Gabe

One man died and one man was able to swim to shore after being washed into the Mississippi river while exploring a storm sewer Sunday morning when a thunderstorm broke.
The two were taking pictures in a tunnel on the east side of the river near the lake street bridge, police said.
Nick Breid, 29, made it to shore on his own and call 911. Two University of Saint Thomas students practicing rowing heard cries from Ian Talty, 30, as he was swept down the river. They and a police officer on shore jumped into a ptivat motorboat and located him floating face down in the river one mile downstream. he was immediately given CPR and rushed to Hennepin County Medical Center where he died.
Sources:
http://www.startribune.com/local/stpaul/43744557.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUac8HEaDiaMDCinchO7DU
http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=651134

Posted by knap0164 at 4:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Many area lakes showed significant improvement in water clarity last year, but it was likely due to the dry summer and less runoff the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District said.
Two-thirds of metro area lakes showed improvement on an A-F scale.
Algae growth is what causes lakes to have poor clarity. Algae are largely fed by phosphorus that is carried into lakes by runoff.
In 2007, lawn fertilizer that contains phosphorous was banned in Minnesota.
Metro lakes have been showing improvement over the past decade.

Sources:
http://www.startribune.com/local/west/43494422.html?elr=KArks:DCiUBDia_nDaycUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU
http://www.minnehahacreek.org/

Posted by knap0164 at 4:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

My article for analysis is about recruitment of Somali men by terrorist organizations. The article uses quotes from a youth leader in a Somali community to say that it would be possible for someone in his community to join a jihad militant group. Then an FBI agent is quoted as saying a suicide bomber could easily strike in the United States. The largest portion of the article focuses on what is being done by the CIA to counter the threat. Examples are given. The end of the article offers a glimpse into the Somali community to balance a fairly one sided article. There is not a lot of physical observation. I learned that Minneapolis has the largest Somali community in the country.
http://www.startribune.com/local/43231252.html?elr=KArksUUUU

Posted by knap0164 at 5:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The New York Times reported on afghan women protesting in the street for equal rights, or in this case, basic human rights. Later, a correction was posted saying that they actually favored rule by men—or at least the women in the photograph on the front page favored rule by men. I don’t understand how it could have been a mistake. Was the whole thing fabricated? I doubt it. There was video footage of the protest that appeared to match the story and the photo. This example really highlights the importance of not making errors in reporting.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/20/pageoneplus/corrections.html?ref=todayspaper
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/16/world/asia/16afghan.html

Posted by knap0164 at 5:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A local bartender at the shout house—dueling piano—bar in Minneapolis shattered a world record by pouring 662 drinks in one hour. The previous official Guinness world record was 389 held by a German man. Only a few of the cocktails made were actually consumed. The glasses were needed for more drinks. The record breaking 390th drink was auctioned off for $225 with the proceeds going to charity.
http://www.startribune.com/local/south/43143772.html?elr=KArks:DCiUocOaL_nDaycUiacyKUnciaec8O7EyUr
http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2009/04/shout_house_bar_1.php

Posted by knap0164 at 5:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hidden fees and surprise interest rate hikes by credit card companies will cost Americans an increase of $20.5 billion this year; When banks already increased fees by $19 billion Last year. That amounts to about a 10 percent increase over two years. President Obama’s people are looking in to possible actions that can be taken against unforgiving bankers who continue to self award bonuses and seem to expect forgiveness by the American people.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/04/19/eveningnews/main4955273.shtml?tag=topStory;topStoryHeadline

Posted by knap0164 at 5:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A man acting like he was going to fall off a bridge to joking with a friend, actually then fell off. The man’s friend said he had been drinking when he fell 30 feet into a marsh. The incident happened on the highway 77 bridge crossing the Minnesota River in Bloomington.
http://www.startribune.com/local/south/43253267.html?elr=KArks:DCiUHc3E7_V_nDaycUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUr

Posted by knap0164 at 5:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Carbon dioxide and other green house gas emissions will soon be regulated, for the first time, by federal government. Friday, the Environmental Protection Agency officially declared CO2 a pollutant that endangers public health and welfare; the first step to legislation that will limit amounts.
What will this mean for us? Critics say it will increase energy cost and create job loss. Advocates say it will bring long-term economic and social stability. The European Union already has a system of vouchers that can be traded among corporations.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/18/science/earth/18endanger.html?_r=1&hpw

It is possible for co2 to be isolated, removed and then stored from coal burning power plants.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/apr/08/first-carbon-capture-power-plant-lacq

Posted by knap0164 at 5:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted by knap0164 at 5:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Attorneys for the woman who was mauled by a chimpanzee requested photos of the incident be sealed by a judge. Charla Nash, the victim, will be blind for life. She lost her hands, nose, lips and eyelids in the attack and will have multiple surgeries in the coming years. Hash’s attorneys have filed a $50 million lawsuit against the owner of the chimp. Attorneys argue the photos are private medical data besides being gruesome.
Sources:
http://www.startribune.com/nation/42905172.html?elr=KArks:DCiUMEaPc:UiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

Posted by knap0164 at 5:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

President Obama plans to end federally subsidized student loans as part of a plan to save money. By eliminating private lenders, $94 million could be saved by the feds in the coming decade. And billions of dollars in bank profits would be redirected to fund scholarships under the plan.
Lenders are outraged, and many accuse Obama of trying to expand government and limit congressional control.
He intends to give the entire student financial aid program a sweeping overhaul. As noted in previous speeches and public addresses, the president wants to help college students financially in exchange for work and service to the community.
Sources:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/us/politics/13student.html?_r=1&hp
Statements made by the president recalled from memory.

Posted by knap0164 at 5:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Navy snipers killed three hijackers with three shots while towing their life raft that held the pirates and the hostage ship captain . The Navy had been told to shoot to kill if the captains life became in imminent threat. One pirate could be seen through a window as he pointed an automatic rifle at the captain. Meanwhile, the two other pirates could be seen above the top of the raft. the Navy seized their opportunity. Within minutes the captain was on the ship calling his family to tell them the Easter day good news. One pirate surrendered earlier in the day.
Sources:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/world/africa/13pirates.html?hp
http://www.twincities.com/ci_12128259?nclick_check=1

Posted by knap0164 at 5:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Home sales were up 21 percent in Minneapolis during the month of March compared to last year’s average. Is public fear and a stagnant economy beginning to turn? Interest rates are at all-time lows, and home buyers this year will qualify for $8,000 in tax credits. This is the tenth straight month in a row home sales have increased.
Sources:
http://www.startribune.com/homes/42802952.html?elr=KArksUUUU
http://www.twincities.com/minnesota/ci_12123431

Posted by knap0164 at 5:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Prior Lake is the first metropolitan area lake to be infected with the exotic species.
Zebra mussels were first found in Minnesota at Duluth harbor in 1989 and have since taken a strong hold in the Mississippi and St. Criox rivers. They are native to Europe and can decimate native fish and mussel populations besides being a nuance and a mess on a beach. The mussels were discovered in Mille Lacs Lake in 2005, and were feared to soon spread to Lake Minnetonka, the state’s most heavily used lake. Zebra Mussels are carried from one lake to another by clinging to boats and trailers.
Sources:
http://www.startribune.com/local/south/42807872.html?elr=KArksUUUU
http://www.twincities.com/minnesota/ci_12123610

Posted by knap0164 at 5:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The story I chose for analysis is based on a survey organized by the department of agriculture on cropland use in the coming season compared to statistics of past years.
The numbers used in the article are often given in relation other statistics to show relative change or to help give them value. Most percentage values are given to one decimal place. I think this is necessary because fractions of percents are more important when the values are small. Rates of change have been calculated.
The numbers of acres planted each year are very large and are difficult to grasp. Percentage change helps visualize this change.
The article appears to say that increased consumer cost of food is the overall news value. But, the majority of the article explains predictions of land use and possible effects on grain prices. It appears to be meant for an audience that may be more directly affected by this.
One improvement that I think would help: give information on recent fluctuations in grain prices, and not just give one set that implies reactions to the survey results. Explain relationship to oil.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123850608441073585.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Posted by knap0164 at 5:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)