 | 2008 JULY
July 25, 2008
Scientists Discover What Makes the Northern Lights Dance
Scientists and stargazers alike have long been fascinated by the auroras, also known as the northern and southern lights -- the bands of light that stretch and sometimes dance across the night sky near the earth's poles.
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| July 25, 2008
Foreclosures More than Double; Uptick Seen in Durable Goods
U.S. homeowners lost 220,000 homes to foreclosure in the second quarter, according to a report issued Friday by RealtyTrac, Inc., a marketer of foreclosed homes.
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| July 24, 2008
Art Exhibit Tackles Stereotypes of Surburban Life
An exhibit at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis aims to examine stereoptypes tied to life in the suburbs and shows the work of artists and architects influenced by the slew of social issues outside of cities. Fred de Sam Lazaro reports.
   
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| July 24, 2008
McCain-Obama Race Grabs Attention Across Europe
Some 200,000 people are estimated to have attended Sen. Barack Obama's speech in Berlin Thursday, a sign of the increased interest abroad in this year's U.S. election. A panel of European journalists offer insight.
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| July 24, 2008
Mixed Results for School Reform Efforts in New Orleans
A year after New Orleans School Superintendent Paul Vallas took the helm, educators in the city's public schools still tackle the challenges of keeping students enrolled and helping them meet required test scores. John Merrow wraps up a series of reports on efforts to reform schools in New Orleans.
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| July 24, 2008
Obama to Push Building U.S.-Europe Relations in Berlin Address
As Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama continues his overseas tour with a stop in Berlin Thursday, tens of thousands in the German city are reportedly anxious to hear his address at the Tiergarten's Victory Column, one of the city's most famous monuments.
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| July 24, 2008
Housing Rescue Bill Awaits Senate, but Questions Linger
A hotly-debated housing bill aimed at helping struggling homeowners and shoring up Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is next headed for the Senate. Sens. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., and Richard Shelby, R-Ala., discuss the details.
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| July 24, 2008
Transcript: Obama's Speech in Berlin
Following is a transcript of Sen. Barack Obama's speech in Berlin, Germany, as prepared for delivery and distributed by his campaign.
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| July 24, 2008
Ford Reports $8.7 Billion Second-Quarter Loss
The Ford Motor Co. on Thursday posted a second-quarter loss of $8.7 billion, due mostly to the declining value of its SUV and pickup truck lines, and announced a plan to overhaul its North American production to focus on small cars.
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| July 23, 2008
Karadzic Faces Criminal Charges After Capture
Arrested after some 10 years in hiding, former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic is slated to stand trial soon for his war crimes. Independent Television News examines the details of his arrest and the road ahead for a trial.
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| July 23, 2008
Mideast Conflict Looms for Next U.S. President
As the presidential hopefuls define their foreign policy agendas for the Middle East, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will continue to present a unique set of challenges to the next commander-in-chief. Analysts mull the obstacles to ending the decades-long conflict.
 
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| July 23, 2008
D.C. Schools Chief Institutes Tough Changes, Weathers Controversy
After one year on the job, Washington, D.C., schools chief Michelle Rhee has slated schools to close and planned personnel changes to help boost the struggling education system. John Merrow reports on her efforts.
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| July 23, 2008
Wide-reaching Housing Rescue Legislation Moves Forward
The House approved Wednesday a hotly-debated housing rescue package aimed at helping strapped homeowners avoid foreclosures after President Bush dropped his opposition to the bill. Experts examine the measure.
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| July 23, 2008
Obama Stands by Israel, Calls Iranian Nuclear Threat 'Grave'
As his Mideast tour continues, Sen. Barack Obama reiterated his support for Israel as an ally of the United States Wednesday and focused on his commitment to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
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| July 23, 2008
John Merrow Takes Questions
Over the course of the 2007-2008 school year, John Merrow, the NewsHour's special correspondent for education, reported on the challenges faced by two new superintendents in struggling school districts: Michelle Rhee in Washington, D.C., and Paul Vallas in New Orleans.
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| July 23, 2008
President Bush Drops Veto Threat for Housing Bill
President Bush will sign into law a housing rescue bill hammered out in a compromise among House and Senate leaders, the White House said Wednesday.
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| July 22, 2008
Speculation Stirs Over Possible Unveiling of McCain VP Pick
Republican presidential hopeful John McCain could reveal his choice for a running mate as early as this week, sources close to the Arizona senator have said, according to CNN and Robert Novak's Evans-Novak Political Report.
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| July 22, 2008
Ariz. Breaks Ground in Reforming Prison System
The Arizona prison system is attempting to restructure its correction programs, in the aim of reducing repeat offenders. Jeffrey Brown reports on what these measures hope to achieve.
