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Archive for Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Also from December 31

Audio clips
Blog entries
Obituaries
On the street
Photos
Photo galleries
KU women's basketball vs. Houston KU vs. Minnesota Insight Bowl nears
Podcasts
Polls
Who was KU's first-half MVP against Minnesota?

Poll results

Response Percent
Todd Reesing
 
 50%
Dezmon Briscoe
 
 44%
James Holt
 
 2%
Jake Sharp
 
 1%
Other
 
 1%
Total 181
How many losses do you think the KU men's basketball team will have this season?

Poll results

Response Percent
7-8
 
 48%
9-10
 
 25%
5-6
 
 20%
11 or more
 
 3%
3-4
 
 2%
Total 664
Who do you think will score KU's first touchdown against Minnesota?

Poll results

Response Percent
Kerry Meier
 
 40%
Dezmon Briscoe
 
 24%
Jake Sharp
 
 16%
KU will not score a touchdown against Minnesota
 
 6%
Dexton Fields
 
 4%
Todd Reesing
 
 3%
Mike Rivera
 
 3%
Other
 
 1%
Total 66
Where will you be watching today's Insight Bowl between KU and Minnesota?

Poll results

Response Percent
At home
 
 47%
I won’t be watching the game
 
 28%
At a friend’s or relative’s place
 
 13%
At a bar or restaurant
 
 9%
I’ll be there in Tempe, Ariz.
 
 1%
Total 526
Videos

Lead stories

12:00 a.m.
KU's Marcus Morris (22) and Tyrel Reed hound Albany's Tim Ambrose during the second half at Allen Fieldhouse on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008. Jayhawks destroy Albany, 79-43
By Eric Sorrentino
December 30, 2008
Cole Aldrich scored 20 points, grabbed six boards and blocked three shots, Tyrel Reed added 12 points off 3-of-5 shooting from three-point land and Kansas shredded Albany, 79-43, on Tuesday night at Allen Fieldhouse.
6:00 a.m.
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius talks with reporters about energy issues, the state's ties with the new president, and gambling, among other issues she wants to tackle in 2009. Sebelius discusses upcoming legislative session which includes an energy plan
By Scott Rothschild
December 30, 2008 in print edition on 1A
In a wide-ranging interview before the Jan. 12 start of the legislative session, Sebelius said she hopes she doesn’t see a repeat of the 2008 legislative session when so much legislation and time was tied to the proposal to build two coal-burning power plants in southwest Kansas.
10:00 a.m.
Lawrence residents Alexandra Wendt, 14, and Aiden Wendt, 11, shop for their New Year’s Eve party supplies Monday at Party America, 1441 W. 23rd St. To avoid resolution failure, plan ahead
By Christine Metz
December 31, 2008 in print edition on 3A
For most of us, New Year’s resolutions seem to be discarded as quickly as the wrapping paper and Christmas tree. In fact, Richard Wiseman, a psychologist with Britain’s University of Hertfordshire, found that people have an 88 percent failure rate when it comes to keeping the resolve behind the resolution.
3:00 p.m.
The Newell Post
Live from Tempe: Insight Bowl Gameday blog
Posted December 31, 2008
After spending a few days around the Minnesota football team, I will have to say this about UM coach Tim Brewster: He’s a passionate guy. ...
4:30 p.m.
Kansas running back Jake Sharp receives a pass during warmups before kickoff of the Insight Bowl Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. FINAL: Briscoe’s 201 receiving yards lead KU to 42-21 Insight Bowl win
By Jesse Newell
1:00 p.m., December 31, 2008 Updated 8:26 p.m.
Reesing throws for 313 yards; Meier adds passing, receiving touchdowns

