 | 2008 JULY
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 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 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 17, 2008
U.S. Doctors Create Pediatric AIDS Network in Malawi
In Malawi, where some 83,000 children are infected with HIV, a new program brings U.S. doctors to the East African country and encourages African doctors to set up practices in their hometowns, instead of leaving for more prosperous countries.
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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 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 14, 2008
New Yorker Cover Satirizing Obama Raises Controversy
In the latest issue of the New Yorker, a cover illustration of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama and his wife satirizes some of the rumors that have swirled about the candidate. Writers Michael Eric Dyson and Eric Bates examine the media controversy.
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| July 10, 2008
Medical Association Apologizes for History of Prejudice
The American Medical Association apologized on Thursday for its history of discrimination aimed at preventing African-Americans from gaining membership. Experts offer insight into the statement and the history behind it.
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| July 8, 2008
McCain, Obama Make Pitches to Hispanic Voters
Presidential hopefuls Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., addressed Hispanic voters in Washington Tuesday as both campaigns sought to appeal to the nation's fastest-growing minority voting bloc.
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| July 8, 2008
McCain, Obama Court Influential Hispanic Voting Bloc
Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama addressed Latino leaders Tuesday as both candidates seek the support of Hispanic voters. Campaign advisers discuss the appeals to this key voting bloc and weigh the power of the Hispanic electorate in battleground states.
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| July 8, 2008
Obama Reaches Out to Hispanic Voters
Sen. Barack Obama spoke to the League of United Latino American Citizens in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday as Obama and his rival, Sen. John McCain, seek support from Hispanic voters. Following is Obama's speech, as prepared for delivery.
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| July 8, 2008
For Black Bloggers, Convention Latest in an Ongoing Fight to Be Heard
The Democrats credentialed 120 bloggers for the party's convention in August, and it was hailed by many in the blogosphere as an unprecedented number. But soon after the first group of credentialed bloggers was announced, a group of black bloggers began charging that the selection process excluded bloggers of color.
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| July 4, 2008
Columnist Values the Right to Pursue Happiness
Chicago Tribune columnist Clarence Page measures the importance of happiness and its part in one of the most famous phrases of the Declaration of Independence as the United States turns another year older.
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| July 2, 2008
G8 Leaders Urged to Turn Attention to Food Crisis
Ahead of the Group of Eight summit in Japan next week, World Bank President Robert Zoellick is calling on world leaders to renew their focus on the global food crisis what efforts to address food shortages as commodities' values escalate.
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| July 1, 2008
International Adoption Becoming Difficult Amid Treaties, Regulation
International adoption has been a popular practice for American couples, with adoptions reaching as high as 20,000 a year. This process is becoming more difficult as barriers increase, with international organizations and foreign countries alike enacting increasingly stringent regulations.
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| JUNE
June 26, 2008
Supreme Court Overturns D.C. Handgun Ban
The Supreme Court overturned the District of Columbia's 32-year ban on handguns, affirming for the first time the Second Amendment right of individuals to keep and bear arms. The Online NewsHour spoke to Washington, D.C., residents about their reactions to the ruling.
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| June 26, 2008
Attorneys Debate Effects of Gun Ban Override
The Supreme Court's landmark decision overturning the gun ban in the District of Columbia Thursday may have far reaching effects. Peter Nickles, D.C. Attorney General, and Ted Cruz, former Texas Solicitor General, debate the impact of the decision.
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| June 26, 2008
In Landmark Ruling, Divided High Court Strikes Down Gun Ban
The Supreme Court rejected a District of Columbia handgun ban in a 5-4 vote Thursday, the first time the court has issued a major ruling on gun rights. Marcia Coyle of the National Law Journal discusses the case.
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| June 26, 2008
Court Affirms Individual Right to Own Firearms
In the first major pronouncement on gun rights in U.S. history, a divided Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Americans have a right to own guns for self-defense and hunting.
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| June 25, 2008
Summertime Memories Revived in Road Trip
Julia Keller of the Chicago Tribune reflects on old memories relived and new ones made during summertime family road trips.
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| June 25, 2008
Efforts to Resettle Displaced Kenyans Get Mixed Results
Despite government efforts to resettle hundreds of thousands of Kenyans displaced from election violence earlier this year, a state-funded human rights group has said too little is being done to address grievances back home.
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| June 23, 2008
New Survey Maps Shifts in the U.S. Religious Landscape
A new forum by the Pew foundation shows an America that is widely devout and diverse in its religious roots. It also reveals new shifts and trends in the way religion takes hold across the U.S. A senior fellow from the Pew forum discusses the group's findings.
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| June 23, 2008
Legal Debate Over Gay Marriage Continues to Shift
Thousands of same-sex couples are expected to wed in California this summer, after the state's Supreme Court overturned a ban on gay nuptials. So what is the national impact of the California ruling? And what are the legal challenges ahead? Two legal experts answered your questions on the law and gay marriage.
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| June 19, 2008
More than 400 Arrested in Mortgage Fraud Sting
More than 400 real estate industry workers have been indicted since March in a Justice Department crackdown on incidents of mortgage fraud nationwide -- a key contributing factor to the country's housing crisis.
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| June 19, 2008
Fragile Cease-fire Between Israel and Hamas Takes Effect
The truce between Israel and Hamas took effect on Thursday, with both sides halting fighting in the Gaza Strip. But even as it begun, the truce between the two warring sides is said to already be in jeopardy.
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| June 18, 2008
Calif. Gay Marriages Raise Legal Questions Nationwide
The laws governing marriage nationwide are a complicated state-by-state patchwork, with little or no interstate recognition. The recent ruling in California legalizing same-sex marriage adds another layer of complexity to the legal landscape. Legal experts examine these questions.
