AT AMORE COFFEE IN SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA, BREWS COME BEFORE VIEWS DURING THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION. SOT CATHY HAUSER, CO-OWNER, AMORE COFFEE: Even though we're staunch democrats – and even our republican governor occasionally comes in here – we really wanted to make sure that the welcome mat was out. CATHY HAUSER IS THE CO-OWNER OF AMORE. HER BUSINESS IS ONE OF MORE THAN 400 ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE GREATER MINNEAPOLIS-SAINT PAUL AREA OFFERING DISCOUNTS TO CONVENTION-GOERS THROUGH THE GOPARTY CARD PROGRAM. SOT TERESA MCFARLAND, SPOKESPERSON, 2008 MSP HOST COMMITTEE: The GOParty card was really a way to welcome the 45,000 visitors coming in from all over the country and all over the world and to give them a special incentive to get out and enjoy all the many shops, businesses, retail outlets that we have here in the Minneapolis-st. paul area. TEXAS DELEGATE TAMMI STURM IS USING HER CARD AT RESTAURANTS AND SHOPS AROUND TOWN. SHE SAYS THE DISCOUNTS MAKE HER FEEL AT HOME IN THE TWIN CITIES. SOT TAMMI STURM, TEXAS DELEGATE: We've had our little issues with protestors, but all the businesses are so glad to have us here and that makes us feel welcome. WELCOMING IS WHAT MARY LEONARD IS TRYING TO BE AT HER CHOCOLATE SHOP ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF SAINT PAUL. SHE'S ROLLING OUT A LINE OF POLITICAL CHOCOLATES, PROMOTING HER BUSINESS AROUND TOWN AND OFFERING A 20 PERCENT DISCOUNT TO GOPARTY CARD HOLDERS. BUT SHE SAYS, SO FAR, THE REWARDS HAVEN'T BEEN AS SWEET AS SHE EXPECTED. SOT MARY LEONARD, CHOCOLATIER, CHOCOLAT CELESTE: I haven't seen what I had thought that there would be and I'm hoping that that will change, but I certainly think that we can't compete against a hurricane and that it's understandable that it's not as much as we had anticipated. FOR THOSE WHO ARE GETTING OUT, THE GOPARTY CARD IS MAKING THIS GRAND OLD PARTY LESS OF AN EXPENSE AND MORE OF AN EXPERIENCE. SOT CHRIS DANIEL, TEXAS DELEGATE: I think there's a deal in there for Caves to go travel. I think I'm gonna go do that on Friday. It's been a heck of a deal. THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION IS EXPECTED TO PUMP BETWEEN 150 AND 160 MILLION DOLLARS INTO THE LOCAL ECONOMY. AND IN THEIR QUEST FOR MORE GREEN, THE HOST COMMITTEE IS GOING GREEN. SOT TERESA MCFARLAND: The GOParty cards were printed on a plant-based material, so they're recyclable cards. STILL SOME BUSINESSES HAVEN'T SEEN MANY CUSTOMERS USING THE CARDS. HAUSER SAYS SHE'S ONLY HAD A FEW CARDHOLDERS COME IN FOR COFFEE. SOT CATHY HAUSER: We're a couple miles from downtown Saint Paul and up a hill…I don't think they've found us quite yet. PARTICIPANTS ARE ACCEPTING THE GOPARTY CARD THROUGH SEPTEMBER 7. STURM IS STICKING AROUND AFTER THE CONVENTION AND SHE SAYS SHE'LL USE HER CARD TO TAKE IN MORE OF MINNESOTA. SOT TAMMI STURM: Me and my husband are gonna be taking a couple of tours and I think there's some tour agencies in here that will give us a discount, so we're looking to use it more. FOR UPI.COM FROM THE 2008 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION IN MINNEAPOLIS-SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA, I'M MELISSE HINKLE.
THE HOT DOGS ARE READY TO GO…. THE BUNS ARE WARM… AND THERE'S PLENTY OF KETCHUP AND MUSTARD. IT'S TIME FOR YOUNG REPUBLICANS TO PLAY FINANCIAL FOOTBALL. NAT TWENTY-ONE YEAR OLD MELISSA LEE IS TAKING A BREAK FROM THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION THIS WEEK TO CONNECT WITH OTHER YOUNG CONSERVATIVES. THE GAME TEACHES FINANCIAL LITERACY WITH FORMER NFL STAR CRIS CARTER, BUT THE EVENT IS ABOUT MORE THAN LIQUID ASSETS AND IRAS. NAT I came because it's time for the younger generation to get involved. TWENTY-ONE-YEAR OLD DEAN BRYSON IS IN THE TWIN CITIES BECAUSE HE FEELS THE SAME WAY. It's not going to be too long before we're all going to run the country or try to run the country." WITH THE FUTURE IN MIND, YOUNG REPUBLICANS LIKE LEE AND BRYSON ARE TRYING TO MOBILIZE A LARGER YOUTH MOVEMENT. BUT IT COMES AT A TIME WHEN MORE OF THEIR PEERS ARE ROOTING FOR THE OTHER TEAM. (Ross Douthat – Atlantic Mag. Editor) Barack Obama, his celebrity appeal and the extent to which he has become, kind of, a brand. It's not even that he's a celebrity exactly as that he's sort of a high-end brand like the iPod. AND WHEN IT COMES TO BRANDING SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY… I think the Republican Party has a lot of old standards, a lot of old-time views. I think there are a lot of problems with the Republican Party, and maybe one of them is that they're too old. LEE IS TRYING TO INTERCEPT THAT NOTION. "With age comes wisdom, something that Obama lacks. BUT DOUTHAT SAYS AGE ISN'T THE BIGGEST FACTOR THAT'S MAKING THE PARTY FUMBLE AMONG YOUTH. It's a party that came of age dealing with issues like crime, welfare reform, and the culture wars of 1960s. And again now we're 25-30 years out, and those issues just don't resonate with younger voters the same way. They're also picking up on a lot of the failures of the Bush administration. (young Republican) When I talk to young people I try to distance myself from Bush. WHILE THEY MAY NOT TALK ABOUT THE LAST 8 YEARS, THESE YOUNG ADULTS SAY THEY'RE COMPASSIONATE CONSERVATIVES WHO CARE ABOUT THE ISSUES. It's pro-life. It's a very compassionate party. We're running a donation for my part of the country for hurricane relief. I want to simplify the tax code. Don't want to tax people to death. NAT – financial football game AND THAT'S INFORMATION THEY'RE PASSING ONTO THEIR PEERS. NAT FOR UPI.COM FROM THE 2008 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION IN MINNEAPOLIS-ST.PAUL MINNEASOTA, I'M KRISTIN VOLK.