All stories

Appleton feeling more comfortable
By Gary Bedore
December 31, 2008 in print edition on B3
Tyrone Appleton wore a big smile on his face as he signed autographs for 100 or so Kansas University basketball fans who were in no hurry to head home after Tuesday’s 79-43 rout of Albany in Allen Fieldhouse.
Sunflower Broadband drops two KC channels after stalled negotiations
Staff Report
December 31, 2008
Absent a late-night deal, effective Jan. 1, Sunflower Broadband cable subscribers are no longer receiving Kansas City’s Hearst-Argyle Television Inc. stations KMBC-ABC and KCWE-CW.
Liquor stores slammed by New Year’s two-fer
December 31, 2008
With KU playing on New Year’s Eve, local residents had twice as many reasons to shop at liquor stores.
Changes may be in store for Mass. St. Dillon’s
December 31, 2008
The grocery store is exploring expanding its parking lot.
New Year’s countdown included extra second
December 31, 2008
Scientists added a “leap second” to 2009. Lindsey Slater explains why.
Sebelius: Raise state cigarette tax
December 31, 2008
The governor is pressuring lawmakers to raise taxes on cigarettes.
KU fans fill bars for Insight Bowl
December 31, 2008
Many believe KU is capping off what may be the greatest year in KU sports history.
6 Weather Morning Forecast for Jan. 1, 2009
December 31, 2008
Partly cloudy, with a high of 43 and a low of 22.
Insight Bowl champion Jayhawks to return Thursday
J-W Staff Reports
December 31, 2008
The Kansas football team, fresh off of Wednesday night’s 2008 Insight Bowl victory, will return home Thursday evening. The team plans to land at Forbes Field in Topeka around 4:20 p.m.
Crews contain fire at Eudora garage
Staff Report
06:38 p.m., December 31, 2008 Updated 11:37 p.m.
Fire broke out just after 6 p.m. in a home’s garage in the 1000 block of Main Street in Eudora on Wednesday evening.
McCray magic humbles Houston
December 31, 2008
Danielle McCray isn’t Houdini and she isn’t Mandrake or David Copperfield.
FINAL: Briscoe’s 201 receiving yards lead KU to 42-21 Insight Bowl win
By Jesse Newell
01:00 p.m., December 31, 2008 Updated 08:26 p.m.
Reesing throws for 313 yards; Meier adds passing, receiving touchdowns
China dairy manager on trial for milk scandal
December 31, 2008 in print edition on A2
The former chairwoman of the dairy company at the heart of China’s tainted milk scandal went on trial today and could face the death penalty if convicted on charges of selling fake or substandard products.Tian Wenhua, former board chairwoman and general manager of Sanlu Group Co., went on trial along with three other top executives in the scandal over infant formula contaminated with the industrial chemical melamine, the Xinhua News Agency said.
Anti-government protests suspended
December 31, 2008 in print edition on A2
Thailand’s year of almost relentless protests ended on New Year’s Eve, bringing hopes of calmer political waters in 2009 as seemingly weakened demonstrators suspended their siege of Parliament.Thousands of loyalists of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra walked away from protest sites late Tuesday after the new government outwitted them and succeeded in delivering a vital policy speech which the demonstrators had tried to prevent by surrounding the Parliament building.
Golden Gophers burrowed throughout Jayhawk staff
Minnesota, KU football teams facing off
By Lindsey Slater
December 31, 2008 in print edition on A3
The Insight Bowl pits the Kansas University Jayhawks against the Golden Gophers of the University of Minnesota, but local ties to the Twin Cities run deeper than a football game.Some Minnesota alumni are even teaching Jayhawks.
Oregon runs past Oklahoma St.
The Associated Press
December 31, 2008 in print edition on B5
Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli ran through and over Oklahoma State’s defense for three touchdowns and threw for another to lead the No. 15 Ducks to a 42-31 victory over the No. 13 Cowboys in a wild, record-setting Holiday Bowl on Tuesday night.
Silver lining?
Budget cuts for the Kansas Juvenile Justice Authority may actually have a positive effect for juvenile offenders.
J-W Editorials
December 31, 2008 in print edition on A9
Maybe it’s not how much money a state spends on juvenile offenders but how that money is spent. A recent Associated Press article reported on several states that were meeting budget challenges by shutting down youth counseling programs and group homes. The effect was to push more offenders into juvenile prisons, which is exactly the wrong direction to go.
