2009 December | US News

December 2009


Judge Rules California State Worker Furloughs Invalid

By topix.com on December 31, 2009

Earlier this year, California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered state workers to take furloughs in an attempt to close the state’s burgeoning budget gap. On Thursday, an Alameda County Superior Court judge ruled that in doing so Schwarzennegger overstepped his powers, and ordered the state to halt to furloughs for a number of state employees.mpt to close the state’s burgeoning budget gap.


FCC chair Genachowski urges Fox, Time Warner Cable to reach temporary deal for football fans

By topix.com on December 31, 2009

The nation’s top broadcast regulator on Thursday urged Time Warner Cable and the Fox television network to agree to a temporary deal that would keep football games on cable TV systems as the companies settle differences over fees.


Iowa St. holds off Minnesota in Insight Bowl

By NBCSports.com on December 31, 2009

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) -Alexander Robinson ran for 137 yards, and Austen Arnaud threw for one touchdown and ran for another as Iowa State defeated Minnesota 14-13 in the Insight Bowl on Thursday night, capping the Cyclones’ first winning season since 2005.


NYT: CIA takes on expanded role on front lines

By msnbc.com on December 31, 2009

Dec. 31: The CIA is seeking answers after seven officials were killed Thursday in Afghanistan in what was one of the deadliest single attacks on U.S. intelligence personnel. NBC's Jim Maceda reports.  (Nightly News)Even as the CIA. expands its role in Afghanistan, it is also playing a greater role in quasi-military operations elsewhere, including Pakistan and Yemen.


Broyles’ 3 TDs lead Sooners past Stanford

By NBCSports.com on December 31, 2009

Oklahoma wide receiver Ryan Broyles celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first half Thursday.Ryan Broyles set a Sun Bowl record with three touchdown receptions and Landry Jones passed for 416 yards to lead Oklahoma past Heisman runner-up Toby Gerhart and No. 19 Stanford 31-27 on Thursday.


World ushers in 2010, hoping for a better year

By msnbc.com on December 31, 2009

People gather to celebrate the new year on Red Square in Moscow, Russia. Some 120,000 people crowded into the square.Pyrotechnics, parties and prayers greet 2010 as people around the world bid farewell to “the Noughties” and the recession-blighted old year.


QBs Masoli, Pryor add flavor to Rose Bowl

By NBCSports.com on December 31, 2009

Jeremiah Masoli and Terrelle Pryor have similar skills but lead contrasting offenses.Although Jeremiah Masoli and Terrelle Pryor are two of the most athletic quarterbacks in the nation, their pedigrees are nearly as contrasting as the offenses they run.


UK weighs body scanners after airline attack

By msnbc.com on December 31, 2009

Britain considers introducing new technology such as full body scanners to improve airport security after the attempted Christmas Day airline attack, U.K. prime minister says.


Dobbs leads Navy in rout of Missouri

By NBCSports.com on December 31, 2009

HOUSTON (AP) -Ricky Dobbs ran for 166 yards and three touchdowns and Navy manhandled Missouri with its triple-option offense in a 35-13 win over the Tigers in the Texas Bowl on Thursday.


Florio: Presenting your surprise coach of the year

By NBCSports.com on December 31, 2009

CLEVELAND - DECEMBER 06:  Philip Rivers #17 of the San Diego Chargers talks to head coach Norv Turner during their game against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on December 6, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio.  (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)Mike Florio weighs in on the biggest storylines of Week 17:


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World »

Strike on at British Airways

March 19, 2010

London, England (CNN) — British Airways cabin crew members went on strike Saturday, leaving thousands of would-be passengers travel plans during the next two weeks up in the air.

The strike came after British Airways Chief Executive Willie Walsh and the joint general secretary of the Unite union, Tony Woodley, emerged Friday from a meeting and announced the effort to avert the walkout had failed.

"This company does not want to negotiate," Woodley said of British Airways. "This company wants ultimately to go to war with my members and the union."

Walsh said he "deeply regrets" the inconvenience the strikes will cause to passengers but said the company will still try to operate as many flights as possible. "I am disappointed the union has not been able to see the sense of the proposal we tabled today," Walsh said.

Advice for passengers

British Airways posted lists on its Web site of flights that it plans to operate during the walkout.

A spokesperson for Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he "believes that this strike is in no ones interest and will cause unacceptable inconvenience to passengers. He urges the strike be called off immediately" and the two sides return to bargaining.

