July 2012 Archives

By Karen Elizondo

At least 600 million people were affected Tuesday in the worst blackout in India's history, reported the Washington Post.

A power grid failure on Monday that left 350 million people out of power grew to 600 million when the second and larger grid failure occurred Tuesday, CNN reported.

The blackout has shutdown trains, air conditioners, and stoplights, causing traffic to back up into a "gridlock on many streets of the capital," the Washington Post reported.

Airports and hospitals have been forced to run on backup power, CNN reported.

Power is largly being restored, CNN reported.

By Karen Elizondo

After her grandfather died at the wheel, a 12-year-old New Jersey girl steered the truck to safety, FoxNews.com reported.

Miranda Bowman was riding in the passenger seat when her grandfather, Paul Parker, died suddenly from heart failure and she had to take the wheel, FoxNew.com reported.

Miranda was not injured in the accident, FoxNews.com reported.

Parker told Miranda that he was not feeling well before she heard his head hit the driver's side window. His foot pushed down on the accelerator and Miranda realized she had to stop the car, the Star Tribune reported.

As the car sped to 80 mph Miranda unbuckled and slid over to the driver's side. She saw a red light ahead and thought that she said "I can't hurt anybody else." She drove into a couple trees before the truck came to a stop, the Star Tribune reported.

A woman driving behind the swerving truck called 911, the Star Tribune reported.

The family is in shock. Parker was an active man, the Star Tribune reported.

By Karen Elizondo

An early morning house fire at a 112-year-old house killed one and hospitalized four others, the Star Tribune reported.

At about 4:30 a.m. firefighters responded to a call to the 2800 block of First Avenue South where they found five people inside the Star Tribune reported.

One person died at the scene and the remaining four were sent to the hospital where their conditions are unknown as of Saturday night, the Pioneer Press reported.

The family who had been inside the house had been renting it for about a year, the Pioneer Press reported.

By Karen Elizondo

Authorities have found an Arkansas girl who was taken by her brother after he allegedly slain their parents, KEYC TV reported.

The girl, Amber Whitlow was found in Memphis, Tenn., with her brother, Antonio Whitlow, just hours after their parents, Annette and Bobbly Whitlow, were found dead in their home, KEYC reported.

Amber showed no sign of injuries, the Star Tribune reported.

At about 3 p.m. Saturday officers recieved a phone call from a church member who saw Annette's body on the living room floor by a fireplace when he went to their house to meet Bobby, the Star Tribune reported.

The police found Bobby's body in the kitchen. The weapons reportedly used were a knife or other cutting instrument, the Star Tribune reported.

By Karen Elizondo

A new law effective Aug 1 in minnesota has made the sale of synthetic drugs in Minnesota a felony, the Star Tribune reported.

Government and law enforcement officials are cracking down on synthetic drugs that have been linked to at least two deaths in Minnesota, the Star Tribune reported.

The crackdown, not limited to just Minnesota, is a nationwide effort driven by a federal ban on 26 different synthetic drugs that was signed by President Barack Obama this month, Minnesota Public Radio reported.

The ban has led to 265 search warrants in 90 cities being carried out. Law enforcement executed raids nationwide in sales establishments and manufacturing locations, reported MPR.

In Minnesota officials raided Last Place on earth head shop and collected 20,000 packets of synthetic marijuana, MPR said.

Nationwide agents collected 4.8 million packets of synthetic marijuana, enough material to produce 13.6 million packets, 167,000 packets of "bath salts" and enough material to produce 392,000 more, according to MPR.

The law in Minnesota provides the Pharmacy Board the authority to "speed through new rules to keep up with the fast-changing formulas" that have been used to get around current law, the Star Tribune reported.

By Karen Elizondo

Shingle Creek Elementary was given 12 to 18 months to stand Tuesday in order for a historical significance study to decide its worthiness to stay, the Star Tribune reported.

The now-vacant school, built in 1958 with "recognizable mid-century American architecture" was facing threats by the Minneapolis School District to be demolished, Minnesota Public Radio reported.

The district closed the school in 2007 and since then has been frequented by "unwanted visitors" and vandals, Minnesota Public Radio said.

