December 2011 Archives

By Lauren Regnier

In the Story titled, "Recession taking toll on Washington state," the reporter had to seek records and analyze then to put the story together.

The reported states that Washington's economy is at it's all-time low, so in order to make that claim the reported must have looked at a number of economic records provided by the state, compared them and then made that determination.

To do this, the reporter needed to know how to file records through their states statute under the Freedom of Information Act. They also needed to know their states laws involved with that statute in order to verify their eligibility for obtaining that information.

An additional link in the story connects the reader to a line chart, which shows states economic history since WWII. In order to put this together, they needed additional computer skills to create such charts.

By Lauren Regnier

The Minnesota Department of Health is investigating an outbreak of a food-borne illness by people who attend events at the Greysolon Ballroom Saturday in Duluth.

The health department said at least 40 people reported getting sick after eating at the events, reported the Star Tribune.

Doug Schultz of the department's communications office said they reported having stomach cramps and diarrhea, reported the Duluth News Tribune.

A total of about 350 people attended a wedding and a private party at the Greysolon Saturday, reported the Star Tribune.

The food was served by the company Greysolon Ballroom By Blackwoods, and they have been compliant with the investigation, reported the Duluth News Tribune.

By Lauren Regnier

Provisional results published by Congo's election commission declared President Joseph Kabila the winner of the Democratic Republic for another term Friday, with nearly half of the votes from the 18.14 million votes cast.

He received 49 percent of the votes, while his opponent, veteran opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi, received 32 percent, reported BBC News.

Tshisekedi's supporters said they would take the streets if Kabila won, reported the Star Tribune.

Riot police are patrolling the streets in the capital, which is known for as an opposition stronghold, reported BBC News.

When people in the eastern city of Goma heard of Kabila's re-election, they started the celebrate in the streets, reported BBC News.

The results must still be approved in the Supreme Court, reported the Star Tribune.

By Lauren Regnier

The eccentric pop star, Lady Gaga, visited the White House Tuesday to discuss prevention of bullying in schools.

Gaga was welcomed by Obama senior adviser Valerie Jarrett who praised her as "a source of strength for many young people who feel isolated and scared at their schools," reported the Washington Post.

She met with Obama administration staffers on the issue, but did not have a chance to meet with the President because he was traveling in Kansas for a speech on the economy, reported the Washington Post.

In a White House blog post Jarrett said, "Lady Gaga has described this cause as a personal one," reported ABC News. "She has said that as a child, she was often picked on for being different."

Gaga connected with the MacArthur Foundation and Harvard University to start the Born This Way Foundation, which will promote child safety in schools, ABC News.

Jarrett said the administration was looking forward to supporting the foundation, reported Washington Post.

By Lauren Regnier

A 90-year-old woman was robbed and tied up in her own home Friday evening in St. Paul.

The woman called police around 6 p.m. from her home on the 1100 block of Van Buren to report an armed robbery, reported CBS Minnesota.

She told police that a man entered her house through an unlocked door and pointed a gun at her, demanding money, reported the Pioneer Press.

She said she was cooperative and gave the man a small amount of money before he tied her hands and feet and left the residence, reported CBS Minnesota.

Police said that she wriggled free have several minutes, reported the Pioneer Press. A relative showed up at her house shortly after.

The man wore a ski mask during the robbery and was described as about 5-foot-8 and "younger" looking, reported CBS Minnesota.

Lauren Regnier

An armed robbery suspect was shot and wounded by a police officer Monday afternoon in North Minneapolis after failing to put down his gun.

Around 4:45 p.m., police had the suspect under surveillance and pulled him over on the 3800 block of Thomas Avenue N. in a car in which he was a passenger, reported KARE 11 News.

The suspect ran from the vehicle, equipped with a shotgun, reported the Star Tribune.

Police chased the suspect into an alley and ordered him to put down the gun, but he failed to do, so police shot him, reported KARE 11 News.

The suspect was taken to the hospital with noncritical injuries, reported the Star Tribune.

The officer will be placed on a standard, three-day administrative leave, reported the Star Tribune.

The man is suspected in 12 recent robberies, in which he carried either a handgun or a sawed-off shotgun, reported the Star Tribune.

By Lauren Regnier

A Salt Lake City man was charged with elder abuse Friday after his 74-year-old mother was found dead in a chair, where authorities say she may have been sitting for two weeks.

The charge filed to Bradley Myers, 51, is a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison, reported the Salt Lake Tribune.

Police found Geneil Larsen dead in the home that she shared with her son on April 5, reported the Star Tribune.

She was sitting in a chair covered with urine and feces when police found her and a path a garbage was blocking the bathroom, reported the Salt Lake Tribune.

Myers said he had not seen his mother get up from the chair for a couple of weeks, reported the Star Tribune.

A medical examiner said Larson had a pressure ulcer above her buttocks, which exposed muscle and bone, reported the Salt Lake Tribune.

An arrest warrant with a $10,000 bail was issued for Myers' arrest, reported the Salt Lake Tribune.

By Lauren Regnier

A tractor-trailer and a bus collided early Saturday in north-east Brazil, killing at least 33 people and injuring 13 others, officials said.

The crash occurred near a town called Milagres in the northeastern state of Bahia, reported BBC News.

Police said the truck driver lost control when he was turning a corner going down a hill, reported the Miami Herald.

The bus was carrying sugarcane cutters across the country, reported BBC News.

The truck driver survived and is in the local hospital, reported the Miami Herald. Some of the people injured are in critical condition.

An investigation is still going on.

By Lauren Regnier

A 41-year-old pediatrician was arrested Thursday and charged with possession and receipt of child pornography.

Yancy Craft, also known as Travis Mobley and formerly of Memphis, Tenn. was taken into custody for FBI agents in Columbus, Georgia, reported CNN.

According to the FBI, the investigation started by the FBI Memphis Crimes Against Children Task Force, but was transferred to Columbus when they discovered that Craft relocated to that area for an imminent job placement, reported ABC WKRN.

Craft could not be reached for comment and it is unknown whether or not he has an attorney, reported CNN.

He was scheduled to appear before a court magistrate Thursday afternoon, reported ABC WKRN.

By Lauren Regnier

A man was found inside a burning vacant house in North Minneapolis early Wednesday morning.

According to the Minneapolis Police Department, at about 12:30 a.m. the home of 1426 Barnes Place was reported on fire, reported the Star Tribune.

When firefighters found the unidentified man inside the house lying unconscious on the floor, they performed CPR on him, but he later died in Hennepin County Medical Center, reported KSTP.

Two firefighters also suffered minor injuries when they fell from a hole in the first-floor to the basement, reported the Star Tribune.

The fire was put to rest at about 1:30 a.m., reported the Star Tribune.

Authorities are not sure yet how the fire started.

By Lauren Regnier

A St. Paul taxi driver reportedly hit two children Monday afternoon, and drove away.

According to police, the incident happened near Dale Street and Marshall Avenue in St. Paul, reported KARE 11.

A 14-year-old girl and 7-year-old boy were crossing the street when they were struck by a Green & White taxi, reported the Pioneer Press.

According to police, the driver stopped to check on the kids and gave them his contact information before driving away, reported KARE 11.

The children sustained minor injuries.

Police are still investigating the incident.