October 2009 Archives

Three arrested in stabbing of Connecticut player Jasper Howard

by Dallas Johnson

 

A 21-year-old man was arrested in connection with the murder of Jasper Howard, a University of Connecticut football player, earlier this month, CNN reported.

John Lomax III and two others was arrested Tuesday on charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder, Maj. Ron Blicher of the UConn Police Department said.

Lomax had his bail set at $2 million. Hakim Muhammad, 20, is also facing felony charges.  His bail was set at $750,000.

The third person arrested was Jamal Todd, 21.  He was released on a $5,000 bond, police said.  He faces charges of falsely reporting and incident to police and a misdemeanor charge of reckless endagerment.

Jasper Howard, 20, was stabbed Oct. 18 during a fight after a school dance.  He later died at a Hartford hospital.

the fight started after Todd pulled a fire alarm, causing more than  300 people to exit the building on the Connecticut campus in Storrs,.  The fight broke out on the way out of the building, police said. Howard and another football player, Brian Parket, were stabbed in the fight.

Parker was treated and released from the hospital the next day.

The Huskies had their first home game after the incident Saturday.  Fans lined the street, in shirts with Howard's number six on them, to shake the hands of the football players on the way to the stadium, ESPN reported.

Players wore a sticker with Howard's initials during the game.  Connecticut's opponent, Rutgers, showed support by putting Howard's number on the back of their helmets.

Connecticut lost the game 28-24.

Lomax and Muhammad will have their first court appearances Wednesday.  Todd is scheduled for Nov. 10.

 

Eight Afghans arrested in U.N. attack

by Dallas Johnson

 

Eight people were arrested in Afghanistan Saturday in connection with last week's attack that killed five on a guest house used by United Nations employees, MSNBC reported. 

CNN reported that the three assailants involved in the attack were Pakistani, based on statements by the arrested.

Afghan intelligence told reporters that were expecting an attack sometime around rush hour.  Instead the suicide bombing took place just before dawn Wednesday.

Sayed Ansari, Afghanistan's chief of national security, said that among the arrested was Mulla Qari Aminullah, a religious teacher at a mosque in Kabul.

Aminullah was arrested at Medina's airport in Saudi Arabia on his way to the annual Hajj pilgrimage, Ansari said.

Aminullah is accused of hiding the three attackers in his home.

U.N. security guards who were staying in the guest house held off the attackers for nearly an hour before Afghani security forces showed up.

The U.N. is demanding an explanation from the Afghani government for the delay.

The Afghani government has not released a statement on the issue.

2 dead after plane crashes into home in Atlanta

by dallas Johnson

 

A small plane crashed into an Atlanta home Friday, killing the pilot and a woman in the house, MSNBC reported.

The Cessna crashed into the Lawrenceville, Ga. home around 1 p.m. Friday and then burst into flames, according to CBS Atlanta.

The husband of the woman was also in the house, but was uninjured as he managed to escape out the front door, investigators said.

The pilot was the only person inside the plane, Capt. Tommy Rutledge of Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Service said.

Neighbor Joe Mundy said "it was just boom -- a massive explosion."  Mundy ran out of his home to see what happened.

The man tried to re-enter the house and save his wife, said Jerry Henneabaul, another neighbor.  "He was trying to go back in, he kept trying to go back in to get her. We kept pulling him back, because the flames were pretty high at that time," Hennebaul said.

National Transportation Safety Board investigators said that the plane, flying from Gwinett County Airport to Sparta, Tenn., broke into several pieces when it hit the home.  The largest piece recovered was only 8 inches by 10 inches.

Fire crews were at the scene several hours after the incident, spraying water on hot spots. 

"The fire was very intense. It destroyed both engines in all likelihood. How much we will be able to recover is a question," said investigator Butch Wilson.

Authorities weren't able to recover the bodies until around 7 p.m. because the house had been leveled in the crash, Rutledge said.

The identities of the victims have not been released.

 

 

Attack stopped by Minneapolis dad

by Dallas Johnson

 

A Minneapolis dad stopped an attack in South Minneapolis Thursday while walking his 6-year-old son to the bus stop, the Minneapolis Star Tribune said.

