100 days of Obama: Energy aplenty, no miracles

100 days of Obama: Energy aplenty, no miracles: "Barack Obama opened his presidency by drawing an unflinching portrait of the challenges. Then he set about turning those perils into possibilities."

Pakistani official warns Taliban must disarm

Pakistani official warns Taliban must disarm: "Pakistan's top civilian security official says the Taliban in the northwest's Swat Valley must disarm or 'face action.'"

NY awaits confirmation of probable swine flu cases

NY awaits confirmation of probable swine flu cases: "Students at a New York City high school could learn as early as Sunday if the flu that sickened them was the same strain of the human swine influenza that has killed people in Mexico."

Media Matters Daily Summary

Here are today's news items from Media Matters for America, click on the title or 'read more' to read the entirety of each story. Media reported GOP reconciliation criticisms, ignored their previous support for process Print media have uncritically quoted Republican senators criticizing congressional Democrats' decision to use the budget reconciliation process to advance health-care reform and education initiatives as overly partisan, without noting that congressional Republicans -- including the senators quoted -- voted to allow the use of the budget reconciliation process to pass major Bush administration initiatives. Read More Goler reverses meaning of Obama quote to falsely suggest he supports European-style health care Fox News' Wendell Goler cropped a comment by President Obama and took it out of context to falsely suggest that he supports creating a health care system "like the European countries." In fact, Obama was paraphrasing the town hall question he had been asked before explaining why he opposed such a system. Read More You can help support our work; become a volunteer media monitor, or donate to Media Matters for America.

Officials: 2 Fla. sheriff's deputies fatally shot

Officials: 2 Fla. sheriff's deputies fatally shot: "Two north Florida sheriff's deputies were fatally shot at a shooting range by a suspect who was later killed by deputies after he fled across the county line, authorities said."

3 dead, 2 hurt in Ga. shooting; professor sought

3 dead, 2 hurt in Ga. shooting; professor sought: "A University of Georgia professor who police suspect in the fatal shootings of his ex-wife and two men outside a theater near campus Saturday disappeared in his Jeep after dropping his children off with a neighbor, authorities said."

Mexico fights swine flu with 'pandemic potential'

Mexico fights swine flu with 'pandemic potential': "A new swine flu strain that has killed as many as 68 people and sickened more than 1,000 across Mexico has 'pandemic potential,' the World Health Organization chief said Saturday, and it may be too late to contain the sudden outbreak."

Iowa on Obama-No regrets, a few worries

Iowa on Obama-No regrets, a few worries: "En route here for a nearby event, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said earlier this week, “Iowa will always be a special place for the president.”"

Republicans push nuclear energy to lower costs

Republicans push nuclear energy to lower costs: "The U.S. should build 100 more nuclear plants rather than spend 'billions in subsidies' for renewable energy if it is truly committed to lowering electric bills and having clean air, the Republicans say."

NKorea says it has restarted nuclear facilities

NKorea says it has restarted nuclear facilities: "North Korea said Saturday it has begun harvesting plutonium from spent fuel rods at its main nuclear plant to build up its atomic arsenal. The move, in defiance of tightening U.N. sanctions, threatened to further damage efforts to dismantle the communist nation's rogue program"