There is an estimated $35,000 to $50,000 spent on clean up for the building every year, MPR reported.

According to MPR a permit is required to demolish a building in order to preserve historic architecture. It may be worth saving according to Commissioner Robert Mack.

The Minneapolis School District is expecting to appeal the decision, the Star Tribune Reported.

By Karen Elizondo

Chances are better for a baby Amur tiger that was brought to the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley where it will be raised with another newborn of the same breed, the Star Tribune reported Tuesday.

The cub was born on July 1 in the Saint Louis Zoo with a brother who did not make it past the first few critical days of these tigers life, according to the Minnesota Zoo press release.

The cub was brought to the Minnesota Zoo to be hand-reared with another newborn in order for the cubs to "encourage their natural tiger behaviors," the Star Tribune reported.

The cub arrived in Minneapolis on July 19, was examined by veterinarians and joined the Minnesota born cub where hopes are the two will learn from each other, the Press release said.

According to the Star Tribune the Amur tiger is the largest of all cats and has gone through several population changes in its natural habitat of Russia including a low period of only an estimated 20 or 20 in 1940.

By Karen Elizondo

Beijing's reportedly worst rainstorm in 60 years struck on Saturday and continued through the night to Sunday, killing 37 people, BBC News reported.

At least 65,000 people were evacuated Sunday evening, BBC said.

Twenty-five people died from drowning and others from lightning strikes, roof collapses, and electrocution from downed power lines, the BBC reported

The deadly 10 hour storm raised several questions about the response effort of the government and the infrastructure throughout the city, CNN reported.

Many people used social media sites like Weibo -- the Chinese equivalent to twitter -- to express their feelings of anger toward the lack of support given by the government. On user argued that there "was no emergency broadcast system deployed, no government shelters, and no special hotlines," CNN reported.

Others complained about the infrastructure in the city, saying that money was spent to "host the most luxurious Olympics" but not to fix the city's drainage system, CNN reported

Find a news story that uses numbers in at least three ways. How has the reporter used numbers to tell the story? Are the numbers overwhelming? If so, how could the reporter have made it easier to grasp? Did the reporter use math to crunch numbers and tell the story more effectively? What are the sources of those numbers? Are they listed completely?

By Karen Elizondo

The New York Times recently had a story on sports and their promotion of healthy weight in teenagers.

The numbers used in the story help with the explanation of what this study found. The numbers explain that if children "actively" commute to school and participate in at least 2 sports a year (one each season) the prevalence of obesity would drop dramatically.

The reporter also found statistics outside of the study he was writing about in order to enhance the objective of the study and further explain what needs to be done about obesity.

The numbers are actually very clear and not overwhelming. They present a picture of what obesity is now and what it could be if America makes a change. Similar to a "before and after" picture.

It appears as though the reporter probably did some simple math to illustrate a drop or an increase in percentages. This, in turn, made the story much easier to read and understand.

The souces of the numbers are a study done by Dr. Drake, a postdoctoral research fellow at the Hood Center for Children and Families at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, and a program website called Safe Routes, to promote active commuting.

The author also use "past studies" to get his numbers but never fully cited them or linked to them in the story. Dr. Drake's study and the Safe Routes were hyperlinks in the story so readers could verify where the numbers originated from.

By Karen Elizondo

Evidence that FBI has uncovered brings hope to a small Iowa community that two missing girls are still alive, ABC News reported.

Friday the FBI found evidence leading them to believe that cousins Elizabeth Collins, 8, and Lyric Cook, 10, who were reportedly abducted on July 13, are still alive, reported ABC News

The two girls were at their grandmother's house when she let them go for a bike ride around 12:15 p.m. and they never came back, the Star Tribune reported.

The girls' bikes were found along with one of the girls' purses at around 4 p.m. on a trail near their grandmother's house, the Star Tribune said.

The man-made lake next to the trail has been partially drained and it has been ruled out that the girls did not drown, the Star Tribune reported.

Officials have questioned family members, including Lyric's father, Dan Morrissey, and mother, Misty Cook-Morrissey both of whom have a history of methamphetamine-related charges. Dan Morrissey has also been charged with assaulting his wife, the Star Tribune reported.

