Shelton's Weblog

koaa.com reports gasoline prices have shot up again.

"Unfortunately gas has gone up 29 cents on average over last month," according to Eric Escondero - spokesperson for AAA Colorado. AAA reports Colorado gas prices are still two cents below the national average for the 25 th consecutive week, and only four cents higher than what they were one year ago.

Startribune.com reports all across the nation people and companies are fearing higher gas prices, but they soon might be jumping to new highs. Some fear $4-a-gallon gas looms soon.

"I am in the camp that we will go higher, perhaps a lot higher. I think we are one disruption or problem away from $4-a-gallon gasoline," said Phil Flynn, a veteran oil analyst for Alaron Trading, a Chicago-based commodities trading company.

http://www.koaa.com/news/view.asp?ID=7547

http://www.startribune.com/535/story/1148921.html

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The StarTribune reports Cho Seung-Hui, the man who was responsible for the shootings at Virginia Tech, fit the profile a person who needed help. His background indicates he was a stereotypical school shooter, a painfully awkward, picked-on young man who lashed out with unbelievable fury at the world he believed was out to get him.

"In virtually every regard, Cho is prototypical of mass killers that I've studied in the past 25 years," said Northeastern University criminal justice professor James Alan Fox, co-author of 16 books on crime. "That doesn't mean, however, that one could have predicted his rampage."

The Kansascity.com reports Cho sent up warning signs with his strange behavior long in advance.

the 23-year-old South Korean immigrant was sent to a psychiatric hospital and pronounced an imminent danger to himself. He was accused of stalking two women and photographing female students in class with his cell phone. His violence-filled writings were so disturbing that he was removed from one class, and professors begged him to get counseling.

High school classmates said he was teased and picked on, apparently because of shyness and his mumbly way of speaking.

http://www.startribune.com/484/story/1130885.html

http://www.kansascity.com/136/story/77691.html

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The StarTribune reports the Rutgers women's basketball team accepted radio host Don Imus' apology Friday for insulting them on the air, saying that he deserves a chance to move on but that the team hopes Imus will learn from his mistake.

"We still find his statements to be unacceptable, and this is an experience that we will never forget," coach C. Vivian Stringer read from a team statement a day after the team met personally with Imus and his wife.

NyTimes reports CBS finally after a week decided to fire Imus for the remarks he made about the Rutger's team. Mr. Imus, who has been broadcasting his program for more than 30 years, no longer has a home on either national radio or television.

Both CBS and MSNBC, who carried the show, were under pressure from women's groups and from black activists groups that were trying to get rid of the Imus. The decision to fire Imus came right before him and the Rutgers team met for Imus' apology at the governor's mansion in Princeton.

http://www.startribune.com/484/story/1118129.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/13/business/13imus.html?

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Cbsnews.com reports Sen. Barack Obama hauled in $25 million from contributions. The Illinois Senator collected all the money in three months of this year and was just $1 million less than rival Hillary Rodham Clinton's record haul and was a remarkable feat for a novice in national politics.

"He was the newcomer, he was the outsider, and this shows he's a serious candidate," said Ron Parker, a Democratic strategist in Iowa, home of the nation's first nominating caucuses. "It shows he can do a lot more than draw big crowds."

The NY Times reports Democrats raised a total of about $78 million, compared with just over $51 million by their rivals, according to preliminary first-quarter figures provided by the campaigns. Since 1976 Republicans in every presidential primary season have been the top fund-raiser.

The Democratic party is happy with the contributions and feel confident they will win the White House back. Democrats are not only happy for the party, but they have confidence in their candidates as well.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/04/05/ap/politics/main2651679.shtml

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/05/us/politics/05assess.html

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The StarTribune.com reports DNA tests have been released concluding the three babies who were found abandoned in Orosi, Calif., were almost certainly born from the same mother. The mystery of the mother has all 7,300 people in the farm community asking questions.

The first baby was found wrapped in a blanket on an outdoor bench with his umbilical still hanging from his body. "Then, at neat 11-month intervals, two more abandoned babies were found in parked pickup trucks in the same neighborhood."

Kget.com reports the third baby was found dead because of overexposure to the weather. She lived less than a day. All three babies were found within two blocks of each other.

Investigators are not having any luck with the case. They have followed various leads, but nothing has turned up to identify the mother. The Tulare Sheriff’s Department is offering a $5,000 reward to anyone who has information about the case.

http://www.startribune.com/484/story/1086397.html

http://www.kget.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=f690bf02-23f6-454b-9869-4752cd2028a4

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The StarTribune reports former Kentucky basketball coach Tubby Smith will be introduced at noon on Friday as the head coach for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. Smith is the 16th coach in school history.

We're extremely excited to bring a coach of Tubby Smith's caliber to the University of Minnesota," Gophers athletic director Joel Maturi said in a press release. "His record on the court speaks for itself, but more importantly, he is an educator of young men and has unquestioned integrity to lead this program to the highest level."