Reviled Albany center dismayed
By Jesse Temple
December 31, 2008 in print edition on B4
Will Brown strolled down Massachusetts Street on Monday afternoon, looking for a long-sleeve Kansas University T-shirt for his 6-year-old son, Jackson. Brown, the eighth year head basketball coach of the University at Albany, stumbled upon Joe-College.Com at Seventh and Mass. Intrigued by the litany of shirts in the window, he went inside.
Rice routs W. Michigan
The Associated Press
December 31, 2008 in print edition on B5
Rice took out more than 50 years of postseason frustration on Western Michigan in the Texas Bowl.
Correction
December 31, 2008
Healthier behaviors require healthier thinking
By Susan Krumm
December 31, 2008 in print edition on C1
Every new year I really think I’m going to start eating healthier and exercise more, but I always fail. How do I get on track?
Swine and sweet: Bacon infiltrates nation’s dessert menus
By Maria Hunt - The Christian Science Monitor
December 31, 2008 in print edition on C1
“Bacon maple? There’s actual bacon in that cupcake?” an incredulous visitor blurts out after scanning the selections at More, a sleek modern cupcake boutique in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood.
Save money by mixing bread with ground beef
December 31, 2008 in print edition on C1
Adding bread of any sort is a great way to stretch ground meat.
KU familiar with Gophers’ spread
By Dugan Arnett
December 31, 2008
Just when the Kansas University football team thought it was done with these high-octane Big 12 offenses, just when players figured they could relax a little bit, play in the box, enjoy a little old-fashioned style of football — the kind they played before Mike Leach started hanging around the conference’s sidelines and 4,000-yard passing seasons became the norm — they find themselves matched up with Minnesota in the Insight Bowl.
Many partying at home this New Year’s Eve
By Damian Grass - Associated Press Writer
December 31, 2008 in print edition on B8
On recent New Year’s Eves in South Beach, booking Lindsay Lohan and R&B singer John Legend as the entertainment would have caused a ticket stampede almost regardless the cost. But with the economy in recession, that’s not the case this year: the $200 individual tickets and $1,500 VIP tables are moving slower than expected.
Gophers favored in omens
By Tom Keegan
December 31, 2008 in print edition on B1
Omens leading up to the Insight Bowl seem to fall in Minnesota’s favor, but the Jayhawks have better players and coaches.
Worker chases off robber, goes to jail
The Associated Press
December 31, 2008 in print edition on A2
A car wash attendant chased off a would-be robber with a power washer — and for his trouble got thrown in jail on an old warrant. A gunman wearing a skeleton mask strolled into Washman Carwash in Portland on Dec. 13 and confronted employee Chris B. Truax. “Give me your money!” Truax remembers the man saying, producing what looked like a handgun. The weapon broke, Truax said, and the gunman stuck it back in his waistband.
Man loses fingers lighting 50 sparklers
The Associated Press
December 31, 2008 in print edition on B10
A Hutchinson man is minus at least two fingers after a homemade explosive blew up in his hand at his home over the weekend. Authorities say the 44-year-old man had tied together about 50 sparklers at around noon Sunday, and lit a homemade fuse. The bundle exploded, ripping his fingers and leaving burns on his arm.
Airline flies jetliner partly run on biofuel
By Ray Lilley - Associated Press Writer
December 31, 2008 in print edition on A10
Air New Zealand has tested a passenger jet powered partially with oil from a plum-sized fruit known as jatropha, in efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and cut its fuel bill. With its test flight Tuesday, the airline became the latest carrier experiment with alternative fuels, partly due to the threat of rising oil prices but also to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from aviation.
Pakistan: India moves troops toward border
By Chris Brummitt - Associated Press Writer
December 31, 2008 in print edition on A7
Pakistan claimed India had moved troops to their shared border Tuesday, days after Pakistan itself shifted soldiers to the frontier, but New Delhi insisted it had done nothing to add to tensions between the nuclear-armed countries.