LAURIE WEAHKEE FACED SOME POLITICAL DILEMMAS ON HER WAY TO SUPERDELEGATE STATUS. SOT LAURIE WEAHKEE, NEW MEXICO SUPERDELEGATE: At the time the Clinton folks were really embattled for the overall nomination and so a lot of the folks were speculating that I was an Obama supporter and at that point I really hadn't made up my mind. WEAHKEE IS COCHITI PUEBLO, ZUNI AND HALF NAVAJO. SHE'S NEW MEXICO'S TWELFTH ADD-ON SUPERDELEGATE AND SHE'S ONE OF JUST FOUR NATIVE AMERICAN SUPERDELEGATES AT THE 2008 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION. SOT LAURIE WEAHKEE: I think the overall sentiment is that we need to become more consistent voters and really utilize voting as one tool in the toolbox. NATIVE AMERICANS ARE MAKING THEIR VOTES COUNT AT THIS CONVENTION. THE NUMBER OF NATIVE AMERICAN DELEGATES HERE AT THE D-N-C IS UP BY 34 SINCE THE LAST CONVENTION FOUR YEARS AGO. AMERICAN INDIANS STILL MAKE UP LESS THAN 3 PERCENT OF THE DELEGATE POPULATION BUT TRIBAL MEMBERS SAY INCREASED INVOLVEMENT IN LOCAL POLITICS IS SPARKING INTEREST IN THE BIGGER PICTURE. SOT CINDA HUGES, DNC RULES COMMITTEE MEMBER: I think one of the big reasons that American Indians are coming to the polls in record numbers is due to the fact that Indians themselves are becoming candidates not only in local elections but in state legislatures. AND ON A NATIONAL LEVEL, NATIVE AMERICANS ARE PART OF A VOTING BLOCK THAT COULD PROVE POWERFUL IN THIS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. SOT CINDA HUGES: I think that for one thing that this is going to be a very close race. And the closer a race is the more significant swing votes become. And American Indians have been the swing voters in many gubernatorial races and in many state senate races. SOT LAURIE WEAHKEE: I would say that a key issue is to make sure the candidate who does win understands that we have a unique relationship with the federal government and that we need to keep that in place. POVERTY AND HEALTH CARE ARE ALSO CENTRAL ISSUES FOR THE NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND THE AMERICAN INDIANS AT THIS CONVENTION HOPE A DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT WILL CATER TO THOSE ISSUES. SOT CINDA HUGHES: American Indians have the highest percentage of people with disabilities of any demographic group…I am one of only three percent of those who are quadriplegics that even have a job. NATIVE AMERICANS MAY BE COMING TOGETHER HERE IN DENVER BUT THEY REMAIN DIVIDED IN THEIR OPINIONS OF OBAMA'S COMPETITOR. SOT CINDA HUGHES: I believe that both candidates have made a significant outreach to Indian country. Senator McCain was on the Senate Chair on Indian Affairs for many years and was a member previous to that for many years. SOT LAURIE WEAHKEE: I think a lot of the tribes are really upset with how they've been treated these past 8 years and really recognizing that McCain is not offering a whole lot more. WEAHKEE HOPES MORE NATIVE AMERICANS WILL HEAD TO THE POLLS THIS NOVEMBER. SOT LAURIE WEAHKEE: If we vote then we help ourselves to create more opps for our communites and we do make things better for the generations yet to come, which is a real value of Native American communities. FOR UPI.COM FROM THE 2008 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION IN DENVER, COLORADO, I'M MELISSE HINKLE.
NAT: These tamales are so good DENVER RESIDENT ALEXANDRA HOCH IS DOING SOMETHING THIS WEEK THAT SHE SAYS SHE'S ALWAYS WANTED TO DO. I have long thought about using my home as a bed and breakfast and have long thought about it for the convention. HOCH IS HOSTING 6 STRANGERS IN HER 3-BEDROOM HOME FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION. NAT SHE SAYS SHE FIRST DECIDED TO DO IT TO PAY OFF HER CREDIT CARD DEBT AND FIX UP HER HOUSE. It's an older house and still needs a lot of repairs. How am I going to get the money for this, my job doesn't permit me to do this. HOCH TURNED TO THE INTERNET IN HOPES OF FILLING UP HER HOME FOR THE WEEK. SHE FOUND THREE OF GUESTS VISITORS THROUGH A NEW SITE CALLED AIRBEDANDBREAKFAST.COM. BUT NOT EVERYONE BOUGHT INTO THIS ARRANGEMENT AT FIRST. You have no idea what it's going to be like. There were times when I thought it'd be a lot nicer to go to a hotel at first. OTHERS DIDN'T THINK TWICE. It's much less expensive than it would be in a hotel. HOCH OFFERS THIS ROOM FOR $70 A NIGHT, AND THIS ONE WITH A KING SIZE BED GOES FOR $80 A NIGHT. TWO PEOPLE ARE STAYING IN EACH OF THESE ROOMS. HOCH CHARGES $35 FOR THIS ROOM AND THE SOFA BED IN THE LIVING ROOM IS $25 A NIGHT. THOSE PRICES INCLUDE BREAKFAST EACH MORNING. I have a lot of amenities here. I have the baby grand piano, I have wireless Internet, I have cable television. AT THE END OF THE WEEK, HOCH SAYS SHE EXPECTS TO MAKE ABOUT A THOUSAND DOLLARS, 10% OF WHICH SHE SAYS SHE'LL DONATE TO THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN. BUT SHE SAYS THIS WEEK, SHE GAINING MORE THAN JUST A PROFIT. This is a very unifying opportunity and it's unique. I'm thrilled to be able to do something for people who are so committed to the Democratic Party. THAT'S MUSIC TO EVERYONE'S EARS IN THIS HOUSE. NAT – piano playing When you're in groups like this and in the center of this, you talk about politics all the time. It's our way of life. FOR UPI.COM FROM THE 2008 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION IN DENVER, COLORADO, I'M KRISTIN VOLK.
THEY'RE EASY TO SPOT. SOT BILL BELT, SR. DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY AND STANDARDS, CONSUMER ELECTRONICS ASSOCIATION: They're very deep, they're very big, they weigh a lot. BUT THEY'RE GETTING HARDER TO FIND. SOT KATHARINE KAPLAN, EPA PRODUCT MANAGER, ENERGY STAR FOR CONSUMER ELECTRONICS AND IT: We've seen the market really transforming. C-R-Ts, OR CATHODE RAY TUBE MONITORS, ARE HEADING FOR EXTINCTION. AND I-T SPECIALISTS SAY THAT'S A GOOD THING WHEN IT COMES TO ENERGY CONSUMPTION. L-C-Ds, OR LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAYS, CONSUME ABOUT 40 PERCENT LESS ENERGY THAN THEIR CLUNKY C-R-T COUNTERPARTS. MANY COMPUTER USERS HAVE SWAPPED THEIR C-R-T FOR AN L-C-D. IN FACT, MORE THAN THREE-QUARTERS OF COMPUTERS SOLD WORLDWIDE ARE NOW L-C-Ds. BUT IF YOU HAVEN'T MADE THE SWITCH AND YOU'RE STILL HOOKED TO YOUR CATHODE RAY TUBE, SURFING SITES WITH BLACK BACKGROUNDS MAY HELP CUT BACK ON THE POWER DRAW. WEB SITES LIKE BLACKLE DOT COM AND GREENERGLE DOT COM CLAIM TO BOOST ENERGY SAVINGS BY USING BLACK BACKGROUNDS INSTEAD OF WHITE. SOT KATHARINE KAPLAN: For C-R-Ts it was true, that you saw a power drop of 5 to 20 percent if you used a black – if you had a black screen versus a white screen. And this is largely because the power draw of a CRT is tied to an electron firing across the screen and creating color so if the electron doesn't fire to create color, then you use less power. BUT FOR L-C-Ds, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BLACK AND WHITE IS INSIGNIFICANT. SOT KATHARINE KAPLAN: For the LCDs we saw actually a 0 to 3 percent increase in power consumption when showing a black screen versus a white screen. It's pretty much negligible. MELISSE HINKLE, REPORTER STAND UP: BLACK MAY NOT BE THE NEW GREEN FOR L-C-Ds. BUT NO MATTER WHAT TYPE OF MONITOR YOU HAVE, THERE ARE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO REDUCE ENERGY CONSUMPTION. ACCORDING TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, IF EVERY DESKTOP AND MONITOR IN U.S. HOMES SLEPT DURING INACTIVITY, AMERICANS WOULD PREVENT MORE THAN 15 BILLION POUNDS OF GREENHOUSE GASES FROM ENTERING THE ENVIRONMENT. THAT'S LIKE TAKING A MILLION CARS OFF THE ROAD. HERE AT EPORT WORLD, AN INTERNET PROVIDER IN WASHINGTON, D.C., ENERGY CONSUMPTION IS ON THE MINDS OF MANY. IT'S A PLACE WHERE KEY STROKES…MEAN CASH. MANAGER ANDRES VALENCIA SAYS THESE COMPUTERS STAY POWERED UP FOR NINE HOURS A DAY…BUT HE USES ALL-IN-ONE UNITS WITH L-C-D SCREENS TO CUT BACK ON SOME OF HIS POWER USAGE. SOT ANDRES VALENCIA, MANAGER, EPORT WORLD: It helps in the energy consumption and also the heat production that we have in the room – we want to minimize the amount of air conditioner. VALENCIA SAYS HE TAKES IT A STEP FURTHER, DIMMING THE SCREENS TO CONSERVE ADDITIONAL ENERGY. IT'S A MOVE THAT CAN SLASH CONSUMPTION BY MORE THAN 40 PERCENT. AND HE HOPES TO DO MORE… SOT ANDRES VALENCIA: We would like to be able to have solar panels. THE I-T INDUSTRY IS WORKING TO DEVELOP NEW TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE COMPUTERS MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT FROM THE START. SOT KATHARINE KAPLAN: We are seeing an uptake by manufacturers in modulated backlighting technology for monitors and what this means is that the monitor can be responsive, so when the room is dark, the system can accommodate that and actually reduce its power draw. ABOUT ONE QUARTER OF COMPUTERS SUBMITTED TO ENERGY STAR HAVE AN AUTOMATIC BRIGHTNESS CONTROL FEATURE AND THE E-P-A EXPECTS THAT FIGURE TO RISE. IN THE MEANTIME, THEY SUGGEST LOWERING THE BRIGHTNESS MANUALLY, STICKING WITH SMALLER L-C-D SCREENS AND DOING AWAY WITH SCREENSAVERS. SOT KATHARINE KAPLAN: What they can do is prevent your computer, as well as your monitor from going to sleep. AND WHILE HAVING THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY MAY HELP, ENERGY SAVINGS IS STILL LARGELY A MATTER OF CHOICE. SOT BILL BELT: It is absolutely critical that people know that they have some measure of control over the energy use of their product. FOR UPI.COM, I'M MELISSE HINKLE.
