Nicholas Lawrence's News Blog

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke to China Sunday, "We are truly going to rise and fall together", reported the Los Angeles Times.

Human rights took a back seat to Clintons appeal for China to continue buying U.S. Treasury bonds and defending Obama's stimulus plan, reported the Los Angeles Times.

Once considered a human rights hero for her confrontation in 1995 with China, she know faces scrutiny by human rights advocates, reported the Washington Post.

"I think that to worry about something which is so self-evident is an impediment to clear thinking," Clinton said, reported the Washinton Post.

David Shambaugh, director of Asian policy studies at George Washington University, told the Washington Post that sometimes the human rights issue is better to take on in a "non-confrontational way" and more so shown to be in China's best interest.

Clinton held a meeting on Sunday with 22 woman-rights advocates in China and expressed her support for human rights. The advocates felt China was making progress but the country still had their obstacles to overcome reported the Los Angeles Times.

Posted by lawre200 at 8:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

At least 74 miners have died after a coal mine blast in northern China early Sunday, reported the New York Times.

The explosion occured at the Tunlan Coal Mine of Shanxi Coking Coal Group in Gujiao City around 2:17 a.m., reported the China Daily.

There were 436 miners working at the time of the blast and, according to rescue workers, among the 114 hospitalized miners, six were in critical condition, reported the China Daily.

The fatalities released by the headquarters did not specify whether victims of the accident died in the mine shaft or under hospitalization but as of 1 p.m. Sunday, according to the China Daily.

Many of the miners suffered from monoxide poisoning according to a nearby hospital, reported the China Daily.

The death toll Sunday made the mine accident the largest since December 2007 when 105 miners in the city of Linfen in Shanxi Province, according to the New York Times.

Posted by lawre200 at 6:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

KTVA
ABC

The first story was reported the day of the shooting and is very brief. It tells what happened but does not go into detail of the victims and little is known about the suspect. The lead in the second story comes out and says they have a new lead in the news story. They updated the suspect(s) description and what is known about them. They provided names for the victims as well the article gave background info on them. The second article was still relatively brief but a large chunk of information is still missing in the story, the suspect(s). The descriptions were slipped in between the news and made for an easy flowing update.

Posted by lawre200 at 8:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

An 11-year-old boy was charged with killing his father's pregnant fianceewith his youth-model shotgun, reported the Daily News Saturday.

The boy shot Kenzie Houk, who was 8 months pregnant with his father's child, at the family's farmhouse in Wampum, Pa. because he was jealous of the unborn child, reported the Daily News.

The boy was charged with criminal homocide and criminal homocide of an unborn child said the Lawrence county police.

Houk's body was found by her 4-year-old daughter who ran out of the house upon discovery and managed to alert tree trimmers who then called 911, reported the Daily News.

The boy is being held in county jail and had been arraigned in district court, police told the Star Tribune.

Posted by lawre200 at 8:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The shooting on Chicago Avenue South that killed one person and wounded another in 1998 has been revisited and Minneapolis police believe they have solved the case, reported the Pioneer Press Saturday.

Second-degree murder and second-degree attempted murder charges were filed against Jaymichael Jeffrey Hargrove, 28, this past week for the homocide near Powderhorn Park back in October 1998, reported the Pioneer Press.

Police reported when the homocide occured that the suspect opened fire on a porch at 3104 Chicago Ave. S. and killed Julius Gaston, 21, and wounded a woman.

Hargrove was originally charged with the murder that October but charges were dropped for witness related issues, reported the Star Tribune.

Hargrove went to prison in 2004 for three unrelated felonies and four misdemeanors at the Rush City state penitentiary reported the Pioneer Press.

A witness came forward police said Friday which led to the new developments in the case reported the Pioneer Press.

Posted by lawre200 at 8:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Of the 396 people arrested on Sept. 4, the last night of the RNC, St. Paul attorney's office announced Friday they would be dropping the charges of 323 of those cases, reported the Pioneer Press.

The arrests on the last night of the RNC have yet to lead to one charge, and 323 cases have been dropped, but around 20 cases could still lead to charges, St. Paul City Attorney John Choi said Friday to the Star Tribune.

Overall, 670 convention-related arrests have led to 104 charges being filed, while 442 cases have been dropped, reported the Star Tribune.

