80 mph or less . Ironically , the new regime of U.S. speed limits has helped researchers make sense of whether higher rural speed limits are dangerous . Political scientist Robert Yowell , a professor at Northeast Lakeview College in Texas , examined what happened after states began setting higher rural speed limits in 1995 . With the federal 65 mph limit gone , it was possible to compare the accident rates before and after the new limits went into effect . The results were clear : `` By and large , across the 50 states , there was no discernible effect from the higher limits , '' Yowell said . `` Two or three states actually had a decrease in fatalities . '' Once speed limits are raised on interstates , drivers are more likely to get off the more dangerous two lanes and use the faster routes , Yowell said . Furthermore , the motorists traveling the fastest on the higher-speed interstates tend to be good at that kind of driving . The less competent drivers at high speeds tend to drive more slowly . While Yowell admits most states are well-intentioned , he 's `` not willing to accept that speed limits are solely a function of safety , '' he said . `` They are a function of revenue generation as well . There have been cases of judges saying communities have to raise their speed limits because they were obviously being used to raise revenues and that 's not a proper use of the law . '' In part , Yowell looks to differences in political cultures to explain the great continental divide in speed limits . `` It may be that certain states have a different approach to questions involving personal liberty versus collective safety , '' he said . His research does n't surprise Jim Baxter , president of the Waunakee , Wisconsin-based National Motorists Association . His organization had lobbied heavily for an end to the federal limits . Baxter 's rule of thumb for computing the right speed limit is the traffic engineering standard known as the 85th percentile speed . That 's the speed that 85 percent of motorists drive at or below . But it tends to be well above the speed limits that most jurisdictions set . With the speed limit set at that level , traffic tends to move smoothly , reducing the risk of accidents , Baxter said . If you put the limit below that speed , some vehicles are traveling far more slowly than the fastest drivers , creating the most dangerous conditions of all . Baxter argues that most drivers naturally tend to drive at speeds that suit the road conditions and their driving skills . St. Thomas is a case in point , albeit an extreme one . With its congestion and rugged terrain , the island is bereft of performance cars ; many of the vehicles are older pickups , aging Japanese compacts and SUVs . The treacherous conditions restrict speeds far more effectively than any local law . As Joe Aubain , executive director of the St. Thomas-St . John Chamber of Commerce , puts it , `` Even if you wanted to go a whole lot faster , you could n't , '' he said . E-mail to a friend . | U.S. drivers face patchwork of speed limits across the nation . Parts of Texas have speed limits of 80 miles per hour . Some researchers skeptical of link between accidents , high speeds . | [[25, 140], [1785, 1795], [1798, 1879], [725, 784], [3415, 3469], [2997, 3141]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Schalke striker Kevin Kuranyi will not be going to the World Cup after Germany coach Joachim Loew publicly ruled out his participation in the finals in South Africa next month . His superb form in the Bundesliga this season , with 18 goals for the title challengers , had led to speculation that the 28-year-old could win a recall to the German squad , which is to be unveiled later this week . `` After full consideration in the training team we came to the conclusion that we have other ideas for the make-up of our World Cup team , both tactically and when it comes to personnel , '' Loew told a press conference on Monday . `` I said this quite openly to Kevin . '' Kuranyi , who has 52 international caps , has not played for Germany since his controversial walkout after being left out of the squad for a World Cup qualifier against Russia in October 2008 . Loew vowed never to pick him again , but last month he appeared to soften his stance and said he was mulling over whether to include Kuranyi in his plans . But he insisted that his past indiscretion had nothing to do with his decision to ignore his claims . `` The disciplinary event ... did n't matter to me at the end of the day . It would not have been a problem to have given him another chance in the national team . `` Kevin ... has the character of a consummate professional , in my view . '' Germany will announce their full squad on Thursday and Loew has plenty of striking choice with Bayern Munich pair Miroslav Klose and Mario Gomez , Bayer Leverkusen 's Stefan Kiessling and Cacau of Stuttgart pressing for inclusion . The squad will be whittled down to 23 after a training camp in Italy . Kuranyi said he accepted Loew 's decision and wished the team well . `` I gave all I could this season on the pitch , but sadly it was n't enough , '' Kuranyi told AFP . `` But it is the national coach 's decision , and I respect and accept it . '' | Kevin Kuranyi ruled out of Germany squad for World Cup finals . Coach Joachim Loew makes his decision public . Kuranyi walked out on Germany before World Cup qualifier in 2008 . | [[0, 15], [19, 196], [0, 15], [19, 196], [689, 696], [731, 882]] |
