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Tucson talk show host: Immigration red-hot topic
It’s been five days since Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed into law some of the nation’s toughest anti-illegal immigration measures, and the topic is still red hot among listeners on conservative talk show host Jon Justice’s FM radio morning show in Tucson. FULL POST
Unsecured oil, gas tank explosions claim 2 more lives
Two people were killed by oil and gas tank explosions in recent weeks, even as the Chemical Safety Board launched a major drive to improve safety conditions around the tanks following the deaths last fall of two Mississippi teenagers.
The Chemical Safety Board, created by Congress, investigated the Mississippi incident and found at least 40 other deaths involving oil and gas wells in the past 25 years, most involving young people.
Humanitarian workers killed in Mexico
Two human rights workers were killed in an ambush in the Mexican southern state of Oaxaca, authorities said Wednesday.
Preliminary census numbers achieve goal, bureau says
America mailed it back, the U.S. Census Bureau said Wednesday, announcing that slightly more than 72 percent of households completed this year's nationwide survey - the same rate achieved during the last census in 2000.
"This is, I think, a congratulations due to the American public for their act of civic participation," Robert Groves, director of the Census Bureau, said in announcing the numbers. "We are grateful and happy to report that."
The day's most popular stories
World's 50 best restaurants list released: Danish cuisine reigns supreme, according to some of the planet's most prominent eaters.
Meet Sandra Bullock’s baby boy: In public, Sandra Bullock has been through the best and worst of times this year - from winning her first Oscar to enduring the breakup of her marriage.
Husband’s bittersweet lotto win: An Iowa man whose wife died in March won $1 million on an instant lottery ticket he bought on her birthday.
Retire to Mexico – the price is right: The years-long trend of Americans buying homes and expatriating to Mexico has collapsed, done in by a trifecta of the recession, swine flu and an epic crime wave.
Chicago violence rages on: Violent crime continues at a record pace in Chicago and yet victims still refuse to "snitch." Joe Johns reports.
Dow gains, treasurys slip while oil rises
A look at highlights from the day's business news:
Dow back above 11,000
The Dow gained Wednesday after the Federal Reserve said that economic activity is picking up, and that it will hold a key short-term interest rate steady for an extended period of time.
The broader market was mixed as investors considered European debt issues and a batch of quarterly earnings reports.
The Dow Jones industrial average gained 53 points, or 0.5 percent, reclaiming the 11,000 level it lost in the previous day's selloff. The 11,000 level has psychological meaning, but is not a key technical level for traders.
The S&P 500 index added 7 points, or 0.7 percent, closing above 1,185, a key support level. The Nasdaq composite was barely changed.
Manager: Bret Michaels' tour could resume in late May
Bret Michaels' recovery from a brain hemorrhage suffered last week is going well enough that his concert tour could resume in a month, according to a statement on his website. The rock singer and reality TV star suffered a massive brain hemorrhage and was hospitalized Friday.
"Even though yesterday was a minor setback, doctors remain hopeful for a full recovery and plan to release more specific information next Monday," his road manager Janna Alias said in the statement.
At least 15 people killed in Ciudad Juarez
[Updated at 7:17 p.m.] At least 15 people were killed in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Wednesday, as drug-related violence goes unabated, authorities said.
Police found seven young men killed in two locations in Juarez, police spokesman Jacinto Seguro told CNN.
Earlier Wednesday, eight men were shot to death outside a bar in what has become one of the country's deadliest cities, the state attorney general's office said.
Spanish debt downgraded as Greece shakes markets
Standard & Poor's downgraded Spain's debt to a "AA" rating Wednesday, down from "AA+," a day after its downgrading of Greek debt set off falls in markets worldwide.
Spain's economy is among the largest in the European Union, significantly bigger than Greece's.
The S&P announcement came as German Chancellor Angela Merkel huddled with the head of the International Monetary Fund to hammer out specifics of aid to Greece.
Germany will do what it can to help Greece out of its financial crisis, Merkel said Wednesday, "but also Greece has to do its part."
Senate agrees to begin debate on Wall Street reform
[Updated at 6:33 p.m.] Republicans ended their filibuster of Wall Street reforms Wednesday when the Senate agreed without a vote to begin debate on a financial regulations bill.
The Senate agreed by unanimous consent to launch debate on the bill after a similar motion failed three times in the previous 48 hours to win the necessary 60 votes for approval.
Oil spill burn has started in Gulf of Mexico
[Updated at 6:32 p.m.] A planned attempt to burn off part of the massive spill from last week's oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico has started, the U.S. Coast Guard says.
Competency tests ordered for suspect in flight diversion
[Updated at 6:06 p.m.] A federal magistrate ordered a competency evaluation Wednesday for the former Air Force intelligence specialist accused of making false bomb threats that diverted an international commercial flight.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Margaret J. Kravchuk ordered the evaluation at the request of the public defender representing Derek Stansberry at a short hearing in Bangor, Maine.
