Week of August 1, 2008

Bruce E. Ivans - government scientist who is suspected in the deadly anthrax

mailings in 2001 - is dead of an apparent suicide. He had “helped” the FBI in the

investigation.

Tire gauge - Obama defends his

suggestion that motorists should

properly inflate their car tires to

improve gas mileage and cut oil

consumption. John McCain mocked

the idea with one of his aides

handing out tire gauges emblazoned

with the words “Obama’s energy

plan” aboard his campaign plane.

Fighting rages in a valley in

Pakistan’s troubled northeast, killing

at least 17 civilians.

Author Ron Suskind and his book

“The Way of the World” accuses the

White House of faking Iraqi

documents to suggest a link between Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and the

lead hijacker in the Sept. 1 attacks. The book contends that the White House

obtained compelling evidence in early 2003 that Iraq possessed no significant

stocks o nuclear or biological weapons but decided to invade anyway.

Radovan Karadzic - former Bosnian Serb leader - makes his first appearance

before the war crimes tribunal at the Hague - some 13 years after he was

indicted on charges of waging a campaign of ethnic genocide.

President Bush chastises Democrats for refusing to allow a vote on whether to lift

the federal ban on offshore oil drilling before lawmakers departed for their

summer recess.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama says he would be willing to

support limited additional offshore oil drilling if that’s what it takes to enact a

comprehensive policy to foster fuel-efficient autos and develop alternate energy

sources.

Scott Johnson - suspected of opening fire on a group of young swimmers

gathered along a riverbank is arrested after he emerged from woods near the

scene where three teens were slain and a fourth person was wounded the day

before.

Week of August 1, 2008

U.S. unemployment hits 5.4% - the highest since 2004.

Chevron Oil reports record profit - $6 billion.

Federal authorities say thy have cracked the largest case of identity theft in U.S.

history - charging 11 in the theft of more than 40 million credit and debit card

account numbers from computer systems of retailers.

Stephenie Meyer’s “Twilight” series -

“Breaking Dawn” - the fourth in Meyer’s

sensational teen vampire series - sold 1.3

million copies in the first 24 hours after its

release this week. Barack Obama said he

would abandon his past position and support

tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to

quickly cut prices at the gas pump.

Dozens of Hindu Pilgrims fell through a

broken guardrail and scores more were

trampled when thousands of devotees

panicked at a remote mountaintop temple in

New Delhi - leaving 145 dead.

The photo rights for pictures of Brad Pitt and

Angelina Jolie’s newborn twins may be $14

million! People magazine will feature

Vivienne Marcheline and Knox Leon in an

issue to hit newsstands this week. The money will go to a foundation created by

the couple that focuses on helping children around the world.

Crude oil slips to $121.41 - its lowest close since May 5.

Sports -

The NFL implants a code of fan conduct, warning that spectators who misbehave

will be ejected from stadiums and barred form returning.

Passing - Skip Caray - longtime voice of the Atlanta Braves and heard nationally

over TBS.

The Los Angeles Dodgers Manny Ramierz from the Boston Red Sox in a non-

waiver trade - in one of the most significant deadlines deals in their history.

Ramirez will paid the remaining $7 million of his $21million by the Red Sox.

Week of August 1, 2008

Technology -

Delta Airlines announces that it would begin offering Wi Fi for fee - on its

domestic flights this fall. It’ll be the first major U.S. carrier to offer Wi-Fi on its

entire domestic fleet.

Radio news -

CBS says it plans to sell

radio stations in a dozen mid-size markets.

Entertainment news -

Kathy Hilton - mother of Paris, said

on the Huffington site - she is annoyed

at John McCain for using his

daughter’s name to mock Barack

Obama. McCain unveiled a campaign

ad last week likening Obama to

celebrities Hilton and singer Britney

Spears.

Television news -

Kelsey Grammer, who suffered a heart

attack in June, checked himself into a

hospital last weekend because he felt

faint - and is out again.

Christian Applegate is undergoing

treatment for breast cancer, but the

cancer has been caught early.

NBC announces that it had hired Luke Russert, son of the late Tim Russert, to

serve as a correspondent at large, starting at the two political conventions later

this summer.

Top TV this week -

America’s Got Talent - 13.85 million viewers

Wipeout - 9.70

Two and a Half Men - 9.34

So You think You can dance (Wed.) - 9.34

Criminal Minds - 8.70

So You Think You Can Dance (Thu.) - 8.84

NCIS - 8.50

CSI: Miami - 8.44

60 Minutes - 8.08