Kabul , Afghanistan -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Gen. Stanley McChrystal , the top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan , say they 've secured backing from local leaders for an upcoming military operation in the province . McChrystal took Karzai and some of his security chiefs to Kandahar , considered the heartland of Taliban country . With McChrystal in the front row , Karzai delivered a full-court press to a group of about 300 tribal leaders Sunday , in a bid to get their support . The group sat on carpets and cushions on the floor as they listened to Karzai passionately talk about increasing security and ending corruption . He also had a stong message for the Taliban . `` First I call on the Taliban for peace . Do not kill your country men and children . Do not kill innocents , '' Karzai said . `` Separate yourself from al Qaeda and the terrorists . '' McChrystal and Karzai believe they got approval for the coming offensive , which has already been delayed once . About a month and a half ago , another military plan presented to locals by Karzai was rejected . McCrystal said securing support from Afghan leaders before the start of a new offensive was critical to success . He added that this is a lesson learned from previous offensives in the country . Tribal leaders had mixed reviews for the plan . Some doubted Karzai 's government was capable of mounting such an offensive . Others expressed faith in the president , but objected to the involvement of U.S. troops . Karzai did not say when the upcoming military operation would take place . But initial reports indicate that Afghan troops will take the main role in the center of Kandahar , while U.S. troops will be mainly on the perimeter . | Afghan President Harmid Karzai and U.S. Gen. Stanley McChrystal travel to Kandahar . Met with 300 local leaders . Karzai , McChrystal believe they got go-ahead for military operation . Tribal leaders have mixed reviews . | [[399, 480], [0, 5], [8, 96], [148, 248], [894, 966], [1300, 1347]] |
Olympia , Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The news that Al and Tipper Gore are breaking up after 40 years of marriage has generated an outpouring of emotion . Although we do n't have -- and should n't seek -- the inside details , the couple says the decision was mutual and the process will be mutually supportive . Friends have told journalists that no third party was involved ; the two simply grew apart . It leads couples to wonder : `` Could this happen to us ? '' and `` Could it already be happening to us ? '' One woman called in to a radio show I was on and said plaintively , `` I thought I could count on my marriage after 22 years . You mean we have to keep working at this for the rest of our lives ? '' As a family researcher , I understand why the Gore breakup scares people . Divorces after 40 years are rare , but in 2008 , of people who reported divorcing recently , one-quarter had been in marriages that had lasted two decades or more . And divorces among couples 55 or older seem to be rising moderately , even as divorce rates in general have fallen from a high of about 23 divorces per 1,000 married couples in 1979 to less than 17 per 1000 in 2005 . Many people assume that late-life divorces are precipitated by some crisis , typically a man leaving his wife for another woman . But a 2004 AARP survey of people who divorced at older ages found that two-thirds were initiated by the woman , often to the surprise of the man . Although men are more likely to instigate a divorce when they have another partner in sight , women are more likely to say they just could n't stand to be with this partner any more , which jibes with the research showing that women are physiologically and emotionally more sensitive to the negative effects of an unsatisfying relationship . The rise in divorce rates for older people , which is occurring in Great Britain , Canada and Japan , as well as the United States , results from the confluence of two new trends . The first is that we expect more from marriage than in the past . It 's no longer enough for the other partner to be a good provider or a good housekeeper . We want marriage to include friendship , sexual satisfaction and an interesting give-and-take between equals . The second is that if a marriage ceases to meet their needs , older people have many more alternatives than they used to . Today individuals remain active and healthy much longer than in the past , so that staying together `` until death do us part '' means that 65-year-olds in an unhappy marriage will likely have another 20 years to wait it out , when they could be traveling , working , even re-inventing themselves . And opportunities for repartnering after age 55 are much greater than they used to be . Are late-life divorces a tragedy ? Sometimes , perhaps -- but three-fourths of the divorced individuals in the AARP survey felt their divorce had been the right step for them . And having to stay in an empty marriage can be a tragedy , too . For a new book on the women of `` The Greatest Generation , '' I interviewed women who were wives and mothers in the 1940s , 1950s , and early 1960s . Many described being `` trapped '' in empty marriages , longing `` to be free . '' But in those decades