Media Matters Daily Summary

Here are today's news items from Media Matters for America, click on the title or 'read more' to read the entirety of each story. Kudlow echoes baseless Drudge headline on Obama supporters Echoing a Drudge Report headline, Larry Kudlow asserted that "Obama supporters [are] saying he's the best president in history." Kudlow cited no examples of Obama supporters who have said this, and the Politico article to which the Drudge headline linked contained no such assertions from Obama supporters. Read More Wash. Times editorial distorts Rosa Brooks' statement on Al Qaeda In an editorial discussing newly appointed Defense Department official Rosa Brooks, The Washington Times wrote that Brooks "has called al Qaeda 'little more than an obscure group of extremist thugs.' " In fact, Brooks used that phrase in 2007 to refer to the view of Al Qaeda in 2001 held by "most experts." Read More CQ, AP ignore Boehner's use of "torture" to describe techniques Congressional Quarterly and the AP reported that "critics" say interrogation techniques outlined in Justice Department memos amount to torture and quoted Rep. John Boehner's criticism of the memos' release. However, neither outlet noted that Boehner himself characterized the techniques as "torture." Read More Drudge hypes article claiming Gore "chickened out" from confronting skeptic Matt Drudge highlighted the claim from global warming skeptic Marc Morano that "House Democrats have refused to allow [a global warming skeptic] to appear alongside former Vice President Al Gore at a high profile global warming hearing on Friday." But Newt Gingrich and others who disagree with Gore on climate change legislation the House is considering are also testifying at the hearing. Read More LA Times reported McConnell's criticism of reconciliation without noting his past support of process The Los Angeles Times reported Sen. Mitch McConnell's criticism of Democrats' potential use of the reconciliation process to pass health-care reform without noting that he repeatedly voted in favor of using reconciliation to pass the Bush tax cuts. Read More FBN's Sullivan falsely claimed DHS report "nam[ed] veterans groups as possible extremist groups" Fox Business' Brian Sullivan falsely asserted that DHS "nam[ed] veterans groups as possible extremist groups" in a recent report on right-wing extremism. In fact, citing an FBI assessment authored during the Bush administration, the report warned of a possible resurgence among extremist groups that "will attempt to recruit and radicalize returning veterans." Read More Misoverestimating him: Media graded Bush's first 100 days on a curve Assessing President Bush's first 100 days, media figures and outlets repeatedly set a low bar -- which in some cases they explicitly acknowledged -- and then judged him as having cleared it. Read More NRO's Hemingway gets history wrong in accusing Begala of botching facts Mark Hemingway claimed that Paul Begala's statement that "[o]ur country executed Japanese soldiers who waterboarded American POWs" is false. However, the United States participated in a tribunal that sentenced numerous Japanese soldiers to death for war crimes including "torture" after a trial in which forms of waterboarding were presented as evidence of torture. Read More 100 days of myths and falsehoods As media figures prepare to recognize President Obama's 100th day in office, Media Matters has reviewed coverage since the inauguration and identified numerous myths and falsehoods about the administration and its policies. Read More You can help support our work; become a volunteer media monitor, or donate to Media Matters for America.

US journalist jailed in Iran goes on hunger strike

US journalist jailed in Iran goes on hunger strike: "The American journalist convicted of spying in Iran has gone on a hunger strike to protest her imprisonment, her father said Saturday."

Craigslist founder isn't closing 'erotic' section

Craigslist founder isn't closing 'erotic' section: "The founder of Craigslist does not plan to close the 'erotic services' section of the Web site despite criticism that has intensified after a medical student was accused of killing a Boston masseuse who advertised there."

US Navy: Pirates seize German ship near Somalia

US Navy: Pirates seize German ship near Somalia: "Hijackers seized a German-owned ship in the pirate-infested waters between Somalia and Yemen on Saturday, a U.S. Navy spokesman said."

Crain's Daily News Alert prepared for Top Executives

CHICAGOBUSINESS — POWERED BY CRAIN'S — Daily Business Briefing CRAIN'S LISTS SEND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR MULTIMEDIA WEEKLY JOB CHANGES TOP HEADLINES Thursday, April 23, 2009 · Metro Chicago unemployment up to 9.3% · Local home sales fall 26% in March · CME profit falls, but execs optimistic · Exelon's 1Q profit jumps 23% on nukes, higher rates · Foreclosure suit hits Evanston condos · Jewel cuts prices to lure shoppers · Former Blagojevich aide pleads 'not guilty' · Fitch lowers outlook on General Growth CMBS · GATX profit falls but firm maintains full-year earnings forecast · OfficeMax downgraded again by Moody's · 10 things to do this weekend  · Quigley goes for the gold; Daley sags in poll; Tony Blair impresses: Hinz blog · Ex-Ald. Natarus takes the stage; Ebert's $1M thumbs-up: Taking Names blog · Trib sports' dark day, Fire's premium seats, and more: Biz of Sports blog  Final Markets Dow Jones 7,957.06 +70.49 +0.89% NASDAQ 1,652.21 +6.09 +0.37% Crain's Index 63.51 +0.130 +0.205% » View Other Top Headlines ADVERTISEMENT Support the Chicago River's continued recovery & get benefits such as FREE admission to the McCormick Tribune Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum by joining our museum's Corporate Club. Learn the benefits to your company, community & the environment at bridgehousemuseum.org. OTHER HEADLINES · O'Hare expansion foe drops fight Daily Herald · U.S. is said to prepare bankruptcy filing for Chrysler New York Times · Abbott in court over Hospira spinoff Daily Herald · Minn. AG tells Ill. tollway to stop sending tickets Fox 9 Crain's Chicago Business | 360 N. Michigan Ave. | Chicago, IL 60601 ADVERTISEMENT TODAY'S FEATURES Chicago Business Today - April 23 President Obama makes his case to credit card company executives. Local home sales plunge from a year ago but are showing signs of improvement. And as Tribune undergoes another round of layoffs, the company asks a court to approve millions of dollars in bonuses to managers.Read More · Crain's full coverage of General Growth · Chicago's largest privately held companies · Entrepreneurs in Action: TopGolf · Road to Recovery: What's ahead for Chicago SIGN UP FOR CUSTOM ALERTS Industries Companies Executives » Account Settings LISTEN LIVE: Traffic, weather and news from our news partner WBBM-AM.

