johnhanblog

President Bush toured the fatal bridge collapse scene in Minneapolis as
rain hampered recovery efforts in an opaque Mississippi river. Mr. Bush
took an aerial tour and spoke with a construction worker who helped
rescue children after the bridge fell. 

# posted by John @ 8/04/2007 07:40:00 PM 0 comments

http://www.bloglines.com/blog/johnDispatch

# posted by John @ 8/04/2007 01:27:00 PM 0 comments

The Dow Jones Industrial average tumbles 200 points as Bear Stearns'
woes exacerbate inflamed credit market fears.

# posted by John @ 8/03/2007 04:39:00 PM 0 comments

Teen Sentenced To Life For School Shooting

Eric Hainstock had been convicted a day earlier of first degree
intentional homicide of his high school principal. The 16-year-old from
Wisconsin could be paroled in 30 years. "I do believe you can be
rehabilitated," the judge told Hainstock. 

# posted by John @ 8/03/2007 04:37:00 PM 0 comments

THREE PEOPLE ARE IN CUSTODY AFTER TRYING TO SET SAIL IN WHAT APPEARS TO
BE A MAKESHIFT SUBMERSIBLE. THEY WERE CAUGHT NEAR THE BROOKLYN CRUISE
TERMINAL IN NEW YORK CITY

# posted by John @ 8/03/2007 01:24:00 PM 0 comments

NEWS

4 U.S. soldiers killed in Baghdad
---------------------------------------------
Four American soldiers were killed during combat in Baghdad, including
three
in a single roadside bombing, the U.S. military said Friday. Three
soldiers
were killed and 11 wounded Thursday when a bomb exploded near their
combat
patrol in eastern Baghdad, the military said in a statement. Four of
the
wounded were treated and returned to duty, it said.

Officials see new urgency to improve USA's bridges
---------------------------------------------
Against the shock of a mighty span's inexplicable fall at rush hour,
into the nation's greatest river bridge experts offer this reassurance:
The same
federally mandated inspections that show one-quarter of U.S. bridges to
be "structurally deficient" or "functionally obsolete" also indicate
they're in very little danger of collapsing.

Some doctors refuse services for religious reasons
---------------------------------------------
Doctors are becoming more assertive in refusing to treat patients for
religious reasons, expanding the list of services they won't provide
beyond
abortion to include artificial insemination, use of fetal tissues and
even prescribing Viagra.

MONEY

Lead use can be accidental, or not
---------------------------------------------
U.S. and Chinese product-safety experts say there are many reasons why
Chinese factories might inadvertently or not use lead-based paint on
toys, a situation that has prompted calls for mandatory product testing
and certification.

# posted by John @ 8/03/2007 09:37:00 AM 0 comments

Bridge Labeled "Deficient" Since 1990

In 1990, the federal government first issued an ominous label for
Minnesota's busiest bridge: "structurally deficient." In the ensuing
years, inspectors found cracks and corrosion, but no real safety issues
for the bridge that collapsed Wednesday. 

# posted by John @ 8/03/2007 09:29:00 AM 0 comments

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Employers boosted payrolls in July at the slowest
pace since February, adding just 92,000 jobs as the national
unemployment rate ticked up to 4.6% from 4.5% the Labor Department said
Friday.

# posted by John @ 8/03/2007 09:25:00 AM 0 comments

Federal officials have alerted states to immediately inspect all bridges
similar to the Minneapolis bridge that collapsed into the Mississippi
River.

# posted by John @ 8/02/2007 07:50:00 PM 0 comments

President Bush says the federal government will help ensure that the
collapsed bridge in Minneapolis "gets rebuilt as quickly as possible.

# posted by John @ 8/02/2007 11:50:00 AM 0 comments

Rice shows support by meeting Palestinian Cabinet
---------------------------------------------
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice assured Palestinian leaders
Thursday
that a U.S.-sponsored Mideast peace conference this fall is meant to get
them
closer to establishing an independent state and that Israel is ready now
to
discuss fundamental issues.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-08-02-rice-mideast_N.htm

Fed investigators head to Minneapolis after 7 die in bridge collapse
---------------------------------------------
At least six people died Wednesday and dozens more were injured when a
busy
highway bridge that spans the Mississippi River collapsed during rush
hour,
sending about 50 cars, tons of concrete and twisted metal crashing into
the
water below.

Senate vote may end ethics showdown
---------------------------------------------
The Senate is poised to decide whether lawmakers must disclose more
about
their efforts to fund pet projects and raise money from lobbyists, a
move that
reform groups say is overdue. Also, a bipartisan measure to add 3
million lower-income children to a popular health insurance program is
headed for a
final Senate vote

MONEY

TV, theme parks boost Disney's profit
---------------------------------------------
The Walt Disney Co. delivered higher third-quarter profits on strong
performance from its TV networks and theme parks, and acquired the
online
virtual world Club Penguin, expanding its presence in Web entertainment,
the company said Wednesday.

