October 2011 Archives

By: Megan Gosch

The ancient spiraled cephalopod, named the chambered nautilus may be nearing extinction due to overfishing and high demand.
The nautilus, which is revered for its pearly shell and ornate design, has been hunted excessively to keep up with a growing demand of nautilus inspired jewelry, decorations and more, reported the New York Times.
Peter d. Ward, a biologist from the University of Washington, believes that "a horrendous slaughter is going on," and could exterminate them. "They're nearly wiped out," said Ward as reported in the San Francisco Chronicle.
The nautilus grows very slowly, reaches sexual maturity at around 15 years of age, and is very easy to catch. Hunting of the nautilus is also highly unrequlated, becoming a free-for-all to those seeking to tap the market for prized nautilus shell, which is likely the reason they have severely diminished.
The nautilus, whose existence dates back more than 500 million years to the Cambrian period, has seen a drastic decrease in population near the Philippines, Indonesia and New Caledonia.
Concern for the loss of the ancient species has caused marine biologists to lobby for its protection under the United Nations rules that protect countless other endangered species.

By: Megan Gosch

The possible identity of a suicide bomber in Saturday's attack on the African Union, may be that of a former Minneapolis man.
A tape, released by a Somali militant group Sunday, was supposedly made by one of Saturday's suicide bombers, and was used to identify the bomber as Abdisalan Taqabalahullaah, reported the Pioneer Press.
Omar Jamal, first secretary of the Somali Mission to the United Nations, believed Taqabalahullaah was a man he knew of in Minneapolis. Taqabalahullaah emigrated to America around age two, returning to Somalia in 2008, reported the Star Tribune.
The U.S. Embassy was unable to comment on the claims concerning the suicide bombing, and could not verify the identities of the bombers.
Taqabalahullaah and a partner are believed to have blown themselves up in an attack on the African Union, which killed at least 10 other people.

By: Megan Gosch
A 47-year-old Burnsville man was sentenced to four years Thursday for fatally shooting a man who posed for Facebook pictures taken by the man's son.
Robert Michael Thomas pled guilty to second-degree manslaughter for the shooting on Jan. 23. He was sentenced to four years rather than 12, according to Minnesota guidelines, in Dakota County District Court, reported the Pioneer Press.
Thomas shot James Koenig, 38, in his home after an argument broke out between the two about Koenig's posing shirtless for photos taken by Thomas' teenage son, that were later posted to Facebook, reported the Star Tribune. When Koenig refused to leave Thomas' home, he was fatally shot, according to a criminal complaint.
Thomas has earned credit for serving 227 days in jail. He has also been ordered to pay restitution to the family of the victim.

By: Megan Gosch
Occupy Wall Street protesters across the nation Wednesday began to cause concern and tension with citizens, businesses, and local officials as bigger issues arise.
Issues including rat infestation, noise, sanitation, public safety and general cleanliness have resulted from the presence of protesters in parks and other public spaces as Occupy Wall Street continues across the country, reported USA Today.
Disease is one of the biggest concerns for those monitoring the protesters.
Angello Bellomo, director of environmental health for Los Angeles County, said "any time you have a large number of people in an event like this, there's potential for illness to spread rapidly.
Tension has resulted from these issues, causing action to be taken in the form of arrests and clearing of public spaces in cities such as Oakland, Atlanta, and Chicago, reported the New York Times.
In some cities, police have begun using riot gear and tear gas to protect themselves as well as fight off angered protesters resisting arrest or evacuation.

By: Megan Gosch
Tunisia's election Tuesday will serve as an example and test-run for newly liberated countries that have begun political reconstruction since the start of the Arab Spring.
Tunisia held its first free and fair elections since the overthrowing of former leader Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali. The election was won by the Tunisian Islamist party Ennahda.
Ennahda appealed to Tunisians with a desire to return to traditional Islamic values, social and economic justice, and women's rights, reported the Washingtion Post.
Tunisia's election and selection of a liberal group is watched closely by liberals in Egypt and Libya, who have also recently faced political uprising and have removed previous oppressive leaders, reported the New York Times.
Tunisia's election marks a great change in all that will result from the unrest of the Arab Spring.
"This is a new phase, a birth of a new era for all the nations of the Arab world," said Essam el-Erian of the Freedom and Justice Party.