Man arrested in lottery ticket theft
The Associated Press
December 31, 2008 in print edition on B10
A 48-year-old Leavenworth man has been arrested in connection with the theft of lottery tickets after someone tried to cash in one of them. Police say a burglar broke into a Leavenworth convenience store Christmas Eve, stealing $200 and four lottery tickets.
Special chief
December 31, 2008 in print edition on A9
To the editor: My husband and I lived in a condo complex in the early ’90s. Concerned about fire hazards, I called the fire department about how to proceed in case a fire started below our third-floor walk-up. Jim McSwain answered. Even though the stairway to our unit was wooden, he advised us not to install a hanging ladder at a window, but to wait for firefighters to get us out, should the need arise.
U.S. supply route closed to hit militants
December 31, 2008 in print edition on A2
Pakistan suspended truck shipments of U.S. military supplies through the famed Khyber Pass on Tuesday after launching an offensive against militants who are trying to cripple Washington’s war on a resurgent Taliban in neighboring Afghanistan.
Coup leader names civilian prime minister
December 31, 2008 in print edition on A2
Coup leaders in Guinea named a civilian banker as prime minister Tuesday, making good on a key promise a week after seizing power upon the death of the country’s long-time dictator. Their choice, Kabine Komara, is a director of the African Export-Import Bank in Cairo, a 14-year-old institution that promotes trade between African states.
Kansas gets $1.1M in drug settlement
The Associated Press
December 31, 2008 in print edition on B10
Kansas will receive $1.1 million from a Philadelphia-area company accused of illegally marketing three of its drugs. Attorney General Steve Six on Tuesday announced a settlement with Cephalon Inc., based in Frazer, Pa. The company is reimbursing the state’s Medicaid program, which covers medical services for the needy.
Search for missing passenger called off
December 31, 2008 in print edition on A8
The Mexican navy has joined the U.S. Coast Guard in calling off its search for a Florida woman who fell from the deck of a Miami-based cruise ship last week. Jennifer Ellis Seitz of Winter Haven, Fla., has been missing since Thursday after plunging the equivalent of 15 stories from the Norwegian Pearl.
Kansas dogs Danes
Arizona loss sparks team meeting, leads to blowout victory
By Gary Bedore
December 31, 2008 in print edition on B1
It wasn’t nearly as dramatic as February’s team meeting at Henry T’s Bar and Grill. You remember — the one held after Kansas University’s disappointing one-point men’s basketball loss at Oklahoma State. Hot wings and turkey club sandwiches were nowhere to be found as KU’s players lounged in the locker room before Saturday’s practice in Allen Fieldhouse, the Jayhawks’ first workout following a three-day Christmas vacation.
Injury gives OU’s No. 3 back chance to shine
Madu latest Oklahoma backup to step up when starter knocked out
The Associated Press
December 31, 2008 in print edition on B1
In recent years at Oklahoma, if one running back is injured, it seems there’s always another ready to take his place. Mossis Madu is the latest chapter in that Sooners story. Impressed with Madu’s talent, Oklahoma coaches spent much of the season trying to work him into the offense, but he was stuck on the depth chart behind the Sooners’ two primary backs, DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown.
Soup a healthy choice
The Washington Post
December 31, 2008 in print edition on C3
Given its high water content and satiety value, eating an entree of soup is a good way to control your diet, and it can help you work in lots of vegetables. Here, the beans provide plenty of fiber, a key to weight management.
No ‘bailout’ to offenders on banned-word list
December 31, 2008 in print edition on C8
A movie about a “maverick,” his journey “from Wall Street to Main Street,” his “desperate search” for a “monkey” and a “game-changing” revelation about his “carbon footprint” probably would make the nation’s word-watchers physically ill.
Loser rejects election results
December 31, 2008 in print edition on A2
Bangladesh’s first election in seven years was called largely free, fair and the most peaceful in decades, but the bitter feelings between the two women who have dominated politics re-emerged as the loser rejected her archrival’s win.