Dr. Mani Mokalla was walking his son to the bus stop around 6:30 a.m. when he spotted three teenagers beating a middle-aged man on the sidewalk, WCCO reported.

Mokalla approached the teenagers and asked them "what the hell is going on?"  The teenagers responded by telling Mokalla to mind his own business.

Mokalla told the teenagers that it was his business.  The teenagers then began to hit Mokalla.

That was "a surprise and stupefying," Mokalla said.  He then told his son it was time to leave.  The teenagers then fled down 17th Avenue.

Police are currently looking for the teenagers, who are believed to have been involved in a similar assault a half an hour earlier just nine blocks away.

The victim of that crime, who only wanted to be identified as Tom, said that the teenagers got away with the $8 he had in his pocket.

Sgt. William Palmer, a Minneapolis police spokesman, urged people to call 911 when they see a crime like that, but added that it is "a personal decision."

 

 

FBI investigates Weisman paintings

by Dallas Johnson

 

The FBI is investigating certain paintings at the Weisman Art Museum on the University of Minnesota campus to determine if they are forgeries, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.

The FBI visited the museum earlier this year to analyze 38 of the museum's paintings, the St. Paul Pioneer Press said.

The FBI determined that five of the museum's 38 paintings by Louisiana folk artist Clementine Hunter, may be fakes.

"I was surprised," Weisman director Lyndel King said Friday. "I didn't realize that Clementine Hunter had such a high market value that she'd be worth doing forgeries for."

Someone else did, however.  The FBI is investigating accusations that 78-year-old William Toye and his wife, Beryl Ann, 68, sold fake Hunter paintings to several collectors over the last three decades, the Associated Press said.

In this case, selling the paintings to the Weisman for $30,000.  Weisman art collector Don Fuson said that he "gave [Toye] the benefit of the doubt at every turn, and that's not normally me."

While no new charges have been filed against the Toyes since the investigation began, police did search their Baton Rouge home.  They seized artwork in the Sep. 30 search.

William Toye was arrested but never prosecuted in the '70s for forging Hunter's work.

"We can all be fooled, and this man fooled me," Fuson said.

 

 

 

Analysis: Speeches/Meetings
by Dallas Johnson

The stories in the Wall Street Journal and the Guardian are good examples of how to take a press release and make it into a story.

Nokia held a press conference and released a statement after negotiations with Apple broke down.  Nokia is claiming that Apple's iPhone infringes on ten of Nokia's patents.

The press release contains a lot of technical law and technological language.  The writers needed to be able to weed through that and put their stories in terms the readers could understand.

The press release contains many claims that obviously favor Nokia's position.  The writers were able to avoid giving a bias to Nokia, using these claims only in quotes or paraphrases, making it explicitly clear that these were the claims of Nokia. 

The writers also managed to avoid putting everything from the press release into the story.  This is a pivotal part of writing about a press conference.  It's not easy to write about everything that Nokia said.  The writers had to choose what they felt were the most important aspects of the press release.

One of the nicest things about the story, compared to the press release, is that the stories are able put this press release in context.  That is, they can compare it to something bigger.  Perhaps this means comparing it to the loses Nokia has recently had due to the iPhone's success.

The writers also do a good job summarizing something from the press release and then backing it up with either a quote or a fact.  This is good use of the point/support theory.

The biggest thing to understand when writing about a press release is that a writer can't put everything in a story nor can they get wrapped up in technical language.  The writers in these stories do a good job on both of these issues.

Trains collide in Egypt, killing 20
by Dallas Johnson

One passenger train ran into the back of another near Cairo Saturday, killing at least 25 people, MSNBC reported.

At least 50 other people were injured when the first train, traveling from Cairo to Asyut, hit the second train, traveling from Giza to Fayyoum, CNN reported.

The wreck occurred next to a canal in the Girzah 6th district of October, giving emergency responders problems, Deputy to the Health Ministry Mohammed Sarhan said.  Tree trunks and branches were used to make a temporary bridge to the injured and dead.

People were trapped beneath the wreckage late into Saturday night, Sarhan said.  Some of the dead were discovered buried beneath the wreckage.