by: Megan Gosch
In the press release "Concerns Over Potential Mesothelioma Threat Lead to Environmental Meeting, Says Surviving Mesothelioma," for the San Francisco Chronicle, the public meeting is a meeting of some of the nation's top health and environmental officials in Washington to discuss the mineral called mesothelioma.
The role of this meeting in Washington is one of the main subjects of the press release. The story is announcing the meeting and drawing attention to the issues associated with mesothelioma. The story's focus is why officials are meeting to discuss the mineral, which is that mesothelioma is a known carcinogen and the American public must be protected from it.
The information from this story was attributed to a number of sources including the Surviving Mesothelioma website, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, Fairwarning.com, and the U.S. Geological Survey to analyze what mesothelioma is exactly and what kinds of dangers it may threaten.

by: Megan Gosch

An Oklahoma woman sacrifced her own life to protect the health of her unborn baby when she refused the chemotherapy treatments that could have saved her life.
Stacie Crimm, 41, learned she had head and neck cancer just months after becoming pregnant. Knowing that chemotherapy treatments could potentially save her life and risk her baby's life, Crimm refused chemotherapy to ensure her child's health.
Crimm, who endured crippling headaches, tunnel vision, and tremors as a result of the cancer, held on through August when her daughter, Dottie Mae, was born via C-section, reported MSNBC News.
Crimm was able to hold her daughter just once before she went into a coma. She died three days later.
As per Crimm's wishes, her daughter will be raised by her brother Ray Phillips and his wife, who were given guardianship of Dottie Mae after Crimm's death, reported Fox News.

by: Megan Gosch

Chris Cook, cornerback for the Vikings, was arrested Saturday in Eden Prairie on charges of domestic assault and possible strangulation.
Cook was arrested around 2:00 a.m., after a neighbor notified police of shouting coming from across the street on the 6400 block of Regency Lane, reported police officials in the Pioneer Press.
Cook will remain in the Hennepin County jail, held without bail, until Monday morning, when he will appear in court for a hearing of the incident, reported the Star Tribune.
Although Cook is being held under probably cause of domestic assault and or strangulation as well as a fifth-degree domestic assault, the incident is "still under investigation" according to Eden Prairie police.
Cook also faced legal troubles this past March, when he was accused of pulling a gun on a neighbor during a disagreement near his mother's home in Lynchburg, VA. Cook was found not guilty in the case with a lack of sufficient evidence.
Cook's arrest will prevent him from playing for the Vikings in Sunday's upcoming game against the Green Bay Packers, leaving the Vikings short-handed.

by: Megan Gosch

Two Rochester women were found guilty Thursday, of aiding a foreign terrorist group while posing as collectors of money for charity.
Amina Farah Ali, 35, and Hawo Mohamed Hassan, 64, were found guilty of recruiting and fundraising in Minnesota, in an effort to supply fighters and money to the illegal terrorist organization Al-Shabab in Somalia, reported the Star Tribune.
Ali, who is married with two children, was charged with one count of conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, as well was 12 counts of providing support for allegedly sending money to the terrorist group, reported the Pioneer Press. Ali could also face additional time in jail for refusing to stand up in court, due to religious beliefs.
Hassan, a mother of nine children, was charged with one count of conspiracy to support a terrorist organization and two counts of lying to the FBI.
Ali and Hassan, both native to Somalia, pled innocent, insisting that the money they had raised was meant for those struggling in Somalia as far as they knew.

by: Megan Gosch

The Drug Enforcement Administration placed a temporary ban on chemicals found in a drug commonly referred to as "bath salts" Friday, said officials.
The D.E.A. took emergency action in banning the chemicals, which will make it illegal in the United States to posses or sell these chemicals as well as products that contain these chemicals, reported Reuters.
The chemical is a an organic stimulant called "khat" and is often found in Arab and East African countries, reported the New York Times. Products containing this stimulant are sold in a powder or crystal form and can be found at tobacco shops, online, convenience stores, and even gas stations with names such as "Purple Wave," and "Vanilla Sky."
These products have become increasingly popular among young adults, commonly snorted, injected, or swallowed as a recreational alternative to drugs such as cocaine or LSD, with dangerous and serious side effects such as impaired perception, disorientation, extreme paranoia and violence.
The drugs have not been approved by federal regulator for human consumption and are reported by doctors to be unusually dangerous.
Michele M. Leonhart, agency administrator of the D.E.A. stated that "these chemicals pose a direct and significant threat...we will aggressively pursue those who attempt their manufacture and sale."
The D.E.A.'s ban will last for a year in which it will be determined whether permanent prohibition is necessary.

