Kiya Edwards' Weblog

A snowplow struck and killed a man Thursday as he crossed the street, the Star Tribune reported.

The victim crossed against a green light near the intersection of Glenwood and Lyndale Avenues N. when a large snowplow headed east on Glenwood hit him. Television news station KSTP TV additionally reported that the incident happened at about 8:00 p.m.

Television news station KSTP TV reported that the snowplow had the right of way, according to police.

"The plow had the green light and witnesses on northbound Lyndale were stopped at the red light, they corroborate that," said Minneapolis Police Sgt. Jesse Garcia. "The victim was walking across the street against the 'Don't Walk' and obviously the snowplow didn't see him and hit him." (KSTP TV)

The Star Tribune reported that the victim's name has not been released. Television news station KSTP TV additionally reported that the man was handicapped and used a walker.

The man was wearing light-colored clothes, which may have meant the snowplow driver did not see him, police said.

Posted by edwar292 at 5:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A group of 60 Haitians mostly living in Brooklyn have outreached to a school in their home country, the New York Times reported.

The school in Gonaïves serves students ages 14 to 20 in the city of 300,000. In a country that continuously struggles with poverty, riots, hurricanes, and more, the school is getting help from its graduates working with the Alumni Association of Immaculate Conception College.They have organized construction projects, delivered books, sponsored scholarships and bought athletic uniforms for two decades.

Hurricanes and tropical storms have raised the association’s level of involvement over the past couple of years. In September 2004, Hurricane Jeanne led to severe flooding in Gonaïves, killing 2,800 residents, including Beaudelere Achille, a math teacher at Immaculate Conception. The alumni association joined with two other Haitian organizations in New York to organize a disaster fund that put $80,000 toward relief projects.

The association is also helping eight schools near Immaculate Conception that were also negatively affected by the storms.

The Immaculate Conception school, however, remains the association's priority.

Teachers, doctors, engineers and other professionals comprise the group of 60. Ricot Dupuy, station manager of Radio Soleil D’Haiti, a popular radio station in Haiti, said the school prepares its students as human beings.

“The future of Haiti is in the hands of these kids,” President Antoine Coq of the association said. “If we educate them, Haiti has a future. If we don’t, Haiti doesn’t have a future.” (New York Times)

Posted by edwar292 at 11:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

When authorities at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif., noticed the suspicious powder stuck to the windows of many ticket booths, they temporarily closed them Sunday morning. The booths reopened, however, after the substance was determined to be merely fine-grained sand, the New York Times reported.

Resort cleaning crews had originally spotted the mystery substance.

Although some guests were able to enter the park when it opened at 8 a.m., the ticket booths were later shut down for the investigation.

The Orange County Register reported that Suzi Brown, Disneyland spokeswoman, said park officials decided to temporarily hold back guests from the ticket booths.

"We thought it would be best to close off all ticket booths until we could make sure there was nothing hazardous."

The booths reopened at 9:45 a.m.

Investigators are reviewing surveillance video, and no arrests have been made, the Orange County Register reported.

Posted by edwar292 at 11:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A bomb at a busy tourist location in Cairo killed one Frenchwoman and injured 20 on Sunday, the New York Times reported.

The bomb was home-made, television station Kare 11 News reported.

The New York Times reported that the authorities said in addition to the 17-year-old Frenchwoman who was killed, 13 French citizens, 3 Saudis and 4 Egyptians were wounded. Most of the injuries were minor expect that of a French boy who was in critical condition, a doctor at a hospital in northern Cairo said.

Two bombs were thrown in Hussein Square, a popular tourist attraction with herbs and jewelery, but only one exploded. Tourists ran in many directions, unsure of where the explosion had originated.

Kare 11 News additionally reported that police safely detonated the second bomb.

The Associated Press detained three people, although no one came forward with having done the attack, according to the New York Times.

Tensions were high in Cairo in response to the recent events in Gaza. Egyptians had largely recovered, however, from many terrorist attacks that occurred during the 1990s, but the problem never completely vanished. The last attack took place April 2005 in el-Khalili, when a suicide bomber killed two French citizens and an American near a party of tourists.

Posted by edwar292 at 11:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Television station Kare 11 News reported that Minnesota will receive about $4 billion from the economic stimulus along with some additional money from grants, according to budget officials.

