Libra-log

CNN’s story on the Academy Awards is an example of a “spot and follow� or a developing story. The story was updated repeatedly throughout the night the award show aired. The newest story version was similar to the first but with added details.

In the first story, the lead was about the French actress Marion Cotillard winning her first Oscar for her role in “La Vie en Rose.� The rest of the story summarized her other accomplishments, talked about Javier Bardem’s best supporting actor win, the host Jon Stewart, the costume design winner and the other category winners that had been announced so far.

The updated story had the same lead, but since the show was complete some of the fact blocks about the less popular categories were deleted. There was also more about the Coen brothers and “No Country for Old Men� since it won many awards, including best picture. In the previous story they had only speculated about its possible wins. They also used the example of “Brokeback Mountain� which won many awards, but not best picture. Obviously, that part was cut in the updated story.

I was surprised that CNN did not change the leads of the updated story. The headline highlighted the most recent award winner, but the lead remained the same for most of the night in the updates. Marion Cotillard’s best actress award is important, but I think the best picture winner is the most important news piece. It did not make much sense to me to mainly only change the ends of stories.

Posted by libra012 at 11:09 PM | Permalink

In Haverstraw, New York, a man fighting with his girlfriend clung to the roof of her car and punched her through the window as she drove over a mile on a busy road Sunday, hitting several cars, CNN reported.

Both people were hurt and arrested, CNN said.

The man, 42-year-old William Kremer, was arrested on a misdemeanor assault charge. The woman, 37-year-old Stacey Sperrazza, was arrested on a felony charge of reckless endangerment.

She was treated for eye and head wounds, and Kremer was treated for a foot injury, CNN said.

Posted by libra012 at 7:25 PM | Permalink

Cuba’s parliament made Raul Castro, Fidel Castro’s brother, president on Sunday.

It is the first time in 50 years Cuba has seen a change in leader. Despite the new president, however, it is unlikely there will be any significant political change, National Public Radio reported.

Raul Castro said that Fidel Castro would remain as the formal commander in chief and would be consulted for major decisions.

The United States called the president decision a “transfer of authority and power from dictator to dictator light,� reported NPR.

Cubans also recognized that little change would occur, but some hoped for economic reforms to improve Cuba's faltering economy and Cuban's daily lives, NPR said.

Posted by libra012 at 7:22 PM | Permalink

Only 8 percent of residents in the Twin Cities are Republicans, but that number jumps to 39 percent in the suburbs, according to a poll by Minnesota Public Radio and the Humphrey Institute.

LIkewise, seventy-seven percent of Minneapolis and St. Paul residents are Democrats, but that number drops immediately outside city limit

According to Humphrey Institute political scientist Larry Jacobs, these numbers confirm the area’s partisan divisions.

“It is one of the most striking polarizations in our political world today,� he said to Minnesota Public Radio. “We are literally living apart.�

Demographics could explain the separation. According to MPR, the cities are one third non-white and minorities typically vote Democrat. The suburbs, on the other hand, are 99 percent white.

In addition, average household income is much higher in the suburbs and wealthier individuals tend to vote Republican, MPR said.

Jacobs also said that there is something about the suburbs that tend to attract conservatives, and something about the cities that attract liberals.

Rockford Mayor Mike Beyer agreed with this logic. He felt it was obvious why conservatives would prefer the open space of his suburb to the crowded city.

“You’re not part of an apartment complex, which is a communal area. Communal to me is social, and social goes to socialism,� he said, according to MPR.

Jacobs notes, however, that the division is changing. Suburbs are beginning to split tickets, which will make them key in this year’s election.

Posted by libra012 at 4:57 PM | Permalink

Delta and Northwest airlines may merge as early as Wednesday, if they are granted regulatory approval, the Duluth News Tribune said.

The two airlines, both of which emerged from bankruptcy last year, are also waiting on union consolidation and pilot agreements, according to The New York Times and the Duluth News Tribune.

With Northwest based in Minnesota and employing 11,500 Minnesotans, Sen. Amy Klobuchar has been concerned how the merger will affect the state in terms of job cuts and hub or route changes, The New York Times and the Duluth News Tribune said.

“Any merger we might contemplate would be a transaction through the power of addition, not subtraction,� Klobuchar said in letter released by her office, The New York Times reported.

Other legislators have already said they would not support the merger. Opposition includes Rep. Jim Oberstar of Minnesota and chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructures Committee. He said combining the airlines would mean fewer jobs and higher fares, the Duluth News Tribune said.