In addition to the three-day strike beginning Saturday, Unite has decided to strike for four more days beginning March 27. Unite represents 95 percent of BAs 15,000 cabin crew members, but not all of them plan to strike.

Politics »

Angry Dems meet with Pelosi over abortion issue

March 19, 2010

Washington (CNN) — The divisive issue of abortion is once again causing problems for House Democrats as they plan to move forward with the health care bill.

Anti-abortion Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Michigan, is asking for a vote on his language restricting taxpayer funding for abortion, and a group of female abortion-rights Democrats came out of an emergency meeting in House Speaker Nancy Pelosis office Friday evening visibly angry about the request.

Rep. Diana Degette, D-Colorado, told reporters a vote on Stupaks measure was a "nonstarter," saying, "somewhere between 40 and 55" abortion-rights Democrats would bolt from the bill.

"We are holding firm this time," she said. "If Mr. Stupak and a few members along with the Republicans decide to use this to take health care down, that loss of health care will be in their hands."

It wasnt clear whether Democratic leaders were seriously considering allowing a vote on Stupaks abortion language, or in what form.

But Stupak said he is in talks with Pelosi, D-California.

Business »

Report: Linux Gains Ground, Windows Stumbles

January 26, 2010

Linux inched ahead in the operating-system arena during the final month of 2009, even as Windows and Mac gave up some ground. That’s according to research firm Net Applications, which recently released its Market Share report covering operating systems in December. Linux accounted for 1.02 percent of the market in December, up from an even 1 percent the month before.

Technology »

Dev Hacks Emulator to Pick WinPho7’s Brain

March 19, 2010

Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 Series emulator has been cracked. Windows Mobile Developer Dan Ardelean, who works out of Italy, announced Friday that he had hacked into the emulator, which allows users to run the WinPho7 platform on a full-sized computer. Microsoft had unveiled the emulator and other products, including Internet Explorer 9, this week at MIX10, Redmond’s conference for Web designers and developers.

Health »

End in sight, Dems lobby health bill waverers

March 19, 2010

March 19: Congressional Democrats struck an optimistic tone as President Barack Obama let loose, giving a fiery speech on why his signature issue should pass. NBC’s Chuck Todd reports. (Nightly News)President Barack Obama and Democratic leaders lobbied intensively for historic health care legislation Friday, striving to resolve a last-minute dispute over Medicare while gaining precious “yeses” less than 48 hours ahead of a climactic vote.

Sports »

NCAA tournament schedule, results

March 19, 2010

NCAA tournament schedule



SELECTED HEADLINES

Business »

Report: Linux Gains Ground, Windows Stumbles

January 26, 2010

Linux inched ahead in the operating-system arena during the ...

U.S. »

Sandbags in place as Red River rises

March 19, 2010

(CNN) -- Seven hundred thousand sandbags guarded the city ...

Politics »

Angry Dems meet with Pelosi over abortion issue

March 19, 2010

Washington (CNN) -- The divisive issue of abortion is ...

Technology »

Dev Hacks Emulator to Pick WinPho7’s Brain

March 19, 2010

Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 Series emulator has been cracked. ...

Health »

End in sight, Dems lobby health bill waverers

March 19, 2010

President Barack Obama and Democratic leaders lobbied intensively for ...

Fashion and Style »

Whooga is new alternative to Ugg Boots

March 19, 2010

Buyitright here will soon become the first authorized UK ...

Sports »

Wake Forest’s toughness concerns Calipari

March 19, 2010

Kentucky coach John Calipari isn't overlooking Wake Forest in Saturday's second-round NCAA tournament game.John Calipari had to stop watching film of Wake Forest, if only for the sake of his appetite. The Kentucky coach counts himself a big fan of New Orleans’ renowned restaurant scene, but if he wanted to be in any shape to dine out on Friday, he needed to take a break from the replays of Demon Deacon rebounders overwhelming Texas on the boards Thursday.

Sports »

Mariners’ Lee to miss week with abdominal injury

March 19, 2010

Cliff Lee’s eventful first spring with the Seattle Mariners continued on Friday when the lefty ace was diagnosed with a lower right abdominal strain that will cost him at least a week of spring training.

Sports »

Could BYU’s Fredette be next March darling?

March 19, 2010

BYU guard Jimmer Fredette scored a game-high 37 points in the Cougars' double-overtime thriller over Florida on Thursday.The Cougars’ Jimmer Fredette has all the ingredients to be the next out-of-nowhere star in the NCAA tournament: the catchy nickname, the sweet shot, the late-game heroics.