By Karen Elizondo

Twelve are dead and at least 38 injured after a gunman attacked a movie theater during the midnight showing of Batman early Friday, CNN reported.

The shooting happened just minutes after "The Dark Knight Rises" began. The gunman came in through a door near the front of the screen, throughout a canister that filled the auditorium with gas and began shooting, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The suspect was found in the back parking lot of the theater after the shooting. He was identified as James Holmes, 24, of Aurora, CNN reported. He is in custody.

Authorities said Holmes did not resist arrest, CNN said.

Four guns were recovered including a rifle, a shotgun and two handguns, CNN said. In addition, the suspect told police that his apartment might have explosives inside, the LA Times reported.

Police were evacuating and searching the apartment building that Holmes resided at, LA Times reported.

By Karen Elizondo

A 110-foot dredging barge sank along with its tugboat in Lake Huron Thursday, the Star Tribune said.

For reasons unknown so far, the barge carrying about 1,500 gallons of diesel fuel, called Madison, began sinking at about 4:35 a.m, the Star Tribune Reported.

Diesel fuel is leaking into Lake Huron from two vents that crews a are not able to get closed, The Times Herald reported.

There is no knowledge of how much fuel has leaked but there is about a 500-foot sheen on the surface, the Star Tribune said.

There were no injuries, the Star Tribune reported.

Booms have been put in place in order to contain the water, but the weather is making them defective, The Times Herald reported.

Beaches have been closed in the country until more information is received, added The Times Herald.

By Karen Elizondo

An 82-year-old man was found dead in his pickup truck in the woods after being missing for three weeks, the Star Tribune said.

Edward Krueger was reportedly driving from his home in Chicago to visit family in Minnesota when his pickup left Interstate 90, crashed through a fence and finally stopped in the woods, reported the Star Tribune.

A crime alert for a missing person was issued on Monday in Minnesota, reported the Star Tribune.

Krueger had been last seen driving his 1994 Dodge Ram pickup truck on June 29, reported CBS Minnesota News.

CBS also reported that authorities do not think there are any "suspicious circumstances" related to the accident.

A 23-year-old Burnsville man was charged Monday of manslaughter associated with the fatal death of his friend last December, the Star Tribune reported.

Kyl Alan Dague was charged with second degree manslaughter and reckless discharge of a firearm. His bail is set at $150,000 without conditions and $25,000 with conditions, the Star Tribune said

Dague and his friend Justin James Schauer of savage were reportedly playing a game in which they would catch the ejected bullet after pulling back the slide of a handgun when Schauer, 22, was shot in the forehead, the Pioneer Press said.

When Dague called 911 he told police that he had not been looking when the gun when off and thought that Schauer must have shot himself with the weapon. However, a witness said Dague had pulled the trigger when Shauer was shot, the Pioneer Press reported.

In addition, police found a "dominant amount of DNA match to Dague on the gun and no match to Schauer, reported the Pioneer Press.

By Karen Elizondo

The first drug shown to reduce the risk of the HIV infection was approved by the Food and Drug Administration Thursday, the Pioneer Press reported.

The Gilead Sciences' pill, Truvada, is a new milestone in the 30-year fight against the virus that leads to AIDS, Pioneer Press reported.

In studies, Truvada has shown to be 90 percent effective at preventing the virus when participants used the drug as prescribed, reported NBC News.

Although it was approved, there are a number of concerns accompanying the drug, NBC said.

Many people are worried that the drug might lead to a reduction in the the use of condoms. Another concern is the fear that people may only take the drug for the weekend, using it as a "party drug" when they feel their risk is higher, NBC reported.

According to NBC the drug is $14,000 a year.

Look at a news obituary - not a paid death notice, but an obituary written by a reporter about the death of someone notable in the community. What sources are used? Does it have a standard obituary lead or an alternative? Does that lead work? How does the obit differ from a resume?

By Karen Elizondo

An obituary of Dorii Gbolo appeared in the Star Tribune on Thursday.

The sources of this obituary are U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn., Gbolo herself, her sister Bettye Granger, Bill Gbolo.