Media Matters Daily Summary

Here are today's news items from Media Matters for America, click on the title or 'read more' to read the entirety of each story. Media ignore facts undermining GOP calls for Napolitano resignation The Politico, Roll Call, and TheHill.com uncritically quoted Republican congressmen suggesting that the DHS report on right-wing extremist groups was "politic[ally]" motivated. None of the articles noted that DHS also issued an assessment of left-wing extremism. Read More NY Times drew false "contrast" between Blair, other Obama officials The New York Times purported to draw a "contrast" between Dennis Blair, who has said that harsh interrogation techniques yielded "high value information," and "President Obama and most of his top aides," who have argued the use of the techniques "betrayed American values." In fact, Blair has also said he opposes their use. Read More O'Reilly revived "wall" falsehood to suggest Holder -- not Bush officials -- should be "prosecuted" Bill O'Reilly falsely claimed "Eric Holder and Janet Reno put the wall up between the FBI and the CIA." In fact, the guidelines to which O'Reilly referred had no impact on communications between the FBI and the CIA, the Department of Defense, or any other agencies. Read More Political History 101: O'Reilly falsely claimed Nixon never met with Mao Bill O'Reilly falsely claimed Richard Nixon never met Mao Zedong. In fact, Nixon met with Mao in February 1972. Read More Fox News' Hemmer "keeping track of the stimulus money" -- by lifting research from GOP website Bill Hemmer repeatedly suggested information about four "interesting" projects reportedly funded by the recovery act was obtained through Fox News' own research, even though nearly all of the information Hemmer mentioned, as well as that included in on-screen text and graphics, first appeared on Rep. Eric Cantor's Republican Whip website. Read More More Fox figures pick up tenuous claim that harsh interrogations thwarted L.A. plot Neil Cavuto, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, and Catherine Herridge joined other Fox News figures in advancing Marc Thiessen's claim that the use of harsh interrogations techniques on Khalid Shaikh Mohammed "stopped an attack on the Library Tower." But the Bush administration has said that the attack was thwarted more than a year before Mohammed was captured. Read More Fox News greets alleged torture with antics Many on Fox News have greeted the release of Justice Department memos authorizing the CIA's use of harsh interrogation techniques with antics that mock the notion that these practices constitute torture. Read More Conservative media claim prosecution of Bush administration officials will turn U.S. into "banana republic" Conservative media figures are comparing possible prosecutions of Bush administration officials for their roles in authorizing the use of harsh interrogation techniques to circumstances in a "banana republic," in "Third World ... dictatorships," or "some little Latin American country that's run by ... the latest junta." Read More You can help support our work; become a volunteer media monitor, or donate to Media Matters for America.

NYT: Chrysler could file bankruptcy next week - The New York Times- msnbc.com

NYT: Chrysler could file bankruptcy next week - The New York Times- msnbc.com: "The Treasury Department is preparing a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing for Chrysler that could come as soon as next week, people with direct knowledge of the action said Thursday."

Ford shares rise on smaller-than-expected loss

Ford shares rise on smaller-than-expected loss: "Ford Motor Co posted a smaller-than-expected first-quarter loss and said it was on track to at least break even in 2011 and did not expect to seek U.S. government loans, sending its shares up more than 22 percent."

Sixty die in deadliest Iraq bombing since June

Sixty die in deadliest Iraq bombing since June: "In a second day of major bloodshed, two suicide bombers wearing explosive vests blew themselves up at the gates of a Shi'ite Muslim shrine in Baghdad on Friday, killing 60 people, Iraqi police said."

More Chicago schools to go year-round - 4/22/09 - Chicago News - abc7chicago.com

More Chicago schools to go year-round - 4/22/09 - Chicago News - abc7chicago.com: "More Chicago public school students will be attending year-around schools next year. Officials say they will more than double the number of schools that operate all year long."

