October 2009 Archives

Cyclist killed struck and killed in car crash in Blaine

By Brittany Falkers

            A bicyclist was killed in a crash with a car Friday night in Blaine, said the Star Tribune http://www.startribune.com/local/north/67848607.html?elr=KArks:DCiUMEaPc:UiacyKU7DYaGEP7vDEh7P:DiUs.

            Investigators from the Minnesota State patrol are assisting Blaine police in reconstructing the accident, according to a reporter for WCCO news http://wcco.com/local/biker.hit.car.2.1283328.html.

            The accident happened at about 8 p.m. at the intersection of County Road 10 and Jefferson Street, an Anoka County Sheriff's Office dispatcher told the Star Tribune.

            Although it was raining and the roads were wet at the time, investigators have not determined if weather played a role in the accident, said a reporter for WCCO news.

            The name of the deceased bicyclist has not been released, according to WCCO news.

            No further information was available about the crash as police continue their investigation, according to the Star Tribune.  

Minneapolis dad stops attack

By Brittany Falkers

            A Minneapolis dad stopped a group of teens who were attacking a man Thursday morning, said the Star Tribune http://www.startribune.com/local/67849327.html?page=2&c=y. 

            While walking his 6-year-old son to the school bus stop at around 6:30 a.m. a pediatrician, Dr. Mani Mokalla, came across a group of teens kicking a middle-age man who lay helpless on the ground, according to the Star Tribune.          

            "I basically inquired, 'What's going on, what are you guys doing?' And they said for me to mind my own business, and I indicated that if they're hurting someone, it is my business," Mokalla told reporters at WCCO news http://wcco.com/crime/teenagers.assaults.minneapolis.2.1282945.html. 

            In intervening in the attack Mokalla was met with several punches to the face delivered by a teenage girl, which he said was "a surprise and stupefying," according to the Star Tribune.        

            After another teen challenged him, Mokalla told his son it was time to go.  When the two began to leave, the teens ran off, heading south on 17^th Avenue, said the Star Tribune.

            The punches to his face knocked off and broke his glasses, leaving him unable to give officers a clear description, said the Star Tribune http://www.startribune.com/local/67849327.html?page=2&c=y. 

            Sgt. William Palmer, a Minneapolis police spokesman, told the Star Tribune, "I admire where he's coming from, but he did get injured, and that's concerning to us," adding that is a personal decision to take action, but he urged people to call 911 as soon as possible. 

            Only nine blocks away and about a half hour earlier, police believe the same group of teenagers attacked another man, said a reporter for WCCO news. 

            Minneapolis police are looking for the group who they believe attacked at least three men, said a reporter for WCCO news.

            For Mokalla, the incident is "a strange statement, one that saddens me on the state of our social predicament that causes people to act this way," he said to the Star Tribune adding, "Teens don't get up at 6:40 a.m. to beat up people."

Colorado receives 3-plus feet of snow

By Brittany Falkers

            An early fall snowstorm forced Denver International Airport to cancel hundreds of flights, and highways leading nor and east from Denver were closed into the night Thursday as a two-day storm passed through Colorado, according to the Denver Post.

            The storm spread 3 feet of snow and high drifts across parts of northern Utah, Wyoming and Colorado, according to the Star Tribune.  

            It was the heaviest October snowfall in the Denver area in a decade, which forced hundreds of schools and businesses to close, according to the Star Tribune.

            "Big storms like these, they seem to come around every 10 to 12 years," Kyle Fredin, a National Weather Service meteorologist told the Star Tribune.  

            United Airlines canceled about 200 flights, while Frontier canceled at least 44 of its daily trips and Southwest about 35 due to the weather, according to the Denver Post.  

http://www.startribune.com/nation/67202942.html?elr=KArks:DCiUMEaPc:UiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_13673555

Former French President to stand trial

By Brittany Falkers

            Former French President Jacques Chirac will be the first former president in French history to stand trial for corruption, according to reporter Peter Allen for Mail Online.