by: Megan Gosch

Moammar Gaddafi, former leader of Libya, was confirmed to have been killed in Surt, Thursday by several news organiztions, Thursday, although there were conflicting stories as to how his life ended.
Gaddafi, 69, who was in hiding from those who had driven him from power, was apparantly discovered under a road about three miles west of Surt, reported the Washington Post.
Mahmoud Jibril, Libya's interim prime minister told the Washington Post that Gaddafi was found in "a big pipe of the sewage system," and did not resist arrest.
Although it is clear that Gaddafi was captured by revolutionary fighters, it is unclear whether he died from the crossfire that began when the truck that was transporting him left the site of capture, or whether he was killed intentionally by those holding him captive.
Al Jazeera and Youtube have produced footage of Gaddafi in various states; alive and bloody, half-naked with a gunshot wound to the head, and lifeless, reported the New York Times.
Samples of blood and saliva were taken from the dead body to confirm that the dead man was indeed Gaddafi.
Gaddafi's son Mutassim was reported to have been killed in a separate fight near Surt, while his other son Saif al-Islam Gaddafi was reported to have escaped the fight and remains missing, said officials.

When comparing the New York Times article "French Charges Against Strauss-Kahn Dropped" and the Time Magazine article "French Prosecutors Drop Attempted Rape Charge Against DSK" it is clear to see that Time offers blogs as a form of multimedia, seeing as their article is in a blog connected with their website. Both organizations offer multimedia in the forms of photos, videos, text, etc. to report a story.
These varying forms of multimedia complement news stories by providing more information and a different perspective or dynamic to a story with the same information. For example, a picture of a car crash will provide different type of the same information to an audience as a description of the car crash.
The kind of writing that I've seen in alternate forms of media such as an article and a blog seem to be that the article is longer and has more detailed and different information while a blog has more information for a specific angle or seems to be briefer.

by: Megan Gosch

A new study has been published, finding that women who wear varying amounts of makeup will be perceived as competent, more attractive, and less trustworthy.
The study, funded by Proctor& Gamble and designed by Professor Etcoff from Boston University and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, has revealed that makeup can allow a woman to appear capable, reliable, and amiable, reported the New York Times.
Within the study,25 women, between the ages of 20 and 50 were photographed wearing varying degrees of makeup to create "barefaced," "natural," "professional," and "glamorous" looks. The women were not allowed to look in the mirror to prevent a change in emotion.
The photos of the women were shown to 149 people, 61 of them men, for 250 milliseconds each, and then to another 119 people, 30 of them men, with an unlimited amount of time to look at the women.
The results proved that the time available to view a woman did not change a person's perception of the woman. Women wearing makeup were rated as more competent and attractive than barefaced women by both sets of participants.
However women who were photographed wearing the glamorous look, the most makeup, were perceived to be less trustworthy over an unlimited amount of time.
While most found the study to be interesting, others opposed the study, believing that a woman's perception should not be altered by the makeup she wears.
"I think we'd be a fairer world if beauty were not rewarded, but it is," said Professor Daniel Hamermesh of the University of Texas Austin, reported the Huffington Post.

by: Megan Gosch

A study, led by a University of Minnesota researcher, was published Wednesday in the journal Nature, regarding the problems with the world's food system and a method to solving it.
Jonathan Foley, academic researcher at the U of M, and 20 other international scientists have analyzed international production data to fully understand the current approach to agriculture, reported the Star Tribune.
Foley's study concludes that in order to reconstruct the global food system, crops must be used to feed people rather than livestock, fertilizers such as nitrogen must be avoided, and food waste must be eliminated.
What is unique about this new study is that it attempts to solve today's environmental problems, supply problems, and equity problems at the same time, rather than separately, suggesting that each problem is equally as important and needs to be solved just as quickly as the other two, as noted in Andrew C. Revkin's New York Times blog.
Foley has also been meeting with corporations like Cargill and General Mills to discuss the implementation of solutions involving the devotion of more cropland to human food production or the prevention of forest conversion to farmland.

by: Megan Gosch

Two construction workers were run over and killed while working Thursday afternoon on Interstate 35W in Burnsville, authorities said.
Kirk E. Deamos, 21, was driving northbound on Interstate 35W and Mc Andrews Road around 12:30 p.m., when his vehicle lost control and struck the two men, the state patrol reported in an AP article for the Pioneer Press.
Deamos, from Raymore, Mo. , was not injured in the crash and has cooperated with investigators, reported the Star Tribune.
One of the workers was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other was taken to Hennepin Country Medical Center and later died.
The two men were doing electrical work for Eagan Co., expanding the MnPASS carpool system when they were struck, said the State Patrol.

