johnhanblog

Hillary Clinton said that a pair of mailings sent to voters by rival
Barack Obama's campaign criticizing her health care plan and trade views
are false, misleading and a betrayal of his pledge to practice a new
style of politics. .
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U.S.

Civil Rights Activist Carr Dead at 97

Johnnie Carr, who joined childhood friend Rosa Parks in the historic
Montgomery bus boycott and became a prominent civil rights activist over
the past half century, has died. She was 97. 
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World

Turkey Presses Ahead With Iraq Offensive

Turkish forces pressed ahead with ground operations against Kurdish
rebels in Iraq on Saturday after the military reported that seven troops
and several dozen rebels had been killed in the cross-border fighting. 
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Business

"Male Enhancement" Drug Guru In Hot Water

A federal court jury has found the owner of a company that sells "male
enhancement" tablets and other herbal supplements guilty of bank fraud
and money laundering.

# posted by John @ 2/23/2008 05:31:00 PM 0 comments

Obama, Clinton Spar Over Cuba, Health Care

Hillary Clinton accused presidential rival Barack Obama of political
plagiarism Thursday night, but drew boos from a Democratic debate
audience when she ridiculed him as the candidate of "change you can
Xerox." 
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World

Plane Carrying 46 Missing In Venezuela

A commercial airliner with 46 people aboard has disappeared in
southwestern Venezuela, and authorities say they believe it crashed
after residents reported hearing a thunderous noise in the mountains.
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Health

Doctors Find 3 New Signs Of Stroke Risk

Research doctors have discovered that a higher stroke risk was seen in
women with artery buildups accidentally revealed by mammograms, in
non-diabetics starting to have insulin problems, and in older people who
tend to nod off a lot.
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Business

Fed Issues Gloomy Economic Forecast

The Federal Reserve has lowered its projection for economic growth this
year, spurring fears that the economy could continue to weaken despite
January's interest rate cuts. 

# posted by John @ 2/22/2008 09:47:00 AM 0 comments

U.S. stocks finish with losses on downbeat economic data

U.S. stocks finish lower, with the major indexes each chalking up losses
of more than 1%, after data highlighting the nation's economic slowdown
sinks early momentum sparked by technology issues.

Metals Stocks: Gold, platinum futures soar to new record highs

Gold futures closed with gains after soaring to a new record high of
$958.40 an ounce Thursday, boosted by weakness in the U.S. dollar and
the metal's appeal as a hedge against inflation.

Crude drops 1.5% as U.S. inventories rise more than expected

Crude-oil futures dropped on Thursday for the first time in six days,
down 1.5% to close near the $98-a-barrel mark, as government data showed
U.S. crude inventories have risen more than expected.

Nestle posts 16% increase in annual profit after raising prices

LONDON
Nestle reports a 16% improvement in 2007 profit as it reaped the
benefits of its increased focus on healthier foods and managed to pass
off higher commodity costs to consumers.

# posted by John @ 2/21/2008 06:28:00 PM 0 comments

Serb rioters have broken into the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade and set fire
to an office there. The episode follows a massive protest in the streets
of Belgrade against Kosovo's independence. An estimated 150,000 people
took part. 
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U.S.

38 Ex-Lacrosse Players To Sue Duke, City

More than three dozen current and former Duke lacrosse players are suing
the university, the City of Durham and several school and police
officials. They claim they suffered emotional distress during the
since-discredited rape case. 
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World

Pakistan Coalition A Setback For Musharraf

Leaders of Pakistan's two largest political parties announced they
will form a ruling coalition government, in a significant setback to
Pervez Musharraf, the pro-U.S. ruler and Washington's main ally in the
war on terror. 
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Health

Brighter Odds Of Beating Memory Loss

Fewer senior moments? Baby boomers may be less likely than previous
generations to develop severe memory loss after age 70, says a
University of Michigan researcher. 
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SciTech

Gray Wolves Removed From Endangered List

Gray wolves in the Northern Rockies are being removed from the
endangered species list. The move follows a 13-year restoration effort
that led the animal's population to soar - and which may now lead to
public hunts. 
__________________
Business

Fed Issues Gloomy Economic Forecast

The Federal Reserve has lowered its projection for economic growth this
year, spurring fears that the economy could continue to weaken despite
January's interest rate cuts. 

# posted by John @ 2/21/2008 04:43:00 PM 0 comments

U.S.: Missile Smashed Spy Satellite

The Pentagon says it has successfully targeted a dying spy satellite
with a missile launch, taking out the potentially lethal load of fuel
orbiting the Earth. China says it's watching for possible damage to
"outer space security". 
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US

Cops: Teen Paid Men $260 To Kill Parents

A high school senior accused of trying to pay hit men $260 to kill his
adoptive parents had always been a "very good child," his mother said
through tears. 
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World

Political Truce Expected In Kenya

Officials say a political deal to end Kenya's deadly postelection crisis
is expected by Friday, with the two sides having "largely agreed" on a
new government structure. 

# posted by John @ 2/21/2008 09:37:00 AM 0 comments

A defense official says a missile launched from a U.S. Navy ship in the
Pacific hit the decaying U.S. spy satellite it was targeting 130 miles
aboveEarth's surface.

# posted by John @ 2/20/2008 10:59:00 PM 0 comments

Stocks finish higher Wednesday after the Fed signals the possibility of
more rate cuts and oil surges to record high.