Finance officials with Governor Pawlenty said obtaining some of the stimulus money may mean getting the Legislature to change a few laws in order to have the state qualified. Governor Pawlenty said Minnesota will gladly take and put the money to good use, although he would not have designed the plan this way.

"For example, we want to use all the infrastructure money to build some roads and bridges and hopefully some ports and rails and some other things," Pawlenty said. "And that it will not only be good modernizing our infrastructure, it will be good putting people to work building it," he concludes. (Kare 11 News)

The Minnesota Daily reported that the nation will receive $27.5 billion to improve highways and bridges and more than $8 billion for transit agencies, and from these funds, Minnesota will receive about $502 million to pour into road and other infrastructure projects, and another $92 million into mass transit.

The Minnesota Daily also reported that small, local businesses may soon get the rewards of the stimulus plan.
Although it might not be for months, the major benefit businesses will see from the stimulus plan is that consumers will have more to spend, Alan Fine, lecturer at the Carlson School of Management said, but not all consumers will be immediately excited to use the money.

Posted by edwar292 at 10:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Star Tribune (AP) covered the story Tuesday about police who shot the once famous chimpanzee after it attacked a friend of its owner, which has since had many follow-ups. The second follow story goes deeper into the story, attempting to further answer the "why" of the first.

The lead in the first story is,
"HARTFORD, Conn. - A highly trained 200-pound chimpanzee who once starred in TV commercials for Old Navy and Coca-Cola was shot dead by police after a violent rampage that left a friend of its owner badly mauled." (Star Tribune)

This lead explains first why this specific chimpanzee is news-worthy and then goes on to say what happened to it, by whom and who else was affected. The second lead, however, plays more with words and while the background information of its prominence remains, the information on what happened to it is deleted. However, the lead does introduce the topic of the article; so much background on his lifestyle to potentially answer the unresolved from the previous story.

"STAMFORD, Conn. - Travis the chimpanzee, a veteran of TV commercials, was the constant companion of a lonely Connecticut widow who fed him steak, lobster and ice cream. He could eat at the table, drink wine from a stemmed glass, use the toilet, and dress and bathe himself." (Star Tribune)

Although the second lead leaves the reader slightly less aware of what happened to this chimpanzee, both leads adequately address the novelty and quirkiness of the story.

The first story continues on with naming who specifically was involved: the chimpanzee, the owner and the friend it attacked. The article then goes on to explain how the attack happened, including details such as after the chimpanzee had escaped from the house, the owner had to stab her own pet several times in order to save her friend while they tried to get it back into the house. The evidence is then backed up with a quotation attributed by a police officer.

The report then naturally attempts to explain why this happened.

"There was no provocation that we know of. One thing that we're looking into is that we understand the chimpanzee has Lyme disease and has been ill from that, so maybe from the medications he was out of sorts. We really don't know," Conklin said.

It then wraps up with more details from the attack including what happened afterward and injury reports. The last of the inverted pyramid discusses police's previous involvement with this chimpanzee and more details on its fame.

The second story explains the novelty of the situation by comparing human-like characteristics the chimpanzee used to mimic with the animal-like vengeance that unexpectedly came out. There is a brief explanation of what happened during the attack. The focus is rather on the explanation. A primatologist is quoted, and then a few more details about the attack are provided, however, nothing new. On the other hand, new information about what the chimpanzee owner did following the attack was reported, including statements from a police call.

The story said possible reasons from the tea the chimpanzee drank that morning having Xanax in it to zoologist explanations of unpredictable behavior in chimpanzees.

The second story is a response to the first in that it further advances the news. The Start Tribune has since had a few articles as following stories from the first, all serving the role to provide more information about what happened as well as new information that has come.

Posted by edwar292 at 9:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A gunman fled after robbing jewelery from a customer and money from a Minneapolis salon Friday within 75 seconds, the Star Tribune reported.

About twelve employees and customers at Sudz Salon in Uptown faced a masked robber armed with a .22-caliber handgun who pushed one female customer to the ground and demanded everyone to the ground while he walked toward the cash register at about 4:30 p.m. He later forced the woman to hand over her diamond wedding ring worth tens of thousands of dollars on his way out.

Krysta Schrader, store manager, heard the 57-year-old client fall from the store's basement and was able to immediately call the police. Schrader said he had thrown her by the back of her head, and his gun was drawn as he screamed for the assistant manager to open the safe.