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| June 17, 2008
In Rwanda, U.S.-Backed Program Improves Access to AIDS Drugs
A U.S. program to curb AIDS in Africa is having success providing antiretroviral drugs to AIDS patients in Rwanda -- particularly pregnant women and newborns. Health correspondent Susan Dentzer begins a series of reports examining the impact of the American effort.
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| June 17, 2008
Same-Sex Couples Begin Marrying in California
Hundreds of gay and lesbian couples filled county clerk offices across California Tuesday and exchanged marriage vows on the state's first full day of legal same-sex nuptials. Spencer Michels reports on the day and the legal battles ahead.
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| June 11, 2008
Arizona's Illegal Immigration Laws Put to the Test
Last year, Arizona passed 15 bills and resolutions giving police more tools to go after illegal immigrants, one of several states tightening immigration laws. Jeffrey Kaye of KCET-Los Angeles examines the impact of the new regulations.
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| June 5, 2008
Debate Looks at Immigration Laws and Citizenship
A recent debate sponsored by the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia and moderated by Robert MacNeil examined the current laws dealing with immigration and the possible plans to address the twelve million illegal immigrants currently living in the U.S.
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| June 5, 2008
World Leaders Pledge to Ease Food Crisis After Political Squabbling
World leaders at a United Nations food summit pledged Thursday to reduce trade barriers and boost agricultural production to combat the food crisis that is spreading hunger and violent unrest across the globe.
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| June 3, 2008
Concerns Over Immigration Crackdowns Lead U.S. Farms to Recruit in Mexico
In response to fears that stricter enforcement of immigration laws will create a shortage of farm workers, the U.S. agricultural industry has headed to Mexico to recruit temporary -- and legal -- migrant workers. Jeffrey Kaye of KCET-Los Angeles reports on the farm industry's recruitment attempts and worker shortfalls.
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| June 2, 2008
Researchers Examine Impact of Exercise on Aging
Scientists have coined a new term -- geroscience -- to describe research that aims to slow down aging and delay the onset of age-related diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Researchers are studying the underlying genetic causes of aging and effects of exercise.
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| June 2, 2008
Education Issues Weigh on Tribal Voters in South Dakota, Montana
With sizeable populations in the last two states to vote in the Democratic primary, Native American voters have emerged as a highly sought-after voting bloc ahead of Tuesday's voting in Montana and South Dakota.
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| MAY
May 30, 2008
Growing Internet Use in China Reflects Changing Society
Last month, China passed the United States in the number of people online. The growing Internet use has given the Chinese a chance to see how the rest of the world views them, and is helping shape the attitudes of younger generations. Margaret Warner reports from China.
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| May 30, 2008
Extended Interview: Google China President Kai-Fu Lee
As part of a reporting trip to China in May, Margaret Warner spoke with Kai-Fu Lee, a Chinese-American who's president of Google China, about the gap in perceptions that exists between Chinese and Americans.
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| May 30, 2008
Extended Interview: Former Ambassador Wu Jianmin
While reporting in China in May, Margaret Warner spoke with Wu Jianmin, China's former ambassador to France, now professor at China Foreign Affairs University, about the state of freedom in his country today. He begins by talking about the gap in understanding between China and the world.
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| May 30, 2008
Extended Interview: Magazine Editor Hung Huang
While reporting in China in May, Margaret Warner spoke to Hung Huang, CEO of China Interactive Media Group and editor of the lifestyle magazine iLook, about the state of media freedom in China today.
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| May 27, 2008
Experts Debate Cloned Food
In January, the Food and Drug Administration decided that meat and milk from cloned animals is safe to eat. Two experts on different sides of the issue -- a veterinarian whose company produces cloned animals and an advocate for clone-free food -- answered your questions.
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| May 27, 2008
Justices Back Workers in Race, Age Discrimination Suits
The high court sided Tuesday with employees -- one at a Cracker Barrel restaurant, one a postal worker -- who sought to file lawsuits after facing retaliation for complaining about race and age discrimination. Marcia Coyle of the National Law Journal examines the cases.
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| May 26, 2008
Young Voters Predict Big Impact on Fall Election
Three students and youth vote experts, including the executive director of Rock the Vote, discuss the role young voters have played in the primary races, and how they could affect the upcoming general election.
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| May 26, 2008
Earthquake Recovery Tempers China's Olympics Elation
In preparing for the Olympic Games, the Chinese government has faced unexpected challenges, including a devastating earthquake and protests over its rule of Tibet. Margaret Warner reports from China about the quake's impacts on the Beijing Olympic plans.
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| May 23, 2008
Education Experts on Gender Gap
For years there have been worries about a reported "crisis" in the education rates for boys and young men. This week, the American Association of University Women issued a report stating that income, race and ethnicity were bigger factors than gender. Two experts answered your questions.
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| May 22, 2008
Clinton's Run Triggers Debate Over Gender Bias
Sen. Hillary Clinton spoke frankly this week about the sexism she feels she has faced on the campaign trail as she competes with Sen. Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination. Two columnists weigh the role of gender in politics and how the media has handled the issue.
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| May 21, 2008
Report Aims to Debunk Myths on Gender and Education
A new report examines commonly held assumptions about the differences in how girls and boys learn and achieve in education. Experts discuss the findings and how they might help educators better address issues of learning and gender.
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| May 21, 2008
Iraq Vets Recount Concerns Over Rules of Engagement
A panel of Democrats in the House of Representatives heard presentations last week from a group of veterans who say they witnessed and participated in widespread misconduct during their time in Iraq.
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SOCIAL ISSUES