they simply could n't imagine being able to support themselves , much less make new friends as a `` divorcee , '' or meet a potential partner . One woman told me , `` We thought : You 're fat at 40 and finished by 50 . '' It 's scary to think that one 's own marriage could become so unbearably confining . It would be nice if every couple could grow together instead of growing apart . But it should be reassuring to know that if your marriage does become deeply unsatisfying , you have other ways to live the rest of your life , and you can end your marriage civilly instead of through humiliating public misconduct or explosive mutual recrimination . The Gores raised four children and were there for each other when they needed to be . Now that they have decided to part , they are trying to do so in a way that is fair and respectful . That does n't sound like failure to me . For the rest of us , the Gore breakup is a reminder that we ca n't take our marriages for granted . But we should see that as a good thing rather than a scary one . People need to grow , and growing together can be fun . One of the best ways to renew marital affection and interest is to face new challenges together , whether that means learning new skills , braving a white-water rafting trip , or traveling to a new place . Let 's take this as a lesson to stop working so hard in our marriages and spend more time playing in them . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Stephanie Coontz . | Stephanie Coontz says news of the Gores ' breakup makes older couples fret : Could that be us ? Contrary to assumptions , late-life divorces usually instigated by women , she says . These divorces rare , but climbing , she says ; chance for repartnering greater these days . Coontz : Older couples should focus on growing together with shared experience , play . | [[407, 433], [416, 433], [436, 464], [959, 993], [999, 1022]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Robert J. Wussler , a pioneering television news executive at CBS before he joined Ted Turner to help build Turner Broadcasting System and CNN into cable industry giants , died on June 5 at his Connecticut home after a long illness , according to a family spokesman . He was 73 . Wussler 's career spanned five decades in which he became the youngest head of a major U.S. television network at 39 and later was instrumental in development of the cable television industry . After starting as a mail-room clerk at CBS in 1957 , he eventually became president of CBS Television News and CBS Sports and produced coverage of major stories of his era , including the assassinations and funerals of President John F. Kennedy , Robert F. Kennedy and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. ; President Richard Nixon 's trip to China ; and the Apollo 11 lunar landing that put man on the moon for the first time . He won seven Emmy awards and created `` The NFL Today , '' the pre-game show that became a standard for major sports broadcasts , said Arthur Sando of Sando Communications , who provided biographical information on Wussler . In 1980 , Wussler joined cable pioneer Ted Turner at Turner Broadcasting System and took part in developing and managing CNN , Headline News , TBS Sports and TNT . He also was involved with Turner in the Atlanta Braves baseball team and Atlanta Hawks basketball team . `` Bob Wussler was instrumental in helping Ted Turner build Turner Broadcasting and CNN , '' said Tom Johnson , a former CNN president . `` Bob brought his prior network experience to the creation of TBS and served as a key adviser on many of Ted 's major decisions during that pioneering era of the company . '' Terry McGuirk , a former TBS chief executive officer who now holds that post for the Atlanta Braves , said Wussler `` brought a new level of professionalism to Turner Broadcasting . '' `` His arrival at TBS validated the maturity of programming in the cable industry and the businesses that Turner Broadcasting was building in that programming arena , '' McGuirk said . When Turner wanted to hold an international sporting event to help bridge political divisions , it was Wussler who helped him create the Goodwill Games , McGuirk said . `` He actually was Ted 's go-between with the Russians , '' according to McGuirk . `` So much of it was about television production and building it from scratch . He and Ted personally went to Moscow in 1986 and made that happen . '' The Goodwill Games were staged six times from 1986 to 2001 , at locales in the former Soviet Union , the United States , Russia and Australia . Born on September 8 , 1936 , in Newark , New Jersey , Wussler was a graduate of Seton Hall University . Wussler was regarded as an innovator , playing a role in expanding satellite usage in news coverage and the advancement of small cameras and recording devices in both the studio and in the field . In 1978 , Wussler formed his own production company , Pyramid Enterprises , which created unique , syndicated programming for the international marketplace , specializing in Japan , France and the former Soviet Union . He later served as president and CEO of Comsat Video Enterprises , the largest provider of satellite-delivered entertainment to the U.S. lodging industry ; and managed the acquisition of the Denver Nuggets basketball team . Other awards received by Wussler included