# posted by John @ 2/20/2008 04:08:00 PM 0 comments

THE FEDERAL RESERVE LOWERS FORECAST FOR U.S. ECONOMY, AND NOW PREDICTS
SLOWER ECONOMIC GROWTH, HIGHER UNEMPLOYMENT AND HIGHER RATE OF INFLATION

# posted by John @ 2/20/2008 03:52:00 PM 0 comments

Spy Satellite Shootdown May Be On Hold

The Defense Department says bad weather in the north Pacific makes it
unlikely that a Navy ship will launch a missile in an attempt to shoot
down a wayward U.S. spy satellite in space. 
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World

Al-Sadr May End Iraq Cease-Fire

Powerful, anti-U.S. Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr may unleash his
militia on Iraq again this weekend, ending a six-month cease-fire.
Al-Sadr is under pressure from his commanders who say continued U.S. and
Iraqi raids are hurting their numbers. More...

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Politics

Obama's Winning Streak Continues

Barack Obama has easily won the Democratic primary in Wisconsin and the
caucuses in Hawaii, handing Hillary Clinton her 9th and 10th straight
defeats headed into decisive March 4 contests. Republican John McCain
also won in two more states. 
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Opinion

Why College Women Favor Obama

Hillary Clinton is struggling for votes among young women in part
because women are so successful on campus that they don't feel any need
to vote based on gender. Enter Barack Obama, The New Republic writes.

# posted by John @ 2/20/2008 12:00:00 PM 0 comments

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

# posted by John @ 2/20/2008 09:56:00 AM 0 comments

Obama's Winning Streak Continues

Barack Obama has easily won the Democratic primary in Wisconsin and the
caucuses in Hawaii, handing Hillary Clinton her 9th and 10th straight
defeats headed into decisive March 4 contests. Republican John McCain
also won in two more states. 
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U.S.

Minn. School Bus Crash Kills 4 Students

Authorities say four students have been killed in a school bus crash in
southwestern Minnesota. 
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World

Al-Sadr May End Iraq Cease-Fire

Powerful, anti-U.S. Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr may unleash his
militia on Iraq again this weekend, ending a six-month cease-fire.
Al-Sadr is under pressure from his commanders who say continued U.S. and
Iraqi raids are hurting their numbers.
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Health

Study: "Code Blue" Deadliest Late At Night

The graveyard shift is the worst time to call code blue, a new study
finds. Patients who go into cardiac arrest while in the hospital are
more likely to die if it happens after 11 p.m., when staffing may be
lower or patients watched less closely. 
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SciTech

Satellite Shootdown Try May Be Imminent

The Pentagon says the military's attempt to shot down a wayward U.S. spy
satellite as it falls toward Earth could happen as early as Wednesday
night. 

# posted by John @ 2/20/2008 09:32:00 AM 0 comments

John McCain has won the Republican primary in Washington.

# posted by John @ 2/19/2008 11:31:00 PM 0 comments

WASHINGTON - Barack Obama won the Wisconsin primary Tuesday night, his
ninth straight triumph over a fading Hillary Rodham Clinton in their
struggle for the Democratic presidential nomination. John McCain won the
Republican primary, with ease, dispatching Mike Huckabee.

# posted by John @ 2/19/2008 11:04:00 PM 0 comments

DRAMATIC RISE IN CRUDE: OIL CLOSES ABOVE $99 A BARREL AFTER HITTING A
HIGH OF $100.10

# posted by John @ 2/19/2008 03:15:00 PM 0 comments

Fidel Castro Resigns Cuban Presidency

Ailing leader Fidel Castro has resigned as Cuba's president after nearly
a half-century in power, saying in a letter published online by state
media that he would not accept a new term when the newly elected
parliament meets on Sunday. 
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U.S.

New Jersey Mayor Fights For His City

Mayor Cory A. Booker is tackling Newark's rampant murder rate with
gusto. He's got no confidence in the federal government's programs, and
his methods have ruffled some feathers, but he thinks he's created a
model for the rest of the country. 
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World

Pakistan Opposition Parties Win Majority

Pakistan's opposition parties have won parliamentary elections,
threatening the eight-year rule of President Pervez Musharraf,
Washington's close ally in its war on terror, according to unofficial
poll returns.
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Politics

Clinton Steps Up Attacks On Obama

Aides to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton accused Sen. Barack Obama yesterday
of plagiarizing portions of a recent speech and continued to question
his vows to reform the campaign finance system, the Washington Post
reports.

# posted by John @ 2/19/2008 09:39:00 AM 0 comments

Tornadoes Injure Dozens In Southeast

Severe weather howled through much of the nation Sunday, producing
damaging tornadoes in the South that injured nearly 30 people and
subjecting winter-weary parts of the Midwest to freezing rain, snow and
flooding. 
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World

Kosovo Independence Divides U.N.

Russia has tried to block Kosovo's declaration of independence from
neighboring Serbia at an emergency session of the United Nations
Security Council. The birth of the new, U.S.-backed nation has caused
consternation in many world capitals.
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Politics

Democrats Spotlight The Superdelegates

Despite all the primaries and caucuses, it is increasingly possible that
neither Obama nor Clinton will secure a majority of delegates needed to
win the party's nomination when the contests are over.

# posted by John @ 2/18/2008 11:08:00 AM 0 comments

PRISTINA, Kosovo - Kosovo declared itself a nation on Sunday, mounting a
brash and historic bid to become an "independent and democratic state"
backed by the U.S. and key European allies but bitterly contested by
Serbia and Russia.

# posted by John @ 2/17/2008 10:28:00 AM 0 comments