Iranian plane flies near U.S. carrier
An Iranian navy plane that approached a U.S. aircraft carrier last week was flying as low as 300 feet as it neared the USS Eisenhower, U.S. military officials said Wednesday.
The incident, first reported by CNN on Tuesday, came as Iran was beginning a series of military exercises last week meant to show off their military prowess.
Fed: Economy better, rates to stay low
The Federal Reserve said Wednesday it sees further signs of improvement in the U.S. economy, but not enough to start raising its key interest rate from near 0 percent anytime soon.
The Fed's statement Wednesday once again spoke of a U.S. economy now in recovery, stating that "economic activity has continued to strengthen and that the labor market is beginning to improve." FULL POST
Dems call for overturn of Arizona's immigration law
Congressional Democrats made an impassioned plea on the steps of the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday for Arizona's new immigration law to be overturned, citing constitutional concerns and other implications for the country.
"This law must be overturned - either legally, politically or with the economic consequences that are beginning to happen to Arizona already because of the law," said Rep. Raul Grijalva, co-chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
The request comes amid a heated debate on Capitol Hill of a comprehensive immigration reform bill - one of President Obama's top domestic priorities.
Sources: Crist to run as independent
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist has decided to run as a nonaligned candidate rather than compete for the Republican Party nomination in his bid for the Senate, a GOP fundraiser tells CNN.
The fundraiser, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that Crist has begun contacting financial supporters to tell them that he is running as a non-party affiliated candidate and to ask for their continued support.
Tea Partiers to illegal immigrants: 'Sign guestbook'
Lee Earle, left, and Ronald Ludders of Phoenix support Arizona's new immigration law.
Lee Earle, a self-identified “Tea Party facilitator” in Arizona, ground zero of the immigration debate, wants you to know that he supports immigration. He considers it the lifeblood of American society and the backbone of our economy – if it’s done legally.
“We want immigration. We need immigration! All we want is for people to sign the guestbook at the door,” said Earle, a Phoenix resident. “Being an illegal immigrant in Arizona is like trespassing. If you’re in my house and you’re not invited, then I have every right to send you out.”
Earle says he supports Arizona’s controversial new law targeting illegal immigration because it lets local law enforcement do what the federal government should be doing to stop people from entering the country unlawfully.
Web Pulse: Baby Bullock, Gulf fire, 'bigoted' Brit reacts
Children re-enact the MTV show "The Hills"
Here’s a quick glance at the collective consciousness of the Web on Wednesday:
The Hills, in miniature: If you ever thought the stars of MTV’s “The Hills” act pretty immature, you aren’t the only one. A video of children re-enacting the reality show has gone viral. In honor of the final season, the website Babelgum.com took child labor to a whole new level, with kids playing versions of Audrina, Heidi and Lauren. The girl who plays Heidi covers her face with a spooky clear mask, alluding to the numerous plastic surgeries the reality star has undergone. The pint-size Spencer, Heidi's husband, has an actual toddler fit, a shout-out to the grown-up's bratty tendencies.
Oil to be burned in Gulf: The U.S. Coast Guard prepared to set fire to an oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico to keep the spilled crude away from sensitive ecological areas in the Mississippi River Delta. Efforts to cap the well, which began leaking when the Deepwater Horizon rig blew up and sank last week, have been unsuccessful. The oil will be corralled by a specially designed boom before being set ablaze. The flames are expected to destroy between 50 to 90 percent of the section of oil, and winds should blow the cloud of smoke and soot out to sea.
Mom on son who died in state care: 'I trusted people'
Mother Elena Andron says she learned the hard way not to trust the Michigan Department of Human Services but it was her son who paid the ultimate price.
Jonny Dragomir, 10, died in the care of Michigan’s Department of Human Services in March 2007.
The boy was in the state’s care for about a year until his death, according to CNN affiliate WXYZ. In a video posted on WXYZ’s website Mullen explains that the boy who could not walk, talk, or feed himself was handed to the state under a one year agreement.
Andron tried to get her son back after seeing that her son was deteriorating and losing weight but instead she was taken to court by the state. And then, Andron's son starved to death.
Lebanon youth have hope, but can it cause drastic change?
Thousands of Lebanese youth took to the streets demanding a secular country.
“What’s your religion?” big signs asked and thousands of Lebanese shouted, “None of your business” in a daring, bold and ambitious effort to demand a secular country.
A group of young activists and intellectuals have prepared for the event for months mainly through social media. They created a Facebook page, produced several promotional videos which they distributed through YouTube and they engaged the media and the street in a subtle way until Sunday, April 25, the day of the march.
A couple of thousand people showed up. All age groups and genders were represented from babies in strollers to an aging generation of Lebanese who bore witness to atrocities that resulted from sectarian divisions in their country. They expressed through slogans their impatience with their country’s present status, where every aspect of their life rotates around religion and tradition.
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