the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Trustees -LRB- NATAS -RRB- Award , four Awards for Cable Excellence -LRB- ACE -RRB- and the National Cable Television Association -LRB- NCTA -RRB- President 's Award . CNN 's Tom Cohen contributed to this report . | Robert Wussler , a pioneering television news executive who helped build TBS and CNN , dies at 73 . Wussler won seven Emmy awards covering major stories of his era with CBS . Wussler was instrumental in helping Ted Turner create the Goodwill Games . At CBS Sports , Wussler created `` The NFL Today '' pre-game show . | [[41, 77], [92, 188], [287, 298], [299, 470], [1153, 1160], [1163, 1170], [1237, 1316], [1422, 1509], [928, 952], [2105, 2163], [2201, 2256], [928, 930], [957, 981]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- BP began deploying pressure sensors on its ruptured undersea well in the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday in an effort to fine-tune estimates of the worst oil spill in U.S. history , government and company officials said . BP used remote-controlled submarines to begin positioning the sensors inside the well , located 5,000 feet below the surface of the Gulf , company spokesman Mark Proegler said . The sensors were requested by federal experts who have been trying to gauge how much oil has been pouring from the well , which experts say could have been spewing as much as 1.7 million gallons of oil a day into the Gulf . But Proegler said the devices may not yield accurate information for several days . `` It 's not as if they 'll plug these sensors in and get readings right away , '' he said . Researchers recently doubled estimates of how much oil has been flowing from the ruptured well , saying last week that up to 40,000 barrels -- or 1.7 million gallons -- a day may have leaked for weeks . Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen , the Obama administration 's point man on the disaster , said the sensors will help give those researchers a better picture of the flow rate . `` We think we need some independent pressure readings to validate the estimates that have been made by the scientists looking at the video and some other acoustic data , '' Allen said Sunday on CBS 's `` Face the Nation . '' Allen 's deputy , Rear Adm. James Watson , has given BP until Sunday to provide alternative plans that adequately address substantially higher rates of oil flow . The company said Saturday that it was reviewing a letter from Watson , but no response had been disclosed late Sunday . The oil is believed to have been pouring into the Gulf since the April 20 explosion that sank the offshore drill rig Deepwater Horizon , killing 11 workers . The spill now dwarfs the 11 million gallons that were dumped into Alaska 's Prince William Sound when the tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground in 1989 , and oil in varying amounts and consistencies has hit the shores of Louisiana , Mississippi , Alabama and Florida . Allen said the battle against the oil `` continues to widen , '' with efforts now being focused on the stretch of open water between the wellhead and about 15 miles off the coast . `` Rather than trying to capture all around the well head , we 've got to get our skimmers further offshore and protect it so we minimize the amount of oil that comes ashore , '' he said . Allen 's comments came on the eve of President Barack Obama 's fourth scheduled visit to the stricken Gulf region , a two-day trip that will be followed by a Tuesday night address to the nation . Obama is scheduled to visit Mississippi , Alabama and Florida on Monday and Tuesday , then meet with BP executives on Wednesday . BP has captured some of the gushing oil through a containment cap that has been pumping the crude up to a drilling ship for about a week . BP said it collected more than 15,000 barrels of oil on Saturday and more than 7,700 by noon Sunday . But despite this advancement , pressure has not been removed from BP . White House adviser David Axelrod said Sunday the Obama administration wants BP to set up a massive , independently administered fund for cleaning up the oil-stricken Gulf states . `` The president will use every legal device at his disposal to make sure that this money is escrowed and that there is an independent administrator so that claims are not slow-walked , people can get the relief they need in a timely fashion and that we do n't create more victims from this terrible disaster , '' Axelrod told reporters . He said administration lawyers have advised `` that we have the authority to compel such an escrow fund , if it comes to that . '' Estimates of the cleanup costs and the damages BP will owe to businesses and residents on the Gulf Coast range from $ 3 billion to $ 40 billion . BP said it already has spent more than $ 1 billion trying to cap the spill and clean up the areas affected by the oil . Axelrod did not discuss how much money might be set up in the fund . But Allen told CBS that BP was `` a company that 's got a lot of wealth inside it . '' And a group of 54 Senate Democrats -- nearly all the Democratic caucus -- has called on BP to put $ 20 billion in trust for the spill . In a letter to the oil company 's CEO , Tony Hayward , they note that the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska 's Prince William Sound cost $ 7 billion , but Exxon paid far less for damages while continuing