by: Megan Gosch

A man killed eight people Wednesday afternoon, when he opened fire in a beauty salon in Seal Beach, California, said police.
Scott Dekraai, 42, was arrested for the shooting at Salon Meritage, after police spotted him driving away in his white pickup truck and caught up to him about a half-mile from the scene, reported the New York Times.
One man and five women were found dead at the scene. One man and one woman died after being transported to the nearby Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, and one woman currently remains in critical condition.
Dekraai had once been married to Michelle Dekraai, who worked at Salon Meritage. The two had divorced and neighbors and co-workers of both knew that the two were going through a bitter custody dispute over their son, and had been having problems for years, reported Time.
The shooting came as a great shock and tragedy to the community, that had only seen one other homicide within the past four years.

by: Megan Gosch

Charges of sexual assault and attempted rape against Dominique Strauss-Kahn were officially dropped Thursday, reported French Justice officials.
The case, in which Strauss-Kahn was accused of forcing himself upon French author Tristiane Banon during a meeting, was dropped due to insufficient evidence as well as the age of the case, reported by the New York Times. The disputed encounter occurred in 2003 and a three-year statute of limitations is put on sexual assault cases.
Strauss-Kahn initially argued that Banon's story was "imaginary," but later admitted that he had tried to kiss the writer and had restrained himself when she rejected him.
Strauss-Kahn has also had a hand in another sexual assault case, earlier this summer, when he was accused of attempted rape of a hotel housekeeper in New York. Charges were dropped in this case as well, due to the credibility of the accuser.
Although Banon's charges against Strauss-Kahn have been dropped, she has previously mentioned filing for a civil suit in the case that her initial efforts to get Strauss-Kahn to court failed, reported Time.
While Banon's recently published book, The Hypocrites' Ball, takes aim at an unmentioned Strauss-Kahn, drawing public interest to the case, the former International Monetary Fund chief has suffered professionally, humiliated by the cases brought against him, no longer running for president of the Socialist Party.

by: Megan Gosch

In my story of the death of Steve Jobs, "Steve Jobs Died 'Peacefully,' Family Says," a few updates were added to provide the most current and up-to-date information.
The leads of the two versions remained virtually the same, only changing by adding the exact cause of death to the most recent lead.
The main news was summarized almost exactly the same, only changing slightly to add additional details, such as who was with Jobs when he died. These additional details are how the second story advances the news, providing the most current information as it is received.
From what I can tell, the changes in the second story are not in response to other organizations covering the same story, but in response to receiving additional information regarding the story.

by: Megan Gosch

The U.S. ambassador to the Philippines texted an apology Friday, to the Philippine Foreign Secretary for his recent comment that 40 percent of male tourists in the Philippines for sex.
Ambassador Harry Thomas sent a text apologizing for his comment regarding sex tourists to the Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, reported the Washington Post. The text was later forwarded to journalists.
"I should not have used the 40 percent statistic without the ability to back it up, I regret any harm that I may have caused," said Thomas
Tina Malone, U.S. embassy spokeswoman, said that the U.S. would continue a "strong and dedicated partner of the Filipino people in combating the global scourges of human trafficking and sexual tourism," reported The Guardian.
The Philippines have been trying to replace its reputation as a tourist destination for sex, with that of a respectable tourist location.
Leila de Lima reported that comments such as Thomas' portrayed the Philippines as a "country of sex workers."

by: Megan Gosch
The official search has ended for the body of a Minnetonka man who fell while hiking in India this September.
Thomas Plotkin, 20, fell 400 feet from a steep trail while hiking near the Gori Ganga River on Sept. 22, reported KSTP news. His body was not recovered from the search that stretched two weeks, but local neighborhoods have been told to keep a look-out for any signs of him.
During the search, Plotkin's backpack and several other belongings were found near the point where he fell, reported the Star Tribune.
Plotkin, a Hopkins High School graduate and a junior at the University of Iowa, was studying abroad in India through the National Outdoor Leadership School.
A dinner and alumni hockey game has been organized in Plotkin's honor by his former high school hockey teammates. Proceeds from the event will be donated to the charity of Plotkin's family's choice.