Forbes.com reports at Kentucky during Smith's 10 seasons the Wildcats never missed the NCAA tournament. They also won a national title, five SEC championships and 76 percent of their games.

We all need to be challenged," Smith said. "In the Big Ten, it's as tough as there is for a conference in the country," Smith said. "This will give me a new life, a new start and I'm anxious, eager and excited about it."

http://www.startribune.com/512/story/1074699.html

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/03/23/ap3545865.html

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CNN.com reports authorities said Thursday an extended family living in the Bronx, were trapped inside their house by a deadly fire. Witnesses say one woman was so desperate for help, she tossed children from a second-floor window to try to save them.

Eight of the victims were children, including 7-month-old twins and boys ages 4 and 9, according to authorities and relatives. A woman in her 40s also died, and 10 people were hospitalized.

Iht.com reports the family trapped in the house were Malian. The fire started when a space heater sparked a mattress in the house. The residents on the top floor were stranded there for two hours.

The fire was the deadliest in the city in over 17 years.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/08/bronx.fire.ap/index.html

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/03/09/america/NA-GEN-US-New-York-Fire.php

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The StarTribune.com reports tornadoes in Alabama have killed at least 13 people, including eight high school students who were trapped under a collasped roof.

State Emergency Management Agency spokeswoman Yasamie Richardson said eight fatalities "are in relation to the high school but whether they are all students or some students and teachers we're not sure."

Reuters.com is reporting there are at least 14 deaths that are recorded instead of the orginal 13.

"Enterprise has suffered major and widespread damage," said Alabama Gov. Bob Riley, who sent 100 National Guard troops to Enterprise and put additional troops on alert.

Newsday.com reports the fatalities have reached 18 and there are possibly more to the count.

http://www.startribune.com/484/story/1031368.html

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyID=2007-03-01T233611Z_01_N01359292_RTRUKOC_0_US-TORNADO-ALABAMA.xml&WTmodLoc=NewsHome-C3-domesticNews-3

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/sns-ap-tornadoes,0,3870608.story?coll=ny-top-headlines

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CNNMoney.com is reporting videotape of a dozen rats were seen scurrying inside Taco Bell and KFC in New York City's, Greenwich Village friday morning. There have been a number of health codes violated since December for rats and cockroaches.

The company said they have been trying to do construction changes to the building, but admitted the situation might have worsened with the recent work being done.

"This is completely unacceptable and is an absolute violation of our high standards," KFC and Taco Bell said in a statement. "This restaurant has been closed and we are addressing the issue with the franchise owner. We will not allow this store to reopen until is it completely resanitized and given a clean bill of health," Chrom.com reports.

Rats have been a problem in New York because of the abundant food supply throughout the city. There has not been so many rats in one place in the public view before.

http://money.cnn.com/2007/02/23/news/companies/taco_bell/index.htm?postversion=2007022310

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/4576348.html

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CNN.com is reporting 1,000 dogs and cats were killed at an animal shelter in Las Vegas. The deaths of all the cats and dogs were due to contagious diseases. Officials admitted they kept the animals around too long resulting in such a huge number of animals put sleep. "Visiting inspectors from The Humane Society of the United States discovered the outbreak of the diseases -- distemper and Parvovirus in dogs and panleukopenia in cats -- Lied Animal Shelter spokesman Mark Fierro said."

The StarTribune is reporting the euthanizations are the largest in the history of the city. This prompted the shelter to change its care tactics. Lied officials have said they did not realize any of the animals were infected until the Humane Society noticed animals with certain problems, mostly respiratory and intestinal.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/02/16/shelter.outbreak.ap/index.html

http://www.startribune.com/484/story/1006671.html

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CNN.com is reporting Navy Capt. Lisa Nowak tried to kidnap and kill a woman she thought was trying to take away the man that she also wanted to be with.

Nowark has been relieved of her duties at Mission Control and returned home to Houston. She has also been placed on a 30-day leave of absence.

The StarTribune is reporting Nowark was under a lot of stress when she committed this act.

"Nowak has a teenage son and 5-year-old twin girls with her husband, Richard, who works for a NASA contractor. The couple separated a few weeks ago after 19 years of marriage." This and all of her duties at work may have contributed to her psycological state that she is now.

Dr. Jon Clark, a former NASA flight surgeon said, "She was the epitome of managing a very hectic career, making sacrifices to accommodate her family. All those stresses can conspire to be overwhelming."

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/space/02/08/nasa.image.reut/index.html

http://www.startribune.com/484/story/989441.html

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The Startribune is reporting the Senate has recently today passed a bill concerning minimum wage raising it from $2.10 to $7.25 an hour over two years.

The bill passed with a 94-3 vote. The minimum wage has not been raised in a decade.

CNN is reporting the bill comes with some tax issues. The Senate added tax cuts for small businesses and higher taxes for many $1 million-plus executives.

http://www.startribune.com/587/story/975306.html

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/02/01/minimum.wage.ap/index.html

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