to make major profits . Alabama Gov. Bob Riley told CNN 's `` State of the Union '' on Sunday that he did n't care how the money was paid out . But he said BP owed `` every one '' of his state 's Gulf Coast businesses . `` I do n't think there is a dividing line , '' said Riley , a Republican . `` I do n't think you can say that one group is going to get it and another one does n't . If a restaurant in Gulf Shores , Alabama , is off 50 percent because the tourists did n't come , I think he is owed 50 percent of his revenues from last year . `` The same thing with anyone in these areas , because the whole economy is based on the tourist market , '' he said . `` And when it goes away , someone 's got to compensate them , because most of these people are not going to be here next year if we do n't . '' Riley also criticized the Obama administration 's handling of the disaster , saying the `` unified command '' set up with the federal government and BP is mounting a disjointed response . `` You ca n't have a committee making the decisions that are going to impact this entire coastal area . You ca n't have someone come in and say , ` Well , if it gets onto the beach , we 'll clean it up and we 'll clean it up rapidly , ' and then OSHA come in and say , ` Well , the people ca n't work but 20 minutes out of an hour or two hours a day , ' and get it cleaned up . Someone is . going to have to be in charge of each one of these operations , '' he said . Riley , Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour and Florida Gov. Charlie Crist are scheduled to meet with the president during his two-day visit . Barbour told CBS he was pleased to hear Allen talk of trying to fight the oil offshore rather than on the beaches , but said he would push Obama to end the six-month moratorium he slapped on offshore oil exploration since the disaster began . Obama has said no drilling should go forward until investigators determine the cause of the explosion aboard the Deepwater Horizon . But Barbour said Obama `` is going to hurt the national economy '' if the temporary ban is n't lifted . `` There have been more than 30,000 oil wells drilled in the Gulf of Mexico in the last 50 years . This is the first time something like this has ever happened . And we need to get to the bottom of it , find out what happened , make sure it does n't happen again . But I think it is very reasonable to continue to drill , '' Barbour said . | NEW : Deadline for new plan nears . BP says new sensors deployed Sunday . Alabama governor says BP owes all on coast . Obama visits Gulf states Monday-Tuesday . | [[19, 129], [4687, 4758], [2684, 2767]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- At least 15 people were killed and 45 others wounded in a bombing and gunfire near Iraq 's central bank in the capital on Sunday , according to the Interior Ministry . After the initial blast , clashes broke out between security forces and armed men trying to rob the bank , the official said . There were conflicting reports about what the blast was , which hit at around 3 p.m. -LRB- 8 a.m. ET -RRB- . One Interior Ministry official said at least three roadside bombs exploded outside the bank , while another official said it was a suicide bomber . The spokesman for the Baghdad military command , Maj. Gen. Qassi , al-Moussawi , told state television that it was one roadside bomb . The casualties figures offered by the Interior Ministry only include civilians and security forces . The power generator for the bank caught fire and the burning fuel caused a large black plume of smoke seen over the capital , the first Interior Ministry official said.The bank is located in central Baghdad 's Rasheed street . The bombing comes amid political uncertainty , a day before Iraq 's parliament is set to convene for it 's first session three months after national elections . CNN 's Jomana Karadsheh contributed to this report . | NEW : 15 killed , 45 wounded in Baghdad blast , ensuing gunfire . Blast outside of country 's central bank . Clashes ongoing between security forces and bank robbers . Power generator for bank caught fire . | [[54, 147], [0, 15], [54, 63], [150, 186], [187, 210], [213, 268], [54, 147], [187, 210], [213, 268], [807, 872]] |
Mexico City , Mexico -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The alleged leader of a regional branch of the Los Zetas drug cartel was arrested by the Mexican Army Wednesday , Mexico 's state news agency Notimex reported . Hector Raul Luna Luna , known by the alias `` El Tori '' was arrested during a `` precision operation '' by the personnel of the Seventh Military Zone in Monterrey , in northern Mexico , the agency said . The military command said that Luna confessed to participating in a grenade attack on the U.S. Consulate in Monterrey on October 12 , 2008 , under the orders of Sigifredo Najera Talamantes , alias `` El Canicon '' who was arrested on March 20 of last year , Notimex reported . There is also evidence that Luna was responsible for killing six members of the Mexican Army and was the perpetrator of an attack against the secretariat of public security in the municipality of Escobedo , in Coahuila state , near the Texas border , and the subsequent attack on the then-secretary of public safety , retired general Hermelindo Lara Cruz . The military also arrested one of Luna 's accomplices , David Eduardo Fuentes