            Chirac has been ordered to stand trial in an alleged corruption scandal dating back to his tenure as Paris mayor, a judicial official said to the Star Tribune Friday.

            A magistrate ordered Chirac to stand trial on charges of "embezzlement" and "breach of trust," the official told the Star Tribune on condition of anonymity because the case is ongoing.

            Xaviere Simeoni, the investigating magistrate, has been probing whether people in Chirac's circle were given sham jobs as advisers and paid by Paris City Hall, while not really working for it, said the Star Tribune.

http://www.startribune.com/world/67500997.html?elr=KArks:DCiUBcy7hUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1224040/Jacques-Chirac-stand-trial-corruption.html

Visitors restricted at Twin Cities hospitals

By Brittany Falkers

            In efforts to lower risk of H1N1 flu spread hospitals around the Twin Cities are tightening limits on who may visit patients, and when, according to the Star Tribune.  

            The restrictions are being put into place in order to protect two patient populations; children with diseases and pregnant women, according to reporter Jeremy Olson who writes for the Pioneer Press.  

            Starting Monday, no children under 5 will be permitted to visit patients at Allina hospitals, and no one under 16 will be permitted unless the are immediate family, said the Star Tribune.  

            The restrictions "are designed to limit patient and staff exposure to possible H1N1 infection," Allina said in a written statement, according to the Star Tribune. 

15-year-old charged with murder

By Brittany Falkers

            Authorities said Saturday that a 15-year-old has been charged with first-degree murder for the death of a 9-year-old central Missouri girl found in the woods two days after she went missing, FoxNews.com said.

            Police did not release the teen's gender or name, according to the Star Tribune.

            The 15-year-old is suspected of killing Elizabeth Olten, according to the Star Tribune.

            Cole County Sheriff Greg White told reporters from the associated press that the teenage suspect is not related to Elizabeth but was acquainted with her and is from the same area just west of Jefferson City in Missouri.

            Under Missouri law children as young as 12 can be charged as adults with first-degree murder, according to the Star Tribune.

            Cole County Juvenile Court Administrator Michael Couty told associated press reporters that the suspect was in the custody of the juvenile justice system and would undergo a background and psychological check.  Couty planned to request a hearing next week before a family court judge to determine whether the suspect should be tried as a juvenile or as an adult.

http://www.startribune.com/nation/65901552.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUr

            http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,569416,00.html

Hit and run suspect turns himself in

By Brittany Falkers

            A hit-and-run driver suspected of accidentally killing a pedestrian in south Minneapolis on Thursday night turned himself in Friday after his mother heard a report on a radio station, the Star Tribune said.

            The hit-and-run on Minnehaha Avenue and 31^st street left neighbors feeling horrified, according to WCCO news.

            Police hoped the driver would do the right thing and turn themselves in.  Sgt. Jesse Garcia put that message out on WCCO radio, WCCO news said.

  Just three and a half hours after hearing the police department's plea, the driver's mother called the radio station.  Then, the driver called Garcia to confess, according to WCCO news.  

"I have to think that honesty, coming forward and explaining yourself does have some bearing on a case like this," Garcia told reporters at the Star Tribune.

The victims name has not been released, according to the Star Tribune.

http://www.startribune.com/opinion/65843407.html?page=3&c=y

http://wcco.com/crime/man.surrenders.fatal.2.1267624.html

Analysis on Speeches/Meetings

By Brittany Falkers

            For this analysis I chose to write about a speech that Gov. Tim Pawlenty made on Oct. 13 at the annual dinner of the Minnesota Business Partnership.

            The article, "Pawlenty warns of U.S. becoming the next GM" gave more than exactly what the press release gave; the article was almost a direct transcript of the speech.

            It was very interesting to see this style of reporting on a speech because it goes against many of the speech story writing guidelines discussed in class.  However this model reinforces why you can't include everything. 

