Paress' News Blog

"Fire-safe" cigarettes law passed in Minnesota

2008-12-01T00:36:36Z

A new Minnesota law goes into effect Monday requiring all cigarettes to be fire safe, according to The Minnesota Daily. The fire safe cigarettes are designed to self-extinguished if left unattended for too long.
Nyle Zikmund of the Minnesota Fire Chiefs Association says unattended cigarettes are responsible for 1/4 of all fire deaths and the association has called the legislation the most important fire-prevention law passed in more than 30 years, according to The Star Tribune.

Space shuttle lands safely in Califonia

2008-12-01T00:29:43Z

Space shuttle Endeavour landed safely at California's Edwards Air Force Base on Sunday afternoon despite poor weather, according to CNN
NASA waved off two landing opportunities in Florida because of bad weather.
Endeavour's 15-day space trip began November 14 and included four space walks, according to The New York Times.

India's minister resigns over Mumbai terrorist attacks

2008-12-01T00:22:27Z

India's Minister Shivraj Patil resigned Sunday as the country investigated alleged Pakistani terrorist ties killing 183 people in Mumbai, according to CNN
India is considering suspending the five-year-old cease-fire with Pakistan and ending communication with the country.
The three day terrorst attack took place at the Taj Mahal palace & Tower Hotel in Mumbai, according to The New York Times.
Pakistani officials promised troops would be sent to the border if relations between India and Pakistan worsened.

Mother and son die, father named "person of interest"

2008-11-10T05:05:47Z

Mother and twelve-year-old son died in a slaying on Sunday and husband is named "a person of interest" in the killing that took place in Dodge County, according to Pioneer Press. Two daughters survived knife wounds.
The children ran to a neighbor in the trailer park for help, where 911 was called and they were rushed to St. Mary's hospital in Rochester, according to the Star Tribune.

Gay Marriage Supporters Protest in California

2008-11-10T03:45:25Z

Protests continued in several California cities, including San Francisco, Palm Springs and Long Beach, over Proposition 8, outlawing same-sex marriage, according to CNN. The ballot results were 52.5 percent to 47.5 percent on Tuesday.
"This is a temporary defeat," Lorri Jean, chief executive of the Los Angels Gay and Lesbian Center told Mercury News. "I don't have the slightest doubt in my mind that we ultimately will win the freedom to marry, and that it will be the law of the land in this country, not in just these few states."

Russian Sub Accident Killed 20

2008-11-10T03:29:03Z

A new Russian nuclear submarine returned to base on Sunday after an accident with its fire-extinguishing system, according to The New York Times. Two compartments were flooded with Freon gas, killing 20 people and injuring 21.
Seventeen of the deaths were civilian members of the shipyard crew, according to CNN. 208 people, including 81 soldiers were on board the submarine.

Pioneer Press Receives Fake Anthrax Package

2008-11-03T03:04:30Z

St. Paul's Pioneer Press received a small package labeled "anthrax" on Saturday, according to The Pioneer Press. According to tests the substance inside was sugar, St. Paul police spokesman Pete Crum said.
The envelope contained a CD with a photo of Gen. Colin Powell labeled "Anthrax Shock and Awe Terror" and a white, sugar-like package taped to the top labeled "Anthrax" and "Biohazard", according to The Star Tribune.

Palin Takes Prank Call from Fake French President

2008-11-03T02:03:20Z

Sarah Palin believed she was getting a phone call from Nicolas Sarkozy, French President, on Saturday, according to The Los Angeles Times. Two well-known Canadian comedians made the call, known as the Masked Advengers: Marc-Antoine Audette and Sebastian Trudel.
The six minute phone conversation will be aired Monday on a Quebec radio station, accordring to The New York Times. ''Governor Palin was mildly amused to learn that she had joined the ranks of heads of state, including President Sarkozy and other celebrities, in being targeted by these pranksters. C'est la vie,'' Tracey Schmitt, Palin's campaign spokeswoman said.

Photos Released of Kim Jong-Il

2008-11-03T01:45:03Z

Photos were released of North Koreans leader Kim Jong-il onSunday, according to The New York Times. He is smiling in the picture taken at a soccer match between two military-affiliated teams, yet the date or location are unknown.
Kim, 66, has not been seen in public since August 14, accordin to CNN. There are rumors of Kim suffering a stroke and undergoing brain surgery over the summer.

Como Pool Beyond Repair and Closed

2008-10-27T03:13:15Z

The Como Pool in St. Paul's regional park since 1962 has closed permanently because of safety problems and high repair costs, according to The Star Tribune. "If we tried to open it again, it would be over $1 million just to get it operational", Brad Meyer, a spokesman for the St. Paul Parks Department said.
The city plans on opening a new pool by 2010, according to The Pioneer Press. "(The process) is going to be about the pool, but it's also going to go beyond the pool," Meyer said. "It's going to include how the footprint affects other aspects of the park, including traffic and parking."

Killer Whales Missing From Puget Sound

2008-10-27T02:54:30Z

Seven Puget Sound killer whales are missing and presumed dead, according to The New York Times“This is a disaster,�? said Ken Balcomb, a senior scientist at the Center for Whale Research, on San Juan Island. “The population drop is worse than the stock market.�?
Low numbers of chinook salmon, a prime food for these whales, may be a factor in the unusual number of deaths this year, according to CNN Pollution and decline in prey are mammal's biggest threats, who were listed as endangered in 2005.

U.S Blamed by Syrians for Deadly Blast on Iraq Border

2008-10-27T02:47:08Z

A deadly explosion killed nine construction workers and wounded 19 others near the border of Iraq and Syria, according to The New York Times. Nearby witnesses believed the blast was caused by American shelling, but it could not be confirmed.
Syria's state news agency SANA said four U.S. helicopters crossed the border and struck a farm about 5 miles inside Syria before returning to Iraqi airspace, according to CNN.

U.S Not on Par With Other Developed Nation's Infant Mortality Rate

2008-10-16T23:29:41Z

While infant death in the U.S declined 2 percent in 2006, the rate still remains well above other developed nations who pay less for health care, according to The New York Times. In 1960, the U.S ranked 12th lowest in the world for infant mortality, but by 2004 the ranking dropped to 29th lowest.
Premature birth and low birth weight are by far the biggest causes of infant death, according to The Los Angeles Times.
"We as a nation place less emphasis on primary care and prevention than a lot of these other industrialized democracies do that have lower rates than we do," said Dr. Ann O'Malley of the Center for Studying Health System Change, a Washington-based research group.

Sex on the Beach in Dubai Take Couple to Prison

2008-10-16T23:14:26Z

A British couple was arrested and sentenced to three months in prison after having sex on a public beach in Dubai, according to CNN. Police charged Michelle Palmer, 36, and Vincent Acors, 34, with illicit relations, public indecency and public intoxication on July 5.
"The emirate is a financial hub in the Middle East, catering to tourists and multi-billion dollar business deals. It is also an Islamic state straining to balance Western influence and wealth with religious traditions that forbid alcohol, un-married sex and homosexuality," according to The New York Times.

Six Men Killed at Party in Mexico

2008-10-13T04:23:38Z

Gunmen shot and killed six men at a family party in Ciudad Juarez in northern Mexico Sunday, according to The Star Tribune. The motive is unknown but 1,000 people have been killed in Ciudad Juarez this year, mostly due to warring drug gangs.
Federal police arrested seven reputed members of the Arellano Felix drug cartel, including a police officer, according to The Pioneer PressOfficers confiscated 21 assault rifles, 4,000 rounds of ammunition and body armor in the raid.