"There is no safe!" Schrader said Steven Spafford, assistant manager, replied before he opened the cash drawer, triggering a silent alarm. The man then pulled $285 in cash and threw the register drawer to the floor.

One client and three employees were able to run out the back door and Nick Burlow, the landlord, heard the commotion from upstairs and was also able to call the police.

Police arrived minutes after the woman pulled the ring off her finger to give to the robber who then fled.

Witnesses said the man, who remains at large, wore a hooded jacket with the distinct letters "H K" on the back. Minneapolis police Sgt. William Palmer said he did not know whether the salon robbery was connected to the two robberies of Maple Grove Subway restaurants on Feb. 5 where an armed man caught on surveillance wore a matching jacket.

Security cameras are planned to be installed in the salon.

"I'm just afraid that this is the beginning of this," Schrader said. "I just think that people are really desperate. That somebody would take the chance for $285. A crime like armed robbery for $285? That's really scary to me. The desperation, I feel, is in the air." (Star Tribune)

Posted by edwar292 at 7:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In an article published by the Star Tribune, First Lady Michelle Obama has become fashion's first lady, according to the Associated Press, and will appear on the cover of Vogue's March issue.

Mrs. Obama will be wearing a dress by the same fashion designer who designed her inauguration dress, Jason Wu. She is the second to be on the cover, although every first lady since Lou Hoover have been featured within the magazine.

"She's so accessible, natural and normal. There's nothing affected about her," Andre Leon Talley, editor, said.

Although the eight-page feature focuses on Mrs. Obama's role as a mother and first lady, it is also about fashion.

"I was proud as a wife, amazed as a citizen. I felt a sense of relief, a sense of calm, that the country I lived in was the country I thought I lived in." Mrs. Obama said, according to an additional report by the Huffington Post.

Typically in Vogue, editors choose the outfits. This time, however, is an exception, the Star Tribune reported.

"I'm not going to pretend that I don't care about it," she said. "But I also have to be very practical. In the end, someone will always not like what you wear — people just have different tastes." (Star Tribune)

Posted by edwar292 at 11:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In the article written by the New York Times and published also in the Star Tribune, about Pope Benedict's planned visit to Israel in May, the fact blocks are presented in a way that summaries both history and the most recent news.

The news is that Benedict has made the announcement about going, so the first fact block is about where and to whom the announcement was made. It then goes on to talk about other details about the trip.

The conflict is introduced in the next news block, and then it is at last explained why this is newsworthy. There are then several paragraphs about why the trip is meaningful. The first is literally a history lesson about tension between 1939 and 1958 and is followed by current news and Benedict's role in the controversial matter. This order is affective because the background information is necessary for knowing what is going on today.

However, despite the fact that the most recent news is that the trip was announced, as a reader I wanted to know in the lead why this trip was meaningful for peace. It was not explained until after the long, wordy background information that needed to be picked apart.

The story then goes on to add opinions of other prominent figures which add different angles and viewpoints while clarifying what the overall objective of the trip is for.

Posted by edwar292 at 11:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Pope Benedict has confirmed a visit to Israel in May, a historical third trip by a reigning pontiff since it was founded in 1948, despite tensions between the Vatican and Israel, the Star Tribune reported.

Benedict announced the trip that will include visits to Bethlehem in the West Bank and Jordan to Jewish leaders at the Vatican Thursday.

The beatification of Pope Pius XII, who led the Roman Catholic Church from 1939 to 1958 was accused by some of not having done enough to save Jews during the Holocaust, which caused tension and debate in 2007 for Israeli officials and Jewish groups. His beatification, potentially leading to sainthood, appears to be on hold, the Star Tribune reported.

Richard Williamson claims "historical evidence" goes against Nazi gas chambers, and the pope had revoked the excommunication of Williamson and three other schismatic bishops, in late January. Benedict claimed Holocaust denial "intolerable and altogether unacceptable."

"We very much hope that the visit will be held in an appropriate atmosphere," Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Sunday. The Star Tribune reported that he did not mention the recent tensions.

Yahoo News reported that Rabbi David Rosen said Pope hopes it will be "a sign of peace" for the Middle East.