In order to transport the injured to local hospitals, 80 ambulances were sent to the wreckage, Ahmed Rady, a government spokesman, said.

The Transporation Ministry and Egyptian National Railways have both launched investigations regarding the collision.

Egypt has a poor safety record with railways.  There are several deadly accidents every year typically due to poorly maintained equipment.

Two men charged in assault
by Dallas Johnson

Two men were charged Friday with sexual assault in an attack on a woman in St. Paul Wednesday, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported.

St. Paul residents Don Newcome Conley, 34, and Swenson Jerome Keeler, 26, were charged Friday with three counts of first and second-degree sexual assault, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.

Police were called to an apartment building Wilson Avenue aroud 9:30 p.m. Wednesday.  They spoke with a 26-year-old woman in her mother's apartment, police said.

The woman told the police that the two men approached her and started touching her.  Keeler showed her a picture of his genitals.  Another man entered the building using his key card and the woman followed him in.

Conley and Keeler followed her into the elevator, attempted to undress her and started making crude references.  When the door opened the woman elbowed Conley and kicked Keeler.  Conley went back down to the first floor but Keeler followed the woman.  When her mother opened the door Keeler fled.

Police arrested the two men in the parking lot of the building.  The woman identified the men as her attackers.

Police said she had been "crying and visibly upset."  There were visible scratches on several parts of her body.

Conley and Keeler are being held in the Ramsey County jail on $40,000 bail.

Saudi journalist sentenced to 60 lashes
by Dallas Johnson

A Saudi journalist was sentenced to 80 lashes Saturday, after her work on an Arabic-language television show featured a man talking about his sex life, CNN reported.

Rozanna al-Yami was sentenced Saturday on charges that includedw involvement in preparation of the program and advertising it on the Internet, according to MSNBC.  It is believed that she is the first female journalist to recieve such a punishment.

In addition to the 60 lashes, the court of Jeddah also placed a two-year ravel ban on al-Yami, a Saudi Information Ministry official said.  The ban will no allow al-Yami to travel outside of Saudi Arabia.

The segment involved was part of a show known as "The Thick Red Line," which airs on the Lebanese Broadcasting Corp. and is known for showing social taboos.

The man in the segment, Mazen Abdul Jawad, bragged about his sex life, showing several sex toys, which were blurred by the network.

Abdul Jawad was sentenced to five years in prison and 1,000 lashes for his role in the episode, said Suleiman Al-Jumeii, an attorney representing Abdubl Jawad.

Al-Jumeii also confirmed the sentences against al-Yami.  Al-Jumeii is not representing al-Yami but is keeping tabs on all aspects of the case as he is planning to appeal Abdul Jawad's case to a court that deals only in media matters, because he claims that his client was not aware he was being recorded.

The Lebanese Broadcasting Corp.'s offices were shut down shortly after the episode aired in July, Saudi authorities said.

"Balloon Boy" a hoax
by Dallas Johnson

The story of the boy who was floating away in a helium balloon was a hoax, according to CNN.

The family was interviewed on "Larry King Live" Thursday, where the family was asked why the boy did not come out from the attic when his name was called.

The boy responded, "you guys said we did this for the show."  The interview prompted Sheriff Jim Alderden of Larimer County, Col. to call the incident a hoax.

He continued saying that the evidence points towards "a publicity stunt" by the family to market themselves for a future reality television show.

Alderden said that he expects that charges of conspiracy, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, making a false report to authorities and attempting to influence a public servant will be filed, according to MSNBC.  Federal charges may also be filed.

Alderden said that the charges can carry up to six years in prison and a $500,000 fine.  The police will also be seeking restitution, but for an unknown amount.

It is believed that all three sons knew the incident was a hoax, but they will not be charged because of their ages.

The National Guard had sent two helicopters to the area to try and rescue the boy.  When the balloon landed, and the boy was not there, they feared he had fallen and started searching for his body.

An attorney representing the family said that the parents would turn themselves in if charges were filed.

 

Man electrocuted in manhole may have been stealing copper
by Dallas Johnson

A Blaine man who died after being electrocuted in a St. Paul manhole Friday may have been stealing copper wire, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported.