Martinez , known by the aliases `` El Chile '' and `` El Mantequilla , '' who was carrying an array of weapons , including a 55 mm Barrett rifle , commonly used for piercing through shields and other materials , said Notimex . Brig. Gen. Edgar Luis Villegas Melendez said in a news conference Thursday that the alleged criminals were arrested as part of the country 's comprehensive strategy to combat drug trafficking . During the arrests , the military also seized weapons including a 40 mm grenade launcher , a 5.7 x 28 mm pistol , two fragmentation grenades , two 40 mm grenades , chargers and 30 cell phones . Additionally , they seized 20 kilograms of marijuana , 110 doses of the same material , and 58 doses of cocaine , Notimex reported . Luna and Fuentes Martinez were brought to the facilities of the secretary of national defense Thursday . | Regional leader of Los Zetas arrested in Monterrey , Mexico . Hector Raul Luna Luna was caught in a `` precision operation , '' Luna confessed to grenade attack in U.S. consulate , military says . Various weapons and drugs seized . | [[201, 222], [250, 364], [406, 594]] |
-LRB- CNNMoney.com -RRB- -- Is it possible to retire by 50 with an income under $ 60,000 ? Ryan and Hope Wells think so . Hope and Ryan Wells , who make a combined $ 56,000 per year , want to retire early with more than $ 2 million . Married since 2005 , the young Arkansas couple is just starting out . Ryan , 25 , works as a used car salesman , and Hope , 23 , works as a medical billing coder at a hospital . Together they earn an annual $ 56,000 -- above the national average , yet still not exactly easy street in today 's economy . But with a little discipline , they think they can meet their goal of an early retirement . `` I feel pretty comfortable with a target of a little over $ 2 million , '' Ryan says . It may sound ambitious , but the Wellses have a plan : put roughly 10 % of their earnings toward retirement , 10 percent toward bills , 30 percent toward debt reduction , 15 percent into taxable mutual funds , and 35 percent to daily expenses and emergency savings . The Wellses have a lot going for their finances . They 're young and have no kids yet . They live in Pottsville , Arkansas , an area that has one of the lowest costs of living in the country . And they 're aggressive investors for their age , currently putting $ 530 per month into stock-only mutual funds . `` Right now , I am really trying to build a strong foundation in our portfolio so that when children or anything else comes along , we are in a very strong position , '' Ryan said . But their financial picture is n't all rosy . Like many American families , they 're saddled with credit card debt : about $ 4,500 . But they continually roll their balances onto new zero percent APR promotional credit cards to avoid paying interest . They plan on making steady payments of $ 100 a month and paying off their debt in less than four years . They bought a one-year-old used Ford Mustang for $ 19,000 about four months ago and put monthly payments of $ 330 toward the $ 17,500 left on the loan . Ryan and Hope think they 'll be ready to start a family in about five years , but have n't yet started planning for kids . Meanwhile , they 're working to pay off Hope 's student loans , which total $ 5,500 . For the more distant future , Ryan maxes out his IRA , which currently stands at about $ 22,000 . His job does n't offer a 401 -LRB- k -RRB- plan , but Hope has access to a company-sponsored plan through the hospital . She only contributes the 2 percent that her employer matches , but sometime in the near future she expects a promotion that could nearly double her salary . When her salary increases , she will also max out her retirement contribution . `` We each have some room to grow based on income potential , '' said Ryan , who has fairly steady pay despite earning his entire salary on commission from car sales . Ryan and Hope say their priority now is to replenish their emergency fund , which they recently depleted to pay down some debt , as the promotional period on one credit card was ending . They would like to get their savings up to about $ 10,000 , or six months of expenses . Our expert 's take . With their current plan , Ryan and Hope are on their way to millionaire status , but maybe not as soon as they 'd like , according to Diana DeCharles , a Certified Financial Planner with AIG Financial Advisors . She says that even with an aggressive 9 percent to 10 percent annual return on their investments , the Wellses will be worth about $ 1.3 million at age 50 -- no small sum , but probably not enough to retire so young . And that 's at their current rate of savings , without any children in the picture . `` Kids are pretty expensive , '' DeCharles points out . Between higher costs and education savings , they might have to pull back on their aggressive saving once they have children . DeCharles believes that the Wellses are smart to prioritize their emergency savings , which she recommends they keep in a money market fund with no stock exposure . `` Forget the funds for now , '' DeCharles said . `` Especially with the market heading down , they have to build up their cash reserves first . '' She also thinks the Wellses are managing their debt well , but they should be wary of opening too many cards . `` Although they are moving their balances to new cards