"The pope's language was very clear," Rosen said. "It was a very strong and quite moving affirmation of his commitment to Catholic-Jewish relations and opposition to anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial." (Yahoo News)

Posted by edwar292 at 11:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

An unidentified man was found dead on St. Paul train tacks Saturday night, apparently struck and killed by a train, the Star Tribune reported.

A Union Pacific train operator found the man, assumed to be in his 30s, on the train tracks that were adjacent from his own on Payne Avenue and Phalen Boulevard, Peter Panos of St. Paul police said. The Star Tribune reported that he called police at about 10:30 p.m., and television station Fox 9 News reported that the call was placed at about 11:00 p.m.

Panos said the death of the now unidentified is not considered to be suspicious, the reason he was lying there is unclear and investigations will continue, the Star Tribune reported. Fox 9 News reported that police said they do not know whether the man was asleep or already dead on the tracks before the train hit.

"It doesn't look like he was hit by the train and knocked on the [adjacent] tracks," Panos said. "He was already on the tracks." (Star Tribune)

Mark Davis with Union Pacific told Fox 9 News that managers are inspecting trains that were in the area before the incident in hopes of finding out the time and which train.

Posted by edwar292 at 10:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Laborers still working to rebuild post-Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans are "walking A.T.M.'s," the New York Times reported Sunday.

Tension between new Hispanic illegal immigrants and longtime black residents have made them vulnerable and targeted because of language barriers and many paychecks from their labor within the high-crime induced city, the New York Times reported.

"I think it’s not directly racial,�? Rev. John C. Raphael Jr., a prominent face in the New Orleans anti-crime movement said, but rather “the fact that they were vulnerable, they were taken advantage of.�?

Hate crimes include being mugged, punched, stabbed or shot, police and workers said. The Hispanic laborers are given no choice but to hand over their money.

“You don’t get a chance to say anything,�? Geovanny Billaldo, Honduras, said. “They just fall on top of you. It’s better to just give the money up front. If you don’t give it to them, they’ll beat you and take it anyway.�?

Police estimate that at least half a dozen Hispanic laborers died from post-Hurricane Katrina attacks, and there are weekly reports of muggings or hold-ups.

Laborers said police either ignore their calls for help, arrive too late, or scold them for working illegally.

Victims are encouraged to hide their money, however they are also often robbed right after work, according to the New York Times. The money is usually for their families.

“We dedicate ourselves to look for work, and we just want the chance to be here,�? said Mr. Cruz, the Honduran. “We have children to support.�? (New York Times)

Posted by edwar292 at 10:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A 20-year old youth theater company in Minneapolis opened a musical Thursday about the integration of nine Little Rock students at the all-white Central high school in 1957.

Little Rock, 1957, presented for the second time since 1994 by Youth Performance Company, historically depicts the hatred, the Twin Cities Daily Planet reported. The original production had four songs by Steven Joseph Hutton, and the new version has rock, gospel and original songs written and arranged by musical director and choreographer Kahlil Queen.

“The show is sometimes intense, an emotional drama,�? Queen told the Daily Planet. “I wanted the music to support that. Music helps the audience connect with that reality.�?

The Little Rock nine faced an unsupported school administration, daily harassment and violence by white students where few within the school were friendly, radio station KFAI reported. In an interview with KFAIR, Jacie Knight, director, said presenting racism, an on-going issue, in a contemporary matter, makes it less authentic, and giving the play some distance, 1957, makes its greater theme far from being a bad after-school special.

The Daily Planet reported that playwright Erin McGuire said the play has teenagers playing roles about the same ages of the actual people involved in the integration process.

Segregationist Arkansas Governor Faubus, played by Koby Feldman, white parents and students, including a terrorizing white girl named Darlene, played by Devon Solorow, make up the ensemble along with the rest of the nine.

Actor Ana Esposito says the play leaves her with courage: “The courage it took for these students just to go to school every day. I wish people today had that courage to stand up for what is right.�? (KFAI)

Little Rock, 1957 runs February 12 to March 1.

Posted by edwar292 at 9:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In the article posted by the Washington Post about Shepard Fairey, the Obama artist's arrest, there are five attributions. They are the police, Officer James Kenneally, spokesman for the Suffolk District Attorney Jake Wark, statements from the museum, and Fairey's Attorney Jeff Wiesner,

This story is not lengthy, and the attributions are scattered throughout the story.