The bodies of a Woodbury man and his two children were found after an RV caught fire near the Grand Canyon Monday in a suspected double murder-suicide, reported National Park Service officials.
Tony DeHaven, 35, his son, Jace DeHaven, 11, and his daughter Jersey DeHaven, 5, were identified by federal authorities as the dead found in the RV fire, reported in the Star Tribune. A preliminary investigation of the scene does not "suggest the involvement of an unknown party," and does suggest the possibility of a murder-suicide, said authorities.
The RV was discovered after a ranger arriving to work saw smoke inside the motor home around 7 a.m., confirmed Debbie Brenchley, the district manager of the NPS. It was only minutes later that "it burst into flames," said Brenchley.
Angela Elizabeth Valasquez, mother to Jace and Jersey, did not respond to comment on the reported deaths, and had not been seen in the area of the family's home near Radio Drive recently according to neighbors, reported the Pioneer Press.
Several neighbors have said that the cause of the deaths seem suspicious. Russell Andrews, a neighbor who often walked Jersey home, said he had never seen an RV at the family's home and that Jersey had never mentioned anything about a trip to the Grand Canyon.

by: Megan Gosch

Steve Jobs, co-founder and CEO of Apple Inc., passed away Wednesday at the age of 56.
Jobs, who had suffered a long battle with a rare form of pancreatic cancer, passed away at his home in Palo Alto, California. He died in the company of his wife and four children.
Although Jobs kept his health struggles private, he stepped down as the CEO of Apple in August, announcing that he could "no longer fulfill his duties as chief executive," reported MSNBC.
The loss of Jobs has driven fans to mourning, leaving flowers, candles, and apple memorials outside of Apple stores to commemorate a man who has changed the face of technology and the lives of those who rely on it.
Jobs not only revolutionized the potential of technology and its role in the individual personal life, but also revolutionized business journalism, noted David Carr of the New York Times. Jobs made news about business "seem relevant," and created an interest and excitement in business for young reporters who now find that business reporting is "cool," said Carr.

by: Megan Gosch
Vladimir Putin, Russia's Prime Minister, addressed the status of the country's entrance to the World Trade Organization to the Russia Calling! forum Thursday, despite tensions with Georgia, a current member.
Russia, which has waited over 17 years for admittance to the WTO, is close to membership, officials have said. However, Russia's membership is dependent upon a compromise in its policy regarding customs clearance monitors with Georgia, which holds great sway within the organization, reported the New York Times.
Russia will not buckle to "unacceptable terms" to achieve WTO membership, Putin has said. The Prime Minister is confident that Russia is strong enough to survive economic trouble without a WTO membership for support, even if government support is needed by Russian banks and companies, reported The Washington Post.
Russian, European, and American negotiators have been advocating for Russia's membership to the organization as Russia has the largest economy outside of the WTO, said officials.
Putin's statement has come just a couple of weeks after his announcement to run once more for Russia's presidency.

by: Megan Gosch
The progression of the information in the article "Til 2013 do us part? Mexico City mulls 2-year marriage," reported by MSNBC new, uses the traditional inverted pyramid for information. The most important and fact based information is placed at the beginning of the story, with more opinion base information towards the end.
The reporter has summarized the important elements into short, concise paragraphs, each containing one main idea. The information has been ordered giving the "who, what, where, when, why" first, then giving more details in order of importance.
This order of information is effective for this story because it draws the audience in and keeps them reading with the progression of the details. Although the information could be arranged differently, I find the order effective as is.

by: Megan Gosch
Law-makers of Mexico City have proposed a two year trial marriage license option for newlyweds in hopes of lowering divorce rates and avoiding the "tortuous" legal process.
The new law proposes that couples getting married may opt for a two-year temporary commitment. If after two years, the couple has decided to continue on together, they may then renew their marriage license for "as long as they both shall live."
"If you renew, that means you have an understanding with your partner, and that you are clear on the rules of the relationship," said Lizbeth Rosas, a member of the Party of the Democratic Revolution, reported CBC News.
Newlywed couples who have tried the two-year trial period and have decided that they are not a good fit, the couple's contract would "simply end," reported MSNBC News. The trial marriage contracts would also include guidelines on how to handle property and children if a couple does split up.
However, couples seeking to split up before their two-year trial contract has ended must go through with a regular divorce.
Although the law has been proposed as a possible solution to Mexico's divorce rate of 50%, usually occurring within the first two years of marriage, many believe the law "creates a culture of disposability within important societal issues," said Consuelo Mendoza, a member of the National Union of Parents.