Hello, I'm Kristin Volk and this is a White House weekly. President Bush formally spoke out against the Chinese government for its human rights policies Thursday on the eve of the Olympics' opening. In his speech in Thailand, he said America firmly opposes China's crackdown on political protestors as well as human rights and religious activists. Bush urged the Chinese people to embrace openness and called for labor rights and a free press. China responded, defending its rights record and accusing the President of meddling in its affairs. Although the President criticized Beijing in a major speech, Bush said he'll make his visit to the Olympics about sports, and not politics. Bush is the first president to attend the Olympic Games in another country. He arrived in Beijing Thursday along with First Lady Laura Bush and their daughter, Barbara. The President is expected to be at the opening ceremony of the Games this evening and go a variety of sporting events through Monday. But despite his attempt to enjoy the games, Bush will be walking a tightrope during his visit. He'll be trying to avoid embarrassing Beijing during its two weeks in the spotlight while also coming under pressure to push China's leaders for more freedoms. President Bush told U.S. troops this week that Iraq is no longer a hopeless country. Bush made the comment in Alaska, speaking to soldiers who are headed to Iraq soon. He said the country is drastically different than it was before the troop buildup more than 18 months ago. Now, he said, terrorists are on the run. But, he reminded the crowd of about 2 thousand military personnel that the U.S. must stay on the offense and keep pressure on the enemy. During his short stop, he took time to shake hands and offer his thanks to those about to serve.
GREGORY GIACCIO PUTS THE PEDAL TO A DIFFERENT KIND OF METAL. GREGORY GIACCIO, BICYCLIST: I really just like bicycling. If it didn't save me any money, I would still do it. BUT DOING IT IS SAVING HIM MONEY. GREGORY GIACCIO: I fill up my car about once a month, if that. AND FOR THOSE GETTING FED UP WITH FILLING UP, BICYCLING IS BECOMING A WAY OF LIFE. ANDY CLARKE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LEAGUE OF AMERICAN BICYCLISTS: When it gets to your pocketbook and when gas hits four or five bucks a gallon and you're paying, ya know, 60 or 70 bucks to fill up the tank fairly frequently, then it becomes a lot more immediate and I think that's what we've seen kind of push people past a threshold over the last couple of months and say OK, ya know, we really need to try this thing out and see if it's gonna work.'" IT'S DIFFICULT TO CALCULATE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GETTING BEHIND THE HANDLE BARS, BUT EXPERTS AND CYCLISTS SAY THEY SEE EVIDENCE OF THE TREND ACROSS THE COUNTRY. ANDY CLARKE: As an example, we've seen in Briar County, Florida – in Fort Lauderdale area – they've had a great program for many years, it's had about 30 - 35,000 people putting their bikes on buses. In May of this year it went up to 68,000 riders. ZACHARY MCADOO, BIKE COURIER: The guys at the bike shops always are saying they sold way, way more bikes in the last year than they ever did. And you can tell by just looking at people. THE NUMBER OF RIDERS MAY SOON RISE AGAIN IN CITIES LIKE WASHINGTON D.C. WHERE A NEW BIKE SHARING PROGRAM IS ABOUT TO LAUNCH. JIM SEBASTIAN, PLANNER, D.C. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: One of the keys to riding a bike is having a bike and getting access to a bike. MELISSE HINKLE, REPORTER STAND UP: A MEMBERSHIP FOR D.C.'S BIKE SHARING PROGRAM WILL COST 40 DOLLARS A YEAR. RIDERS WILL RECEIVE A CARD LIKE THIS, SWIPE IT HERE, TAKE A BIKE FROM THE RACK AND PEDAL THROUGH THE CITY FOR UP TO THREE HOURS AT A TIME. SOT ANDY CLARKE: In urban areas, 40 percent of the trips people make are two miles or less and about 90 percent of those trips are made by car, which when you stop and think about it really doesn't make sense. AS CONCERNS ABOUT PERSONAL HEALTH, THE ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY DEPENDENCE AND THE ECONOMY INTERSECT, INTEREST IN BICYCLE SHARING IS CROPPING UP ACROSS THE U.S. AND CITIES LIKE D.C. ARE WORKING TO IMPROVE BIKING INFRASTRUCTURE. SOT JIM SEBASTIAN: We've put in 30 new miles of bicycle lanes, we've put in over 800 new bicycle parking racks. BUT CARS STILL RULE THE ROAD…AND IN THE BATTLE OF FOUR WHEELS OVER TWO, SAFETY IS TOP OF MIND. JANELLE WETTOUR, BICYCLIST: I've gotten hit about twice, once worse, but no injuries. BICYCLING ADVOCATES SAY THE CHALLENGE WILL CONTINUE TO BE ABOUT BALANCING PERSONAL AND PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITY. ERIC GILLILAND, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WASHINGTON AREA BICYCLIST ASSOCIATION: Learning how to share the roadway from the cyclists standpoint and the driver's standpoint is really going to be key to the future. RECENT FIGURES FROM THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION SHOW MORE THAN 700 CYCLISTS ARE KILLED IN TRAFFIC-RELATED CRASHES EVERY YEAR IN THE U-S. DESPITE SAFETY CONCERNS, MANY CYCLISTS SAY PEDAL POWER IS HELPING THEM KEEP FUEL CONSUMPTION AND FINANCES IN CHECK. MIKE ALONZO: I do drive a little SUV, which working for my small environmental firm, it's better to just leave that parked. FOR UPI.COM, I'M MELISSE HINKLE
Hello, I'm Melisse Hinkle in for Kristin Volk with a UPI White House Weekly. Due to some bad weather here in Washington, D.C., we're on Capitol Hill. This week, President Bush signed a housing bill that's expected to help about 400,000 homeowners struggling to pay their mortgages. Bush signed the bill privately in the Oval Office, accompanied by some of his top officials. The measure is also intended to give additional government support to mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Bush initially opposed parts of the bill and threatened to veto it, but he changed his mind last week in an effort to provide immediate assistance to troubled homeowners. The president met with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani this week. The two leaders appeared on the South Lawn of the White House following a private meeting in the Oval Office. Despite underlying tensions, Bush praised Gilani and called Pakistan an ally in the fight to stop violent extremists. The leaders did not address the recent missile strike that killed six people at a religious school in the country. That attack was the latest in a series of strikes thought to have been waged by U.S. forces against militant leaders hiding in Pakistan's tribal region. President Bush announced he'll shorten tours of duty from 15 months to 12 months for U.S. troops heading into Iraq. The year-long tours will apply only to new soldiers entering the country, not to those already on the ground. Bush said steady reductions in violence allow for the shorter tours. He hopes they'll ease the strain on troops and their families. The president also said reductions in troop levels may be possible in the fall, provided that General David Petraeus recommends withdrawals. That's all for now. Thanks for watching this White House Weekly and have a good weekend.