Friendship and work: A good or bad partnership?
---------------------------------------------
Many employers are looking to build interoffice friendships in light of
mounting research showing that strong social connections can boost
productivity and have a positive effect on company profitability.

U.S. trouble extends to global markets
---------------------------------------------
The worsening U.S. credit crunch is beginning to cast an ominous shadow.
Markets from London to Shanghai dipped Wednesday amid worries that
problems that began with subprime mortgages loans to borrowers with
less-than-stellar
credit in the U.S. housing market are infecting other assets.

# posted by John @ 8/02/2007 10:08:00 AM 0 comments

MINNEAPOLIS - A four-lane interstate bridge spanning the Mississippi
River collapsed during evening rush hour Wednesday, sending vehicles and
tons of concrete crashing into the water. The entire span of the
Interstate 35W bridge collapsed about 6:05 p.m. Dozens of rescue
vehicles were there.

The mayor of Minneapolis says six people have died in the collapse of a
freeway bridge over the Mississippi River.

# posted by John @ 8/01/2007 10:50:00 PM 0 comments

The mayor of Minneapolis says six people have died in the collapse of a
freeway bridge over the Mississippi River.

# posted by John @ 8/01/2007 10:42:00 PM 0 comments

Freeway bridge collapses into Mississippi River in Minneapolis

A freeway bridge spanning the Mississippi River collapsed during evening
rush hour Wednesday, sending many cars into the water.

# posted by John @ 8/01/2007 07:52:00 PM 0 comments

Testifying before a House panel, former Defense Secretary Donald H.
Rumsfeld defended himself and took no personal responsibility for the
military's bungled response to Army Ranger Pat Tillman's friendly-fire
death in Afghanistan. 

# posted by John @ 8/01/2007 07:49:00 PM 0 comments

Obama Vows To Hunt Terrorists In Pakistan

After his rival, Sen. Hillary Clinton, described his foreign policy
skills as naïve, Sen. Barack Obama proposed more aggressive tactics. He
said that, if warranted, he would send U.S. troops into Pakistan after
terrorists without local permission. 

# posted by John @ 8/01/2007 07:47:00 PM 0 comments

ISM manufacturing index down in July, Reuters reports; below forecasts;
pending home sales in surprise June gain.

# posted by John @ 8/01/2007 11:18:00 AM 0 comments

U.S. crude reaches record high of $78.50 a barrel, according to
Reuters.

# posted by John @ 8/01/2007 11:17:00 AM 0 comments

NEWS

Iraq's largest Sunni bloc withdraws from government
---------------------------------------------
Iraq's largest Sunni Arab political bloc announced its withdrawal from
the
government Wednesday, undermining Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's
efforts to
seek reconciliation among the country's rival factions.

Rice visits Israel, works toward peace summit
---------------------------------------------
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will begin laying the groundwork for
a
Mideast peace conference in a visit to Israel on Wednesday, hoping to
push
Israelis and Palestinians closer to renewing talks.

Taliban hostage deadline passes; families plead
---------------------------------------------
A threatened Taliban deadline to kill some of the remaining 21 South
Korean
captives passed without any immediate word on their fate Wednesday,
while the
Afghan army dropped leaflets in the area warning residents of an
upcoming
military mission.

MONEY

Murdoch's $5B bid for Dow Jones succeeds
---------------------------------------------
News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch became the king of business news late
Tuesday,
as Dow Jones accepted his $5 billion offer.

Homeopathic medicine company fights off Zicam lawsuits
---------------------------------------------
Consumers across the country have alleged in more than 400 lawsuits
filed in
courts and complaints logged with federal regulators that Zicam nasal
gel,
meant to relieve cold symptoms, has destroyed or diminished their sense
of
smell or taste.

# posted by John @ 8/01/2007 09:19:00 AM 0 comments

A RESCUE MISSION TO FREE 21 KIDNAPPED SOUTH KOREANS IN AFGHANISTAN IS
UNDER WAY, REUTERS REPORTS

# posted by John @ 8/01/2007 09:11:00 AM 0 comments

Dow Jones & Co., which set up shop in a Wall Street basement 125 years
ago, says it has entered into an agreement to be bought by Rupert
Murdoch's News Corp., whose properties include Fox News, numerous
tabloids, MySpace and Twentieth Century Fox. 

# posted by John @ 8/01/2007 09:09:00 AM 0 comments

The News Corp.-Dow Jones deal has been approved by the boards of both
companies, the Wall Street Journal reports.

# posted by John @ 7/31/2007 10:39:00 PM 0 comments

FORMER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE DONALD RUMSFELD WILL TESTIFY TOMORROW IN
TILLMAN FRATRICIDE HEARING

# posted by John @ 7/31/2007 10:38:00 PM 0 comments

Retired Gen. Censured In Tillman Cover-Up

The Army has censured retired Lt. Gen. Philip Kensinger for his role in
the chain of errors that followed ex-NFL player Pat Tillman's
friendly-fire death in 2004. A special panel will determine if Kensinger
should also have his rank reduced. 