Crain's Daily News Alert prepared for Top Executives

CHICAGOBUSINESS — POWERED BY CRAIN'S — Daily Business Briefing CRAIN'S LISTS SEND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR MULTIMEDIA WEEKLY JOB CHANGES TOP HEADLINES Wednesday, April 22, 2009 · Trib sheds 53 newsroom jobs as parent seeks court OK to pay $13M in bonuses · $200K helps keep StreetWise on streets · CEO of YMCA Metro Chicago resigns · McDonald's profit tops estimates · Boeing reports drop in profit, cuts 2009 forecast · Wind power convention shifts to Chicago · Green activists tilt windmills on Mich Ave bridge · River North nightclub files for bankruptcy protection · North Side developers face $11 million in foreclosure suits · First Midwest misses earnings expectations · GE replaces CB Richard Ellis on suburban portfolio · NorthShore names new Skokie Hospital president  · Madigan out to kill RTA? Hinz blog · Hot list finds what's old is new again in Chicago: Taking Names blog · Jingle rattles Cubs fans; ticket brokers enjoying Bulls, Hawks success: Biz of Sports blog  Final Markets Dow Jones 7,886.57 -82.99 -1.04% NASDAQ 1,646.12 +2.27 +0.14% Crain's Index 63.38 -0.420 -0.658% » View Other Top Headlines ADVERTISEMENT Support the Chicago River's continued recovery & get benefits such as FREE admission to the McCormick Tribune Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum by joining our museum's Corporate Club. Learn the benefits to your company, community & the environment at bridgehousemuseum.org. OTHER HEADLINES · Maggie Daley to undergo surgery today Chicago Sun-Times · Freddie Mac executive found dead New York Times · Bulls' Rose is NBA's rookie of the year Daily Herald Crain's Chicago Business | 360 N. Michigan Ave. | Chicago, IL 60601 ADVERTISEMENT TODAY'S FEATURES Chicago Business Today - April 22 Playboy stripped of its NYSE listing? McDonald's benefits from recession Boeing suffers from it. Filene's Basement scooped up by liquidator. A new restaurant to open in Bennigan's old downtown space. And Exelon wants to go green on the South Side.Read More · Crain's full coverage of General Growth · Chicago's largest privately held companies · Entrepreneurs in Action: TopGolf · Road to Recovery: What's ahead for Chicago SIGN UP FOR CUSTOM ALERTS Industries Companies Executives » Account Settings LISTEN LIVE: Traffic, weather and news from our news partner WBBM-AM.

Parental Engagement and Juvenile Justice Town Hall Forum

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here   Parental Engagement and Juvenile Justice Town Hall Forum  _____________________________________________________________________   African-American juveniles make up 85% of its juvenile justice system population in Cook County - and this is one of the reasons why black students are dropping out of school.    Find out what you and your children can do about this.   This discussion will focus on the racial disparities in the Juvenile Justice System - and ways to keep students out of the system.     Featured speakers include: David Wells  Executive Director, Juvenile Intervention Support Center  Annazette Collins, Illinois State Representative (10th District) Chairman of Juvenile Justice Reform Committee Kathleen Bankhead Chief, Juvenile Justice Bureau, Cook County State's Attorney  Edith Crigler Associate Director, Chicago Area Project _____________________________________________________________________  Thursday, April 30, 2009 Chicago Urban League 4510 S. Michigan Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60653 6:00 p.m.  - 8:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.     Please RSVP to Candace Willis (773) 451-3610 cwillis@thechicagourbanleague.org _____________________________________________________________________  Tell a Friend Chicago Urban League | 4510 Michigan Avenue | Chicago | IL | 60653

Stroger Watch

Cook County Board President Todd Stroger has once again demonstrated that he is unfit to manage a multi-billion dollar budget. His latest involvement in the the Donna Dunnings/Tony Cole scandal is another example of his severe lack of judgment. Below is the news release issued by the Cook County Republican Party calling for the resignation of Todd Stroger. Unfit to Govern Cook County GOP News Release - 4/22/09 CHICAGO— The Cook County Republican Party calls on Todd Stroger to resign as Cook County Board President immediately. Stroger and his administration refuse to directly answer taxpayer questions about hiring practices in county government and now we know of at least two employees engaged in activity representing a serious breach of ethical standards. Stroger hired his cousin, Donna Dunnings and a man he met at a restaurant, Tony Cole, without vetting them or conducting proper background checks. This kind of irresponsible management of county staff is not an isolated incident - it is a hiring culture Stroger has created that rewards county jobs to unqualified people without asking substantive questions...read more... Stroger Aide, CFO Dunnings Resigns Chicago Sun-Times - 4/17/2009 Cook County Board President Todd Stroger has ousted his cousin from her $175,701-a-year job as the county's chief financial officer amid questions about her dealings with a recently fired county patronage worker. Donna Dunnings resigned after Stroger asked for her resignation "in the wake of Dunnings' disclosure of issues related to a personnel matter that could conflict with her abilities to fulfill her responsibilities" as CFO, Stroger's office said in a press release this morning...read more... County Commissioners call for State and Federal probe Southwest News Herald - 4/21/09 Fearing that the county's funds may have been abused, Cook County Commissioner Lawrence Suffredin (D-13th District) called on the U.S. Attorney to investigate the circumstances surrounding the firing of Cook County Chief Financial Officer Donna Dunnings....read more... Todd Stroger leaves unanswered questions Chicago Tribune - 4/21/09 Cook County Board President Todd Stroger today continued his media rounds to answer questions about why he dumped his cousin, one of his administration's top officials, amid an imbroglio over their contacts with a felon Stroger hired, promoted and later fired. But during a session with newpaper reporters at his fifth floor office, he broke little new ground and left many questions unanswered, as he has done in a string of broadcast interviews he's granted since he informed the Tribune of the resignation early Friday morning...read more... Time for Todd Stroger to answer key question Chicago Sun-Times - 4/21/09 Cook County Board President Todd Stroger must understand one key fact: Getting rid of his chief financial officer, his first cousin Donna Dunnings, won't make the scandal involving her and her former employee, Tony Cole, go away. Stroger blames his political foes for his problems, but he has been less than forthright on the scandal....read more... Commissioner Tony Peraica on Fox News ReformCookCounty.com - 4/20/09

