Gibbs, Beth

The New York Times reported that a surprise meeting was held between the president of Russia Dmitri Medvedev and the editor of an independent Russian newspaper, due to the recent murder of one of their reporters.

President Medvedev met with Dmitri Muratov, editor-in–chief of Novaya Gazeta, a newspaper which is highly critical of Kremlin. Muratov told reporters that in their meeting the president expressed his sorrow for the lost reporter.

The reporter, Anastasia Baburova, 25, and Stanislav Markelov, a human rights lawyer who is associated with the newspaper, were shot near the Kremlin by a masked man with a silenced pistol on Jan. 19, reported the Star Tribune.

According to both sources, the murder is thought to be a contract killing. Markelov is thought to be the target and Baburova was killed after she tried to intervene.

The Star Tribune reported that Russia is, “one of the most dangerous [countries] for journalists."
Since 2000, 16 journalists have died in mysterious ways or in contract-style killings. Four of those have been from the Noyava Gazeta.

First, reporter Igor Domnikov was attacked and killed with a hammer in 2000. Some were suspicious that a regional governor had him killed after criticizing the governor in the paper, but the governor was not charged.

Then, in 2003, Yury Shchekochikhin died of an allergic reaction. Some thought he had been poisoned.

Next, Anna Politkovskaya, who was critical of the Kremlin, was shot in 2006 in her apartment building. Three Chechens are on trial for the murder, but no mastermind or motive has been identified.

Some, including Novaya Gazeta, believe the trial is a cover-up. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin of Russia said the murder was planned elsewhere to discredit Russia.

Many Novaya Gazeta employees believe the killings have been planned by nationalists or fascists groups. Others believe security agencies may be behind the murders.

In the past the Novaya Gazeta’s phone were tapped and in 2000, their computer hard drives were stolen.
Novaya Gazeta employees are taking many precautions. Some have taken self-defense classes, some use pseudonyms and some have hired bodyguards.

“…You just have to write, write, write and keep writing. You have to," Elena Kostyuchenko, 21, told reporters.

On the Novaya Gazete web page there is a photo of Markelov’s body laying on the street. Underneath the photo it says this:

The killers have no fear because they know they will not be punished. But neither are their victims afraid, because when you defend others you cease to fear.

Posted by gibb0138 at 10:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In an article featured in the Star Tribune on Thursday the lead went as follows:

A 20-year-old southwestern Colorado man has been indicted on charges of threatening to kill President Obama and blow up the Mall of America in Bloomington.

The lead answers who ("A 20-year-old southwestern Colorado man" and "President Obama"), what ("has been indicted on charges of threatening to kill President Obama and blow up the Mall of America") and where (Colorado and the mall in Bloomington).

The elements, which are detailed, are who, for President Obama due to prominence and where, for the Mall of America in Bloomington due to proximity.

The who is general when it comes to the man, because he is not prominent. It also draws the reader into the text, because the reader would want to find out more about the man. The what is also general. because there are too many details to fit in the lead. More of the details come in the rest of the story.

Posted by gibb0138 at 9:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Star Tribune reported a Colorado man threatened to blow up the Mall of America and assassinate President Barack Obama.

Timothy Ryan Gutierrez, 20, sent an e-mail to the FBI eight days before the inauguration of President Obama. According the indictment the e-mail said, "I'm going to assassinate the new president of the United States of America. PS you have 48 hours to stop it from happening."

Another e-mail stated, "I have rigged 40 pounds of C4... and my favorite TNT to 7 cars outside the Mall of America." C4 is a moldable plastic explosive.

A warrant was issued for the arrest of Gutierrez and he faces one count of transmission of threats and one count of a false threat of use of explosives.

Maureen Bausch, executive vice president of business development, told the Star Tribune, mall officials were notified immediately by the FBI and the Bloomington Police department.

Bausch also said the threat was declared not valid after 16 to 18 hours. After officials searched the mall, nothing suspicious was found.