Thomas Stanke, 50, worked for a company that contracts with telecommunications but "was not doing sanctioned or authorized work" in the tunnel last Friday, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.

Sgt. Paul Schnell said that Stanke is believed to have made contact with high-voltage power lines with a saw that he had brought into the tunnel.

Paramedics arrived at the manhole near the intersection of Virginia Street and Univeristy Avenue shortly after 9:00 a.m.to find Stanke dead due to electrocution, said Fire Marshal Steve Zaccard.

Police believe that, because of Stanke's work, he would have had the equipment to access the manhole and make it safe to enter.  A service truck was at the scene blocking the southbound land of Virginia Street.  A man who was with the truck did not have much information for the police, Schnell said.

"We don't know how much the man who was with [the victim] was told," Schnell said.

The incident knocked power out momentarily to the state Capitol, St. Joeseph's Hospital and St. Paul College, Xcel Energy said.

The hospital immediately moved to a reserve service line.  St. Paul College only lost power for a short time and it is unknown how long the Capitol lost power, said Mary Sandok, an Xcel Energy spokeswoman.

Analysis: Iran frees journalist

by Dallas Johnson

 

Both the CNN and MSNBC article on Iran freeing the journalist have several different kinds of multimedia.

Both websites feature pictures, in this case, of the journalist.  This gives a face to the name gives a personal sense to the article.

On the CNN site, there is a caption below the picture with a short explanation of why Bahari was arrested.  The MSNBC site, showing Bahari testifying, explains the charges Bahari faced.  The writing is somewhat like a lead.  It gives the reader the basics of the story.

Normally, these pictures and captions would complement the stories very nicely.  However, in this instance it doesn't feel as if they were done with enough depth.  There aren't enough pictures which leaves the reader wanting a little more.  Perhaps a story with more impressive pictures would provide some better complement, but this story leaves something to be desired.

It would have been nice to see some pictures of the protests that occured after the election to give the reader a sense of the chaos that is described in the article, but both sites fail to do so.  This would have added some good depth to the story.

Both sites also have several links within their stories to related topics, either on the same story or from the same region.  Some of the links simply share information.  For example, a link to the president of Iran will give you everything you want to know about him.  Any story the site has run, or any video that has been shown should be right there for the reader.

In addition to all of these multimedia, the sites both include links to related stories.  Some of these are stories about the prisoners and the protests, others are stories from the region or about the Iranian president.

It would have been nice to see some video with these stories, but perhaps there simply wasn't any video that made sense with the story.

 

Maldives cabinet holds meeting underwater

by Dallas Johnson

The president of Maldives and his Cabinet held a meeting underwater Saturday to call attention to the problems climate change would bring to the chain of islands, CNN reported.

President Mohamed Nasheed and his Cabinet donned scuba gear and descended 16 feet under water, using hand signals to communicate, to show the issue major climate changes pose to the lowest-lying nation on Earth, the president's Web site said.

The president and Cabinet signed a declaration asking all nations to cut their carbon dioxide emmissions, MSNBC reported.  The declaration will be presented at a U.N. climate summit in December in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The president is worried that the nation, comprised of islands who average just 7 feet above sea level, could end up underwater within a century if the polar ice caps continue to melt.

"We are trying to send our message to let the world know what is happening and what will happen to the Maldives if climate change isn't checked," Nasheed said.

The president fears that if nothing is done in December, the entire nation will die.  However, Nasheed had already announced he was in search of a new homeland to buy for the 350,000 population if the U.N. can't deliver a resolution. 

The wet suits worn to the meeting have been signed and auctioned in order to raise money for coral reef protection in the Maldives. 

 

 

 

Iran frees journalist

by Dallas Johnson

 

A Newsweek journalist was released from an Evin prison in Iran Saturday after he was arrested for making false accusations against the Iranian government in June, CNN reported.

Maziar Bahari, a correspondent in Tehran, was released on almost $300,000 in bail after nearly four months in jail.

Bahari, 42, was put on mass trial in August with more than 100 other journalist, reformists and former government ministers after President President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's controversial re-election in June, MSNBC reported.