            The first few grafts gave an overview, or summary, of the speech highlighting the where and when to but it into context.

            After the intro and summary to the story it seemed to turn into a transcript somehow.  This made me realize why one shouldn't put everything in a speech in a story about the speech.  I was bored by the next page.

            If a person is reading a story about a speech, it is most likely because they didn't want to see or actually read the speech themselves.

            When writing a story on a speech, it is important, I realize, to write the summary of main points and themes of the speech given.

 http://www.startribune.com/opinion/65843407.html?page=3&c=y 

Two men charged for assaulting a woman in an elevator

By Brittany Falkers

Prosecutors charged two men Friday with sexually assaulting a woman in a St. Paul elevator, TwinCities.com said.

            Two men were being held in the Ramsey County jail, charged with multiple counts of criminal sexual contact in the assault of a woman Wednesday night, according to the Star Tribune.

            The suspects, St. Paul resident Don Newcome Conley, 34, and Swenson Jerome Keeler, 26, no known address were charged, the Star Tribune said.

            The victim was on the city's East Side to visit her mother, she was waiting outside of her mother's apartment building when the men approached her and began touching the woman's body and made crude sexual comments to her, according to The Star Tribune.

            The woman entered the building and ran toward the elevator where the men then pushed her in and tore her clothing and grabbed at her body, according to the Star Tribune.

            The woman had scratch marks on her stomach, chest, neck and back.  Hospital reports showed that she had been "held so tightly around her neck by the suspect being her, Conley, that she could not breathe, started to get very dizzy, and her vision started to go dark," the complaint said, according to TwinCities.com.

            Video surveillance showed Conley and Keeler following the woman and looking around the lobby.  It also showed on e of them grabbing her by the neck and pulling her into the elevator, TwinCites.com said.

http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_13630584#

http://www.startribune.com/local/stpaul/65903267.html?elr=KArks7PYDiaK7DUvsMs_5PyOiUiacyKU7DYaGEP7vDEh7P:DiUs

Obama declares H1N1 a national emergency

By Brittany Falkers

            President Obama signed a proclamation declaring the H1N1 influenza a national emergency late Friday, Foxnews.com said.

            The new proclamation will give doctors and medical facilities greater ability to respond to the flu pandemic, according to Foxnews.com.

            Obama's health chief will now, by the proclamation of a national emergency, have the power to let hospitals move emergency rooms offsite to speed treatment and protect non-infected patients, according to the Star Tribune.

            So far only 11 million doses of the H1N1 flu vaccine have gone out to health departments, doctor's offices and other providers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials.   

            Administrative officials told reporters at the Star Tribune the declaration was a pre-emptive move designed to make decisions easier when they need to be made.  Officials said the move was not in response to any single development.

            Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius now has authority to bypass federal rules when opening alternative care sites, according to the Star Tribune.

            The proclamation will allow some hospitals to have opened drive-thrus and drive-up tent clinics to screen and treat swine flu patients.  Hospitals could modify patient rules to quicken access to treatment, according to The Star Tribune.  

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/virus/65899272.html?elr=KArks7PYDiaK7DUvsMs_5PyOiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUs

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/10/24/obama-declares-hn-flu-national-emergency/

Protesters fight to cut carbon around the globe

By Brittany Falkers

            Activists for a greener earth are holding demonstrations around the world Saturday prodding policy makers to cut carbon concentrations to below their current levels, according to The Washington Post.

            Many U.S. officials and experts are trying to dampen expectations for climate talks that culminate in Copenhagen, Denmark, in December, The Washington Post said.

            In 173 countries more than 4,500 events were including; children racing through the main square in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, also Chinese university students wearing scuba outfits in popular areas, according to the Washington post.