The merged airline, however, would probably make the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport a major hub, second to Atlanta, the Duluth News Tribune reported.

Posted by libra012 at 3:50 PM | Permalink

Cuban President Fidel Castro announced his resignation on Tuesday after 50 years in power, The New York Times reported.

The Parliament will choose a 31-member council of state on Sunday, which will pick the person to succeed Fidel Castro. The government says this is a democratic process, but according to The New York Times, Fidel Castro, his brother Raul and his inner circle will make the decision.

It is likely that Raul Castro will be made president, but Fidel Castro would still have a heavy influence. The country has been ruled by both of these men for some time. When Fidel was ill in 2006, he gave power temporarily to his brother. Since then, Raul Castro has been the man on stage, with Fidel Castro “lurking in the wings,� The New York Times said.

Raul Castro has been said to be more practical than his brother, more willing to admit mistakes, and open to moving towards a governmental system like China’s state-run capitalism, The New York Times said.

Despite those characteristics, few changes may actually occur. Although according to the BBC, economic changes may have to be made as a result of a growing dissatisfaction with the Cuba’s stumbling economy.

Bush, from Rwanda, immediately called for a “transition to democracy� in Cuba, the BBC said. The UK’s prime minister, Gordon Brown, expressed similar hopes.

According to The New York Times, few Cubans expect drastic change. In fact, Fidel Castro’s letter to the nation was met with little to no reaction. The day continued as usual. Radio and television seemed to barely acknowledge the announcement.

National Public Radio said the Cuban-American community in Miami was also very subdued. The reaction is a stark contrast to the celebrations that came in 2006 after Fidel Castro temporarily handed over power to his brother and rumors circulated that Fidel Castro was dead. This time, Cuban-Americans are “expressing far more caution than optimism,� NPR said. Few expect drastic changes and many do not believe Fidel Castro is truly stepping down, NPR reported.

Posted by libra012 at 2:42 PM | Permalink

Article: “Pakistan Tense Ahead of Key Vote,� BBC

This article is structured with news blocks. The first paragraph after the lead explains the lead more. The next paragraph explains the lead a little more and introduces the exact people involved in the story. In this article, it is President Musharraf, his party and the opposition parties. Each news block adds more information, with the most important information the closest to the lead. Every block is about one subject so the story is easy to follow.

The reporter has summarized the information in basic terms. The election situation in Pakistan is complicated, but the reader is able to understand because of the reporter’s story structure, plain language and by breaking the story down to its most important points.

The reporter could have ordered the news blocks differently. He could have put the background of the issue sooner, but that would only made things confusing and less compelling. What happened months ago is no longer news.

Posted by libra012 at 8:19 PM | Permalink

President Bush began a six-day tour of Africa on Saturday to highlight the programs he has launched there to fight disease, poverty and illiteracy, the Washington Post reported.

Although he wanted to focus on the region’s success stories, he had to defend his conflict resolution record in Africa and his choice not to visit troubled places like Kenya or Chad.

He said that he wanted his trip to help others realize success is possible, but Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would visit Kenya on Monday to pressure the Kenyan president to reach a compromise with his opposition.

Bush also defended his decision not to send troops into Darfur, even though he has said genocide is taking place there, the BBC reported.

He said the decision was made in part to avoid sending troops to another Muslim country.

Last week, director Steven Spielberg withdrew from helping with the Olympics in protest against China’s policy in Darfur, but Bush said he would not take similar action.

“I view the Olympics as a sporting event,� he said to the BBC.

Bush said he would talk to Chinese President Hu Jintao and “remind him that he can do more to relieve the suffering in Darfur,� the BBC said.

According to the Washington Post, Bush aides were “bristled at the notion that he is not doing enough to solve� crisis in Africa.

“We solved Liberia. We solved southern Sudan,� an official said, the Washington Post reported.

Posted by libra012 at 7:51 PM | Permalink

The Writers Guild of America West and East voted Tuesday to end their 100-day strike.

According to the New York Times, of the 2,775 writers who voted, 92.5 percent cast ballots in favor of ending the strike.

The previous Sunday the Writers Guilds’ governing boards approved a tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

According to the producers’ alliance, the strike cost writers $285 million in lost wages. In other film unions, workers lost around $500 million in wages.

The strike also disrupted television viewing of millions Americans. The New York Times said Wednesday would be a busy day as television writers work to get popular television series back up to speed.