Hello and welcome to a UPI White House weekly. This week, President Bush changed his mind and said he would back a bill to help troubled homeowners and mortgage lenders. The House approved the $300 billion measure this week that Bush previously said he would veto. The Senate is still debating the bill, but it's expected to pass as early as today. The White House said the bill is needed to boost stability in the housing and financial markets. President Bush told U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams this week that he's fired up to go the 2008 games. Bush welcomed about two-dozen Beijing-bound athletes in a Rose Garden ceremony and said he can't wait to share the joy of their triumphs. Bush is already outfitted to go…he received a softball jersey from team pitcher Jennie Finch. During the ceremony, the President also acknowledged Scott Winkler, an injured Iraq war veteran who made the U.S. Olympic Track and Field team. The official send off for all of the athletes included a tour of the Oval Office and a formal dinner. It was a Columbian celebration this week at the White House. Musicians performed for President Bush in the East Room to mark the 198th anniversary of Colombia's Independence. Bush used the occasion to urge Congress to approve the Colombia Free Trade Agreement. He also acknowledged the good relationship between that country and the U.S. In his speech, the President also praised Colombia for their recent efforts to free hostages that rebels have been holding for years.
Hello, I'm Melisse Hinkle in for Kristin Volk with your UPI Weekly White House Wrap-up. This week, President Bush signed a bill authorizing $162 billion in spending for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The legislation will fund military operations in the two countries through the end of Bush's presidency and into his successor's term. Flanked by some of his top officials, the President made a statement in the Oval Office, thanking members of Congress for their bipartisan effort on the bill. President Bush held a news conference in the Rose Garden at the White House to discuss plans for his final G-8 Summit, which begins Monday in Japan. The President said he intends to emphasize to fellow G-8 leaders that the fight to stop violent extremists continues. He also promised to send more troops to Afghanistan, where June marked the deadliest month yet for U.S. forces. The President hosted his first tee ball game of the summer on the South Lawn of the White House this week. A team from New Jersey took on players from Puerto Rico on opening day. Bush cheered on the young ball players as part of the tradition he started back in 2001. The President plans to host a few more games this summer. Thanks for watching this White House Wrap-up and have a great weekend.
Hello and welcome to a UPI weekly White House wrap-up. This week, President Bush said he intends to remove North Korea from the U.S. terror list and ease some trade restrictions against the country. This comes after Pyongyang handed over its long-awaited nuclear programs declaration to officials from China yesterday. Bush added that North Korea still needs to verify that its declarations are true, but he welcomed the news as the first of a multi-step process. President Bush and Iraq's president met this week to discuss a complex Iraq security deal. The agreement would keep U.S. troops in Iraq after a U.N. mandate expires at the end of the year. President Jalal Talabani said he hoped the plan could be finished very soon. Bush wants an agreement in place before he leaves office in January. The President welcomed Vietnam's efforts toward greater religious freedom after meeting with the government's prime minister this week. Religion is in under state supervision in the mostly Buddhist country. But two years ago, Vietnam was removed from a State Department list of countries that suppress religious expression. However, that didn't stop demonstrators from gathering outside the White House to protest Vietnamese government policies during Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (Nuh-wee-ihn Tahn Duhng) visit.
Hello, I'm Kristin Volk and this is a UPI wrap-up from the White House. This week, President Bush made a plea to Congress - lift the ban on offshore oil drilling. Bush said there's no excuse for the delay and called for drilling to be allowed in areas like Alaska, Colorado, Utah and Wyoming. The President said increasing supply here at home would help the economy. Senator John McCain echoed Bush earlier this week and made the same pitch for offshore drilling. President Bush got a first-hand look this week at the damage in Iowa caused by massive flooding in the Midwest. It was his first tour there since heavy rains sent rivers surging over their banks and forced thousands of people to flee their homes across six states. Bush said he's offering any immediate help the government can bring to areas affected by the flooding. The President said that he's looking forward to mandatory retirement. Bush spoke at a GOP fundraiser this week, saying he wasn't sure what he'd be doing at the same time next year, but maybe watching the Rangers on TV. He also attacked Democrats who are still calling for retreat in Iraq and pointed to signs of success following the U.S. troop surge there.
Hello on this Friday, the 13 day of June 2008. I'm Kristin Volk with your UPI Headline Update. The housing crisis worsened in the month of May as more than 73 thousand families lost their homes to foreclosure. That's 158 percent higher than it was a year ago when only 28 thousand households were repossessed by the bank. The report comes after months of discouraging housing market conditions with home prices and existing sales all plummeting. President Bush received a warm welcome from Pope Benedict the 16 today at the Vatican. The two had a private meeting before taking a rare stroll through the Vatican Gardens. They reportedly discussed human rights, HIV and AIDS in Africa and poverty around the world. Bush's visit with the pontiff comes during his final European tour as president. Republican Ron Paul is ending his bid for the White House. The Texas congressman formally abandoned his campaign yesterday but vowed to remain on the political scene. Paul, who's an anti-war libertarian, launched a new organization that reportedly aims to be an alternative for libertarian-leaning Americans frustrated with the U.S. political system. The number of illnesses now linked to salmonella-infected tomatoes has jumped to 228. That's according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC has found 61 new cases in half a dozen new states. Those states include Florida, Georgia, Missouri, New York, Tennessee and Vermont. Several restaurants and grocery story removed tomatoes from their menus and shelves after reports of the Salmonella surfaced. That's all for now. For all of us at UPI, have a great weekend.
