In a Nutshell
National and World News
Jimmy Fallon taking over for Conan
It was announced Monday that former “SNL” cast member Jimmy Fallon will take over comedian Conan O’Brien’s “Late Night” television show next year. Conan is set to take over Jay Leno’s “Tonight Show” gig in 2009, a deal that has been four years in the making. Fallon, by contrast, signed a deal to remain at NBC in 2007, despite having little work after leaving “SNL” in 2004.
Blind man bowls perfect game
Despite the inconvenient handicap of being legally blind, 78-year-old Dale Davis of Alta, Iowa bowled a perfect game over the weekend. Davis has suffered from macular degeneration, a progressive eye disease, for the last ten years, leaving him with no vision in his left eye and only limited peripheral vision in his right eye. Davis, who bowls twice a week, has an average score of 180.
‘OJ confessed,’ says former friend
Mike Gilbert, a memorabilia dealer and former friend of O.J. Simpson, has a new book on store shelves this week entitled “How I Helped O.J. Get Away with Murder.” In it, Gilbert says Simpson confessed to the murder of his ex-wife while high on marijuana. Gilbert also alleges in the book that he advised Simpson to stop taking his arthritis medication so that his hands would swell up and be unable to fit into the infamous bloody gloves.
Researchers reconstruct Columbia hard drives
Professionals at Kroll Ontrack Inc. have managed to successfully recover data located on a hard drive from the ill-fated Columbia space shuttle, which crashed in 2003. The hard drive, which had been warped and damaged due to the extreme conditions of the space shuttle’s re-entry, was used to record information on a scientific experiment regarding the properties of liquid xenon.
Obama ties with Clinton in superdelegates
Sen. Barack Obama has tied with Sen. Hillary Clinton in the all-important race for superdelegates, according to several media estimates. While Obama holds a commanding lead in the number of delegates awarded from primaries, 1,592 to Clinton’s 1,424, Clinton had until now been ahead in the race for superdelegates. Both candidates now have 273 superdelegates, eliminating Clinton’s lead of over 100 at the beginning of the year.
New stamp prices take effect
On Monday the cost of sending a letter via the United States Postal Service went up a penny to 42 cents. In anticipation of the rate hike, the post office said they have printed an additional 1.5 billion one-cent stamps to compensate for the additional postage that will now be required to use the old 41-cent stamps. The post office also offers the “Forever” stamp, a stamp which remains valid forever, despite future rate increases.
President’s daughter marries
On Saturday Jenna Bush married longtime boyfriend Henry Hager. Unlike first family weddings of the past, Jenna’s wedding was largely a media blackout, upholding a longstanding tradition of the privacy of Bush daughters. The two were married at President Bush’s 1,600-acre Crawford, Texas ranch. “The wedding was spectacular,” the president told reporters. “It’s all we could have hoped for.”
Ohio News
Promotion shuts down Papa John’s stores
As an apology for making t-shirts that called Cleveland Cavaliers star Lebron James a “crybaby,” Papa John’s stores in Ohio, including Columbus, offered 23-cent pizzas to customers last week. However, police were eventually called in to help close all of the Columbus-area Papa John’s stores after the chain exhausted its ingredients and was unable to make good on the promotion because of the high demand.
Tiger attacks keeper at Toledo Zoo
On Sunday morning a tiger attacked an employee at the Toledo Zoo. The tiger, the zoo said, was somehow able to slash her paw through a double mesh barrier at an odd angle, striking the zookeeper, whose name was not released. The keeper was treated for injuries at a local hospital and released.
Renovated Football Hall of Fame opens
On Saturday a ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the opening of renovated wings at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, located in Canton, Ohio. The renovations came at a cost of $4 million and include audio and video upgrades to many of the hall’s exhibits. Former Cleveland Browns receiver Dante Lavelli was in attendance to help open the new wings to the public.
Originally Published: Issue 648 - May 14, 2008
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