Links to the News

The Daily Telegraph, August 31, 2007 Newseum Image

August 31, 2007: An excerpt from an updated story in the London, England newspaper, The Daily Telegraph:

Princes lead Diana memorial service tributes

By MARTINA SMIT

Prince Harry today paid an emotional tribute to "the best mother in the world" at the memorial service for Diana, Princess of Wales, on the 10th anniversary of her death.

His address, which he had written himself, moved many in the crowd outside the ceremony at the Guards' Chapel in London to tears.

"When she was alive we completely took for granted her unrivalled love of life, laughter, fun and folly," he said. "She was our guardian, friend and protector. She never once allowed her unfaltering love for us to go unspoken or undemonstrated.

"She will always be remembered for her amazing public work. But behind the media glare, to us, just two loving children, she was quite simply the best mother in the world.

In front of the Queen, the Prince of Wales, a congregation of 500 and a mass worldwide television audience, Prince Harry said he and his brother Prince William thought of their mother every day.

"To lose a parent so suddenly at such a young age, as others have experienced, is indescribably shocking and sad. It was an event which changed our lives forever as it must have done for anyone who lost someone that night."

He asked for her to be remembered as she was: "Fun-loving, generous, down to earth and entirely genuine."

The Bishop of London, the Right Reverend Richard Chartres, called for rumours about the princess to end. "Still ten years after her death the princess's memory...is used for scoring points," he said.

"Let it end here. Let this service mark the point at which we let her rest in peace."
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The Sun, August 30, 2007 Newseum Image

August 30, 2007: An excerpt from a column in the Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia newspaper, The Sun:

The next 50 years
 
By JACQUELINE ANN SURIN

So, here we are at the cusp of our 50th anniversary as an independent nation. It is, no doubt, a significant juncture to be at.

....Indeed, it is the rakyat who make this country what it is; who, no matter the nation's political climate -- often upped by self-interested politicians at different points in our history -- have proven time and again that as a people, we are capable of living together respectfully and peacefully, even in the most dire of circumstances.

Hence, it is to Malaysian citizens that we pay a special tribute to in our centrespread collage of the rakyat.

It would, of course, be hard to accurately predict what exactly the nation will be like by 2057. But greatness is often a result of committed and passionate individuals believing hard enough in an ideal to want to do something constructive about it.

Our founding leaders showed this commitment and passion. Present day leaders from all sections of society, including the personalities in this special pullout, continue to show that same spirit for progress, peace and prosperity for all.

There is much to do in the years ahead to achieve our national aspirations. This Merdeka, let us be thankful for what we have gained over the past 50 years and let us look forward, committed to our national ideals -- hopeful that we will make these visions a reality in the next 50 years.
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The Times-Picayune, August 29, 2007 Newseum Image

August 29, 2007: An editorial in the New Orleans, Louisiana newspaper, The Times-Picayune:

Looking back, looking ahead

Hurricane Katrina transformed our lives and our community in ways that are still unfolding, as people continue to mourn and struggle to move on.

The second anniversary of Katrina's Louisiana landfall brings back the trauma of those days and what was ripped away -- especially the lives of the 1,500 Louisianians who perished in the storm and its aftermath.

The destruction of homes, schools, places of worship and places of commerce has left gaps, and our emotional landscape is also riddled with holes. Families are enduring lengthy separations. People grieve the departure of coworkers and neighbors.

But an accounting of our losses tells only part of the story -- it's also important to recognize the hard-won gains. The families who have returned, the businesses that are up and running, the houses that have been restored are all critical steps toward recovery.

We still have a long way to go. Two years isn't nearly long enough to heal from the wounds inflicted by Hurricane Katrina and the failure of the federally built levee system. Many families are still living in FEMA trailers, still waiting for a Road Home check, still looking for an affordable place to live, still struggling to pay for insurance.

But the past two years have taught us something about our own strength and resilience, and that's reason enough to look forward in hope.
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Sun Herald, August 29, 2007 Newseum Image

August 29, 2007: An excerpt from a column in the Biloxi, Mississippi newspaper, the Sun Herald:

Who are these people?
A tribute to the people of South Mississippi who have endured and triumphed

By STAN TINER
Sun Herald Executive Editor

Who are these people, these South Mississippians?

I have seen them in the crucible of their great loss, pain and suffering and I can bear witness to their dignity, strength and resolve.

They are the heirs of Camille, and the survivors of Katrina, so the straightness of their spines comes from the legacy of standing up again and again from all the mean seasons of time on these shores.