Hi, it's Friday, June 13, 2008 and I'm Melisse Hinkle with today's UPI Entertainment Update. The jury is deliberating in R. Kelly's child pornography case. The singer is charged with videotaping himself allegedly having sex with a minor. Jurors reportedly met for three and a half hours yesterday before breaking for the night. A judge turned down the group's request for a trial transcript, saying it would take too long to reproduce everything that was said. A London couple has reportedly been charged for conspiring to provide Amy Winehouse with cocaine and ecstasy. Police apparently found video of Winehouse smoking illegal drugs on the couple's computer memory stick. Images from the tape surfaced in a British newspaper. Authorities questioned Winehouse and another rocker who allegedly appeared in the video, but they said neither performer will be charged. Jennifer Lopez made a trip to Washington this week to meet with senators' staff members. Rumors that the star sat down with presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama circulated after she was seen going into the Illinois Senator's office. A rep for the actress confirmed that Obama wasn't there at the time and said Lopez didn't meet with the senator. But she apparently met with some of Obama's staff members. Members of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers say they're frustrated that the Screen Actor's Guild isn't pushing harder to reach a labor agreement by the June 30 contract deadline. Producers said they've made some headway, but added they still disagree with the guild on crucial issues. The group expressed the need to find common ground in order to avoid shutting down the industry, like the writer's strike did several months ago. Katherine Heigl is taking herself out of the running for an Emmy nomination this year. The actress says she's removing herself from the competition because she doesn't feel the material she was given allowed her to deliver a performance that merits an award. Heigl received an Emmy last year for her role as Dr. Izzie Stevens on Grey's Anatomy. That's it for now. Thanks for watching this entertainment update and have a great weekend.
Hello and welcome to a UPI weekly White House wrap-up. This week, President Bush said he's determined to force Iran to halt its nuclear weapons program. Bush tried to rally European leaders to keep the country from developing a nuclear weapon during his final European Union-U.S. summit as president. At the summit, the U.S. and European Union issued a joint declaration calling for tougher action against Iran if it doesn't suspend its nuclear enrichment plan. While overseas, Bush also said he has no regrets about invading Iraq and taking down Saddam Hussein. The President added that the efforts made in that country will positively change the Middle East and removing Saddam Hussein has made the world a better place. Bush made the comments at a press conference in Germany after talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel. President Bush said this week he's confident that the U.S. will reach an agreement on the role of U.S. troops in Iraq. Top Iraqi officials are calling for a dramatic reduction in troop levels after a U.N. mandate for U.S. military presence there expires later this year. Critics complain that a high number of soldiers would turn Iraq into virtual colony. Bush administration officials say a deal is necessary to preserve order in the battered country. That's all for now. Thanks for watching, and have a great day.
Hello, I'm Melisse Hinkle in for Kristin Volk with a UPI top news update on this 12 day of June, 2008. Three Boy Scouts and one Scout staff member are dead following a tornado that hit their camp in western Iowa this morning. Forty-eight other children and adults were injured. The Scouts at the ranch were reportedly advanced Scouts between the ages of 13 and 18 and were there for a week of training. Possible tornadoes also struck parts of Kansas killing at least two people and damaging buildings at Kansas State University. A key member of Senator Barack Obama's vice presidential search team is stepping down. Jim Johnson has decided to resign after he received criticism over a mortgage. Republicans have been hammering Johnson for nearly a week after news broke that he got a good deal on a mortgage from Countrywide because of his friendship with the company's CEO. His rival, Senator John McCain said the resignation raises questions about Obama's judgment. For days, the presumptive Democratic nominee pushed back against attacks on Johnson. But news of Johnson's resignation doesn't seem to be affecting Senator Obama's general election campaign. A new poll out shows that the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee has a six-point lead over Republican John McCain. Obama is at 47 percent compared to McCain at 41 percent. In late April, the Illinois Senator led the Arizona Senator by only three points. The poll found Obama leading among African-Americans, Hispanics, women and blue-collar workers. McCain leads among white men. The House has passed a nearly $15 billion Amtrak bill at a time when Americans are grappling with soaring gas prices. The bi-partisan bill which passed by a veto-proof margin would authorize funding for the national passenger railroad over the next five years. Some of the money will go to a program of matching grants to help states set up or expand rail service. Amtrak's last authorization expired in 2002. That's all for now. Check out our new special segment on upi.com called Students say 'I do' to wedding class. Thanks for watching.
Hi, it's Thursday, the 12 day of June, 2008 and I'm Melisse Hinkle with today's UPI Entertainment Update. Oprah Winfrey is number one on the Forbes magazine Celebrity 100 list for the second year in a row. The talk show host reportedly earned $275 million over the past 12 months. Forbes looks at each star's past year of income, web hits and press exposure to determine the rankings. Golfer Tiger Woods took home second place and actress Angelina Jolie came in third. Jolie's significant other, Brad Pitt, sits at number ten. Other celebrities in the top ten include husband and wife pair, Beyonce and Jay-Z, soccer star David Beckham and author J.K. Rowling. Madonna isn't commenting about an upcoming memoir written by her younger brother, Christopher Ciccone. Publisher Simon & Schuster announced yesterday Ciccone's book, called Life With My Sister, will be released on July 15. The book will apparently have a first printing of 350,000 copies. The Material Girl's rep told the AP the singer hasn't condoned any biographies about herself and added Madonna isn't close to her brother now, even though they've worked together in the past. Meanwhile, Lynne Spears is reportedly planning to release her memoir this fall. The book will reportedly document the mother's experiences raising her celebrity daughters Britney and Jamie Lynn. A rep for publisher Thomas Nelson says the book was put on pause when Jamie Lynn found out she was expecting a baby. He adds the memoir is titled Through the Storm: A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World and says Lynne Spears wants to tell her daughters' stories from her perspective. That's all according to People magazine. Hulk Hogan is opening up about his family's recent struggles. The wrestler spoke out about his son Nick Bollea's car accident on Larry King Live Tuesday, saying his 17-year-old made a mistake. Bollea is behind bars in Florida for a crash that left his friend with serious injuries. Hogan said he's soul searching in the wake of the accident and his wife Linda's decision to file for divorce. Linda Bollea is reportedly now trying to cite Hogan for allegedly not paying for a property they share in Las Vegas. The Love Guru premiered yesterday at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood. The film's star and writer Mike Myers stepped out for the event. Justin Timberlake was also at the premiere. He plays a well-endowed hockey player in the film. Verne Troyer, who played Mini Me alongside Myers in Austin Powers, was on hand. Troyer plays a hockey coach in the movie. The Love Guru hits U.S. theaters on June 20. Thanks for watching this entertainment update and from all of us here at UPI, have a great day.
President Bush says he has no regrets about invading Iraq and taking down Saddam Hussein. Bush made the comment while speaking at a press conference in Germany during his final visit to Europe as president. He also reiterated his stance to force Iran to halt its nuclear program. Yesterday, the U.S. and European Union issued a joint declaration urging tougher action against Iran if it doesn't suspend its nuclear enrichment plan. Rep. Dennis Kucinich has introduced a resolution into the House of Representatives to impeach President Bush. The former Democratic presidential candidate from Ohio says the president manufactured a false case for the Iraq war and violated U.S. and international law to invade the country.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said she won't support a resolution calling for Bush's impeachment, saying such a move was unlikely to succeed and would be divisive. Last year, the congressman introduced a resolution to impeach Vice President Dick Cheney. It's now in the House Judiciary Committee where the chairman has taken no action on it. Residents along the Mississippi River are bracing for what may be the worst flooding in 15 years. Rising rivers wiped out an Iowa railroad bridge yesterday and flooded farmland in Illinois. In Cedar Falls, Iowa, residents evacuated the downtown area as the Cedar River threatened to spill over a levee. Levee breaks did happen in southeastern Illinois, forcing the evacuation of homes. Officials there say water was up to the roofs in some places. The National Weather Service is predicting crests of 10 feet above flood stage and higher over the next two weeks. Senator Barack Obama's vice presidential search team is reportedly considering about 20 people to be the presumptive Democratic nominee's running mate. The team shared their list with Democratic senator Kent Conrad yesterday to apparently get his impressions about the possible picks. Conrad said some are considered top officials now, others are former lawmakers, and others are former top military leaders. He also said some have been mentioned in the media, but some were quote outside the box. On the Republican side, Senator John McCain hasn't picked his VP yet, but joked on Monday that Google has made his job of investigating a possible running mate a little bit easier.