Unlawful assembly and presence at an unlawful assembly, third-degree riot, false information to police, obstructing legal process and others were the misdemeanor and gross-misdemeanor cases included in the RNC protest charges, reported the Star Tribune.

A spokeman for the St. Paul police, Peter Panos, told the Pioneer Press the department did not object to the dropped cases.

"We made sure that the RNC went smooth, that we had minimal damage to property, and we had very few people injured at all. Our part is over once we make an arrest and write a report," Panos told the Pioneer Press. "We don't get frustrated with that."

Posted by lawre200 at 7:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Associated Press

The lead starts well with the summary of the story and importance. It then goes to a quote from Obama, which works great because the story is about him signing some of his first very costly legislation, and the importance the stimulus bill holds. Obama states the importance of the bill and its passing in the quotes. It sets up the story to go on to talk about the support from senators and then opposition to the bill as well. It goes on to talk about the details of the bills and the successes of democrats and then wraps up talking about Obama and a comparison to George W. It was effective because it presented the information in an easily comprehendable way. Giving the president's stance then other officials and then the details of the bill worked well, maybe the info on the bill could come first but the way this writer arranged the info does not confuse the reader either.

Posted by lawre200 at 5:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The debated stimulus plan has been passed by both house and senate and is on its way to Obama's hands on Tuesday, reported Fox News.

Obama said in his weekly radio and internet address, "I will sign this legislation into law shortly, and we'll begin making the immediate investments necessary to put people back to work doing the work America needs done." (The Associated Press)

There is still opposition to the bill, "A stimulus bill that was supposed to be timely, targeted and temporary is none of the above," Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said in remarks on the Senate floor. "And this means Congress is about to approve a stimulus that's unlikely to have much stimulative effect" (The Associated Press).

Both parties struggled in the past few weeks in the house and senate to pass what they believed would help stimulate the economy.

Unemployment benefits, food stamps, medical care, job retraining and more were among the problems addressed with the billions of dollars in aid reported The Associated Press.

The bill is believed by Democrats to help 95 percent of Americans by giving $400 tax cuts to individuals and $800 to couples reported Fox News.

Posted by lawre200 at 4:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, for the second time, was seeking to abolish term limits and extend his own term on Sunday with a referendum, reported The Associated Press.

Under the current consititution, and a referendum backed by Chavez, the president can serve two six-year terms. Chavez was elected in 1998.

The pre-election polls are tight and Venezuelans are backing Chavez for the oppurtunities for higher education, while others see it as governmental corruption and look at the crime that has not been fixed reported The Associated Press.

The results are expected on Monday from the National Electoral Council and if passed Chavez could run for a third consecutive six-year term in 2012 reported CNN.

In late November, a week after his canidates won the majority in local election, Chavez called for the referendum reported CNN.

Posted by lawre200 at 4:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Four people are dead and one injured after a hospital worker shoots two Saturday outside a Brockport hospital and then continued the slaying in Canandaigua, reports the Democrat and Chronicle.

The suspect, Frank Garcia, 34, of Hamlin was charged in Monroe County with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted second-degree murder and ballastic evidence has connected him to both crime scenes, reported CNN.

The shootings continued in Ontario County and Ontario County District Attorney Michael Tantillo told CNN charges of first-degree murder will be presented to a grand jury there as well.

Randall Norman, 41, and Mary Sillman, 23, were the victims of the shooting outside of Lakeside Memorial Hospital in Brockport, where Garcia works as a nurse.

Garcia then left the scene and traveled to another county where he went door to door looking for Christopher Glatz, 45, and his wife, Kim, 38. They were killed "execution-style" and in the presence of their teenage children, Ontario County Sheriff Philip Povero told CNN.

"He was in fact looking for the residence," Povero told CNN. "He was saying different things to different people, but he was clearly looking for that home."

The homocides were a shock to the communities; it was the first in Brockport in at least 10 years and the first in Canandaigua in two years.

Posted by lawre200 at 3:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The alleged details of the attack on June 15, 2007 on a man and his girlfriend were revealed in the continuing court case Friday, reported the Star Tribune.