I would say they are stoic, yet there is a warmth of humanity that breaks through the mask of that facade. Their faces are streaked with the trails of many tears, and their smile lines are evidence of their humor, even in the hard times.

"Resilient" is the word spoken most of them, yet it has been devalued in the lengthening months since Katrina, as it simply does not do justice to them. Of course they are resilient, but there is not enough power in that word to honor their example.

On that awful day they saw their world destroyed; their homes, the artifacts of time and family and so many of their treasures were lost. But the day did not claim their spirit, which has shone like a lighthouse beacon for all to see.
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Idaho Statesman, August 28, 2007 Newseum Image

August 28, 2007: An excerpt from a story in the Idaho Statesman:  

Men's room arrest reopens questions about Sen. Larry Craig

By DAN POPKEY

Sen. Larry Craig, who in May told the Idaho Statesman he had never engaged in homosexual acts, was arrested less than a month later by an undercover police officer who said Craig made a sexual advance toward him in an airport men's room.

The arrest at a Minnesota airport prompted Craig to plead guilty to disorderly conduct earlier this month. His June 11 encounter with the officer was similar to an incident in a men's room in a Washington, D.C., rail station described by a Washington-area man to the Idaho Statesman.
In that case, the man said he and Craig had sexual contact.

The Minnesota arrest was first reported Monday by Roll Call, a Capitol Hill newspaper.

In an interview on May 14, Craig told the Idaho Statesman he'd never engaged in sex with a man or solicited sex with a man. The Craig interview was the culmination of a Statesman investigation that began after a blogger accused Craig of homosexual sex in October. Over five months, the
Statesman examined rumors about Craig dating to his college days and his 1982 pre-emptive denial that he had sex with underage congressional pages.
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The Washington Post, August 28, 2007 Newseum Image

August 28, 2007: An excerpt from a story in The Washington Post:

In the End, Realities Trumped Loyalty

By DAN BALZ and MICHAEL ABRAMOWITZ  

Few attributes are more highly prized in President Bush's White House than loyalty -- and few have exacted a higher toll on the president and his political standing. Yesterday's resignation announcement by Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales underscored once again the damage that can be done when loyalty becomes paramount in presidential decision-making.

Rarely has a Cabinet-level resignation been so anticipated, coming long after Gonzales's credibility had been irreparably undermined by controversy. After he seemingly could do no more harm to the administration, Bush's friend and longtime confidant finally called it quits.

Yet the resignation was almost as surprising as it was long expected. Bush repeatedly expressed confidence in his embattled attorney general, and Gonzales had stubbornly refused to yield to the political reality that his presence at the Justice Department meant continued conflict with Democrats and some Republicans in Congress as well as further investigations into the inner workings of the administration.
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Eleftheros Typos, August 27, 2007 Newseum Image

August 27, 2007:
The Athens newspaper, Eleftheros Typos, reports on the deadly forest fires in Greece.

Here is an excerpt from a story on the BBC Web site:

Fight to save Olympic birthplace

Forest fires are burning inside ancient Olympia, birthplace of the Olympics, but firefighters have kept the site safe, Greek officials say.

Flames licked the edges of the original Olympic stadium and scorched the yard of the museum, home to one of Greece's greatest archaeological collections.

Fires have ravaged large parts of Greece, affecting the Peloponnese, areas around Athens and Evia island.

On Sunday five bodies were found on Evia, bringing the death toll to 56.

Five fire engines are protecting the archaeological museum, which houses sculptures from the Temple of Zeus and artefacts from the ancient Olympics, and anti-fire systems have been switched on, according to the secretary general of the culture ministry, Christos Zahopoulos.

A new fire protection and sprinkler system was installed at the Unesco World Heritage site for the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Culture Minister George Voulgarakis has arrived in Olympia to oversee the emergency effort.

"We don't know exactly how much damage there is in the Olympia area, but the important thing is that the museum is as it was and the archaeological site will not have any problem," he told Associated Press news agency as he visited the area.
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The Beijing News, August 24, 2007 Newseum Image

August 24, 2007:
Page One news from the Chinese newspaper, The Beijing News.

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The Blade, August 23, 2007 Newseum Image

August 23, 2007: An excerpt from a story in the Toledo, Ohio newspaper, The Blade:

Flood submerges towns; dozens rescued from Findlay, Ottawa homes

By JENNIFER FEEHAN and JULIE McKINNON

OTTAWA, Ohio -- Yesterday's sunshine was a mere consolation prize in Ottawa and Findlay, where the overflowing Blanchard River turned those towns into lakes.