This obituary does not follow the standard formula for an obituary. It does not have the standard lead -- the name, title, and age -- and her claim to fame section is mixed in with the chronology section. There is a vague outline of lead, then claim-to-fame then chronology and family but not like the New York Times format.

The lead works, but it is not as eye-capturing as it could be. I would say that if the standard obit format is not going to be followed the lead should be more colorful and descriptive about a major contribution that the deceased had on the community. It should not be a vague sentence.

This obituary differs from a resume because it shows her noteworthy actions and accomplishments in life but it includes comments and quotes that make it special. The comments from sources add emotion and life while the point of a resume is purely to show life accomplishments and skills.

A New York man was convicted and sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison on a charge of organ trafficking Wednesday, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

In addition to his prison sentence, Levy Izhak Rosenbaum, the first person in the United States convicted of trafficking human organs, was ordered to forfeit $420,000 in fees he received for his black market business, reported the Star Tribune.

Rosenbaum reportedly sold three Americans kidneys from Israeli recruits who had a "desperate need for cash," said the Star Tribune.

One of the paid donors, Elahn Quick, testified in court and said he was paid $25,000 to donate. He said he thought he was doing a good deed but got cold feet while he was lying on the surgery bed, reported the San Francisco Chronicle.

Quick said he realized he didn't want to go through with the surgery just seconds before the anesthesia, he tried to stop the surgery but couldn't communicate it clearly to the surgeon before he fell asleep. Quick woke up without a kidney, reported the Star Tribune.

Quick told the press that he felt victimized, reported the StartTribune.

Karen Elizondo

For the first time in 50 years maritime shipments directly from Miami to Cuba resumed Friday, reported the Associated Press found in the Star Tribune.

The shipments will be charitable aid and packages for family hand friends living in Cuba, the Associated Press said.

The ship, Ana Cecilia, arrived early Friday morning to an unaware Cuban public. The Cuban media has not mentioned anything about the event, the only way anyone knew of it was through word of mouth, the Associated Press Reported.

According to NBC Miami, there is controversy over the packages that will be sent once a week. Some Cuban exiles have said they think the shipments might violate U.S. Law.

Congresswoman Lleana Ros-Lehtinen wrote a letter to the federal government asking to investigate the maritime shipment to see if there are law violations in regards to the trade of goods, reported NBC Miami.

International Port said that they have followed the law and have the licenses and permits necessary under the law, NBC Miami reported.

By Karen Elizondo

A slab of ice Thursday was snapped off by one of the climbers starting a summer avalanche on Mount Blanc in the French Alps, reported the Washington Post.

"Unusually we weather" in recent days up to the event may have been part of the problem reported Fox News.

The two mountaineers who have died are from spain, reported Fox.

Rescuers were sent to pull the dead and injured from the mess but risks of another avalanche delayed their efforts, reported Fox.

According to the Washington Post, the climbers involved seemed experienced.

By Karen Elizondo

A River Falls father was arrested on suspicion of homocide after his three daughters were found dead Tuesday, the Pioneer Press reported.

Amara, 11, Sophie, 8, and Cecilia, 5, were found dead in their mother's home with the smell of gas filling the house, the Star Tribune reported.

The father, Aaron Schaffhausen, 34, turned himself in to the police at about 4:45 p.m., about an hour after the girls were found by the police. He is being held at St. Croix County Jail, the Star Tribune reported.

The girls' mother initially called the police with concern after their father, the mother's ex-husband, had made threats, reported the Star Tribune.

Both newspapers report that the mother is safe and is helping with the investigation.

According to the Pioneer Press, the couple filed for divorce August 2011 and was granted in January along with joint legal custody of the girls and "primary placement with their mother in River Falls."

By Karen Elizondo

Amy Senser, former Vikings-player's wife. was sentenced to 41 months in prison on a charge of criminal vehicular homicide, reported the Star Tribune.

Hennepin County Judge Daniel Mabley said he "wasn't satisfied" with Senser's account of the initial incident. He said he trusts her remorse but is dissatisfied with her story, reported the Seattle Post.

Senser struck and killed Anousone Phanthavong, 38, last Aug. 23, the Seattle Post said.

Senser could have been sentenced to up to about 57 months but was sentenced to less, reported the Star Tribune.