with zero percent interest , if they continue to open new cards to do this they are bringing their credit score down , '' she said . `` Their credit score will take a hit for having cards that are maxed out , getting inquiry hits , and opening new cards . '' To save up , she suggests the Wellses cut into their monthly entertainment expenses . `` Cook at home , or get movies from the library -- they 're free ! '' said DeCharles . But overall , DeCharles thinks Ryan and Hope are in a good position , even if they ca n't retire by 50 . `` They 're doing pretty good , frankly . They did pretty well with their home , and it 's great that they 're saving so much . '' E-mail to a friend . | Ryan and Hope Wells hope ambitious financial plan will make them millions . Their low cost of living helps ; credit card debt , student loans pose obstacles . Expert says they 're on their way , but may not be able to retire by 50 . | [[122, 141], [184, 233], [1111, 1118], [1124, 1178], [1553, 1591], [4806, 4832]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Steve Miller admits he has no idea why it took him 17 years to release a new studio album . He also admits he was in no rush to do so . `` We continued to sell records from our touring , and we were really in this sort of magical place where we did n't have to make records until I really wanted to , '' said Miller , 66 , in an interview with CNN Radio . `` I 've recorded lots of projects , but just have n't bothered to release them . '' `` BINGO ! '' , however , is not remaining on the shelf . Steve Miller Band 's first new studio album since 1993 's `` Wide River '' hits stores on June 15 , and sees Miller embracing the blues music he immersed himself in growing up in Dallas . `` BINGO ! '' features his interpretations of tracks like B.B. King 's `` Rock Me Baby , '' Jimmy Reed 's `` You Got Me Dizzy '' and Jimmie Vaughan 's `` Hey Yeah '' -- the album 's first single . `` This is my pop music . When I was a kid this is what I was listening to on my car radio -- Lowell Fulsom singing `` Tramp . '' `` Tramp '' is another one of the 10 songs on `` BINGO ! '' -LRB- a special edition includes four bonus tracks and expanded artwork . -RRB- However , Miller cautions fans this is n't a traditional `` covers '' album . `` I did n't just want to do a cover of somebody 's record , '' said Miller . `` I wanted to get some material and make it my own , and these songs all lent themselves to that . '' Miller recorded `` BINGO ! '' at George Lucas ' Skywalker Ranch in California . In fact , he cut 42 tracks in all during the sessions there , some of which he says will end up on a second album that has no set release date at this point . Miller says `` BINGO ! '' can also be considered a `` guitar player 's album . '' `` Lots of lead guitar and cool guitar parts have been worked out . It just got better and better and better as we worked on it , '' he said . Indeed , one of the guest artists on the album is renowned guitarist and 15-time Grammy nominee Joe Satriani , who trades solos with Miller on `` Rock Me Baby '' and Vaughan 's `` Sweet Soul Vibe . '' `` He just plays beautifully , '' said Miller about his fellow guitarist . `` It blows your mind when you hear him . He is a monster guitarist -- a wonderful musician . '' Miller says the feedback to `` BINGO ! '' has been entertaining to say the least . `` When we first took the record around to play it for different record guys there were a bunch of young people who really did n't know these songs who said , ` Did Steve write all those . ? ' It sounds just like the Steve Miller Band ! '' Reaction from fans has been gratifying as well , according to Miller . He is in the midst of what has become an annual summer tour of North America and has been giving audiences a sneak preview of the tracks on the new album , mixed in with hits like `` Fly Like an Eagle , '' `` The Joker , '' `` Rock 'n Me , '' `` Take the Money and Run , '' and `` Abracadabra . '' `` The audiences nowadays are really hipper than they were in the mid '90s . When our last record was out we 'd say , ` OK , we 're gon na do a few new songs from our new album `` Wide River . '' ' 5,000 people would get up and leave and go get a hot dog until they heard me start the opening riff of `` The Joker . '' It was such a conservative audience , and now the audience is much more interested in the new music . '' Miller thinks the reason behind this is the role the internet has played in the music industry . `` We now have the ability to hear so much more music , '' he said . `` I find that a lot of kids today , their musical horizon is as broad as mine was when I was a kid . I was exposed to jazz and blues and gospel and country music and rock , and I was the only kid I knew who knew about that stuff . Now everybody does . '' However , Miller says the meshing of the music world and digital world has been a curse along with a blessing , and he feels that it has hurt the industry and its audiences . `` We 're putting people out of work , '' he said . `` It 's very frustrating to have someone like -LRB- Apple co-founder -RRB- Steve Jobs portrayed as this great genius . At the same time he 's a thief , he 's creating machines that steal things . Thirty years from now the people who created the computers we 're using will all be indicted for destroying everybody 's hearing and for stealing music