The election commission of Iran declared Ahmadinejad the winner, causing thousands of citizens to fill the streets of Tehran, saying the election had been fraudulent.

Bahari was accused by the Iranian government of being one of those post-election demonstrators, propagandizing against Iran, favoring opposition groups, sending false reports through the foreign media, and possessing classified documents, Iranian officials said.

Newsweek rejected all of these allegations.  Officials did not specify why Bahari was released.

"Humanitarian considerations were presumed to have played a role in the decision," a Newsweek article said.

Iranian officials said Bahari confessed at a news conference shortly after his arrest, but human rights groups have accused prison guards of coercing false confessions from prisoners.

 

 

Bicyclist dies after colliding with car

by Dallas Johnson

 

A St. Paul bicyclist died Tuesday after colliding with a car in St. Louis Park Saturday, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.

Roger Allen Tomberlin, 47, died Tuesday from injuries sustained when he hit the side of a car near Highway 7 around 8:00 p.m. Saturday, a St. Louis Park police report said.

The driver told police that she heard a loud thud, stopped and exited the vehicle.  When she saw Tomberlin, she called police.  Police found evidence that is consistant with her story.

"There was no fault on the part of the driver," said St. Louis Park Police Chief John Luse. "The driver will not be charged."

Tomberlin had been out with his uncle Satruday evening at a few bars and restaurants, the police report said.  He had had "a few alcoholic beverages," the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported.

Tomberlin was not wearing a helmet when he struck the car.  He was unresponsive when the paramedics arrived and was taken to  Hennepin County Medical Center, where he died Tuesday, a Hennepin County medical examiner said.

One student dead, an officer injured in attack
by Dallas Johnson

A South Carolina student was shot and killed Friday after he attacked a school resource officer with a knife, CNN reported.

Trevor Varinecz, 16, was shot five times, including a fatal shot to the chest, around 8:30 a.m.  after he attacked the Carolina Forest High School resource officer, Cpl. Marcus Rhodes, with a knife, officials said.

Teal Britton, a spokeswoman for Horry County Schools said that Varinecz asked to see the Rhodes after arriving at school.

"They went into his office, and the door was shut, and then the struggle began," Britton said.  Officials have no idea what may have started the struggle.

Rhodes was taken to Conway Medical Center where he was treated and released around 12:30 p.m. Friday, the Sun News reported.

An autopsy was performed Saturday at the University of South Carolina's Medical Center that determined only the shot to the chest of Varinecz was fatal, medical officials said.

Emergency responses at the school were implemented and executed fairly well, Britton said.

"You can't always predict a random unplanned act of violence. There will be lots of debriefings going on in terms of our response. I don't [think] in this situation there was any shortcoming on anybody's part," Britton said.

Couple helps teens make bombs
by Dallas Johnson

A Prior Lake couple were charged last month with helping their son and his friends make pipe bombs, which were later used to blow up mailboxes, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported.

Robert and Roberta Masters helped the teams make the pipe bombs in May and June because they said it would be "a good educational tool," according to the charges.

The Masters' first court appearance has been set for Nov. 2, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.

The Masters' son, and four of his friends, are suspected of using the bombs to blow up six mailboxes in Burnsville, Lakeville, Credit River Township and New Market Township over the summer.

One of the teens said that they originally targeted random households and then moved on to households of people they knew.

The Masters told the boys to "be careful" with the devices but had no idea they were planning on using the bombs to blow up mailboxes, investigators said.

The Masters plan on pleading not guilty, Masters attorney Earl Gray said.  "There's absolutely no evidence in the whole file that they knew of any of the bombings of mailboxes," Gray said.

Gray said he expects the Masters will be acquitted of the charges of manufacturing explosive devices.

Analysis:  Accident near Forest Lake
by Dallas Johnson

The articles out of the Star Tribune and the Pioneer Press about the car accident near Forest Lake are examples of stories being told as information is provided. 

They are both being told about the same car accident, but in different senses.  The Pioneer Press is providing the information simply to inform people about the accident.  The Star Tribune, however, is telling the story in a larger context, that is, the amount of car accidents in the Twin Cities recently.