Senser apologized to Phanthavong's family and gave his mother a hug after the sentence, reported the Star Tribune.

By Karen Elizondo

President Obama begins Monday to push for an extension on the tax cuts for middle- and low-income Americans that were put into place by former President George W. Bush, reported the Los Angeles Times.

In a news conference Monday, Obama will annouce his commitment to extend the tax cuts for one year, reported the LA Times.

According to Obama campaign senior advisor, Robert Gibbs, the Obama administration will, however, allow the tax cuts for American's above the income of $250,000 to expire, reported CBS News.

The tax cuts were initiall passed in 2001 and 2003 under President George W. Bush, reoported CBS News.

By Karen Elizondo

President Obama gave a speech to Poland, Ohio on Friday Morning.

A journalist from the Los Angeles Times, Christi Parsons, covered the story. She included very few quotes that emphasized the new twist on Obama's speeches to connect with the public.

Parsons wrote more about the speeches Obama had been giving in his most recent campaign tour than just one particular speech. She wrote after comments from an Obama campaign advisor, that Obama is trying to see the American "through the lens of his own family."

Parsons added comments from the crowd and discussed that Obama was "feeding" off of their cheers and reactions. She noted that Obama had spoken to audience members before his speeches and used their stories during the speech to make it more relevant and more connected with the public.

She added that during Obama's speech a person in the crowd shouted "Where's Michelle?" Obama did not falter or hesitate to answer that Michelle was at home taking care of their girls.

Parsons also wrote of "Natoma Canfield, whose letter about her health crisis has inspired numerous public references by Obama," was at the rally and met Obama after the speech.

Parsons seemed to really focus on how Obama was striving to connect with the public more that the speeches themselves.

By Karen Elizondo

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton's letter to the Obama administration was responded to Friday with federal aid for the counties and tribal nations affected by last month's floods, reported the Star Tribune.

The public infrastructure damage added up to at least $110 million, reported the Duluth News Tribune.

Residents said they are thankful for such a quick response from the President. Dayton said he did not doubt financial aid would come, it was just a matter of time, according to the Duluth News Tribune.

According to the Star Tribune, some counties have yet to be assessed for the cost of damage and so more aid may be available depending on what those costs are.

Serena Williams, 30, took her fifth Wimbledon title Saturday, reported the Star Tribune.
She beat Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland for the championship title making it 10 Wimbledon titles total for Serena and her sister Venus, reported the Star Tribune.

Serena had been away from tennis for about a year after she won the Wimbledon in 2010 from a foot injury and a pulmonary embolism that prevented her from playing, reported the Los Angeles Times.

"A few years ago, you know, I was in the hospital, and now I'm here again. It's so worth it, and I'm so happy," Serena said according to the LA Times.

Serena is the first woman since Martina Navratilova, to win a Wimbledon title at age 30 or older, reported the Star Tribune. Navratilova won in 1990 when she was 33.

By Karen Elizondo

A Fla. lifeguard declined when he was offered his job back after being fired for breaking the rules in efforts to save a struggling swimmer, reported CNN.

Tomas Lopez ran out of his zone on the Hallandale Beach in Florida to save a drowning man Monday and was fired shortly after, reported the New York Times.

After initially firing Lopez for liability issues when leaving his zone on the beach, Jeff Ellis Management, a private lifeguarding company, offered Lopez his job back, reported the New York Times and other news organizations.

"I am of the opinion that the supervisors acted hastily," Ellis said to the press, reported USA Today.

Lopez told the media that he declined the job because he just wanted to move on, find a new job and finish school.

By Karen Elizondo

A 16-year-old girl died Thursday after an SUV hit her in St. Paul.

Clarisse Grimes and her boyfriend, Eduardo Vazquez-Torres, were sitting in a grassy area outside Harding High School when an SUV lost control in the intersection of E. 3rd and Hazelwood Streets, jumped the curb and hit the pair, reported the Star Tribune.

Grimes died at the scene and Vazquez-Torres was taken to Regions Hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries, reported Kare 11 News.

The 50-year-old driver is being held in custody on suspicion of criminal vehicle operation, reported Kare 11 News.