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| July 22, 2008
Adm. Mullen: Iraq War Affects Deployment in Afghanistan
Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, whose words have been parsed over the past weeks as the presidential campaign focuses on foreign policy, discusses the success of the surge and his opinion that troops would have to be withdrawn from Iraq before added to Afghanistan in a significant way.
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| July 22, 2008
McCain, Obama Trade More Jabs Over Foreign Policy
Sen. Barack Obama, on tour in the Middle East, and Sen. John McCain, on the campaign trail in New England, continue to spar over each other's Iraq policies and understanding of the situation in Afghanistan.
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| July 22, 2008
Obama Outlines Mideast Policy Views as Overseas Tour Continues
After his first visit to Iraq as the likely Democratic nominee for president, Sen. Barack Obama said Tuesday in Amman, Jordan, that security in Iraq has improved and the U.S. should focus attention on aiding its political progress while turning more military attention to the worsening situation in Afghanistan.
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| July 22, 2008
Wachovia Posts Surprising $8.9 Billion Loss
Banking giant Wachovia Corp. reported a nearly $9 billion second-quarter loss Tuesday, surprising Wall Street analysts who had expected a smaller drop. The company plans to cut 6,350 jobs and slash dividends to offset the losses.
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| July 21, 2008
Jeff Smith's 'Bone' Goes From Comic Book to Gallery Wall
After launching his first issue in 1991, Jeff Smith's popular comic book series, "Bone," has sold over 4 million copies and is part of a new exhibition at the Wexner Center For the Arts at Ohio State University. Jeffrey Brown profiles Smith's work and influences.
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| July 21, 2008
Gitmo Trial Begins, but Questions Loom Over Detainee Legal Process
After years of legal delays, the trial for Osama Bin Laden's former driver began Monday at Guantanamo, marking the first full-scale military tribunal at the base since it opened in 2001. Two legal experts examine the future of the detainee program.
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| July 21, 2008
Airplanes Scale Back Service as Oil Prices Soar
Despite efforts to ease the burden of soaring fuel costs by adding luggage fees and slashing flights, major airlines continue to suffer losses and predict fare hikes this fall. Tom Bearden reports on the latest woes of the airline industry.
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| July 21, 2008
Obama's Trip Puts Focus on Candidates' Iraq, Afghan Plans
Sen. Barack Obama is working on his foreign policy credentials by meeting with leaders in Iraq and Afghanistan this week. Policy advisers discuss how Obama and GOP Sen. John McCain are approaching the conflicts.
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| July 21, 2008
Obama Meets with al-Maliki in Baghdad
Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki Monday on the latest stop of his high-profile overseas tour as the presumptive Democratic nominee.
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| July 21, 2008
McCain Hits Morning Shows as Networks Follow Obama Abroad
Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain appeared on all three network morning shows Monday arguing that his Democratic rival Sen. Barack Obama was wrong on the surge strategy in Iraq.
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| July 21, 2008
Court Tosses Out CBS's Superbowl Indecency Fine
A federal appeals court on Monday overturned a decision to fine against CBS Corp. $550,000 for the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show that ended with Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction."
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| July 18, 2008
Obama Trip Attracting Media Circus, Criticism from McCain Camp
Sen. Barack Obama's first overseas trip as a presidential candidate is shaping up to be a mob-scene of press coverage. Obama will be traveling with a plane full of journalists, and at least 200 have applied to come on the trip, though only about 40 will be able to go.
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| July 18, 2008
Summer Camp Helps Children of Deployed Parents
Every summer at Operation Purple Camp in Colorado, more than half of the campers are children whose parents are deployed in military service. Spencer Michels visits the nurturing site for youth with special needs.
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| July 18, 2008
Analysts Tackle Economy Woes, Obama's Overseas Trip
Analysts David Brooks and Ruth Marcus take up the U.S. economy's shaky health and Sen. Barack Obama's trip to the Middle East and Europe, which has drawn vast media coverage and was described by Sen. John McCain's camp as a publicity stunt.
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| July 18, 2008
Bailout of Mortgage Firms Could Set Risky Precedent
As the nation's housing woes continue, the government announced a plan this week to shore up mortgage-giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Paul Solman weighs the role of government intervention and the possible ramifications of rewarding risky financial behaviors.
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| July 18, 2008
Biotech Companies, Investors Look to Adult Stem Cell Research
In June, pharmaceutical giant Pfizer announced that it was investing $3 million in a small San Diego-based biotech startup called EyeCyte, which will work to develop adult stem cell-based treatments for eye diseases.
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| July 18, 2008
Is there any way we can hedge against the energy and commodities as an individual investor?
Paul Solman answers this question and many more in the "Business Desk."
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| July 18, 2008
U.S., Iraq to Set 'Time Horizon' on Troop Withdrawal
President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki have agreed to seek "a general time horizon" for reducing U.S. troops in Iraq as part of a broader security agreement, the White House said Friday.