Posted by libra012 at 7:48 PM | Permalink

At the University of Minnesota-Duluth, students are forbidden from submitting the same work for more than one class without permission. The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, however, has not taken a stance on the issue.

The Duluth university revised their student conduct code to include this “self-plagiarism� after a Twin Cities scandal in 1998, the Pioneer Press reported. It was revealed that a tutor had written many papers for the men’s basketball team. Those players then turned the same papers in to multiple classes.

The Twin Cities university has hesitated to amend the student conduct code. According to the Pioneer Press, experts say a ban on reusing work stifles creativity.

In disciplines like software engineering, it is common to reuse “computer code and open-source development," the Pioneer Press said.

Since some areas depend on reusing work, it is difficult to develop a uniform policy.

“Plagiarism is the theft of words and ideas. You can’t steal from yourself. But their is something unsavory here,� Daniel Wueste, director of the Robert J. Rutland Institute for Ethics at Clemson University in Clemson, S.C. said, according to the Pioneer Press.

Posted by libra012 at 7:44 PM | Permalink

The St. Paul Police Department wants to add 230 additional Tasers to the police force, Minnesota Public Radio reported.

The addition, which would cost St. Paul $210,000, would give every patrol officer in the city a stun gun. Police spokesman Tom Walsh backed the request by saying Tasers are a better alternative to the use of deadly force.

Some, however, think the police want the Tasers for the Republican National Convention in September. The event is expected to attract thousands of protesters.

Walsh denied the critics’ claims.

A 2006 study conducted by scientists at the trauma center in Chicago’s Cook County hospital called the safety of Tasers into question. During the study, scientists stunned 11 pigs two times each with Taser guns. When the jolts stopped, every pig had heart rhythm problems, CBC news reported.

Those involved in the study called for more research to determine the effect of Tasers on people.

Posted by libra012 at 7:30 PM | Permalink

Kosovo announced its independence from Serbia on Sunday, the New York Times reported.

Tens of thousands of ethnic Albanians poured into the streets to celebrate the independence announcement.

Many of the Kosovo Serbs did not share in the Albanian’s excitement. Nearly 2,000 Serbs threw stones, lit firecrackers and broke windows at the United States Embassy. Grenades were thrown at the United Nations and Europeans Union buildings. More demonstrations are planned for Monday in Serbian enclaves throughout Kosovo.

According to the European Union, Britain, France and Germany are expected to recognize Kosovo’s declaration by Tuesday. Serbia and its ally Russia, however, are looking for ways to keep other countries from recognizing Kosovo as an independent state.

Ten years ago, Kosovo was engulfed by a civil war between the Serbs and ethnic Albanians which resulted in 10,000 deaths. The United Nations helped end the conflict, but after they intervened Kosovo was left in “years of limbo� under UN rule, the New York Times said. Independence could end that state of uncertainty.

Posted by libra012 at 7:25 PM | Permalink

Article: “12,000 Flee Darfur for Chad, U.N. Says,� by The Associated Press, published in the New York Times on February 10, 2008

In this article the United Nations serves as the main source. Multiple people were spoken to, but they are all connected somehow with the United Nations. The attribution is evenly scattered throughout the story.

Many paragraphs begin with “U.N. officials said� or “a particular person said.� Constant attribution leaves no doubt that all of the information is trustworthy and verifiable. As discussed in class, the attribution also always has the subject followed by “said� and never the other way around.

Most of the information is from people. The only numbers used are to express the amount of refugees and the death totals. They are also scattered evenly throughout the story so that they add additional information without being distracting.

The writer paraphrased most of the information. There are direct quotes and partial quotes, but primarily the writer uses his or her own words to tell the story. Professor Golden said that beginning writers typically use too many direct quotes. I think it is because, unlike the writer here, they lack confidence in their own words and so they rely on the words of others.

One time in the story the writer constructs the attribution by saying “Caux told The Associated Press.� I wonder why the writer made this decision. It was either for variety or to distinguish that quote from the others. If the latter is the case, I wonder how the other quotes were obtained. To me, “Caux told The Associated Press� suggests that quote was said directly to an AP reporter, whereas the other quotes were not.

Posted by libra012 at 8:31 PM | Permalink

Ramsey County and the University of Minnesota are nearing an agreement on the route for the Central Corridor light-rail route that will connect Minneapolis and St. Paul. A decision must be made by Feb. 27 when the Metropolitan Council will vote on the definite light-rail line, reported the Pioneer press.