"We're crossing our fingers the sun stays out and the rain holds off and it doesn't rain anymore," said Ethel Walker, whose Ottawa home was fast becoming beachfront property.

"It's just a total disaster," she said.

Longtime residents and village officials agreed, saying the flooding which was expected to intensify today when the river crests in Ottawa was the worst Putnam County had experienced in decades.

Gov. Ted Strickland yesterday declared states of emergency for nine northern Ohio counties, including Putnam as well as Allen, Crawford, Hancock, Hardin, Richland, Seneca, Van Wert, and Wyandot.

This week's flooding is being likened to the Flood of 1913. That late-March storm dropped between 6 and 11 inches of rain across Ohio.
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Expreso, August 22, 2007 Newseum Image

August 22, 2007:
The Ciudad Victoria, Mexico newspaper, Expreso, reports on Hurricane Dean.

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Atlanta Journal-Constitution, August 21, 2007 Newseum Image

August 21, 2007: An excerpt from a story in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

The rise and fall of Michael Vick

By STEVE HUMMER

At its outset, the Michael Vick coming-to-Atlanta story was a savory mix of disbelief, wonderment and hope.

Were these the Falcons pulling off a daring, day-before-the-draft coup in the spring of 2001? The same bumbling franchise that seemed indelibly cursed since birth?

These were the Falcons rewriting their destiny! The lame shall walk, the blind shall see and, miracle of miracles, the Falcons shall possess the most exciting player in football!

Boldly out of character, the team had traded up four spots in the draft to claim the No. 1 overall pick and secure the rights to a quicksilver quarterback from Virginia Tech.

And when the brass convened to formally spend the top pick on Vick, they invited the public to come out to their Flowery Branch headquarters and share in the plunder. They expected maybe 1,500 fans, yet drew nearly three times that many, creating gridlock on the two-lane road leading in. For this wasn't just a draft, it was deliverance.

That was then. This is today:

Vick will plead guilty next week to federal dogfighting charges, his lawyer said Monday. His career in the NFL is shipwrecked, his one with the Falcons rendered a lesson like the Greeks used to employ -- Icarus with shoulder pads instead of wings.

As Falcons supporters look back on the arc of the Vick story now, how can they not classify it as the cruelest entry yet in their team's tormented history?
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Diario de Yucatán, August 20, 2007 Newseum Image

August 20, 2007:
The Mérida, Yucatan, Mexico newspaper, Diario de Yucatan, reports on Hurricane Dean.

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The Salt Lake Tribune, August 17, 2007 Newseum Image

August 17, 2007: An excerpt from a story in The Salt Lake Tribune:

Cave-in kills three rescuers, halts underground effort to reach Crandall Canyon's trapped miners

By MIKE GORRELL and PEG McENTEE    

HUNTINGTON -- A catastrophic failure deep inside central Utah's Crandall Canyon Mine killed three rescue workers, injured six others and cast grave doubt on whether a rescue mission to find six miners since Aug. 6 will be allowed to resume.

    Those killed and injured Thursday night were part of a perilous operation to find the missing miners, who were caught in a similar failure 12 days ago. They were burrowing through a rubble-choked tunnel when they were caught in seismic "bump," which can cause the walls of a mine tunnel to implode, at about 6:35 p.m., said Dirk Fillpot, a spokesperson for the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).  Even as he hailed the dead and injured as heroes, a grim Gov. Jon M. Huntsman Jr. strongly questioned when, or whether the suspended underground portion of rescue efforts should be resumed any time soon.

 "It has gone from a tragedy to a catastrophe," he told CNN early today. "We shouldn't allow another person in the underground mine until we can insure their safety."
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Peru.21, August 17, 2007 Newseum Image

August 17, 2007:
The Lima newspaper, Peru.21, reports on the powerful earthquakes and aftershocks that have devastated parts of southern Peru. The death toll is more than 500.

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San Francisco Chronicle, August 8, 2007 Newseum Image

August 8, 2007: An excerpt from a column in the San Francisco Chronicle:

Alone at the Top

By GWEN KNAPP 

This was where it had to happen, in his haven at China Basin, among the true believers. Barry Bonds launched a ball into history Tuesday night, sending the only 756th home run ever hit by a major-leaguer into the center-field bleachers and setting off a celebration more rapturous than anyone could have expected.

Rejected by large portions of the baseball-loving public as a chemically enhanced fraud, Bonds found himself enveloped in an adoring crowd of Giants fans, his family and teammates, plus applauding opponents and, most heartwarmingly, an aristocracy of sluggers.