The information comes form people pertaining to the case which make the story hard news and not mushy; there is no quote from a Fairey fan or friend. There are no direct quotations from Fairey.

The information from the museum also provides variety. The statements put no particular person to blame but instead report the latest information of where Fairey is now and what happened after his arrest.

The overall set up of the attributions in this story is very clear and covers facts from important sources. I hear from his lawyer and, from the conflicting side, notices from police. There were no confusing elements to this story because the facts were represented clearly by appropriate people and organizations.

Posted by edwar292 at 11:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

108 were killed in the deadliest wildfire in Australian histroy, the Pioneer Press reported. The 117 degrees fahrenheit fire in Marysville, a town in Victoria state, destroyed 700 homes and 90 percent of buildings, according to witnesses.

When the fire suddenly hit the Kinglake area, at least 18 deaths occurred. Witnesses said they saw trees explode.
Many people tried to flee in their cars but were killed, some by falling trees

"I looked outside the window and said: 'Whoa, we are out of here, this is going to be bad,"' Mandy Darkin, a restaurant worker said. "I could see it coming. I just remember the blackness and you could hear it, it sounded like a train." (Pioneer Press)

The air was blackened by ashes, and temperatures in the area dropped to about 77 degrees on Sunday. Officials said that although cooler conditions had eased considerably, they could push fires in unpredictable directions and pose a threat. Firefighters were battling about 30 fires Sunday.CNN reported that police said they were still trying to confirm details of the deaths and were still trying to get investigative teams into the fire-scarred zone.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced immediate emergency aid of 10 million Australian dollars and there were thousands of volunteers, the Pioneer Press reported. Government officials said the army would be deployed to help fight the fires and clean up the debris.

"It's an appalling tragedy for the nation." Rudd said.

CNN reported that the fires were visible from space Saturday, and NASA has released satellite photographs.

Posted by edwar292 at 10:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The New York Times reported Saturday that a University of Florida student suspended for “cyberbullying�? a teacher while in high school is suing the principal.

Katherine Evans was upset with her English teacher, Ms. Sarah Phelps, and posted a rant on Facebook that asked other students to express their feelings of hatred, the New York Times reported. Evans removed the post a few days later.

Peter Bayer, principal of Pembroke Pines Charter High School called Evans into his office two months later and ordered a suspension.

Matthew Bavaro, Evans’s lawyer, said she wants compensation for her legals fees and to simply have the suspension removed from her record. She said she fears the record could keep her from getting into graduate school, the New York Times reported.

Educational disciplinarians are in disagreement with Bavaro’s citation of the Tinker v. Des Moines case that ruled in favor of students’ free speech in 1969. He said he viewed Evans’ suspension as an attack of her free speech.

“You can express an opinion on whether someone is a good teacher,�? said Pamela Brown, assistant director for the Broward County School District who oversees expulsions. “But when you start inviting people to say that they hate a teacher, that crosses the line.�?

Howard Simon, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida challenged criticism turning into assault.

“If Katie Evans said what she said over burgers with her friends at the mall, there is no question it would be protected by free speech,�? he said.

Posted by edwar292 at 5:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Superintendent John P. Franzoia of Royalton Public schools died Saturday at St. Cloud hospital from injuries he received in a vehicle crash the night before, according to Minnesota State Patrol, Kare 11 News reported.

The State Patrol said Franzoia, 62, of St. Cloud was on Minnesota Highway 15 at Stearns County Road 1 when he was rear-ended by Dale A. Matthies, 49, St. Cloud with alcohol in his system at about 6:11 p.m. Matthies was in Stearns County Jail Saturday and had minor injuries.

Kare 11 News reported that Franzoia was superintendent for about 18 years and high school principal for six for Royalton Public schools. According to Fox 9 News, the district has about 675 students.

"This is a major shock," Phil Gurbada, principal of the Royalton Elementary School said. "I'm feeling a lot of grief. John is a good friend. I've worked with him for a long time." (Kare 11 News)

Posted by edwar292 at 11:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The 41-year-old man suspected of groping women on the University of Minnesota campus admitted the crime to police Wednesday and has been charged with two fifth-degree criminal sexual conducts, the Minnesota Daily reported Thursday.