The leads in the two stories did not change their leads because, even though the amount of time between the two articles had changed, the main story was still about the man who died.

The main news is where the differences occur.  Because the Pioneer Press was simply trying to get the main points of the story out, we see a typical inverse pyramid style of story.  The Star Tribune, however, was allowed to wait for a little more information.

Because they decided to write the information as part of a larger piece involving several accidents, they were able to summarize the information quickly in the beginning.  They then moved into the information about the other accidents.

This avoids the inverse pyramid in a sense, and instead moves to the martini glass scenario.  The Star Tribune advances this story by putting it in perspective, that is, saying it just the last in a series of serious accidents in the Twin Cities.

It seems like the Star Tribune may be responding to the Pioneer Press' report on the story.  That may be why it is a summary of recent events.  Perhaps the Star Tribune felt that it would be more effective to try and put the story in perspective like that, rather than simply report the story.

It is hard to tell whether or not this is the case, but if the Tribune did do that, it was a smart move.  As it takes the Press' story and makes people look at in a completely different light.

It would be interesting to see this story tomorrow, especially in the Pioneer Press, to find out what information they discovered.  For example, what happened exactly.  The stories lacked detail because the accident was so fresh.  Tomorrow, the updated story should have some of those details, including names and a description of the accident.

Turkey and Armenia sign an agreement
by Dallas Johnson

Turkey and Armenia signed an agreement Saturday opening diplomatic relations, CNN reported.

The Turkish and Armenian foreign ministers signed the agreement in Zurich, Switzerland after almost a century of animosity, MSNBC said.

The agreement will open the border between the two countries, which has been closed since 1993, after both country's parliaments ratify the agreement.

The agreement, however, needed help from U.S. and other national diplomats to be finalized.

There was some debate on the wording of the final statement in the agreement that almost derailed discussions.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton communicated several times with both the Turkish and Armenian foreign ministers to help resolve the problem.

The agreement ended up being signed three hours behind schedule.

Nationalists in both countries are hoping that the agreement will not be ratified.  The disagreements over the countries shared bloody history has not been forgotten by many nationalists.

"The success of Turkey in pressuring Armenia into accepting these humiliating, one-sided protocols proves, sadly, that genocide pays," said Ken Hachikian, chairman of the Armenian National Committee of America.

Turkey strongly rejects any allegations of genocide and sighted Armenian presence in neighboring Nagorno-Karabakh, an Armenian area of Azerbaijan, as its main reason for not making an agreement sooner.

Girl gets home run souvenir after lawsuit
by Dallas Johnson

A Florida girl received the home run ball she caught Wednesday after suing to get it back, CNN reported.

Jennifer Valdivia, 12, filed a lawsuit with the Philadelphia Phillies Monday after the club took a historic home run ball from her, ESPN said.

Valdivia was at a game in July between the Florida Marlins and the Philadelphia Phillies in Miami with her grandfather and brother when Ryan Howard hit a home run to right field.

The ball landed near Valdivia and she scrambled to grab the ball before her brother got to it.

Valdivia was very excited to get the home run ball, especially because she beat out her brother.  "I was rubbing it in my brother's face," Valdivia said.

Marlins officials later approached Valdivia and her brother to escort them downstairs.  The ball Valdivia had was Howard's 200th.  Hitting it in his 658th career game, Howard became the fastest player in major league history to reach 200 home runs.

Howard wanted the ball back.  Phillies officials told Valdivia and her brother that if they came down to the clubhouse after the game, they could meet Howard and get the ball signed.

Valdivia went down to the clubhouse after the game, but Howard never showed and, instead of signing the home run ball, delivered an entirely new ball signed.

When Valdivia returned home she told her mother what had happened.  Her mother was livid.

She filed a lawsuit Monday for the ball back against the Phillies organization.

The Phillies agreed and returned the ball Wednesday, Phillies attorney Norm Kent said.

Valdivia was extremely happy to get what she calls "her ball" back.  "When I grow up and everything, I'm going to show it to my kids," Valdivia said.

Two dead after planes collide over Louisiana
by Dallas Johnson

Two were killed and two others were injured when two small planes collided over central Louisiana Saturday, CNN reported.

