theCLog

Obama calls for opening of strategic oil reserve:
Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama reversed his opposition, and calls to tapping into strategic oil reserves as part of his plan to provide relief from high gas prices. Obama who previously said he was opposed to using the strategic reserves, said on Monday he proposed selling 70 million barrels of oil from the reserves in order to lower gas prices. Fox News

Morgan Freeman in serious condition:
Oscar winning actor Morgan Freeman is in a Memphis, Tennessee hospital after being injured in a car accident near his home in Mississippi. A spokeswoman for Regional Medical Center said Freeman was in serious condition. A Mississippi Highway Patrol spokesman said Freeman was driving a 1997 Nissan Maxima, when the car left a rural highway and flipped several times shortly before midnight Sunday. AP

CDC finds more Americans infected with HIV than previously believed:
There are more new cases of Americans infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, than previously believed, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Saturday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 56,000 new HIV cases in the past year, about 40 percent above projections. CNN

Madeleine McCann case files made public:
A Portuguese police file containing almost 30,000 pages of evidence from the investigation into the disappearance of British girl Madeleine McCann was made public today. Madeleine McCann, three, vanished May 3, 2007 during a family holiday in Praia da Luz. Times Online

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Man charged in death of pregnant solider:
Fayetteville detectives arrested Edgar Patino at his home in Hopewell, N.C., Tuesday. Patino, a fellow soldier, was charged with murdering pregnant Fort Bragg solider Megan Lynn Touma. Touma and Patino had been stationed together in Germany and dated in the past. She was found dead on June 21 in a hotel near Fort Bragg, N.C. CNN

Flight attendant finds woman’s corpse in plane bathroom:
A spokeswoman for Delta airlines says flight attendants found the body of an unidentified woman in the bathroom of a plane that landed in Atlanta. The body was found shortly before 6 a.m. on Delta flight 950 that arrived from Los Angeles. There was no information on the passenger or where she was from. AJC

Alaska senator’s indictment may hurt GOP:
Ted Stevens, the U.S. Senate’s longest-serving Republican senator was indicted Tuesday on seven counts of failing to disclose more than $250,000 in gifts. The indictments jeopardize his re-election and damage his parties chances at recapturing the Senate. AP via Yahoo News

Moderate earthquake hits California:
A magnitude 5.2 earthquake rocked a rural part of northern California on Tuesday evening. The quake hit shortly after 8 p.m. about 11 miles east of the town of Willow Creek, which is about 190 miles west of Sacramento. There were no immediate reports of damages or causalities. CNN

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Next president faces record budget deficit:
The next president will face a record budget deficit approaching $490 billion, a Bush administration official said Monday. The deficit is being driven to an all-time high by the declining economy and the stimulus payments that were made to 130 million households in an attempt to keep the country from falling into a deep recession. The deficit is expected to easily surpass the record deficit of $413 billion set in 2004. BBC News

Prominent cancer doctor warns about cellphone use:
Dr. Ronald B. Herberman, the director of University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, has warned his faculty and staff to limit cellphone use because of a possible cancer risk. Dr. Herberman notes while the link between cellphone use and cancer may be unclear, people should take precautions, particularly for children. “Although the evidence is still controversial, I am convinced that there are sufficient data to warrant issuing an advisory to share some precautionary advice on cellphone use,” he wrote in his memo to staff and faculty. AP via The New York Times

Church shooting suspect angry over job search:
Jim Adkisson, the suspect in a fatal shooting that took place at a Knoxville church on Sunday, was frustrated over being unable to find a job and hatred for the liberal movement, police said Monday. Authorities recovered a four-page letter in which Adkisson described his feelings and motives. CNN

The Dark Knight breaks $300 million record:
The Dark Knight continues to break box office records in the United States, breaking the $300 million dollar mark in just 10 days. The film grossed 75.6 million dollars in its second weekend in cinemas, pushing its domestic total to $314,245,000 dollars. Pirates of the Caribbean:Dead Man’s Chest held the previous record, which was set in 16 days in 2006. BBC News

Wildfires at Yosemite threaten homes:
A fast-spreading wildfire outside California’s Yosemite National Park has destroyed a dozen homes and burned more than 26,000 acres of dry timber, the state’s forestry department said Monday. CNN

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President Bush drops opposition to housing bill:
President Bush dropped his opposition Wednesday to a broad housing package aimed at boosting the economy, despite his objections to including $3.9 billion for neighborhoods hard-hit by foreclosure. Under the bill, the government would help struggling homeowners get new cheaper loans. Fox News

Dolly strengthens to a Category 2:
Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami say Hurricane Dolly strengthened Wednesday to a Category 2 with winds near 100 miles per hour. As Dolly moves closer to land, some areas could get up to 15 inches of rain, causing widespread flooding. AP via The New York Times