            The protests were organized by the 350.org movement, whose name refers to the goal of reducing carbon concentrations in the atmosphere from its current level of nearly 380 parts per million to 350, according to the Washington Post.

http://www.startribune.com/world/65880097.html?page=2&c=y

http://www.carbonoffsetsdaily.com/global/carbon-allowances-can-cut-emissions-4750.htm

Man Charged With Rape after 3 Years

By Brittany Falkers

            More than three years after a woman reported being raped in Minneapolis a suspect has been charged, according to The Star Tribune.

            The suspect, Roderic Oneal Crittenden, 33, was charged Friday with third-degree criminal sexual conduct, according to The Star Tribune.

            The woman reported being raped after her and two other women after seeking help with a flat tire, according to The Star Tribune.

            Samples were given to the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office DNA testing lab for a DNA profile check with a state database of convicted offenders.  This lead to Crittenden and then in September 2009 the victim identified him and he has now been charged.

            Crittenden told police that he didn't know the woman and never had sex with her, according to The Star Tribune.

http://www.startribune.com/local/64650487.html?elr=KArks:DCiUnP::DE8c7PiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr

Suspect charged 3 years after rape

By Vince Tuss, Star Tribune

http://content.usatoday.com/topics/article/Places,+Geography/Towns,+Cities,+Counties/Minneapolis/04kw0eI88saxj/1

Americans Killed in Afghanistan Bombing

By Brittany Falkers

            In Kabul the U.S. military told the Associated Press that four American service members were killed Thursday, in a bombing in southern Afghanistan.

            A U.S. statement on Friday said that two were killed instantly and two others suffered fatal injuries in the explosion. 

            The names of the victims have not been released nor has the exact location of the attack, according to the Associated Press. 

            These recent events bring the latest deaths to 25 American troops killed in Afghanistan this month, according to the Associated Press.

http://www.startribune.com/world/64350362.html?elr=KArks:DCiUBcy7hUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr

US says 4 American service members die in blast

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/17/world/asia/17afghan.html

4 U.S. Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan

By Sharon Otterman

H1N1 Vaccine arrives for at-risk in Minnesota

By Brittany Falkers

            As the flu season progresses on the average flu shot won't do, the new H1N1 vaccine has arrived in Minnesota for at-rick children, according to the Star Tribune.

            High-priority children got their shots Thursday, the Star Tribune said.

            Healthy people will most likely not be able to receive the vaccine until after Thanksgiving, according to The Star Tribune.

            Kris Ehresmann, director of immunization for the Minnesota Department of Heath, told the Star Tribune, "It's not growing up as fast as they had hoped."

            About 50,000 doses have been distributed in Minnesota, most in nasal spray.  An inject able vaccine will be distributed randomly to about 40 pediatric and family practice clinics, according to the Star Tribune.

            As of now there is not enough expansion to public health of the vaccine to administer the H1N1 flu vaccine through hospitals or clinics at this time, according to the Star Tribune.  

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/virus/64461397.html?elr=KArks:DCiUHc3E7_V_nDaycUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr

First doses of state H1N1 flu vaccine go to at-risk kids

By Josephine Marcotty, Star Tribune

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/09/14/expert-fears-h1n1-vaccine-could-come-too-late/

Expert fears H1N1 flu vaccine will come to Minn. too late

By Steve Karnowski, AP

Balloon boy found in attic

By Brittany Falkers

            A six-year-old boy was thought to be trapped inside his family's homemade helium balloon Thursday, according to the Star Tribune.

            The story caused national uproar when authorities searched northern Colorado for the boy.

            The balloon landed after two hours traveling through counties.  When the balloon touched ground the boy, Falcon Heene, was no where to be seen.  

            The boy's father had scolded the boy about the balloon earlier Thursday morning, for getting inside a compartment before it took off; leading the family to believe the boy was in there when the balloon took off, according to MSNBC.com.

            The boy was then found in the attic where he was playing with toys and had taken a nap, according to MSNBC.com.