The two small Cesna 150s collided around 2:30 p.m. less than a mile from Pineville Regional Airport, Fox 19 reported. 

Rescue workers discovered the two planes in a wooded area near the airport, Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Lynn Lunsford said.

They discovered two people dead in one of the planes, Lunsford said.  The other two were hospitalized with serious injuries Lunsford said.

One of the planes may have held a flight student and an instructor, Lunsford said.

The planes landed near Lake Buhlow, a popular lake for boat races, which were scheduled for Saturday.

It is not known whether the other plane was related to the boat races.

The incident is under investigation by the FAA.

Weather delays changing of major Minneapolis streets
by Dallas Johnson

Two major Minneapolis streets were not able to be changed from one-way streets to two-way streets Saturday morning because of weather, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.

Hennepin Avenue and First Avenue, which have been one-way for almost 30 years, were slated to be converted Saturday morning, but wet roads prevented Minneapolis Public Works crews from repainting the lines, the St. Paul Pioneer Press said.

The conversion has been moved to Sunday at around 11 a.m. if weather permits.

City officials said that the change should help drivers get to their destinations quicker.

Business leaders were happy with the change because they believe it should cut back on round-the-block the trips for drivers, which should ultimately help the businesses in the area.

Traffic control officers will be in the area Sunday to help with traffic flow problems.  They will also be there Monday to help morning commuters learn their way around the new street system.

One man dies, other injured in crash near Forest Lake
by Dallas Johnson

A Cedar man died Saturday after being struck by a vehicle on Interstate 35W near Forest Lake, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.

The man, 45, who's identity has not been released, was waiting next to his car after it had gone off the side of the road with the driver of another vehicle who had spun out, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

A third vehicle then went off the road in the same area and the two drivers went to check if there were any injuries, the State Patrol's Web site said.

As the man was walking, he was hit by another vehicle that went off the road, State Patrol spokesman Lt. Matt Langer said. 

The man died at the scene, Langer said.  The other drivers were a 58-year-old Chaska man, a 70-year-old Roseville man, and a 34-year-old Pine City woman.  Their roles in the accident are not known.

The accident occurred early Saturday when the road was icy.

Analysis: Man arrested in Erin Andrews video case
by Dallas Johnson

The  ESPN and CNN articles on the Erin Andrews video case were very good examples of how to make information progress.

The reason the progression is good is because both articles start with the new information.  That is, that Michael David Barrett was arrested on charges of illegally filming Andrews.

They continued, talking about where he was arrested and what the charges were.  The articles backtracked a little, giving background information on the case, but just for a paragraph or two.

They let the reader know that Andrews had been filmed in hotel rooms through altered peepholes. 

This kind of backtrack allows the reader to understand the case if they haven't heard about it before.

The ESPN article, which was written a day later, then talked a bit about the hearings that Barrett took part in.

Then both articles go all the way back to the beginning and give the information on the case in chronological order.

Both of these articles are presented in a martini glass style of writing.  We are given the new information first and then backtrack to the beginning of the story to begin the chronology.

These articles are also good examples for how the inverted pyramid style can work.  Both articles could really be ended at any time and not really lose anything in the process.

These articles are extremely effective at providing information because they start with the new information and then give the reader the chronology.  It could have been done differently, but they may have lost some effectiveness if they were to, for example, simply start at the beginning of the story and work their way down.

This would put the new information at the end, which would not work nearly as well.

That is why these articles are good examples of the martini glass style:  put the new information first, the go back and tell the rest of the story.

Man arrested in Erin Andrews video case
by Dallas Johnson

A man was arrested Friday after being accused of secretly taping ESPN reporter Erin Andrews in the nude, according to CNN.

Michael David Barrett was arrested Friday at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago on charges of interstate stalking, the FBI said.

Barrett appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Arlander Keys Saturday, who ordered him to be returned to Los Angeles to face charges of interstate stalking.

Another hearing was scheduled by Keys for Monday to determine if Barrett would be released on bail or would be taken into custody, according to ESPN.

Barrett is accused of filming Andrews without her consent while she was nude in hotel rooms.  He then posted the videos on the internet after trying to sell them to celebrity website TMZ.