Hi, it's Wednesday, June 11, 2008 and I'm Melisse Hinkle with your UPI Entertainment Update. Shia LaBeouf is reportedly embarrassed about a YouTube video that shows him saying a derogatory term. In the video, LaBeouf apparently uses a gay slur toward his friend during a slapping contest at a house party. The actor's rep says the video was produced a few years ago. YouTube has since removed the clip, which was circulating earlier this week. That's all according to an exclusive E! News report. Meanwhile, Paul Newman's agent is denying rumors that the actor is suffering from lung cancer. Newman apparently stepped away from a directing engagement last month due to an illness. Talk of serious health complications increased when photos of a gaunt-looking Newman surfaced at the end of last week. Anne Hathaway's boyfriend is running into some legal trouble with his charity. Raffaello Follieri's philanthropic organization is being investigated by the New York State Attorney General. The investigation reportedly stems from the businessman's failure to keep adequate financial documentation for the charity. The Follieri Foundation helps bring vaccines to poor children in developing countries. Hathaway was on the board of directors until last year, but her rep says she's not involved. Follieri dodged separate charges in April for bouncing a $215,000 check. Marissa Jaret Winokur is apparently playing catch up on preparations for her baby boy's arrival. The Tony award-winner says she thought she'd get kicked off Dancing With the Stars early on, but her lengthy run on the show set her back. A surrogate is carrying the baby for Winokur, who had a hysterectomy during her battle with cervical cancer. The little one is due July 22. Coldplay's North American tour has reportedly been pushed back. The band will take its show on the road two weeks later than expected because of production setbacks. Their first show is now scheduled to take place on July 14 in Los Angeles. Fans can get refunds for canceled dates or use their tickets for different shows. Previously scheduled free concerts are still set to go on this month in London, Barcelona and New York. Coldplay's fourth album hits stores on June 17. That's all according to Billboard. Thanks for watching this entertainment update and keep up with all the day's headlines at UPI.com. Have a great day.
(NAT – Maggie) Today we're talking about Ch. 14, floral décor. TALK OF FLOWERS, RINGS, PHOTOGRAPHY…THAT'S NO SURPRISE IN THIS CLASS. (Bite – Rasheena) I'm learning so much about the wedding industry. AT GEORGE MASON UNIVERISTY IN FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA, STUDENTS LIKE WILSON ARE LEARNING HOW TO BECOME WEDDING PLANNERS. (NAT – Floral guy) This is a good floral to hold up in bouquets. TODAY'S GUEST SPEAKER - A FLORAL DESIGNER. (NAT – Floral guy) I'm going to force a little more pink by adding some Calas (Maggie) I found that students consistently in event management wanted to do planning for weddings as their project. We teach event management. We do it on the macro level. But that was more a micro level. So I designed the course because of that. GEORGE MASON IS THE FIRST FOUR-YEAR INSTITUTION TO OFFER A WEDDING PLANNING COURSE FOR ACADEMIC CREDIT…AND STUDENTS SAY IT'S NOT AN EASY ONE. (Brandi – student) It's the same as taking an economic class where you have to know all of the numbers and details of that class. You have to put in a lot of effort. (Brandi – student) The price of a wedding is around $30K, but it's gone up from $15K. It's dramatically increased in the last 10 years. WITH BIGGER BUDGETS FOR TODAY'S WEDDINGS… STUDENTS ARE LEARNING MORE ABOUT ELABORATE DÉCOR. (floral guy) If you spotlight your arrangement or pinspot it, it makes your arrangements look a lot better. BUT ELABORATE OR NOT, DANIELS SAYS THAT IN AN AGE OF INCREASING GLOBALISM…IT'S IMPORTANT TO TEACH RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL WEDDING TRADITIONS. (NAT-Daniels) If you have a Jewish ceremony, what is the canopy that we're going to use? Chuppah, right, it was on the mid-term! (Daniels) Each bride and groom, they come to the table with different backgrounds and ideas and they may or may not want to play off their culture. I think that's one of the most important things that we do is we take the culture, we take the religion into consideration, but first and foremost, we get to know the clients and what makes them tick. AND STUDENTS SAY THERE'S NO HARM IN TAKING A CLASS THAT HIGHLIGHTS A CAREER OPTION THAT MOST ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS IGNORE. I think it should be offered everywhere, even at community colleges and universities. It's just another elective, but it's also informative. I've taken western civ and biology, but I don't think that applies. this is also giving people another alternative in the job market that they may not know about, that they may not know they have a creative niche in wedding planning. AND IF STUDENTS DON'T MAKE THIS A CAREER, THE CLASS CAN EASILY PLANT A SEED FOR THE FUTURE. Yes! Looking at the stuff today, I wanted to keep that bridal bouquet. I'm taking this home! FOR UPI.COM, I'M KRISTIN VOLK.
Hello on this Tuesday, the 10 day of June 2008. I'm Kristin Volk with a UPI Headline Update. Presidential hopefuls John McCain and Barack Obama are use the campaign trail to talk about the troubling U.S. economy. Earlier today, Senator McCain told a group of small business owners that his goal as president would be to get the economy at full strength again. The Arizona senator supports making Bush's tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 permanent, believing lower tax rates would in turn increase savings. McCain's rival, Senator Obama is calling for another round of tax rebate checks and would like to keep the Bush tax cuts in place for most Americans, but not for those who make about $250 thousand a year or more. President Bush is trying to rally European leaders to keep Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. Bush called on his allies earlier today in Slovenia during his final European Union-U.S. summit as president. He said their nuclear risk is an incredible danger to world peace. Both Bush and EU leaders were ready to threaten Iran with further financial sanctions unless it suspends its nuclear enrichment. President Bush's former spokesman will testify before a House committee next week in the case of leaking CIA agent Valerie Plame's identity. Scott McClellan will reportedly discuss whether Vice President Dick Cheney ordered him to make misleading public statements about the leak. Plame's CIA identity was disclosed to the news media by several top Bush administration officials five years ago, including former White House adviser Scooter Libby and former top White House political adviser Karl Rove. A growing number of restaurants and supermarkets are pulling tomatoes from their menus and store shelves after a recent salmonella outbreak. Federal officials have reportedly found that a 17-state outbreak is linked to three types of raw tomatoes - red plum, red roma and red round tomatoes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that since mid-April, 167 people have been indentified as having salmonella with the same genetic fingerprint. At least 23 have been hospitalized. Thanks for watching today's news update, and for all of us at UPI, have a good day.
Hi and welcome to a UPI news headline. I'm Kristin Volk on this Monday, the 9 day of June 2008. Senator Hillary Clinton is now charged with a new task of making sure her supporters back Senator Barack Obama for president. Clinton officially ended her presidential campaign over the weekend in front of thousands of people. She told her crowd to put all of their energy, strength, and passion into helping elect Obama in November. In a recent CNN poll, 60 percent of Clinton voters say they would vote for Obama, but 17 percent said they would vote for presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain. 22 percent said they wouldn't vote at all if Clinton weren't the nominee. Meanwhile, Senator Barack Obama is kicking off a two-week campaign swing today that will focus on the economy. His first stop is in North Carolina today where he's expected to compare John McCain's economic plan to Geoge Bush's. North Carolina is predominately a red state that hasn't voted for a Democratic presidential candidate in 32 years. But the campaign says they're confident that they can make it a competitive state this year. On the Republican side, Senator John McCain has been emphasizing national security more than any other issue and has made it clear that he would like to fight the election primarily on that ground. Iran's supreme leader says the presence of American troops in Iraq is that country's biggest problem. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reportedly made the comment to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki during a meeting earlier today. Khamenei said he's certain that the American dreams for Iraq won't materialize. U.S. and Iraqi officials are negotiating a security deal that would allow American forces to remain in that country beyond December 31, when their U.N. mandate expires. The hope that Big Brown may win horse-racing's so-called Triple Crown is now just a dream. Over the weekend, Big Brown finished last at the Belmont Stakes in New York. That was a highly unlikely spot for the horse that recently won both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. Last week, Big Brown was treated for a crack in his left hoof. It's not clear whether that affected him. The underdog Da'Tara won the weekend race. That's all for now. Go to upi.com for more on these stories and all of the day's news.