            The father denies any accusations of the situation to be any sort of a stunt, according to The Star Tribune.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33330516/ns/us_news-life/

Feared los in balloon, boy found at home

http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/tv/64482567.html?elr=KArks:DCiUHc3E7_V_nDaycUiacyKUHDYaGEP7eyckcUs

Balloon boy's father: It's 'pathetic' to suggest a stunt

Woman hit by Metro Transit bus

By Brittany Falkers

            At around 6:30 Friday morning a woman was hit by a metro transit bus in Minneapolis.

            The woman was walking eastbound on 46^th Street when the bus turned and hit her, according to WCCO.

            Paramedics performed CPR on the woman; her condition and identification have not yet been released.

            Bob Gibbons, Metro Transit spokesman, told The Star Tribune that the driver has been with Metro Transit for just under eight years and will undergo drug and alcohol testing.  Which is a standard procedure in cases such as this. 

http://www.startribune.com/local/64487032.html?elr=KArks:DCiUHc3E7_V_nDaycUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU7DYaGEP7vDEh7P:DiUs

Woman hit by Metro Transit bus at LRT station this morning

By Tim Harlow, Star Tribune

http://wcco.com/local/pedestrian.accident.bus.2.1252287.html

Woman Hit By Bus In Minneapolis, WCCO

Multimedia Analysis

By Brittany Falkers

            One of the multimedia options I found was from The New York Times, it was an audio slideshow on a story about a priest who secretly fathered and abandoned his son. 

            This audio slideshow was added a voice and audio clues to the story.  In the slideshow, listeners/readers can hear the interviewee's voice, including tone and inflection witch give a human-interest aspect to the story. 

            Each of the slides that went along with the audio interview/overview of the story had captions to accompany the pictures.  These were short descriptive captions explaining the action in the photo. 

            The other multimedia option I observed was at StarTribune.com, a video clip from a story about a six-year-old boy whose parents believed he was trapped in a homemade balloon.

            The video was a short clip of what seems to be a sort of news conference with the family and several reporters. 

            This clip added yet another human and face element to the story.  The interviews with the father and son gave visual and audio clues to the story. 

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/10/15/us/priest/index.html?th&emc=th#

http://video.ap.org/?f=MNMIT&pid=ILurm8dEc0yHi_fhsrwrgDomsciNB4qI

Analysis on Spot and Follows

By Brittany Falkers

            I choose to follow a story about the two-way conversion of Hennepin and 1^st Avenues in downtown Minneapolis, from a day prior when the announcement was made in the Star Tribune of the arrival of road construction. 

The story was updated on Saturday about the delays and implications concerned with the weather and traffic woes. 

            The stories differed in details as well as interview input.  The first story was more about the excitement of the transition to two-ways, and preparing for the road work and confusion it would bring.

  The second story is a sort of update.  It is pretty much just a briefing of what has happened now that the road work has begun.  The main story is quickly given in both, if not more in the updated version.           

            There is no response to a report from a competing news organization in the second-day story. 

            This second-day story isn't as much of an add-on to the first-day story; rather, it is a follow up to what the first-day story was about.  It continues the implications of the road construction.

http://www.startribune.com/local/63935422.html?elr=KArks:DCiUBDia_nDaycUiacyKU7DYaGEP7vDEh7P:DiUs

Nobel Peace Prize goes to President Barack Obama

By Brittany Falkers

            President Barack Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo on Friday, reported The New York Times.

            He was giving the prize for 'extraordinary efforst to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples,' this honor comes to the president only nine months after coming into his presidency, said The New York Times.

            Many believe that it is too early into his presidency and he hasn't fulfilled enough of his promises yet for such an honorary prize to be awarded, reported The Start Tribune.  

            The President told The New York Times, "To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who have been honored by this prize, men and women who've inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace."