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| July 18, 2008
Inside an Iraqi Detention Site
Camp Bucca in southern Iraq holds about 18,000 Iraqis considered an "imperative security threat". At the U.S.-run facility, the detainees take classes and get visits from their families as they await military reviews of their threat status. Col. David Glaser, who is in charge of detainee operations, describes the facility.
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| July 18, 2008
In Policy Shift, U.S. Envoy to Attend Iran Talks
In a break with past policy on Iran, the Bush administration is sending a delegate to weekend nuclear talks between Iran's chief nuclear negotiator and other world powers, including the European Union.
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| July 17, 2008
Kay Ryan Discusses New Collection of Poems
Award-winning poet Kay Ryan describes her writing process as "self imposed emergencies." She reads some selections from her new collection, "The Niagara River."
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| July 17, 2008
Biographer Recaps U.K. Scientist's Fascination With China
Prolific author Simon Winchester discusses his latest book, "The Man Who Loved China," which chronicles the adventures of scientist Joseph Needham in the Asian nation.
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| July 17, 2008
Reporters Measure Economy's Health Across the U.S.
Business reporters and columnists from across the country assess how recent economic troubles, including inflation and housing market problems, have impacted local communities.
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| July 17, 2008
Fannie Mae CEO Defends Mortgage Giant's Stability
Fannie Mae CEO Daniel Mudd reacts to questions about the stability of the mortgage-lending giant after the government took steps earlier this week to back Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in order to maintain stability and confidence in U.S. financial markets.
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| July 17, 2008
D.C. Begins Gun Registration in Wake of Supreme Court Ruling
Washington, D.C., residents began registering firearms Thursday as part of emergency legislation enacted after a Supreme Court ruling on June 26 overturned the District's handgun ban of 32 years.
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| July 17, 2008
Gore Aims High on Renewable Energy Goal for U.S.
Former Vice President and Nobel laureate Al Gore outlined a bold climate goal for the nation Thursday, challenging the U.S. to create every kilowatt of electricity through renewable energy sources within 10 years.
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| July 17, 2008
Kay Ryan Is Appointed U.S. Poet Laureate
The Library of Congress announced Thursday the appointment of Kay Ryan as the 16th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry for 2008-2009.
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| July 17, 2008
Obama Raises $52 Million in June
Likely Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama raised $52 million in June, easily trumping Republican rival Sen. John McCain's $22 million last month - although the Democratic Party still lags behind the GOP in the amount of campaign cash it has in the bank.
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| July 16, 2008
Reporter's Notebook: Gwen Ifill Discusses Her Interview with Barack Obama
In a conversation with the NewsHour's Steve Goldbloom, senior correspondent Gwen Ifill reflects on her exclusive interview this week with Sen. Barack Obama and discusses how his campaign is shaping its Iraq policy ahead of his upcoming trip to the war zone.
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| July 16, 2008
Candidates Address NAACP, Reach Out to Black Voters
Unlike in previous elections, both Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., reached out to black voters at this year's annual NAACP conference in Cincinnati, Ohio. Representatives from both parties weigh the race factor in this year's campaign.
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| July 16, 2008
Rising Fuel Costs Damage Viability of Fishing Industry
Rising fuel costs are reaching far into the pockets of tuna fisherman, who are struggling to keep their businesses alive as the price of fuel skyrockets.
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| July 16, 2008
Ventura Won't Run in Minnesota, but Another Challenger Enters the Race
Former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura, an independent, told CNN's Larry King Monday night that he will not jump into the headline-grabbing race for Republican Norm Coleman's Senate seat as a third-party candidate.
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| July 16, 2008
Consumer Prices Rise at Fastest Rate Since '82
The Labor Department reported Wednesday that consumer prices jumped 1.1 percent in June, marking the fastest rise in more than a quarter century and fueling further concerns over inflation levels in the jittery U.S. economy.
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| July 15, 2008
McCain Counters Obama's Iraq, Afghan Strategies
Addressing a town hall audience in Albuquerque, N.M., Republican presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain slammed Democratic rival Sen. Barack Obama's suggestion that the U.S. needs a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq and touted his views on how to triumph in Afghanistan.
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| July 15, 2008
Obama Calls for Shift in Military Focus Away from Iraq
During a policy speech on Tuesday, Sen. Barack Obama said a "single-minded" focus on the Iraq war is distracting the United States from other threats, including the ongoing battle in Afghanistan.
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| July 15, 2008
Small Cars Make a Comeback Amid High Gas Prices
Soaring gas prices have led many U.S. drivers to forgo large vehicles like SUVS for smaller cars. Essayist Anne Taylor Fleming examines the shift in consumer preference.
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NORTH AMERICA