The Pioneer Press reported that according to Cortez, Colo. Police Chief Roy Lane, on Jan. 12, the day the e-mails were sent, FBI agents spoke to Gutierrez at his apartment.

The FBI could make no comment on why Gutierrez was not arrested then.

Posted by gibb0138 at 11:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Star Tribune reported on Wednesday that the U.S. Postal Service may cut one mail delivery day per week due to deficits.

Postmaster General John E. Potter spoke to the U.S. Congress, asking to lift the legal requirement that the Postal Service deliver mail six days per week.

Recently, there has been less mail and as costs rise the Postal Service finds itself in financial distress. Potter said in testimony to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs subcommittee the post office could have a net loss of $6 billion or more this year.

Potter told the committee a lift of the requirement did not mean the day-cut would happen soon. He said the Postal Service is making necessary budget changes to prevent the cut.

Potter also told the committee that if the Postal Service went to a five-day delivery system, delivery would be stopped on the days with the least mail deliveries.

Although the Postal Service has the opportunity to request an increase in rates, it would not be beneficial because mail volume would further decrease, Potter said.

According to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Dan G. Blair, the chairman of the Postal Regulatory Commission and Phillip R. Herr, director of the Physical Infrastructure Issues division of the Government Accountability Office, also testified during the hearing.

Posted by gibb0138 at 8:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

After murdering his former girlfriend in his apartment on Sunday, a man set fire to the apartment building in Burnsville, Minn., and died due to smoke inhalation, reported the Star Tribune.

The man, Adam K. Williams, 23, is thought to have murdered his former girlfriend, Brittany Givens-Copeland, 24, and then to have started the flame. Investigators labeled the case a murder-suicide on Tuesday.

Burnsville police said it was obvious Givens-Copeland was murdered before the fire. Autopsies, performed at the Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner's Office in Hastings, revealed she had died due to Asphyxiation, which can mean any form of airway blockage, according to Dr. Lindsey Thomas, chief medical examiner at the facility. (Star Tribune)

Close friends of Givens-Copeland revealed that she was going to end her relationship with Williams, due to a pregnancy with a former boyfriend, Anthony Darst.

Darst and Givens-Copeland had dated early 2006, but ended their relationship in February, when Darst moved to California. Givens-Copeland discovered she was pregnant three months later.

Givens-Copeland had decided to try to reconcile her relationship with Darst, and thus, planned to end her relationship with Williams.

"She wanted to tell him she was going to work it out with me. She said she wanted to talk to him in person; she didn't want to tell him over the phone," said Darst.

Pioneer Press reported that two firefighters received minor burns from the fire and were treated at the scene. Both went back to work.

No others were harmed in the fire, but, according to spokeswoman Courtney Johnson, seven adults and four children are being housed by the Red Cross until they can return to their homes, which are currently uninhabitable.

Posted by gibb0138 at 2:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The New York Times reported that Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich did not attend the start of his impeachment trial Monday. Instead, he made appearances on several television programs.

Blagojevich could be seen on "Good Morning America" and "The View," while the trial for his impeachment started. Blagojevich also could be seen on the Fox News Channel and taped an interview for an upcoming segment on ABC's "Nightline," reported the Star Tribune.

Joy Behar, a host from "The View," asked Blagojevich to impersonate Richard Nixon and his famous statement, "I am not a crook." Blagojevich responded, "I didn’t do anything wrong. I’m not guilty of any criminal wrongdoing. All I ask for is a chance to prove my innocence.� (The New York Times)

Blagojevich's chance to prove his innocence lies in the impeachment trial in which he did not attend. Blagojevich realizes that his time in office is short, stating "the fix is in," on "Good Morning America," reported The Wall Street Journal.

Due to his absence, a decision by the Ill. senate may be made earlier than expected. If 40 or more of the 59 Illinois senators vote for his removal, Blagojevich will lose his office and Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, also a democrat, will take his place. (The Wall Street Journal)

Posted by gibb0138 at 3:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)