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Today in History
Tweet Share on Facebook April 28, 2008 Comment (5)1758—James Monroe, the fifth president of the United States, is born.
1788—Maryland ratifies the U.S. Constitution without adding any amendments.
1945—Benito Mussolini is executed, ending Fascist rule of Italy.
1992—The food pyramid, featuring six food groups, is presented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
2001—The Russians launch a spacecraft carrying the first paying space tourist, a California businessman who paid $20 million for the privilege.
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McCain's Strategy to Distance Himself From President Bush
Tweet Share on Facebook April 24, 2008 Comment (5)John McCain is preparing to distance himself from President Bush more than West Wing officials might expect. "On some issues, we will agree to disagree with the White House," says a senior strategist for the Republican candidate's presidential campaign.
That's because McCain genuinely has separate opinions from Bush on many topics, the strategist tells U.S. News. He adds that, "It happens to be the best thing to do politically this year" because Bush is so unpopular and McCain needs to show he is his own man.
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Sam's Club Rations Imported Rice
Tweet Share on Facebook April 24, 2008 Comment (4)In the past few weeks, we've been hearing reports of rice troubles from abroad, set off by spikes in prices and concerns about shortages: India and Vietnam have put up export bans on rice; farmers in Asian countries are hoarding stocks; and the Philippine government is cracking down on everyone from distributors to fast food chains, hoping to avoid a nationwide panic.
But we're not feeling any of the fallout here in the United States, right? Think again. Citing "recent supply and demand trends," warehouse-retail giant Sam's Club announced today that it is restricting the number of 20-pound bags of imported rice customers can buy—to four bags at a time. The move follows similar actions by Costco Wholesale Corp., which imposed restrictions on purchases of rice at certain stores earlier this week.
Sam's Club is not restricting purchases of retail-size rice, however. Nor is Wal-Mart, Sam's Club's corporate owner, planning to impose any limits of its own.
—Kent Garber
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Gay Rights Group Plans to Announce Senate Endorsements
Tweet Share on Facebook April 24, 2008 Comment (2)The nation's largest gay rights organization is planning to make an announcement on Monday naming its endorsements for key U.S. Senate races. At the same time, the group plans to launch what it calls an "unprecedented nationwide campaign" to get out the vote this fall.
At the launch, Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese will be joined by Democratic strategist Paul Begala, a Hillary Clinton supporter and former Clinton administration adviser. But HRC spokesman Trevor Thomas told U.S. News that the organization will not make a presidential endorsement until the Democratic primary season is over.
HRC, in this campaign's first major effort to mobilize gay and progressive voters, will target its 700,000 members as well as more than 5 million other voters in key battleground races. The goal? To elect "pro-civil rights leaders," they said.
HRC represents the interests of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Americans.
—Liz Halloran
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News Buzz: Intelligence on Syria, Ford's Surprise, and more
Tweet Share on Facebook April 24, 2008 Comment (2)Members of the House and Senate will receive briefings today by top U.S. intelligence officials, who are expected to present what they say is video evidence that North Korean researchers or officials provided assistance to Syria for a now destroyed nuclear reactor facility. The reactor, which was never operational, was bombed by Israeli planes last year.
Ford Motor Co. was back in the black in the first quarter of 2008, beating Wall Street expectations and providing a cautious counterpoint to the overall poor performances of American companies in the current economic environment. Ford reported net income of $100 million, or 5 cents per share, compared with a net loss of $282 million, or 15 cents per share, a year earlier, despite an 8 percent drop in revenues. Most of the earnings gain came from the expansion of Ford's markets in Europe and South America, and not from the U.S., where the automaker is reducing its second-quarter production plan and offering more targeted buyouts to union workers.
Hillary Clinton's campaign said that it was "on track" to raise more than $10 million in the 24 hours following her Pennsylvania primary victory, according to reports last night. She certainly needs it: According to the Federal Election Commission, as of April 1 Clinton had $10 million of debt and only $9 million on hand.
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Today in History
Tweet Share on Facebook April 24, 2008 Comment1704—The first regular newspaper in the United States, the Boston News- Letter, is published.
1800—The United States Library of Congress is established when President John Adams signs legislation to appropriate $5,000 to purchase "such books as may be necessary for the use of Congress—and for putting up a suitable apartment for containing them therein...."
1953—Winston Churchill is knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.
1990—The Hubble telescope is launched into orbit.
2005—Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger is inaugurated as the 265th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, taking the name Pope Benedict XVI.
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U.S. News's Secrets of Islam
Tweet Share on Facebook April 23, 2008 Comment (1)It is a great faith that preaches unity, peace, and love of a common God. And with 1.2 billion followers, it is the world's second-largest and fastest-growing religion. But Islam is also a singularly demanding faith, one that holds much that non-Muslims find abhorrent. The terrorist attacks of 9/11 and the continued desperation of misguided zealots has further tarnished Islam's image in the West. Yet the faith has a rich history, a glorious legacy in art, and ancient rituals that give structure and comfort to millions.
What do Muslims really believe? Who was Muhammad? What is the significance of the pilgrimage to Mecca? U.S. News provides answers to these and many other questions in its series Secrets of Islam: The Essential Guide to the World's Fastest-Growing Religion.
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Pennsylvania Win Shows That Clinton Is "Hitting Her Stride," Says a Top Adviser
Tweet Share on Facebook April 23, 2008 Comment (4)Hillary Clinton has emerged as a far better candidate than Barack Obama and is riding a strong wave of momentum because of her victory in the Pennsylvania presidential primary yesterday, says top Clinton strategist Geoff Garin.
The longtime pollster told U.S. News, "She has been hitting her stride. He is a little bit off his stride." Garin said that as the Democratic race proceeds to Guam, Indiana, and North Carolina in early May, Clinton will only get stronger and will impress both voters and "superdelegates" with her tenacity and savvy.
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News Buzz: Hillary Clinton's Next Hurdles, Polygamy Sect's Kids, and more
Tweet Share on Facebook April 23, 2008 Comment (10)And she wins. Hillary Clinton pulled off a campaign-saving victory last night in Pennsylvania, beating rival Barack Obama by about 10 points. "Some counted me out and said to drop out," she told supporters in Philadelphia. "But the American people don't quit. And they deserve a president who doesn't quit, either." Now the never-ending primary season will travel to North Carolina, where Obama is favored, and Indiana, where the race is tight between the two Democrats.
In accordance with a court order signed Tuesday, Texas officials have begun moving children belonging to a controversial polygamy sect into temporary foster care facilities. The children—more than 400 in total—have been in state custody for more than two weeks, since a judge authorized authorities to remove them from the compound following reports of sexual and physical abuse of underage girls there. Because of confusion about the children's names and their family relationships, the court is now conducting DNA tests on both the children and adult sect members to try to determine paternity.
High fuel prices are proving to be financially harmful for some of the nation's top air carriers. Delta Air Lines reported a first-quarter $6.39 billion loss this morning, attributing it in significant part to record fuel costs, which it said rose $585 million in the past year. Northwest Airlines posted a $4.1 billion loss in the same period.
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Today in History
Tweet Share on Facebook April 23, 2008 Comment1597—Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor is first performed, with Queen Elizabeth I of England in attendance.
1635—The first public school in the United States, Boston Latin School, is founded.
1928—American child actress Shirley Temple is born.
1968—Students protesting the Vietnam War at Columbia University take over the administrative buildings, forcing the university to shut down.
1984—Scientists find the AIDS virus, a variant of a known human cancer virus called HTLV-3.