Ex-cop may be charged in Tasering death:
Baron “Scooter” Pikes died after being Tasered by police more than nine times. The coroner ruled his death a homicide and said, “Pikes could’ve already been dead after the seventh shock.” Ex-officer Scott Nugent may be charged with Pikes’ death following a complete report on the case by Louisiana State Police. CNN

Nissan Recalls Sentras:
Nissan Motor Co. is recalling about 700,000 Sentra in the U.S. due to brake problems that could leak fluids. The recall is for all 2007-2008 Sentras, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported on its Web site. AP via MSNBC

Lidocaine may help mammogram pain:
A new study suggests that applying the topical analgesic before mammograms could significantly decrease the pain and discomfort many women experience during the test, which could encourage more women to get screened. HealthDay News

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Batman star arrested on assault allegations:

Batman star Christian Bale was arrested Tuesday over allegations of assault. Bale’s mother and sister say he assaulted them at a west London hotel Sunday, a day before the European premiere of his latest film, The Dark Knight. Police did not question Bale on Monday because of the premiere. U.S. representatives for Bale didn’t immediately return phone calls seeking a comment. Fox News

Missing soldier found alive:

A missing Fort Bliss, Texas, soldier reported missing was found by authorities Sunday after she was kidnapped and assaulted by her husband. The 34-year-old husband was arrested and charged with aggravated kidnapping. The husband was apparently distraught after his wife told him she planned to leave him. AP via MSNBC

Wachovia reports huge loss:

Wachovia Corp. posted a nearly $9 billion loss for its second quarter Tuesday. Wachovia stock has dropped more than 75 percent in New York Stock Exchange composite trading since it spent $24 billion two years ago to buy Golden West just as house prices were peaking. CNN Money

Wartime leader of Bosnia hid with false identity:

Radovan Karadzic, the wartime leader of Bosnian Serbs, was arrested Monday night in Belgrade, officials said. A judge has ordered his transfer to the U.N. war crimes tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands to face genocide charges. Karadzic grew a long white beard to conceal his identity and even managed to practice medicine while hiding.AP via Yahoo News

Shades apart:

Twin boys born in Germany on July 11, are turning heads because both brothers were born with dramatically different skin colors. The older twin Ryan, takes after his white German father Stephan Gerth, while the younger, Leo, takes after his mother, Florence. Addo Gerth who is from Ghana. ABC News

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McCann’s wait to be cleared:

Portugal’s attorney general has told police to stop their probe into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. There has been no evidence of a crime committed by the three people named as suspects: Madeleine’s parents Kate and Gerry, and local man Robert Murat. The case will remain on hold until new evidence merges. AP via KDKA

Beijing takes cars off the street for Olympics:

Under a two-month plan that started Sunday, half of Beijing’s 3.3 million cars will be removed from city streets on alternate days. The clean-up plan includes cutbacks on construction and factory closures. The government hopes to reduce vehicle emissions — one of Beijing’s largest source of pollution. AP via CNN

Iraqi government hopes for U.S. withdrawal by 2010:

Iraq’s government spokesman said he is hopeful that U.S. combat forces could be out of Iraq by 2010. Ali al-Dabbagh made this statement following a meeting in Baghdad on Monday between Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and presidential contender Barack Obama. AP via Yahoo News

Trail for H.I.V. vaccine is canceled:

Plans for a large human trial of a promising government-developed HIV vaccine in the U.S. were canceled Thursday. A top federal official said scientists realized they did not have enough information about how HIV vaccines and the immune system interact. The New York Times

Salmonella fears prompt food recall in N.C.:

State officials announced a food recall of fresh jalapeño peppers and avocado distributed in N.C. after samples from a food distributor test positive for salmonella. The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said in a statement Thursday, it asked Charlotte food distributors to recall the items it received from a Texas food supply company because of possible salmonella contamination. AP via MSNBC

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Obama campaign raised $52 million in June:

Obama’s campaign says it raised $52 million in June, twice as much as Republican rival John McCain. The Obama campaign and the Democratic National Committee ended with a combined $92.3 million in the bank. McCain has outspent Obama on television ads for general election, while Obama has opted out of public financing. Yahoo News via AP

E. Coli outbreak spreads to more states:

E. coli outbreaks traced to recalled beef in Michigan and Ohio have been connected to cases in three other states, officials said Tuesday. Cases in New York, Kentucky and Indiana match lab-confirmed cases of a bacterial infection that matches the 41 previously reported cases, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. CNN via AP

Manson follow denied compassionate release:

California’s parole board on Tuesday denied a request to release Charles Manson follower Susan Atkins, who made headlines for killing pregnant actress Sharon Tate. Atkins is dying from brain cancer and is expected to have fewer than six months to live. CBS News via AP

Iraqi’s divided over withdrawal timetable :

One thing is for sure certain: Iraqi’s want the U.S. military presence to end. But security officials and politicians cannot agree whether a timetable should be set for troops to leave is something ordinary Iraqis. MSNBC via Reuters

Grandparents of slain N.C. woman take custody of children:

In a custody complaint filed Wednesday by slain Raleigh woman Nancy Coopers parent’s, Garry and Donna Rentz claimed Brad Cooper was having an affair when their daughter was murdered. The complaint is being characterized by investigators as a “private matter.” Fox News

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GM makes deep cuts:

General Motors Corp. announced Tuesday it will suspend its dividend, sell off $4 billion to $7 billion worth of assets, and cut 20 percent of salaried cash costs in a plan to save billions of dollars. CNNMoney

Nepal to select its first president:

Lawmakers in Nepal will vote on the country’s first president since its became a republic. Maoists who won seats in a recent election want a non-political figure as president. It is unclear who may become president, as no party has had a majority in recent elections. CNN

Drugs to build bones may actually weaken them:

Questions have emerged about whether the long-term use of bone building drugs for osteoporosis may actually weaken bones in a small number of people who use them. Questions rise from cases showing a rare type of leg fracture that shears straight across the upper thigh bone after little or no trauma. The New York Times

D.A. urges to keep Manson follower in prison:

Susan Atkins is requesting release from prison because she is terminally ill with brain cancer. Atkins was well known for stabbing pregnant actress Sharon Tate in the famous “Manson Murders”. The Los Angeles district attorney has asked the parole board to deny her request because Atkins still shows zero remorse. Los Angeles Times

Oil prices plunge:

Oil prices plunged Tuesday as U.S. stocks sold off amidst worries about the nation’s economic state. Prices dropped more than $10 a barrel from their highest point of the day. Time via AP

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Ex-Pentagon Worker Sentenced:

Former Pentagon analyst Gregg Bergersen was sentenced to five years in prison Friday for giving secret information about U.S.-Taiwan military relations to a New Orleans furniture salesman who turned out to be a Chinese Spy. The spy funded Bergersen’s gambling trips, and later offered him employment. CNN via AP 

Outrage Over Magazine Cover:

Presidential hopeful Barack Obama’s campaign camp say they are outraged about a controversial New Yorker cover that shows Barack Obama in Muslim garb and his wife with an assault rifle strapped over her shoulder standing in the Oval Office. Obama’s camp calls the illustration “tasteless” and “offensive”. MSNBC via AP

Root of Anxiety:

The study of anxiety is quickly merging with the science of memory. Studies are now going beyond common symptons such as isolation and depressed mood, and are focusing on how the brain records and consolidates in memory the emotional events that trigger long-term depression. The New York Times via AP

Rescuing Fannie and Freddie:

Shares of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have dropped to their lowest levels in 17 years. Fannie Mae and Feddie Mac hold or guarantee about $5 trillion of mortgages. The fear of failure of one or both would be extremely detrimental on the nation’s financial system. Reuters

Sudanese President Charged:

The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court filed genocide charges against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. al-Bashir is accused of masterminding attempts to wipe out African tribes in Darfur by promoting murder, rape, and deportation. Washingon Post via AP

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Iran test fires missile:

Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards successfully test fired a medium- and long-range missile on Monday, capable of reaching Israel and U.S. troops in the region. This step was strongly condemned by the Bush Administration, as tension continue to boil over Iran’s suspected nuclear weapons program. AP via NY Times

YouTube falls short of Google’s expectations:

Advertising revenue from YouTube is expected to total about $200 million this year, falling short of parent company Google Inc.’s expectations. Google has significantly cut the number of YouTube clips it will sell ads against, as not to sell them against videos that may violate copyrights. Google and YouTube are currently being sued for copyright infringement in two cases. Reuters via ABC News

Attack on U.S. post in Turkey:

A group of unidentified gunmen shot and killed security guards outside the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul on Wednesday. Authorities said three police officers and three assailants were killed, while the fourth assailant escaped. AP via Huffington Post

Autism treatment could get federal study:

Government researchers are pushing to test an unproven treatment on autistic children, treatment that some scientists believe is an unethical experiment in voodoo medicine. AP via Yahoo News

Stinky feet slaying:

A 23-year-old man was sentenced to 35 years in prison for stabbing his roommate after a night of drinking. Authorities say 21-year-old Noel Quintanilla-Vaquero complained that his roommates, William Antonio Serrana, feet had a foul odor. Serrana responded by picking up a knife and stabbing him to death. AP via Houston Chronicle

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