Barrett allegedly altered the peep hole in two of Andrews' hotel rooms after asking to be checked into the rooms next to her, the FBI said.

Barrett reportedly used his home address to check into those rooms and also gave his information to TMZ, who turned it over to Andrews' attorneys.

Barrett was apprehended at O'Hare after landing there on a flight from Buffalo, N.Y. and had his first hearing at 10 a.m. Saturday.

After the hearing, Barrett's attorney Rick Bueke said that he had know Barrett for more than ten years and hadn't known him to ever be in trouble.

"I don't think he's even had a traffic ticket," Beuke said. "He's as regular a guy as you'll ever meet -- a great friend. I must have calls from 30 people wanting to know what they could do to help."

Barrett now faces charges of interstate stalking and trying to sell the explicit videos, which has a maximum penalty of five years in a federal prsion.

 

 
 

Two people injured in Rosemount plane crash
by Dallas Johnson

Two people were injured when a small plane crashed in Rosemount Saturday, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

The small plane crashed as it was approaching the Jensen Airfield in Rosemount, the St. Paul Pioneer Press said.

The two people, a man and woman whose identities have not been revealed, were taken to Regions Hospital in St. Paul.

"Both victims were conscious when they left," Rosemount Assistant Fire Chief Jim Voelker said.

The injuries were not life-threatening, Alan Cox, a spokesman for the city of Rosemount, said.

The incident is under investigation by Rosemount authorities, the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration.

Philippines hit by typhoon
by Dallas Johnson

A typhoon slammed into the Philippine Islands Saturday, killing four and displacing thousands from their homes, CNN said.

Four people were killed in the flooding, according to MSNBC.

Typhoon Parma hit the Philippines largest island, Luzon, around 5 p.m. Saturday causing flooding over the entire country.

The storm dumped 8 to 20 inches of water throughout the Philippines, which was still recovering from the flooding last week caused by Typhoon Ketsana.

The winds, which gusted up to 115mph, littered the roads with debris and made evacuating the islands extremely difficult.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro urged people to stay in shelters even if they were not in the direct path of the storm.

The government deployed more than 10,000 troops to help the evacuation while World Vision, a humanitarian operation, had plans to launch relief efforts in the region.

 

2016 Summer Olympic Games to be held in Brazil
by Dallas Johnson

The Summer Olympic Games will be held in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, the International Olympic Committee decided Friday.

Rio de Janeiro will be the first South American city to host an Olympics, according to CNN.

One man talked about the importance of the victory during a celebration on Copacabana beach: "It was a fantastic victory. We beat the big cities. Passion talked louder."

Brazil President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva told the committee that it was time to "light the Olympic cauldron in a tropical country."

Rio trailed only Madrid after the first round of voting, according to ESPN.  Rio then convinced the IOC that Rio was the best choice as it passed Madrid in the second round and held onto it for the final round.

Disappointment was plentiful for those in Chicago, which was eliminated in the first round. 

U.S. President Barack Obama, who flew to Copenhagen for the voting Friday morning, said that he had "no doubt" Chicago put together its best bid for the 2016 games.

The decision to give Rio the 2016 games over Madrid, Chicago and other nominee Tokyo came with some risk.

Rio has a high crime and murder rate, which will give the Brazilian government a lot to prepare for in the way of security before 2016.

Rio should have some practice though, as it hosts the 2014 World Cup Finals, giving it the two biggest international sporting events within just two years of each other.

One man dead after shooting in front of government center
by Dallas Johnson

One man is dead after a shooting Friday involving sheriff's deputies in front of the Sherburne County government center, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

The shooting occurred around 10:30 a.m. in front of the government center in Elk River when the deputies saw the man with a handgun, Sheriff Joel Brott said.

The man was taken to Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids where he was pronounced dead.

Neither deputy was injured in the shooting.

The deputies made contact with the man as he was entering the building for a court hearing, the Minneapolis Star Tribune said.

"A confrontation ensued and the subject produced a handgun" Brott said.  The deputies then fired their weapons.

Both deputies have been placed on paid administrative leave.