Philip Acosta's charges are gross misdemeanors, according to the Star Tribune.

Police Officers Erin Schaeffer and Sevent Kragt arrested Acosta Tuesday evening on the university's West Bank after he groped two women who were both later able to individually identify him at the scene, the Minnesota Daily reported.

Minneapolis Police sex crimes Lt. Nancy Dunlap said Acosta confessed to 10 offenses, and Police believe there were more unreported incidents, the Minnesota Daily reported. The Star Tribune reported that Acosta sexually assaulted them because he is attracted to the female buttocks.

Acosta is in the Hennepin County jail, and the possible filing of additional or more serious charges are pending, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said.

“I just feel a lot better about walking to class,�? one of the victims told the Minnesota Daily.

According to the Minnesota Daily, Dunlap said that despite Acosta's minor criminal history, the type of crimes would not have linked him to these assaults.

Posted by edwar292 at 9:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A street artist famous for his "Hope" themed paintings of President Obama was arrested in Boston on Saturday on two warrants, the Star Tribune reported.

Shepard Fairey, 38, was at the Institute of Contemporary Art for an event kicking off his new exhibit. The Washington Post reported that this was his first solo exhibit, and he was arrested on his way to the event.

The Star Tribune reported that according to police, the warrants were from last month when Fairey allegedly tagged property. The Washington Post reported that the graffiti, based on his Andre the Giant street campaign earlier in his career, was on the property of two locations.

The Washington Post also reported that according to Jake Wark, spokesman for the Suffolk District Attorney, Fairey is scheduled to be arraigned Monday in Brighton District Court, and he will be arraigned on a default warrant related to a separate graffiti case in the Roxbury section of Boston.

Fairey was release a few hours after his arrest, the museum told the Washington Post.

He is in a copywrite dispute with the Associated Press about his Obama image, the Star Tribune reported. A California lawyer who represented Fairey in this case did not promptly respond to an e-mail seeking comment on this arrest, the Washington Post additionally reported.

Posted by edwar292 at 9:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"Minnesota Nice was apparently on vacation early Sunday when a Plymouth man allegedly assaulted members of the Russian National Ballet Theater at the Doubletree Guest Suites in downtown Minneapolis." (Star Tribune)

This lead not only says the most important, hard facts of what happened, but it also does so in a captivating, creative manner. Using a term such as Minnesota Nice would catch any Minnesotian's eye. To then read on that it went on "vacation" is humorous and makes the reader question, "why?" Why would this be newsworthy? It must have been something bad and out of the ordinary. The lead continues to be strong because it follows the creativity with the facts and goes from general (a commonly know phrase) to specific (providing details) within one sentence. The "when" is clearly stated, Sunday, and the "what" is captivating enough to make the reader want to know why these dancers were assaulted.
The lead also ends strongly because it addresses the address. Although I am from Minneapolis and consider myself to be theater and dance savvy, I did not know where the Doubletree Guest Suites were. This reporter was thinking ahead because she too assumed some of her readers might question such a detail in a lead. It is really important to leave readers curious, but not clueless, so it was a strong choice to add that the suites are located in downtown Minneapolis.
While this story does not contain prominence, violence is nonetheless a pressing concern for most residents. Therefore, I think the reporter chose to use some humor in the beginning for the mere purpose of drawing readers in to a likely uncomfortable subject that is hard news.

Posted by edwar292 at 11:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Minnesota Zoo is installing a $1 million playground, shifting away from public funding and toward corporate and private donations, reported the Star Tribune Sunday.
The playground, Woodland Adventure, is meant for children to get back in touch with nature.
"It's really nature-based," he said, " ... in a way that's more than just a simple playground at the zoo," Lee Ehmke told the Minneapolis Club.
The zoo is typically funded by the public, but this new project is supported by a $500 thousand grant from General Mills, who gets the naming rights, and the other half from private donations, the Star Tribune reported.
However, the zoo continues to get money from the public in other ways outside of the playground project. Winonna Daily News reported that this Valentine's Day, couples who are over 21 years old can pay $170 to participate in the zoo's fifth "special Love Tour," which involves a dinner in Discovery Bay and watching how some of the animals mate at night led by a zookeeper in fifteen minute intervals.