Hi, it's Monday, June 9, 2008 and I'm Melisse Hinkle with today's UPI Entertainment Update. Jessica Alba is a new mom. The actress reportedly gave birth to a baby girl on Saturday. Alba and her husband, Cash Warren, named their daughter Honor Marie Warren. This is their first child. The couple married last month at the Beverly Hills courthouse after getting engaged last December. In a recent interview, Alba told Fit Pregnancy she plans to be the kind of mother who strikes a balance between being an authority figure and being a gentle parent who's open to hearing about her child's problems. Patrick Swayze isn't slowing down. Despite his battle with pancreatic cancer, the actor plans to move forward with his work on a new television project this summer. Swayze will play FBI agent Charles Barker in a drama called The Beast, which will air on A&E. The actor went public with his cancer diagnosis three months after shooting the pilot of the show, which is now set to film in Chicago and premiere in early 2009. The Dirty Dancing star is reportedly responding well to treatment he's receiving at Stanford University Medical Center and he'll continue with his care while working on the new show. Actress Lynda Carter says she responded like any other person when she found a woman's body in the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday. The actress, who played Wonder Woman in the 1970s television series, was reportedly out in a boat by herself when she first saw the body. She wasn't carrying a cell phone, so she motioned to nearby fishermen and instructed them to call police. Carter then directed officials to the body when they arrived. D.C. authorities haven't announced the cause of death. Kung Fu Panda shot to the top of U.S. box offices during its opening weekend. The animated movie, featuring the voices of Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman and Lucy Liu, came in at No. 1 with $60 million. You Don't Mess with the Zohan starring Adam Sandler, sits at No. 2 with an estimated $40 million in ticket sales. And the latest installment of Indiana Jones with Harrison Ford dropped to No. 3, after bringing in nearly $23 million. Last week's box office winner, Sex and the City, with Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon, Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker, fell to No. 4 this week. That's all according to Box Office Mojo. Stars stepped out for the premiere of The Incredible Hulk in Los Angeles this weekend. Actor Lou Ferrigno was at the event with his wife. He's the voice of the Incredible Hulk in the film. Other cast members including Liv Tyler, William Hurt and Edward Norton were also on hand for the premiere. The Incredible Hulk hits U.S. theaters on Friday. That's it for now. Thanks for watching this entertainment update and go to UPI.com for more headlines. Have a great day.
Hello on this Friday, the 6 day of June 2008. I'm Kristin Volk your UPI news update. Not much is known about what Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton discussed when they secretly met in Washington, D.C last night. In a statement that the two sides released shortly afterward, the two said they had a productive discussion about how to succeed in November. There's no word as to whether they talked about Clinton becoming Obama's vice-president – something that the New York senator's supporters have strongly endorsed. Clinton plans to suspend her campaign in the coming days as Obama earned enough delegates earlier this week to become the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. There's one person that Senator Obama can take off his VP list. Former presidential candidate and senator John Edwards reportedly says he has no interest in the job. Edwards made the comment today to two separate newspapers while traveling in Spain. He said he had the privilege of running for vice president in 2004 with Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry, and he won't do it again. The nation's unemployment rate soared to its highest level in more than two decades in May. That's according to a government report released today that also showed more than 49 thousand jobs were cut last month. The rate jumped to 5 and a half percent…up from 5 percent in April. That's a full percentage point higher than it was a year ago. The dramatic shift is considered a warning sign of a recession. The two most senior officials in the U.S. Air Force have been forced to resign over the handling of nuclear weapons. Defense Secretary Robert Gates accepted the resignations yesterday of Air Force Secretary, Michael Wynne and the Chief of Staff, General Michael Moseley. In August, a B-52 bomber flew from North Dakota to Louisiana with the crew unaware that six nuclear-tipped missiles were on board. Last year, components designed to arm nuclear warheads were mistakenly shipped to Taiwan. That's all for now. Go to upi.com and check out our wrap-up from the White House. For all of us at UPI, have a safe and pleasant weekend.
Hi, it's Friday, the 6 of June, 2008 and I'm Melisse Hinkle with today's UPI Entertainment Update. Hulk Hogan's son is now sharing a jail cell with other juveniles. Nick Bollea was taken out of solitary confinement and placed in a communal cell yesterday. That's according to E! News. Bollea is behind bars for a DUI crash that left his friend with serious injuries. The move came two days after a judge turned down the 17-year-old's request to be transfered out of maximum-security. A rep from the jail says space opened up after a routine assessment of housing assignments. Mario Lopez and Karina Smirnoff are reportedly parting ways. The former Dancing With the Stars partners are ending their off-screen relationship after two years of dating. Smirnoff's rep tells People magazine their partnership wasn't going in the right direction. Just last month both stars rejected rumors that their relationship was on the rocks. Lopez issued a statement saying he is happy to have Smirnoff in his life...and he called her a phenomenal and talented woman. A new scholarship fund is being established in honor of Heath Ledger, who died five months ago. The scholarship will benefit struggling Australian actors. Ledger's friend, Gregor Jordan, who directed the actor in the movie Two Hands, announced the news last night at the Australians in Film 2008 Breakthrough Awards in Beverly Hills. Jordan highlighted Ledger's generosity and said of the late actor, when he had nothing, he still found a way to give to others. Jordan added that Ledger's ex-girlfriend, Michelle Williams, said she would be glad to be the first benefactor. Shania Twain is speaking out about her split from husband Robert Mutt Lange. The country singer posted a message on her Web site yesterday, thanking her fans for their support during what she called a rough time. Twain added that she communicates best through her music and said she looks forward to bringing her future songs to her fans. Rumors have circulated that Lange became involved with another woman, causing the downfall of his marriage to Twain...but he has denied those accusations. Author J.K. Rowling delivered the commencement address at Harvard University yesterday. The author also received an honorary degree from the institution. Rowling called upon her personal journey from poverty to literary fame and encouraged graduates to use the power of imagination to make changes in their lives. She said, We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already. That's all for this entertainment update. Thanks so much for watching and have a great weekend.
This week, President Bush says the world needs to take Iran seriously. Bush made the comment while meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert at the White House this week. Olmert also gave a tough warning to Iran, saying its nuclear program must be stopped by all possible means. The Prime Minister is on a U.S. trip while under criminal investigation at home. President Bush presented the nation's highest military award to a 19-year-old soldier who died in Iraq. Army soldier Ross McGinnis was killed nearly two years ago when he saved the lives of four comrades by jumping on a grenade tossed into their vehicle. The President gave the Medal of Honor to McGinnis' mother, saying the young man gave everything for his country. The President honored the University of Kansas in a Rose Garden ceremony this week as the 2008 NCAA basketball champions. It was the first time KU grabbed the title since 1988. The team beat Memphis, coming back from nine points down with just over 2 min. left in the game. The President accepted a cap, basketball and jersey from the players and coaches after commending them for their teamwork.