The community has been trying to get a stop sign at the intersection of the accident, reported Fox 9 News.

Minnesota Public Radio news reported the first West Nile virus case in Minnesota for 2012, Tuesday.

After a trip to south-central Minnesota, a St. Louis man became sick with the virus in late May, reported the Star Tribune.

The man was hospitalized and treated for West Nile encephalitis and meningitis and is recovering, reported the Star Tribune.

Noted symptoms of the virus are headache, rashes, high fever, stiff neck, and muscle weakness, according to the Star Tribune.

David Neitzel, an epidemiologist of Minnesota Department of Health, said that most people can recover on their own within a few weeks, but some cases are worse than others, reported MPR News.

Since the virus was discovered in 2002 there have been 465 cases and 15 deaths from the disease, added MPR.

By Karen Elizondo

Protests grew in Tokyo during the weekend in front of the entrance of a nuclear plant, the Washington Post reported.

With the announcement of a reboot for the Ohi nuclear facility on Japan's western shoreline, protesters gather to block the entrance of the facility and shout, "No to the restart," the Washington Post reported.

One protester told the Associated Press that he doesn't think the plants are safe to restart yet. The Star Tribune quoted him when he said, "After experiencing the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, how can Japan possibly want nuclear power?"

Seventy percent of japanese respondents have said they favor the idea of decreasing the use of nuclear power in the country according to a poll done by the Pew research center, the Star Tribune reported.

However, government officials worried about a power crunch and blackouts in the hot summermonths have led them to turn on "Ohi No. 3" and maybe plant No. 4, the Star Tribune reported.

After the earthquake and tsunami in Japan last year sent the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant into multiple meltdowns, 50 of the working reactors were shut down, the Star Tribune reported. The Fukushima meltdown called for an evacuation of more than 100,000 people, the Washington Post reported.

By Karen Elizondo

While I was looking through the New York Times website today I also found additional multimedia that I did not include in my analysis yesterday.

The NY Times has options that are interactive for viewers and readers. On type of this multimedia is an interactive map, in which viewers can drag the mouse over parts of a map and details about that certain area will unveil, for instance population or population of race.

The other multimedia I found was an interactive feature story. This brings the reader to a new page that is set up to click through the feature story. Each part of the story tends to be accompanied by pictures as well.

Both of these tactics by the NY Times makes readers feel in control and feel as though they are looking for what they want to know rather than what the media is telling them.

By Karen Elizondo

The Minneapolis Star Tribune and the New York Times, although completely different news organizations, have incredibly similar multimedia options.

Both organizations have websites clearly laid out with breaking news and tabs to other forms of news as well as links to other webpages.

Within their stories both seem to incorporate as much as they can to fully inform theirs readers and viewers. Pictures are common throughout stories and videos are incorporated where they fit and can enhance the information or understanding of the story.

These multimedia additions are helpful, the saying "one picture is worth 1,000 words" is a great example of why other forms of media is helpful for the readers.

Both news organizations have options to further build their connection with the public. For instance on the Star Tribunes website there are options to "connect" with the Tribune through Facebook and Twitter, and the NY Times is on Facebook as well.

The Facebook page for both organizations include previews, excerpts and teasers of full stories in their print or on their website. This perhaps helps to grab the attention of some audience members and bring them to read more.

The news organizations social media options seem to be a bit more casually written and open for conversation. Some of the posts are simple questions in order to include the public's opinion and provoke their interaction in the news.

It seems news organizations are adapting to the growing world of social media and are learning to use it to their advantage.

By Karen Elizondo

Spain, defending champions, pulled a championship win again in the European Championship 2012 Sunday, reported USA Today.

Italy failed to score any points against Spain's four goals, reported CNN.

Spain has now won three straight championships in a row, including the World Cup in 2010, and another European Championship in 2008, reported USA Today.

Spain's head coach, Vicente Del Bosque, 61, is the first man to lead a single team to multiple crowns. Bosque has coached Spain to the European Championship, the World Cup, and Real Madrid in 2000 and 2002, reported CNN.

The team looks forward to trying to qualify for the World Cup in Brazil in 2014, according to CNN.