Media Matters Daily Summary

Here are today's news items from Media Matters for America, click on the title or 'read more' to read the entirety of each story. Media continue to ignore Cheney role in authorizing torture tactics Media outlets continue to cite Dick Cheney's criticism of President Obama for releasing previously classified Justice Department memos authorizing the CIA's use of harsh interrogation techniques while ignoring Cheney's self-acknowledged role in authorizing the use of those techniques. Read More Hannity decries use of "the 'B' word," unless Ted Nugent is using it about Clinton Sean Hannity decried Perez Hilton's use of "the 'B' word" in reference to Carrie Prejean, saying, "I can't think of anything more vicious, more mean, more insulting, more degrading." But Hannity did not object when Ted Nugent referred to Hillary Clinton as a "worthless bitch." Read More Politico omits Blair's reported statement that costs of techniques "far outweighed" the benefits The Politico reported that Dennis Blair stated that harsh interrogation techniques yielded "high-value information" but did not note Blair's reported statement that the costs of those techniques "far outweighed whatever benefit they gave us." Read More Scarborough falsely compared harsh interrogations to military training programs Joe Scarborough asserted that interrogation techniques, such as "sleep deprivation and working on phobias" used against detainees, are no different from those used in U.S. military training programs. However, officials familiar with both dispute the comparison. Read More Media ignore falsehood in Miss California's same-sex marriage response Numerous media figures have suggested that Carrie Prejean lost the Miss USA pageant because of the "honesty" of her response to a question about same-sex marriage. But the suggestion that Prejean was merely giving her opinion ignores a factual falsehood in Prejean's response. Read More Fox News runs with dubious claim that KSM's interrogation thwarted L.A. plot Fox News hosts and contributors have advanced the assertion that the use of harsh interrogation techniques on Khalid Shaikh Mohammed "stopped an attack on the Library Tower in Los Angeles." But the Bush administration said that the attack was thwarted in February 2002 -- more than a year before Mohammed was captured. Read More Media cite DOJ memo to claim link -- refuted by Bush timeline -- between KSM waterboarding, thwarted L.A. plot Media figures have pointed to a 2005 Justice Department memo to claim that the use of waterboarding on Khalid Shaikh Mohammed caused him to reveal information intelligence officials used to foil a plot to attack the Library Tower in Los Angeles. But according to the Bush administration, the plot was broken up more than a year before Mohammed's capture. Read More MSNBC's Buchanan falsely attributed dubious OLC memo claim to Hayden-Mukasey op-ed Pat Buchanan attributed the claim that the use of enhanced interrogation techniques on detainees allowed intelligence officials to foil the Library Tower plot to a Wall Street Journal op-ed by Michael Hayden and Michael Mukasey. In fact, Mukasey and Hayden made no such claim in their op-ed. Read More NBC's Mitchell falsely suggests Blair letter expressed approval for interrogation methods Andrea Mitchell claimed that director of national intelligence Dennis Blair's statements appear to differ from President Obama's rejection of enhanced interrogation policies, when, in fact, Blair made clear in an April 16 letter that he opposed them. Read More You can help support our work; become a volunteer media monitor, or donate to Media Matters for America.

Gangs deeply rooted on U.S. side of Mexico border

Gangs deeply rooted on U.S. side of Mexico border: "Homeowner Cosme Liscano is fed up with the gangs in his neighborhood in this Texas town near the Mexican border."