# posted by John @ 7/31/2007 04:15:00 PM 0 comments

Dow tumbles 155 points in the last moments of trade on record oil prices
and more credit market woes.

# posted by John @ 7/31/2007 04:07:00 PM 0 comments

Chief Justice John Roberts has been released from a hospital in Maine. A
Supreme Court spokeswoman says he plans to continue on with his vacation
with his family in Maine

# posted by John @ 7/31/2007 01:10:00 PM 0 comments

Adoption scandal stretches from NYC to FL

A FL woman is accused of relying on mass adoptions to collect support
payments from NYC. Authorities say those payments did little to help the
adopted children she allegedly abused.

# posted by John @ 7/31/2007 01:09:00 PM 0 comments

Media giant Rupert Murdoch appears to have enough shareholder votes for
his purchase offer for the Dow Jones Company, which includes the Wall
Street Journal.

# posted by John @ 7/31/2007 01:04:00 PM 0 comments

Roberts' Seizure Not "Cause For Concern"

Doctors who examined Chief Justice John Roberts called the episode at
his Maine vacation home a "benign idiopathic seizure," meaning they
found no tumor or any other explanation. A Court official said the
incident was not a "cause for concern." 

# posted by John @ 7/31/2007 09:59:00 AM 0 comments

http://www.bloglines.com/blog/johnDispatch

# posted by John @ 7/31/2007 09:34:00 AM 0 comments

Rice, Gates push Mideast for support
---------------------------------------------
The Bush administration said Monday that a new multibillion-dollar
military
sales package for Arab nations will help secure Iraq and the Persian
Gulf
while promoting stability and U.S. influence in a Middle East threatened
by
terrorism and rising Iranian ambitions.

Feds search Sen. Stevens' home
---------------------------------------------
Agents from the FBI and Internal Revenue Service on Monday searched the
home
of U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, an official said.

U.S. officials talk food safety in China
---------------------------------------------
A team of U.S. health officials arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for talks
on
food and drug safety after a string of toxic Chinese exports triggered
global
concern about the country's products.

MONEY
Gas prices at the pump fall but oil rises
---------------------------------------------
Oil prices flirted with record highs Monday, while gasoline prices fell
for a
second consecutive week, as oil and gas prices continue to
uncharacteristically move in opposite directions.

Stocks climb; S&P up 1%
---------------------------------------------
Stocks rose Monday after last week's two-day sell-off, pushing the
Standard &
Poor's 500 index up 1% and other indexes higher, too.

# posted by John @ 7/31/2007 08:08:00 AM 0 comments

Chief Justice John Roberts suffers seizure

Chief Justice John Roberts suffered a seizure at his summer home in
Maine on Monday, causing a fall that resulted in minor scrapes, a
Supreme Court spokeswoman said. He will remain in a hospital in Maine
overnight.

# posted by John @ 7/30/2007 07:10:00 PM 0 comments

Majority of advisors on FDA panel vote to keep diabetes drug Avandia on
the market.

# posted by John @ 7/30/2007 06:28:00 PM 0 comments

U.S. SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AFTER
FALL AT MAINE HOME, NO WORD ON HIS CONDITION

# posted by John @ 7/30/2007 04:47:00 PM 0 comments

FORMER SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS HEAD COACH BILL WALSH HAS DIED. WALSH COACHED
THE TEAM TO THREE SUPER BOWL TITLES IN THE 1980S

# posted by John @ 7/30/2007 03:27:00 PM 0 comments

The FDA may decide today to pull the popular diabetes drug Avandia off
the market because it may cause cardiovascular problems like heart
disease. One federal scientist has come out already with such a call.

# posted by John @ 7/30/2007 02:28:00 PM 0 comments

The Taliban says it has executed a second Korean hostage, CBS News has
learned.

# posted by John @ 7/30/2007 01:15:00 PM 0 comments

Iran's foreign ministry has blasted a U.S. plan to sell billions in
high-tech weaponry to Saudi Arabia. The ministry spokesman said the
deal, and U.S. policy, is designed to sow instability in the region,
thus driving more arms sales. 

# posted by John @ 7/30/2007 12:38:00 PM 0 comments

Iconic Swedish film director Ingmar Bergman has died at his home at the
age of 89, according to his daughter Eva. Bergman tackled some tough
topics in his day, and leaves behind a legacy of more than 50 films. 

World

Taliban Mulls Hostage Deadline Extension

An Afghan governor has pleaded with the Taliban to continue negotiations
for the release of 22 South Korean hostages, without shedding any more
blood. The Taliban commander in the region says a meeting is underway to
decide the hostages' fate. 

# posted by John @ 7/30/2007 12:35:00 PM 0 comments

WASHINGTON, D.C., CLOSES AT LEAST TWO GREEN LINE METRO STATIONS AS DEAD
BIRDS ARE FOUND

# posted by John @ 7/29/2007 02:13:00 PM 0 comments