Among the top seven home-run hitters of all time, the four who could be present, in some form or another, came together to celebrate the moment. Frank Robinson attended as a representative of Major League Baseball, and 76-year-old Willie Mays emerged from the warmth of a suite to join his godson on the field.

Then came the deposed king, Henry Aaron, whose face appeared on the park's enormous scoreboard, offering videotaped congratulations full of warmth and goodwill. Aaron had said long ago that he would not try to be in the park when Bonds broke the record. His statements, though very limited, were widely interpreted as a rebuke to Bonds, who has been linked to performance-enhancing drugs and remains under investigation by the federal government and Major League Baseball.

But when the time came, Aaron passed the torch with all the dignity he displayed when he overtook Babe Ruth 33 years ago.
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Deseret Morning News, August 7, 2007 Newseum Image

August 7, 2007: An excerpt from a story in the Salt Lake City newspaper, the Deseret Morning News:

Miners trapped -- Crews working around clock to reach 6

By SARA ISRAELSEN, BEN WINSLOW and JOE BAUMAN 

HUNTINGTON, Emery County -- It could be days before rescuers are able to reach six miners trapped 1,500 feet underground in a collapsed mine shaft.

Getting to the men has been a difficult, round-the-clock operation, with a lot of setbacks.

Rescuers have encountered large amounts of debris, much more than anticipated. In the mine shafts, some debris continued to fall, risking the safety of workers trying to reach the trapped miners.

One attempt did not work as mine officials had hoped Monday.

"What I wanted to report was this worked, that we'd gotten to them," said Robert Murray, the president of Murray Energy, which owns the mine.

There has been no contact with the miners. The men are believed to have oxygen and water that could last them for days, but authorities admit they do not know if the men are alive or dead.
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Richmond Times-Dispatch, August 6, 2007 Newseum Image

August 6, 2007: An excerpt from a story in the Richmond Times-Dispatch:

Civil Rights Crusader

By ELLEN ROBERTSON, MICHAEL PAUL WILLIAMS and LINDSAY KASTNER

Oliver W. Hill Sr., a pivotal figure in the fight to desegregate schools in Virginia and across the nation, died Sunday morning at his Richmond home. He was 100.

Mr. Hill's son, Oliver Hill Jr., said Mr. Hill died while the family was eating breakfast together. "It was a very peaceful ending," he said.

Mr. Hill was a lawyer and a former Richmond city councilman, the first black person elected to that office in the 20th century.

During the segregation era, Mr. Hill's legal team filed more civil-rights suits in Virginia than were filed in any other state in the South. The team won landmark decisions involving voting rights, jury selection, access to school buses, employment protection and other matters.

He played a crucial role in the U.S. Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954 that outlawed school segregation in the U.S.

"Few individuals in Virginia's rich history have worked as tirelessly as Oliver Hill to make life better for all of our citizens," Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said in a statement. "His life's work was predicated on the simple truth that all men and women truly are created equal."

Former Gov. and U.S. Sen. Charles S. Robb, D-Va., once described Mr. Hill as the "last lion of the civil-rights movement."
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Star Tribune, August 3, 2007 Newseum Image

August 3, 2007: An excerpt from a story in the Minneapolis, Minnesota newspaper, the Star Tribune:

Many hands, hearts reach out at bridge
Almost before the dust settled, large corporations and ordinary folks stepped forward with offers to help.

By ALLIE SHAH and CHRIS HAVENS

In typical Minnesota fashion, the response to a "catastrophe of historic proportions" has been swift and universal.

People want to help.

Well into the second day of rescue and recovery efforts, the extent of the outpouring was mounting: People jammed the Red Cross and Memorial Blood Center lines wanting to donate blood. Local businesses donated money and goods to help disaster relief groups.

And restless souls, such as Jennifer Fairchild, instinctively showed up at a Red Cross building shortly after the collapse to volunteer.

Fairchild had left early from work Wednesday and was in her car just after 6 p.m. when she heard reports of the bridge collapse. She drove to the Red Cross to offer her services -- whatever they might be.

She helped unload trucks, prepare food and deliver drinks to rescue workers. She was amazed at all the donations people and businesses kept bringing. So many people were willing to drop everything and help.
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Pioneer Press, August 3, 2007 Newseum Image

August 3, 2007: An excerpt from a column in the St.Paul, Minnesota newspaper, the Pioneer Press:

Like 9/11, tragedy of bridge failure our darkest, and our finest, hour

By RUBEN ROSARIO

There is no better or more poignant way to describe it: This is our 9/11.