            The New York Times reported that the prize will be awarded in Oslo on Dec. 10, and the White House said Mr. Obama would attend the ceremony.  Mr. Gibbs said the president told him that he would donate the prize money, roughly $1.4 million, to charity.  

http://www.startribune.com/world/63840772.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU1yDEmP:QMDCinchO7DU

President Barack Obama gets Nobel Peace Prize, prompting questions over timing, achievements

By Karl Ritterand Matt Moore, Associated Press

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/10/world/10nobel.html

Obama Says He's 'Surprised and Humbled' by Nobel Prize

By Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Walter Gibbs

Minnesota juvenile sentencing, life without release

By Brittany Falkers

            The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled juveniles can be sentenced to life without a possibility of release without violating the constitution's ban on cure or unusual punishment Thursday, reported The Start Tribune.

            The Star Tribune and twincitites.com reported on the ruling upholding the convictions of two gang members, one a juvenile, who executed another teen in a north Minneapolis alley. 

            Cornelius Jackson and Lamonte Martin were convicted of first-degree premeditated murder and sentenced to life without the possibility of release for shooting 19-year-old Christopher Lynch on May 3, 2006, reported The Star Tribune.

            Mike Freeman, a Hennepin County attorney, told The Star Tribune, "If there were ever a case in which a 17-year-old juvenile deserved to go to prison for life without the possibility of parole, this is it."

http://www.startribune.com/local/63771147.html?elr=KArks:DCiUnP::DE8c7PiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr

State Supreme Court says sentencing juveniles to life without release is constitutional

By Rochelle Olson, Star Tribune

http://www.twincities.com/minnesota/ci_13519417

Minnesota Supreme Court upholds life without parole for juvenile

By Maricella Miranda

Two lane switch on Hennepin and 1^st avenues

By Brittany Falkers

            It might take some getting used to the idea of Hennepin and 1^st Avenues to carry two-way traffic, but the Star Tribune reported Friday morning that after nearly 30 years as one-way streets these avenues in downtown Minneapolis are scheduled to do just that starting Saturday. 

            New unfamiliar features will take effect between 12^th Street and the Mississippi River, such as "bike Boxes" and new shared bus/bike/right-turn-only lanes.  Many drives and bicyclists will have to adjust to the both the works that starts on Saturday October 10^th, reported the Star Tribune.

            This conversion of one to two-ways is hopped to allow downtown visitors to dive more directly to their destinations and will cost approximately $3 million, said the Star Tribune.

            Tom Hoch, with the Hennepin Theatre Trust, told WCCO news that people drive fast down Hennepin, which makes it difficult for a lot of people to find where they are intending to go.

            The Star Tribune also reported that extra traffic control officers will be on hand Saturday night as well as during the morning commute on Monday.  

http://www.startribune.com/local/63810467.html?elr=KArks:DCiUnP::DE8c7PiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr

Hennepin, 1^st Avenues: One way no more

http://wcco.com/local/two.way.conversion.2.1203193.html

Plans Set to Change Hennepin, 1^st Ave. To 2-Ways

By Holly Wagner

Obama Extends Relief as Job Loss Rises

By Brittany Falkers

            In Congress, the Obama administration and Democratic leaders are discussing extending many safety net programs and proposing new tax incentives for businesses to renew hiring, according to The New York Times.

            Following President Obama's radio address on Saturday Obama's economic team discussed these new ideas and "Explore additional options to promote job creation" at a meeting on Monday.

            Mark Zandi, an economist, told The New York times, "It is very important for the government to continue to provide significan support to the economy through the next year.  At least that should include extending the homebuyer's credit, various business tax breaks and mortgage relief programs.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/06/us/politics/06jobless.html?th&emc=th

As Job Loss Rises, Obama Aides Act to Fix Safety Net

By Jackie Calmes, The New York Times 

http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2009/01/26/daily85.html#

Obama stimulus casts a wider government safety net, expands programs for the poor

By Mike Sunnucks, Phoenix Business Journal

Protestors victimized in Guinea

By Brittany Falkers

            Women were the prey of violent sexual crimes in Guinea, Conakry Tuesday, and Guinea's government said Tuesday it would investigate why troops opened fire on protesters at a pro democracy rally, reported The Huffington Post.