and intellectual property . But at the same time , we 'll know more . It 's as damaging as it is enabling . '' An Apple spokeswoman refused to comment on Miller 's remarks . Miller says he spent $ 700,000 in two years making `` BINGO ! '' He predicts no one will follow that business model again because the popularity of downloads ensures musicians wo n't be able to make a profit off it . Miller says touring is ultimately the most foolproof way he has of making a living . `` I 'm OK , I have this huge live audience and you ca n't copy my show . If you want to see what it 's like to see human beings play this music right in front of you for real , you have to buy a ticket . That 's the only thing that we really have left that ca n't just be copied and spread over the place -- actual live performance , '' he said . Miller grew up in a musical family . His mother , Bertha , was a singer and his father , Dr. George -LRB- Sonny -RRB- Miller , was an amateur tape recordist . A young Miller even learned some chords from his father 's friend , guitarist Les Paul . However , he says he realizes not everyone has a chance to get that kind of exposure to music at home . So he 's devoting part of his summer tour in support of `` BINGO ! '' to raise money for a new music education initiative . The `` text to donate '' campaign benefits the Kids Rock Free music education programs at the Fender Center in Corona , California . Miller helped start the programs 11 years ago , and says that during that time 12,000 young people have received free and low-cost music lessons . `` What I 'm trying to do is build these schools in everyone 's community , '' said Miller . `` It costs about half what a Wendy 's restaurant would cost to build . If folks really want music in their community they can do it very cheaply . It does n't have to be a $ 50 million program . All we need is just a little real estate . '' During his shows , Miller is encouraging people to donate by texting ROCK to 50555 . A one-time $ 10 donation is then added to mobile bills . The fruits of the Kids Rock Free program are also on display during Miller 's summer tour . Two of its students are joining the Steve Miller Band at a handful of shows to play guitar with the band for a bit . `` The guitars look huge on them and they play on a couple of tunes and just knock everybody out ! '' | `` BINGO ! '' features interpretations of B.B. King , Jimmie Vaughan tracks . `` I wanted to get some material and make it my own , '' Steve Miller says . Album has `` lots of lead guitar and cool guitar parts '' With growth of internet , audiences today `` are really hipper , '' he says . | [[717, 794], [1312, 1328], [1332, 1380], [6039, 6055], [1753, 1820], [2961, 3037]] |
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The 16-year-old California girl rescued from her stricken boat in the Indian Ocean says she is `` safe and sound '' and argues that her age should n't be blamed for the problems she encountered while at sea . `` Storms are part of the deal when you set out to sail around the world , '' Abby Sunderland wrote in a blog on her website dated Saturday . `` As for age , since when does age create gigantic waves and storms ? '' Criticism has emerged that she was too young to embark on such a journey , which apparently has ended . Abby lost satellite contact on Thursday and issued a distress call after what was described as a rogue wave hit the boat , damaging its mast and communications equipment . A French fishing vessel reached a remote area in the Indian Ocean on Saturday morning to fetch her . `` There are plenty of things people can think of to blame for my situation ; my age , the time of year and many more , '' Abby said in the blog . She added that `` it was just a Southern Ocean storm . '' `` The truth is , I was in a storm and you do n't sail through the Indian Ocean without getting in at least one storm . '' It will be several weeks before she is home in California , rescuers said . Her parents praised people from France and Australia for their help in reaching their stranded daughter . `` Their professionalism and the great value that they placed on Abby 's life has been a gift to us that we can never repay . Thank you for caring for our daughter as if she were your own , for answering all of our many questions cheerfully and completely and for going above and beyond our wildest expectations to keep Abby safe , '' Laurence and Marianne Sunderland said in a post on the girl 's website . The parents , who also briefed reporters in Thousand Oaks , California on Saturday said they were overjoyed their daughter was found . As for her boat , Wild Eyes , it had to be left in the middle of the ocean , and Abby said she 's `` still trying to get over the fact that I will never see my Wild Eyes again . '' Responding to questions from reporters on whether Abby was too young to take such a voyage , her father defended her skill . `` What this is about is a young lady who has a great skill on the ocean and a passion for bluewater sailing . She 's a remarkable young lady and has done a remarkable job on ` Wild Eyes ; sailing it over half way around the world , '' he said . | Teen sailor should be back home in weeks . Abby says ` storms are part of the deal ' ' I will never see my Wild Eyes again ' | [[228, 300], [1955, 2051]] |
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