Compromises must be made, however, to reach an agreement. The original plan was estimated to cost nearly $1.2 billion. Metropolitan Council Chairman Peter Bell said that number must be scaled back to “secure federal matching dollars,� reported Minnesota Public Radio.

To lower the cost, Ramsey County seems likely to agree to shorten the line. Instead of the line reaching the backside of Union Depot, the train will end along the front side at Fourth Street. This change could shave tens of millions of dollars off the total cost of the project, which is expected to be completed by 2014, the Pioneer Press said.

The University is also considering compromises for the line, which will cut through the East Bank of campus. They are contemplating shortening the line, shrinking the tunnel, or moving the line so it does not cut through the center of campus as originally desired.

The last option would create a “transit mall� along Washington Avenue. That would also require a ban on all non-emergency and non-transit vehicles on Washington Avenue between Oak Street and the Mississippi River. Currently, 29,000 vehicles travel Washington Avenue everyday. An alternate route for the heavy traffic has yet to be determined.

While the University is open to some concessions, President Bob Bruinicks told MPR the school is “adamantly opposed� to any street-level railroad tracks running through campus for safety and traffic concerns.

Posted by libra012 at 4:45 PM | Permalink

Officials at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Stillwater, Minn. found the beginnings of a tunnel Wednesday in the basement of one of the facility’s buildings, reported Minnesota Public Radio.

The tunnel, which was discovered during a routine security check, was being dug in an area that is used for inventory and storage and is without surveillance cameras. The tunnel was 50 to 60 feet from the facility’s perimeter wall and “large enough for someone to actually enter,� reported the Star Tribune.

Corrections Commissioner Joan Fabian said the tunnel was “well-hidden and sophisticated,� but she applauded the prison staff for stopping the escape attempt. She also wanted to assure the public that all inmates were accounted for and the community was in no danger.

The high-security facility, home to 1,400 inmates, has had various escape attempts since it opened in 1914, but an inmate has not successfully escaped since 1982. In that case, two inmates hid in cardboard boxes that were loaded onto a mail truck.

This was, however, the first time someone attempted to tunnel out of the prison, said the Stillwater Gazette.

Posted by libra012 at 4:25 PM | Permalink

With the rebel forces pushed out of Chad’s capital, the Chadian government said everything is returning to normal, the New York Times reported.

“We have control, not only of the capital but of the whole country,� President Idriss Deby said at a news conference in Chad on Wednesday.

Although the fighting in the capital Ndjamena has ended, other problems threaten the region.

According to the New York Times, the fighting has added to the tension between Chad and its neighbor Sudan. The countries already accuse one another of inciting rebellions across their shared border. The Sudanese rebels have also come to Deby’s aid, which only increases the potential for problems.

There is some fear in the international community that the area could slip into an “uncontrolled conflict� similar to the conflict that captured the region after the 1994 Rwandan genocide, the New York Times said.

There is a push for international peacekeeper in the area, but the Sudanese government has delayed any such efforts. Without peacekeepers, the future of the 2.5 million refugees of both Sudan and Chad is unclear.

Posted by libra012 at 4:21 PM | Permalink

President Bush traveled south Friday to inspect the damage of the Tuesday tornadoes, reported the Star Tribune.

Tornadoes hit Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Kentucky and Alabama, and killed 54 people. This was the deadliest U.S. tornado outbreak since the mid-1980s, Reuters said.

According to the Star Tribune, Bush consoled the tornado survivors of Macon County in Tennessee, one of most devastated areas with 14 deaths. Bush recognized the terrible damage and loss, but he promised the nation would help them rebuild.

He declared major disasters in Tennessee and Arkansas, which gives the affected communities access to federal funding. Along with local funds, the government will help cover some debris removal costs and assist individuals.

Although other states were hit by tornadoes, the White House said Tennessee and Arkansas are the only two that have asked for help.

Posted by libra012 at 3:56 PM | Permalink

According to a Minnesota Daily survey, the environment is an important issue to large numbers of students. While the University of Minnesota has taken steps to be more environmentally responsible, many students do not feel the school has done enough.

In accordance with the signing of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment in January, students have seen some environmental-conscience changes. Steps include using online resources instead of printing and recyclable napkins at the dining services.

Ben Kaldunski, Applied Environmental Solutions vice president, suggested converting University vehicles to hybrid or electric plug-in vehicles in the Minnesota Daily.

Metro Transit, the mass transportation system in the Twin Cities, has already converted some of its busses. As of November 2007, it has 19 hybrid electric buses and plans to add 150 over the next four years. The busses have 90 percent fewer emissions than the old busses.