The man, now 32, positively identified Gari Lamont Stewart, 28, of Robbinsdale as his attacker as well did his girlfriend. He took the stand this past Tuesday as the first witness in the case, reported the Pioneer Press.

The man told a disturbing story of waking up with Stewart's face 5 inches from his and then his struggle to survive and save his girlfriend.

He was tied up with a blow dryer cord and wrapped in a shower curtain and forced under the bed. When the man later escaped from under the bed and attempted to save his girlfriend he was stabbed several times.

Stewart is accused with stabbing a man, raping a woman, setting the apartment on fire and abducting the woman reported the Star Tribune.

Posted by lawre200 at 12:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

About 125 residents were forced out of a St. Anthony apartment complex in an early Friday morning fire, no injuries occured reported the Pioneer Press.

Firefighters from six cities showed up at the Autumn Woods apartments at 2560 Kenzie Terrace N.E. to battle the flames after an alarm company alerted authorities at 7:10 a.m. reported the Pioneer Press.

No injuries were sustained except a minor one when a firefighter slipped on ice. "It's a good feeling for us," St. Anthony Fire Chief John Malenick told the Star Tribune. "It worked the way it's supposed to."

Cost are expected to reach as much as $1 million dollars, and it is unclear when the residents will be able to return to their homes.

Lang Nelson Associates, who owns and manages the building, is helping residents find homes, as well The American Red Cross is helping three families with food, money and other emergency services while many other residents are staying with relatives reported the Pioneer Press.

Posted by lawre200 at 11:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

USA Today

The news story starts with an expert who conducted the study the article is based around, and it continues with just her for the first few paragraphs. This sets up the study and story well. There are some direct quotes and then some paraphrasing of the findings. Then it moves on to actual farmers who are part of the study. It gives useful background to the story. There is one part where the writer talks about cow names confusingly but if you're following close enough it can be understood. All the information comes from people and the people's study. It works well and makes me feel the article is reliable with their range of authorities on the topic.

Posted by lawre200 at 9:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A more personalized touch to cattle farming proves to produce more milk in a study by Newcastle University in England, reported ScienceDaily on Wednesday.

Catherine Douglas and Peter Rowlinson of Newcastle University found in a scientific study that cows who are treated affectionatly can produce up 68 gallons more a year than one that is not reported the USA Today.

"Just as people respond better to the personal touch, cows also feel happier and more relaxed if they are given a bit more one-to-one attention," explained Dr. Douglas to Sciencedaily.

Dairy farmer Dennis Gibb, co-owner of Eachwick Red House Farm outside Newcastle said treating cows individually is "vitally important" (Sciencedaily).

Not only is milk production up but injuries are reduced in dairy farming if cows are treated with affection.

Posted by lawre200 at 8:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ohio Sheriff expressed frustration after nearly 150 fishermen were stranded on Lake Erie and needed a spendy rescue on Saturday, reported CNN.

There was one death during the mad rush to escape the lake after fishermen recieved messages and phone calls of a large crack forming on the lake, reported the USA Today.

Just like a stampede, they all took off," Chuck Hasty told the USA Today.

The man died of a heart attack after his snowmobile fell into the lake. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Sheriff Bob Bratton was clearly frustrated and said the rescue was going to cost the taxpayers now. The rescue was said to cost the sheriff's office $25,000 and Bratton estimated it would increase from that.

Bratton also said it was a shame that he couldn't lock up people for the kind of "idiocy" displayed by the fishermen.

The conditions for Saturday were already risky and the sheriff said the fishermen displayed a lack of wisdom by going out.

"I thought we could get away with it for today," Hasty told the USA today. "When you're crazy for fishin' I guess, and the fish are biting, I just couldn't resist it."

Posted by lawre200 at 7:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The deadliest brush fire in Australia's history has claimed at least 96 people, reports CNN Sunday.

"It rained fire," said one survivor told Reuters, showing his singed shirt. "We hid in the olive grove and watched our house burn."

The brush fire continued in Austrlia Sunday engulfing homes at a suprising rate.

Home owners joined together and attempted to fight the flames with hoses, while helicopters attempted to contain the flames by dropping water.

The fires destroyed 750 homes this weekend, the Firefighters told Reuters. The most effected area was north of Melbourne.

Victoria Police said they expect to find more injured people as well dead as they continue to uncover automobiles from the ashes.