              The New York Times reported that Guinean soldiers suppressed a political demonstration last week, witnesses and victims described rapes, beatings and acts of intentional humiliation.           

            "The attacks were part of a violent outburst on Sept. 28 in which soldiers shot and killed dozens of unarmed demonstrators at the main stadium here, where perhaps 50,000 had assembled.  Local human rights organizations say at least 157 were killed; the government puts the figure at 56.

            Witnesses told The New York Times that there were nude and half naked women being raped and sexually assaulted.

            Sidya Touré, former prime minister, told The New York Times, "This time, a new stage has been reached.  Women as battlefield targets.  We could never have imagined that."

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/06/world/africa/06guinea.html?pagewanted=2&th&emc=th

In a Guinea Seized by Violence, Women Are Prey

By Adam Nossiter, The New York Times

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/29/guinea-protest-soldiers-r_n_302633.html

Women In Streets, Killed Dozens of Protesters, Say Witnesses

By Alhassan Sillah (AP)

Two suspects arrested in Princeton suspicious packages case

By Brittany Falkers

            Suspicious packages were found Wednesday morning outside the U.S. Post Office, high school and Public Utilities Commission building in Princeton, according to The Star Tribune. 

            Two teenagers, one an adult, have been arrested in connection with the three suspicious packages. Police told The Star Tribune, one is a 17-year-old boy from Dalbo Minn., and the other is an 18-year-old man from Princeton.

            Kare11.com reported that the packages, that were thought to be bombs, turned out to be a hoax, containing what authorities describe as inert powder. 

            One of the suspects is being held in the Mille Lacs county jail and the other in a juvenile detention center.  The county attorney told Kare11 that formal charges are expected Monday.

http://www.startribune.com/local/63262307.html?elr=KArksUUUoDEy3LGDiO7aiU

2 teens arrested in Princeton suspicious packages case

By Paul Walsh, Star Tribune

http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=825688&catid=391#

Police arrest 2 in Princeton suspicious packages

By Trisha Volpe

Structure Analysis

By Brittany Falkers

            I reviewed a story on StarTribune.com, "2 teens arrested in Princeton suspicious packages case" by Paul Walsh.  This story used the inverted pyramid model fro news structure.  The most important news was at the beginning of the story; Who, What and Where.  The suspects' names and what they are suspected of as well as where.  As the story continued less impacting facts came into play, more of the why and how of the story.

             The information summarized the important events giving the basic information needed, who and what they did.  Then in the later part of the story quotes from police reports as well as community and school information for the Princeton area. 

            The reporter ordered the information from most important information at the top and then going down to less impacting or action details at the end.  This model works well for this story because if I were in a rush and unable to read the whole story, I could get all the gist of the story within the first two paragraphs. 

http://www.startribune.com/local/63262307.html?elr=KArksUUUoDEy3LGDiO7aiU

2 teens arrested in Princeton suspicious packages case

By Paul Walsh, Star Tribune

Suspects arrested for pawn shop robbery, murder

By Brittany Falkers

            Two men were arrested and charged with first-degree murder Thursday in the armed robbery of a Richfield pawn shop, according to the Star Tribune.

            The two were charged based partly on a security video that showed one of the suspects shooting a customer.

            The Star Tribune reported the suspects as Calvin Lee Anderson, 46, of Fridley, and Johnny Lawvill Perry, 30, of St. Paul, accused of killing customer Malcolm Cowens, 33, of Minneapolis, and wounding a store employee during the robbery at Avi's Pawn and Jewelry.

            Richfield police told Fox 9 news two men walked into Avi's Pawn Shop around 6:18p.m. Monday night.  During the robbery, shots were fired by one of the suspects hitting the pawn shop employee in the arm and customer in the back. 