Posted by libra012 at 11:25 PM | Permalink

“Rebels in Chad seeking to overthrow the government fought their way into the capital city, N'Djamena, Saturday morning after a five-day march from Chad's eastern border, across from Darfur.�

This is a hard-news lead with all six of the news elements. It answers every basic question. Overall, it uses mostly specific details, like the words Chad, N’Djamena, Saturday morning, five-day march, eastern border, and across from Darfur. These concrete facts make the lead clear and concise. There are still other general words and they keep the lead from getting bogged down.

The first lead was used by National Public Radio to introduce an Associated Press story. That article had a different type of lead.

“Tanks rolled through Chad's capital on Sunday, turning the streets into a battle zone between the government and rebels littered with bodies. Fighting also raged in an area where some 420,000 refugees live near the border with Darfur.�

This lead still has news elements, but it is more descriptive than the previous lead. It uses specific details, like the number 420,000. It answers the questions of “who, what, when and where,� but it does not address the “why and how� like the first lead does. It also creates a very different image. Here, the horrific violence is highlighted. I think the writer chose to write the lead this way in order to thrust the reader into the scene as opposed to just informing them of the events in Nairobi.

Leads from National Public Radio:
"Rebels' Fight Way into Chad," by Scott Simon and Ofeibea Quist-Arcton
"Fighting Rages in Chadian Capital," from the Associated Press

Posted by libra012 at 10:54 PM | Permalink

The numbers of Cubans migrating to the United States are at their highest rate since the 1960s and they continue to increase, reported National Public Radio.

While the totals are similar to those 40 years ago, the methods of travel have dramatically changed. Instead of traveling primarily by rafts, many are trying to reach Florida soil by speedboats or “go-fast vessels.�

The laws concerning Cuban migrants have also changed. Before, Cubans were automatically granted refugee status by reaching the United States borders, even if they were still on water. The law was changed in 1995. Now migrants are only granted refugee status if they make it to U.S. land. Speed vessels are used to move Cubans as quickly as possible to American land without being detected by the U.S. Coast Guard. Those efforts have created a new people smuggling industry.

"There is sort of a silent exodus taking place from Cuba,� said activist Ramon Saul Sanchez on NPR.

With total immigrant numbers at an 80-year high, immigration is an important issue in the 2008 presidential race.

The two Democratic candidates’ stance on the issue varies very little. Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama supported the Secure Fence Act that would construct 700 miles of fencing on the United States border, but they also supported a bill to help illegal immigrants pay in-state college tuition and eventually gain permanent status.

On the Republican side, former Gov. Mike Huckabee and Rep. Ron Paul stand on opposite ends of immigration. Huckabee has called some immigration opponents “mean-spirited.� Paul fervently opposes legalizing immigrants already in the United States and has even “denounced the longstanding policy of granting citizenship to babies born on U.S. soil regardless of their parents’ legal status,� said NPR.

Sen. John McCain and former Gov. Mitt Romney are the frontrunners for the Republican presidential race, although their views still differ. McCain proposed an immigration bill to the Senate that would grant millions of immigrants with legal status, which Romney strongly opposed.

Posted by libra012 at 10:16 PM | Permalink

Opponents to Sen. Barack Obama say he is too inexperienced to lead the country. Obama, however, has worked to spin this potential negative into a positive.

According to Obama’s campaign, since he has spent less years in the political arena than competitor Sen. Hillary Clinton, it means he has not been “captured by the political establishment,� said the Chicago Tribune.

Furthering this reformer platform, Obama has called to sever ties with lobbyists.

“What's most outrageous is not the morally offensive conduct on behalf of these lobbyists and legislators, but the morally offensive laws and decisions that get made as a result," Obama said, as reported by the Chicago Tribune.

Obama has refused any contributions from federal lobbyists. His ethics reform proposal, announced in June of 2007, would also ban officials in his administration from accepting gifts from lobbyists and working on projects related to a former employer.

The Obama campaign made a surprising decision in 2007, however, when they announced Moses Mercado would be Obama’s senior advisor. Mercado worked with John Kerry’s presidential campaign and Dick Gephardt presidential campaign. Mercado, however, has another career. He is a lobbyist with Ogilvy Government Relations, a company that represents many corporations like Sempra Energy and Constellation Energy.

The New York Times further questioned the depth of Obama’s promise to stand up to lobbyists.