The worst brush fires before this took 75 lives in the "Ash Wednesday" fires in 1983.

The factors this time were much worse, incredibly hot weather, drought and tinder-dry brush.

Posted by lawre200 at 7:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

An Eagan elementary school principal is facing disciplinary action after allegedly making a 6-year-old child unclog a toilet bare handed, reported the Pioneer Press.

Doug Steele, principal of Rahn Elementary School, was placed on paid leave by the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage school district after the incident on Dec. 12.

On Thursday the school board decided to place Steele under discipline after an investigation following the incident. Steele has 20 days to report any grievance he has with the report filed by the school board reported the Pioneer Press.

The boy's parents, Elijah and Shannon Hannah, filed the complaint against Steele after their son told them Steele made him remove reminants from the toilet reported the Star Tribune.

The boy reportedly had to use paper towels since toilet paper was not available leading to the clog.

Steele has his supporters though, parents and volunteers at the school are in disbelief that the principal for 12 years would act so brash.

"I hope he fights it," Howlader told the Pioneer Press. "This will follow him around."

Posted by lawre200 at 2:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On Friday, two former Ramsey County sheriffs were sentenced to three years in a federal prison for what they said to be a practical joke, reported the Star Tribune.

Mark Naylon and Timothy Rehak took $6,000 of planted money by the FBI, during an integrity test on the officers.

The FBI started these tests after 2004 when the officers were found interfering in drug investigations conducted by the FBI, reported the Star Tribune.

The ex-Ramsey County sheriffs maintain the pocketed money was part of a joke on their supervisor and they were planning on returning the money the night it was pocketed, reported the Pioneer Press.

"This is an egregious, shameful betrayal of the trust that has been placed in you," Judge Schiltz said. "This makes the job of a good cop that much more difficult and dangerous. And that makes us all less safe" (Pioneer Press).

Schiltz recommended that they go to the federal prison camp in Duluth.

Posted by lawre200 at 6:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The major U.S. banks who were bailed-out tried to bring in 21,800 foreign workers in the past six years while Americans lost jobs, reports the Star Tribune.

The jobs the banks looked to fill with foreign employees were high paying positions such as senior vice presidents, corporate lawyers, junior investment analysts and human resources specialists. The average annual salary of a typical job like this is $90,721, almost twice that of the average American reports the Star Tribune.

With the economic downfall in the past years, these banks have looked even more to foreign employees, requesting 4,163 visas in 2008 for employees compared to 2007's 3,258, reports the Star Tribune.

The last three months of 2008 saw 100,000 lay-offs by the major banks that recieved taxpayer loans, reports the Star Tribune.

Foreigners are employed because companies can pay them the lower end of the jobs' pay scale, and take advantage of younger and possibly overqualified canidates.

President Obama and advisers are still working on plans with $350 billion bailout package approved by congress last year and are also currently working on attempting to create three million jobs that could cost well over 700 billion dollars, reports CNN.

Posted by lawre200 at 6:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

ABC News

In this lead the writer starts out setting up the scene by telling about the security and precautions taken in the election. Then tells it worked. The writer probably chose this because you imagine the security and knowing the tension behind these elections imagine that something is going to happen, but, suprisingly, the writer tells us the elections went smoothly. It tells 'what happened' right away, in this case nothing, just what you wanted to know about the story.

Posted by lawre200 at 6:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

After a few trial years of democracy Iraq is voting for their canidates with very few problems, reports Newsweek.

"We're happy because we were deprived of fair elections in the past," a voter said to ABC News. Voters felt safer this election, as well the participation was much higher.

For the 400 seat available in the Iraq's provincial elections 14 thousand canidates ran. Millions came out to vote, reports ABC News.

National security for the election was reinforced. Tens of thousands of Iraqi soilders and police along with U.S. troops patrolling helped for a smooth day. A transistion of power was evident as Iraqi forces were taking the lead during this election.

The country also took precautions by shutting down the airports and international borders, as well placed a ban on driving automobiles as a way to prevent car bombings.

It could take weeks till these important election results are released. But all the precautions and security led to great day for democracy in Iraq and only resulted in two incidents and no deaths, reports ABC News.

Posted by lawre200 at 5:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)