            Anderson, who police say dressed as a security guard for the pawnshop robbery, was released from federal prison on July 24 after serving 22 years for a bank robbery in the late 1980s, according to the Star Tribune.

http://www.startribune.com/local/west/63135927.html?elr=KArks:DCiUHc3E7_V_nDaycUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

Suspects charged with murder in Richfield pawnshop robbery

By Abby Simons

http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/Arrests_Richfield_Avis_Pawn_Shop_Robbery_Murder_Sept_30_2009

Arrests in Pawn Shop Robbery, Murder

MyFox9.com

Chicago loses chance to hold 2016 Olympics

By Brittany Falkers

            It was decided Friday that Chicago lost its bid for the 2016 Olympics, said The New York Times.

            The International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge announced: "The city of Chicago, having obtained the least number of votes, will not participate in the nest round."

            The "second city" was knocked out in the first round of voting.

            The Start Tribune reported that the vote was carried out over screens set up in the Daley Center in Chicago. 

            Vince Monaco, a city resident, told the Star Tribune, "I was hoping this would pick up Chicago's economy, and now I feel pushed even farther from finding a job."

            Although the majority of the city was upset by the committee's decision, pride for the city remains high.

            Blaze Bociaga, Chicago resident, told The New York Times, "this is already and international city and people need to know that.  I'm happy being the Second City. Second City? Second to who?"

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/03/sports/03chicago.html?ref=us

Ready for an Olympic Party, Chicago Loses Its Date

By Monica Davey

http://www.startribune.com/nation/63276882.html?elr=KArks:DCiUMEaPc:UiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr

Stunned silence, sadness in Chicago as 2016 Olympics bid goes elsewhere

By Deanna Bellandi

M.I.T. unedited bloggers

            The New York Times reported on several colleges uses of university blogs, reporting Massachusetts Institute of Technology with the interactivity and creativity that surpasses that of most colleges.

            M.I.T.'s student blogs are posted on the admissions homepage, along with hundreds of responses from prospective students, and it's all unedited. 

            The M.I.T. bloggers are paid $10 an hour for up to four hours a week, reported the New York Times.

            The bloggers at M.I.T. offer thoughts on anything that might interest a prospective student. Some even offer advice on the application process, said The New York Times.

            Art Rodriquez, senior associate dean of admissions at M.I.T. told The New York Times, "Blogs can certainly help humanize the process.  The flip side is that a few anxious high school students may think and worry too much about what someone wrote on their blog, and present themselves in a slightly different way than who they really are.  And there's always the concern about the political ramifications, that bloggers cay open up and issue or topic that starts something negative."

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/02/education/02blogs.html?ref=us

M.I.T. Taking Student Blogs to Nth Degree

By Tamar Lewin

http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/01/student-bloggers-on-admissions-web-sites/

Student Bloggers Find an Unlikely Home, on Their College Web Sites

By Jacques Steinberg

Rio de Janeiro, first South American city to host Olympics

By Brittany Falkers

            Friday morning the breaking news on several news websites it the Olympic Committee's vote for Rio de Janeiro as the first South American city to hold the Olympics, reported the Star Tribune.

            President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama spoke to the committee giving a heartfelt pitch for the city of Chicago.  However, the Start Tribune reported that Chicago was knocked out in the first round- one of the most shocking defeats ever in International Olympic Committee Voting. 

            Brazil's president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, told the IOC's members, "It is a time to address this imbalance.  It is time to light the Olympic cauldron in a tropical country." 

            It was a prevalent factor that a South American city had never hosted the Olympic Games.

            The New York Times reported that Rio de Janeiro was the winner over Madrid in the final round of voting.

            Rio de Janeiro, Brazil will be holding the 2016 Olympics.

http://www.startribune.com/nation/63247952.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU1yDEmP:QMDCinchO7DU

South America gets its first games: The 2016 Olympics are going to Rio de Janeiro

By John Leicester

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/03/sports/03olympics.html?_r=1&hp

Rio Wins Bid for 2016 Olympic Games

By Juliet Macur and Lynn Zinser