by: Megan Gosch
Sammy Malakwen was the men's winner of the 30th annual Twin Cities Marathon on Sunday, while Yeshimebet Tadesse-Bifa was the women's winner.
Malakwen, a 33-year-old native Kenyan, crossed the finish line with an unofficial time of two hours, 13 minutes, and 11 seconds, reported the Associated Press for the Pioneer Press. Malakwen is a resident of Two Harbors.
Tadesse-Bifa, a 23-year-old native Ethiopian, finished with an unofficial time of two hours, 28 minutes, and 24 seconds. Although she was the clear women's winner, Tadesse-Bifa was almost scratched from the race due to visa complications, reported the Star Tribune.
Mo Trafe, a 26-year-old Moroccan native, won the men's 10 mile race with an unofficial time of 46:46. Janet Cherobon-Bawcom, a 33-year-old Kenyan native, won the women's 10 mile race with an unofficial time of 54:15, and Minnesotan Katie McGregor finished fourth.
The marathon route began at the Metrodome, ending 26.2 miles later at the State Capitol building.

by: Megan Gosch
ADT Security Services Inc. settled Friday, with the family of a Stillwater woman who was murdered as the result of a malfunctioning security system.
Teri Lee and her boyfriend, Tim Hawkinson, were fatally shot at home in their sleep on the night of Sept. 22, 2006, by Steven Van Keuren. Van Keuren was able to; cut Lee's phone lines, break her patio door, and walk upstairs to her bedroom without her security system sounding, providing no warning of the intrusion.
Lee had worked with Van Keuren at 3M, and had also dated him until their relationship became strained and he began to threaten her, reported the Star Tribune. At that point she obtained a restraining order against Van Keuren and had an ADT security system installed after he threatened to kill her.
Lee's attempts to protect herself failed when her security system was not triggered by the cutting of her phone lines, did not sound as her patio door was broken, and her motion detectors did not activate as Van Keuren walked up her stairs. Her cell phone back-up system also failed to call and warn her in the event that her phone lines were cut, reported CBS Minnesota.
Lee's family filed suit against ADT for misrepresentation of the system's capabilities by their salesman, as well as improper installation. ADT has never admitted any responsibility for the death of Lee and Hawkins, but settled with Lee's family outside of court for an undetermined amount of money.
Bill Harper, the attorney to Lee's family, said that the settlement amount was "substantial," and will provide for Lee's four children "for the rest of their lives."

by: Megan Gosch
Hundreds of members of the Occupy Wall Street group that have come together to protest an unjust financial system, are now turning heads as they create a home in the Lower Manhattan Zuccotti Park.
The protesters, made up of New York City residents as well as out-of-state travelers, have sought refuge and set up camp in the park for the past 10 days, as they continue to protest on Wall Street. Their make-shift home is not only made up of tents and tarps, but also includes; a library, an information booth, a computer center, a kitchen, and a lost and found, reported the New York Times.
Brookfield Office Properties, the private owners of Zuccotti Park, are "extremely concerned," with the conditions that the protesters have created, said Melissa Coley, Brookfield's spokeswoman.
"[We are] working with New York City to address these conditions and return the park to its intended purpose," said Coley. Coley has said that the intended purpose of the park is "for the use of enjoyment of the general public for passive recreation."
Broofield posted new rules Saturday in the park, banning the use of sleeping bags and tarps, and lying down or storing personal property in the park, reported WNYC News.
After making more than 80 arrests over the past weekend, the New York Police Department have made no comment about the possible eviction of the protesters.

by: Megan Gosch
A sack containing five human heads was discovered Tuesday, outside a primary school in the Garita neighborhood of Acapulco, Mexico, reported Mexican police.
The sack containing the severed heads was left inside a wooden crate outside the school, alongside handwritten messages to threaten three local drug traffickers, reported the Global Post with Associated Press.
CNN also reported an "apparently sarcastic" message telling people to thank the governor for "this war" could be seen in photos of the scene of the discovery.
The heads were determined to be male, and could be related to the five headless bodies discovered in and near a burned vehicle in Acapulco, said police.
With a government crackdown on Mexican drug cartels, crime has increased including threats to school teachers, demanding over half of their salaries by Oct. 1, reported the BBC.
Many teachers and administrators have left the schools and have begun to protest because of the threats. Additionally more than 100 schools have been closed within the last month with teachers and parents concerned for a lack of effective security.