Wednesday's bridge collapse will go down -- as Sept. 11, 2001, did for history and our generation -- as one of the Twin Cities' and Minnesota's darkest hours.

Disasters like these and their ripple effects scar the collective psyche for years, if not forever. I know I still don't look at commercial airplanes in the sky the same way I did before the terrorist attacks. I knew that, as I crossed a river bridge to work Thursday morning, I might not look at those the same way after this.

But this catastrophe is also one of our finest moments. These events bring out the best in people like nothing else. And we've already seen ample evidence of it these past two days.
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Star Tribune, August 2, 2007 Newseum Image

August 2, 2007: An excerpt from an updated story in the Minneapolis, Minnesota newspaper, the Star Tribune:

4 dead, 60 injured, 20 missing after dozens of vehicles plummet into river

By PAUL LEVY 

Emergency crews have resumed their recovery and clean up efforts at the scene of the Interstate 35W bridge that collapsed during rush hour Wednesday evening.
Authorities lowered the number of confirmed fatalities to four, but said they expect the number to change throughout the day.

Police Chief Tim Dolan said at a news conference that an estimated 20 to 30 people were still missing. At least 60 people were treated at area hospitals, the Associated Press reported.

Dolan said many vehicles were still in the water.

"The recovery involving those vehicles and the people who may be in those vehicles is going to take a long time," Dolan said. "We're dealing with the Mississippi River. We're dealing with currents, and we're going to have to do it slowly and safely."

Police Lt. Amelia Huffman said the number of confirmed fatalities had been lowered from seven to four. "This morning, the medical examiner's office only has four sets of remains," she said.

Mayor R.T. Rybak said the police department's number is based on the medical examiner's information, but he still considers there to be seven fatalities and he expects more.

"I think you can expect that to be a dynamic situation for a while," he said.
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Pioneer Press, August 2, 2007 Newseum Image

August 2, 2007: An excerpt from a story in the St.Paul, Minnesota newspaper, the Pioneer Press:

I-35W Bridge collapse: 7 dead, 20 missing, 60 injured

Bumper-to-bumper traffic crawled across the Interstate 35W bridge over the Mississippi River on Wednesday evening when the surface buckled, plunging cars, trucks and the people in them 64 feet.

Late Wednesday, seven people were reported dead, 20 were missing and more than 60 were injured, authorities said.

Officials expect the death toll to rise as the search effort turns to recovery today.

"It was one of the most tragic nights in the history of Minneapolis," said Mayor R.T. Rybak, during a news conference at City Hall on Wednesday night.

The 64-foot-high bridge was undergoing maintenance and had a Minnesota Department of Transportation crew on it when the collapse occurred shortly after 6 p.m., authorities said. It was unclear Wednesday night the full number of cars or people affected by the collapse.

A school bus also was on the bridge at the time it fell, according to officials. Sixty children were taken from the bus. Up to 10 were transported to area hospitals.

Aerial shots from local television stations showed the entire span of I-35W had crumpled into the river below. Some of the injured were carried up the riverbank, while emergency workers and volunteers tended to others on the ground. A BNSF train was on the tracks below the bridge and hit by pieces.

It was unclear Wednesday night the total number of cars or motorists involved in the collapse.

"Obviously, this is a catastrophe of historic proportions for Minnesota," Gov. Tim Pawlenty said.
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The Wall Street Journal, August 1, 2007 Newseum Image

August 1, 2007: An excerpt from a story in The Wall Street Journal:

Murdoch Wins His Bid for Dow Jones

By SARAH ELLISON and MATTHEW KARNITSCHNIG

A century of Bancroft-family ownership at Dow Jones & Co. is over.

Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. sealed a $5 billion agreement to purchase the publisher of The Wall Street Journal after three months of drama in the controlling family and public debate about journalistic values.

One of the oldest and best-known franchises in the newspaper industry, beset in recent years by business pressures, now enters a new era as part of a world-wide media conglomerate. The 76-year-old Mr. Murdoch, whose properties range from the Fox television network to the Times of London, negotiated hard to win the paper he long coveted. He has promised to invest more in Dow Jones journalism.

The Bancrofts worried about protecting the reputation of the Journal, the nation's second-largest newspaper. They feared Mr. Murdoch would meddle in the paper's editorial affairs and import the brand of sensationalist journalism found in some of his properties such as the New York Post. Some Bancrofts sought other buyers.

But ultimately, Mr. Murdoch's $60-a-share bid -- a 67% premium above Dow Jones's share price when it became public -- was the only serious offer on the table. Key family members, spurred by Dow Jones's board and advisers, decided they had no choice.