Hello on this Thursday, the 5 day of June 2008. I'm Kristin Volk and welcome to today's UPI news update. Senator Hillary Clinton is reportedly suspending her campaign this weekend. The New York Senator plans to thank her supporters at an event in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, but she got a head start in an email she sent to supporters today. In the email, she acknowledged her backers and pledged to help Senator Barack Obama capture the White House after eight years of Republican control. While Clinton's campaign in winding down, Obama's general election campaign is kicking off. The presumptive Democratic nominee is making two stops in Virginia today – a solidly Republican state that hasn't voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since 1964. But Obama's campaign believes the Illinois senator may be able to turn Virginia around as the state has become more of a competitive playground recently. The alleged mastermind behind the 9-11 attacks made his first military court appearance today at Guantanamo Bay. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his four co-defendants face the death penalty if convicted for killing nearly 3 thousand people in Washington and New York nearly seven years ago. All of the defendants have been held for a number of years in secret CIA detention centers before being transferred to the U.S. naval base in 2006. Al-Qaeda is claiming responsibility for an attack on a Danish embassy in Pakistan earlier this week. In an Internet posting, the terrorist group said it fulfilled Osama bin Laden's promise to get revenge for reprinting a cartoon offensive to Muslims in a Danish newspaper. That cartoon was of Islam's Prophet Muhammed wearing a bomb-shaped turban. The attack killed six people and caused widespread destruction. That's all for now. Check out our wrap-up from the White House tomorrow on upi.com.
Hi, I'm Melisse Hinkle with your UPI Entertainment Update on this Thursday, June 5, 2008. Sharon Stone continues to apologize for remarks she made about the recent earthquake in China...but it won't get her an invite to the Shanghai International Film Festival, which kicks off on June 14. That's according to the AP. The actress expressed her dissatisfaction with China's rule in Tibet during the Cannes Film Festival in May. She went on to suggest it was bad karma that brought about the earthquake in the country. A rep from the Shanghai International Film Festival says organizers for the event sent Stone a letter protesting her comments. Entertainment Tonight is taking a closer look at one of its recent stories. The celebrity news show reported last Friday that Angelina Jolie had given birth to her twins. The report was subsequently shot down by reps for Jolie and Brad Pitt, as well as other media outlets. ET issued a statement yesterday saying the show had been the victim of a hoax...and the anonymous source they attributed the information to had in fact been someone posing as Jolie's assistant. The show is reportedly working with authorities to investigate the matter. Bridget Moynahan is opening up about being a single mother. In an interview for the July issue of Harper's Bazaar, the actress reportedly said she was frightened when she first brought her son home last summer. But now she calls motherhood the best thing in the world. She went public with the fact she was expecting just after her relationship with New England Patriots quarterback, Tom Brady, came to a close. Moynahan tells the magazine it was her friends and family who got her through the break up and her pregnancy...a time she called traumatic. Ed McMahon is facing some real estate troubles. The former Star Search host is reportedly up against a possible foreclosure on his Beverly Hills home, which has been on the market for two years. He's apparently $644,000 behind on mortgage loan payments. A rep for the TV personality says McMahon hasn't been able to work since he fell and broke his neck a year and a half ago. That caused him to fall behind on payments for the six-bedroom house. McMahon and his wife are reportedly in talks with their mortgage lender but it's unclear whether or not they will stay in the house. That's all according to E! News. Meanwhile, Cyndi Lauper took her True Colors tour to the Molson Amphitheatre in Toronto last night. The tour aims to promote gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. Lauper sang at the event. The Indigo Girls and the B-52's also performed...and Rosie O'Donnell stepped out to deliver a comedy stand-up. Lauper plans to make other stops throughout the U.S. and Canada in the coming weeks. That's all for now...go to upi.com for more entertainment headlines and thanks for watching.
Hi, I'm Melisse Hinkle with your UPI Entertainment Update on this Wednesday, the 4th day of June, 2008. Gina Gershon is requesting a retraction from Vanity Fair for a report the magazine published implying former U.S. president Bill Clinton has been visiting the actress. Both Clinton and Gershon have denied the insinuation, which was published in an article written by the magazine's national editor, Todd Purdum. Gershon's rep called Purdum's report irresponsible journalism...but a Vanity Fair rep maintains the article doesn't suggest the pair had any inappropriate relations and says a retraction isn't justified. Brigitte Bardot is reportedly facing a fine of more than $23,000 after a Paris jury convicted her of inciting discrimination and racial hatred. The 73-year-old French actress and animal-rights activist reportedly wrote a racially charged letter to Nicolas Sarkozy back in December 2006. Bardot criticized a Muslim festival in the letter and claimed that Muslims were destroying France. President Sarkozy was the Interior Minister at the time. This marks the actress's fifth race-related conviction over the past 11 years. Tatum O'Neal is thanking the police who arrested her Sunday for allegedly purchasing crack cocaine in New York. The actress is reportedly having a hard time dealing with the death of her dog. She says the loss is bringing back the sadness she felt when her mother died and that's what pushed her to look for drugs this weekend. But the Oscar winner is apparently still sober and she credits the officers for keeping her drug-free. That's all according to the New York Post. Female stars stepped out in London last night for the Glamour Women of the Year Awards. British actress Kate Beckinsale, American actress Hayden Panettiere and British singer Lily Allen all took home awards. Kelly Osbourne won the theatre award after performing in the musical Chicago in London's West End. Geri Halliwell, Mel B and Emma Bunton from the Spice Girls were also at the ceremony. They won the award for best band. Meanwhile, a group of brides competed for a different kind of prize in New York City's Times Square yesterday. The women raced to the top of a 10-foot wall covered in icing. The wall was meant to represent a wedding cake. The competition is part of a promotion for the T.V. show Bridezillas, launching on June 8. Megan Gressler of Baskinridge, New Jersey took home the $25,000 prize after being the first bride to conquer the cake. Thanks for watching today's update and tune in tomorrow for more entertainment headlines.
Hello, I'm Kristin Volk with today's news webcast on this Wednesday, the 4 day of June 2008. Senator Barack Obama is now looking to unify Democrats after becoming the first African-American to win the presidential nomination of a major U.S. party. Last night, the Illinois senator received the 2,118 delegates he needed to clinch the nomination. His rival, Senator Hillary Clinton, hasn't conceded and said she would consult with party leaders and supporters to determine her next move. Obama will face presumptive Republican nominee Senator John McCain in November's election. With Obama moving ahead in the race, he now faces the task of choosing a running mate. Senator Hillary Clinton has reportedly indicated that she'd be willing to sign up on a joint ticket. - that move could help heal the Democratic party after weeks of divisive campaigning. Other possible frontrunners include Indiana Senator Evan Bayh, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, or Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel. Meanwhile, Senator John McCain responded to Obama's win, saying he would bring the right kind of change to the U.S. presidency. His comments come as he launches a general election campaign against the Illinois Senator. In a speech last night, McCain called for widespread reforms in health care, energy and the environment. He also cited the success of U.S. troop efforts in combating insurgency in Iraq, and said if Obama had his way, soldiers would have been withdrawn and all progress would have been lost. The cost of removing more than 450 children from a polygamist sect compound and then reuniting them with their families will be about $7 million. Texas taxpayers will foot that bill. Children from that compound are returning to their families this week after a Texas Supreme Court found that the state didn't have enough evidence to show that abuse was happening inside. The price tag includes costs of fighting a court battle, retaining custody of children, and reuniting them with their parents. That figure doesn't includes the $500 thousand in costs from local governments whose law enforcement agencies were involved in the ranch raid two months ago. Thanks for watching this UPI news update, and for all of us at UPI, have a good day.
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