Posted by edwar292 at 11:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Fox 9 News reported that the Senate will debate President Obama's stimulus plan that the House already passed with $819 billion.
With solely Democratic support, the plan includes budgeting "strained" states in funding for roads, infrastructure, and cutting taxes between $500 and $1000 for workers.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is in favor of this and urges other Republicans to pass the plan. However, because there was no support from Republicans in the House, the plan has gone to Senate.
"I'm calling on the Senate to pass this plan, so we can put people back to work, " President Obama said Saturday to the public and to Congress.
Republicans said the plan needs more tax cuts and housing help, and less government spending, Fox 9 News reported. Kare 11 News reported that Mitch McConnell, Senate Republican leader, said Sunday that the plan will not pass unless it has a clearer focus on housing issues and tax cuts. He and other Republicans said it needed an overhaul because not enoughtax cuts are going toward the private sector, which "allows Democrats to go on a spending spree unlikely to jolt the economy," (Kare 11 News)
Democrats, although willing to compromise, want to begin action right away, Kare 11 News reported.

Posted by edwar292 at 10:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Minneapolis crime rates have decreased in 2008 for the second year in a row, Fox 9 News reported last July.
Even half way through the year, city officials Mayor R.T. Rybak and Police Chief Tim Dolan were able to announce Monday, July 21, 2008 of the significant decline.
Wednesday, the Minnesota Daily reported that crime reports submitted to the FBI showed that rates decreased by 22 percent in Minneapolis and 14 percent on campus, according to the University of Minnesota Police Department.
The Minnesota Daily reported that sexual offenses and rape increased, however, which included public urination and exposure. Roberta Gibbons, Aurora Center Associate Director, said it is important to realize that these are only reported numbers and just because more reports have been filed does not mean there is an increase in the community (Minnesota Daily).
Community participation is said to have contributed to the decline in crime rates. National Night Out and increase in traffic stops also helped keep numbers low, Inspector Robert Skomra, commandor of Minneapolis' 2nd Precinct, told the Minnesota Daily.
Dolan recognizes, however, that police and security regulators should be credited.
"Ultimately, it’s the tireless work of the officers on the street that makes such a difference and why arrests are up 4 percent,�? he told Fox 9 News.
The Minnesota Daily also reported that there were four reported rapes between late April and May, and Molly Dhir, a resident of Pioneer Hall on campus said she began to realize that even the place you live is "potentially unsecure." Victims who go to the Aurora Center are more likely to report the crime to police, Gibbons told the Minnesota Daily.

Posted by edwar292 at 9:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A truck carrying petrol exploded and killed over 100 people and injured at least 27 in Molo, Kenya early Sunday, CNN reported.
After the truck spilled petrol, residents were lined up trying to get the fuel for an hour before it exploded.
While the BBC reported that officials do not know how the fire started, Titus Mung'ou. a Red Cross representative out of 80 sent to help, told CNN that one of the residents likely started the fire by lighting a cigarette or fire near the crash.
"There is the need to strengthen the capacity in handling fires," Mung'ou told CNN.
Upset Kenyans perceived this to be "a lack of disaster preparedness," (CNN) and this is the second incident within four days. 80 miles away in the country's capitol, Nairobi, 27 were killed Wednesday in a supermarket fire and 57 are still missing.

Posted by edwar292 at 7:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Olympic champion Michael Phelps has admitted to bad behavior and authenticity of the photo published by a British newspaper Sunday that revealed him inhaling from a marijuana pipe at a party, the Star Tribune reported.
The Star Tribune reported that the News of the World said Phelps was in South Carolina for a football game at the university and also went to the party where the photo was taken during this trip.
Although the photo contains no direct evidence that marijuana was smoked, the News of the World said the water pipe Phelps inhaled from is typically used for that purpose.
This happened a few months after the Olympics, and because he was taking a break from training, his "regrettable" behavior and "bad judgment" have no impact on the eight golds he had won, the Star Tribune reported.
While the Star Tribune reported that embarrassed sponsors may be reconsidering their partnership with Phelps, Washington Post staff writer Amy Shipley reported how his mother, sports groups and magazines, and other fans feel now that their "role model" has been exposed for a second time; the first being drunk driving. Phelps had also been appointed male athlete of the year by USOC and has been given other important titles, the Washington Post reported.
"We are disappointed in the behavior recently exhibited by Michael Phelps," the USOC's statement said.

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