Obama introduced a bill in 2006 that would require nuclear plant owners to notify the local and state government of any leaks in their plants. Obama later revised the bill, however. The wording was altered so that nuclear plant owners were only encouraged to notify authorities of leaks instead of being required to do so. These changes reflected the desires of Senate Republicans as well as nuclear regulators, specifically those of Exelon Corporation.

The Obama campaign said that he was forced to revise the bill in order to push it forward; he was not trying to appease nuclear lobbyists.

“If Senator Obama had listened to industry demands, he wouldn’t have repeatedly criticized Exelon in the press, introduced the bill and then fought for months to get action on it…Obama knows that it’s very difficult to pass a perfect bill,� the campaign said in the New York Times.

The New York Times reported additional possible ties to lobbyists.

Exelon, an Illinois-based company, donated to Obama’s senate and presidential campaign. Exelon’s chairman, John W. Rowe, is also chairman of the nuclear power industry’s lobbyist group, the Nuclear Energy Institute. Rowe has donated more money to Obama’s campaign than to any other candidate. In addition, Obama’s chief political strategist has worked as a consultant for Exelon.

Posted by libra012 at 8:25 PM | Permalink

The Human Rights Watch accused the United States and Europe of “undermining human rights� throughout the world by supporting rigged elections, reported the New York Times.

The advocacy group said the United States and Europe have allowed countries like Russia, Pakistan, Nigeria, Jordan, Bahrain, Thailand and China to feign a move towards democracy for simply holding elections, even when the outcomes are fixed, said the Boston Globe.

The accusations extend to Kenya, a country that is now engulfed in violence between ethnic tribes after the December election results were disputed. According to National Public Radio, thousands of people have been displaced and 850 have been killed. Recently, the Secretary of State for African Affairs, Jendayi Frazer, categorized the crisis as ethnic cleansing.

The Human Rights Watch said the Kenyan government may have been led to believe they could get away with a rigged election since the Bush administration accepted the results of the controversial Nigerian election last year, reported the New York Times.

According to the Economist, some declared Nigeria’s 2007 election as “the most fraudulent they had even seen.� Accusations include the use of false ballots, the lack of a full voter registry and illegally preventing one candidate from campaigning.

Posted by libra012 at 7:52 PM | Permalink

A tentative agreement between production companies and Hollywood writers may be in sight, although that does not guarantee an end to the Writers’ Strike, the New York Times reported.

Negotiations broke off in December 2007, but they have been renewed after two weeks of closed-door discussions between both sides. Even if negotiations go well, labor issues in Hollywood could continue. Actors’ contracts with the production companies expire in June, and the Screen Actors Guild has sided with the writers throughout the strike.

The strike is in its third month, and according to the Christian Science Monitor, television networks are feeling the effects. Ratings among young people have dropped 17 percent for all major networks. In addition, some networks are reimbursing advertisers for rating drops.

There is also a scramble for content. Many networks, especially those who primarily target young people, have turned to reality television to fill the void left by striking writers. Jonathan Taplin, a University of Southern California communications professor and a pop-culture expert says, however, that audiences will not be satisfied with that solution much longer.

"The strike is really beginning to bite. You can't just put on reruns and reality shows and expect to maintain the same rating levels. Networks need to get back to scripted shows as soon as possible,� Taplin said, reported the Christian Science Monitor.

Posted by libra012 at 7:27 PM | Permalink

Presidential candidates hit the Minneapolis area in anticipation of Super Tuesday on Feb. 5.

According to Minnesota Public Radio, 20,000 people packed inside the Minneapolis Target Center Saturday to listen to Sen. Barack Obama's hour-long speech. A line wrapped around the Target Center by 11:30 a.m., even the event did not open until 1:30 p.m. As president, Barack promised to reduce global warming, weaken lobbyists in Washington, and lower both health care and college costs.

Sen. Hillary Clinton held a town hall forum at Augsburg College in Minneapolis on Sunday. As with Barack’s visit, supporters arrived hours before the event was scheduled to begin.

Barack or Clinton stands to gain 72 delegates on Tuesday. Precinct caucuses will determine the winner of the delegates.

Tuesday in Minnesota means something different for the Republican Party because the caucus results are not binding. Nevertheless, Republican candidate Mick Romney came to Edina, Minn. on Saturday. He emphasized how he differs from Sen. John McCain in taxes, immigration and campaign finance reform. According to Minnesota Public Radio, McCain leads the Republican race nationally and in Minnesota.

Rep. Ron Paul has planned a campaign rally Monday at the University of Minnesota.

Posted by libra012 at 7:11 PM | Permalink