Class-action status on drug suit sought
December 31, 2008 in print edition on A5
Douglas County Commissioners and other public entities across the country have asked a federal judge in Massachusetts to consolidate their drug pricing lawsuits against McKesson Corp. and another company into a class-action lawsuit.
K.C. restoring part of riverfront
The Associated Press
December 31, 2008 in print edition on B10
City and federal officials are restoring a section of the south bank of the Missouri River to how it would have appeared to early settlers. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is overseeing the $1.2 million project, which will remove concrete and other debris from a 5 1/2-acre site and create a wetland with native trees and grasses.
Easy appetizer for New Year’s
December 31, 2008 in print edition on C2
Looking for an appetizer that’s seasonally colorful, quick, easy and stylish for New Year’s Eve entertaining? Try these elegant radicchio-wrapped goat cheese bites, from radicchio distributor Royal Rose.
A year full of unexpected twists
Financial crisis, war on two fronts, U.S. election make 2008 historic
By Peter Grier - The Christian Science Monitor
December 31, 2008 in print edition on C8
Here’s the way the world looked last January: Hillary Rodham Clinton was a lock to win the Democratic nomination for president, and probably the election, too. The economy wasn’t great, but it wasn’t awful, either — many experts thought we’d avoid global recession. Meanwhile, Iraq seemed a lost case five years after the US invasion.
To avoid resolution failure, plan ahead
By Christine Metz
December 31, 2008 in print edition on A3
For most of us, New Year’s resolutions seem to be discarded as quickly as the wrapping paper and Christmas tree. In fact, Richard Wiseman, a psychologist with Britain’s University of Hertfordshire, found that people have an 88 percent failure rate when it comes to keeping the resolve behind the resolution.
Denver ends Shanahan era
Coach fired after late-season collapse
The Associated Press
December 31, 2008 in print edition on B2
Mike Shanahan became the latest and most stunning victim of the NFL coaching purge, fired Tuesday by the Denver Broncos after a late-season collapse knocked the team out of the playoffs for the third straight year.
Manhattan repays city for assistance
December 31, 2008 in print edition on A3
Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday received a $16,226 check from the city of Manhattan for Lawrence’s help in dealing with a June tornado that struck Manhattan. Lawrence sent public works crews to Manhattan after the tornado, which also hit nearby Chapman, left a mess on the Kansas State University campus and elsewhere in the city.
New Year’s Day not what it used to be
Jan. 1 no longer filled with must-see games, but best still saved for last
By Ralph D. Russo - AP College Football Writer
December 31, 2008
As many bowl games will be played on New Year’s Eve as on New Year’s Day. Three bowls are scheduled for Jan. 2 and the Fiesta Bowl will be played Jan. 5. The days when the college football season usually ended on Jan. 1 with a flurry of about eight mostly, must-see games are long gone.
New NASA report details final minutes of Columbia
By Seth Borenstein - Associated Press Writer
December 31, 2008 in print edition on A8
When the first of many loud alarms sounded on the space shuttle Columbia, the seven astronauts had about a minute to live, though they didn’t know it. The pilot, William McCool, pushed several buttons trying to right the ship as it tumbled out of control. He didn’t know it was futile. Most of the crew were following NASA procedures, spending more time preparing the shuttle than themselves for the return to Earth.
Consumer confidence drops to all-time low
By Ellen Simon - Associated Press Writer
December 31, 2008 in print edition on B9
Consumer confidence hit an all-time low in December, dropping further in the face of rising layoffs, in yet another sign that consumer spending is unlikely to pull the U.S. out of a yearlong recession any time soon.
Kansas women to entertain similar Houston squad today
By Chuck Woodling
December 31, 2008 in print edition on B3
Each team owns eight victories, and each boasts a standout performer. Kansas and Houston appear to be evenly matched going into their women’s basketball game on the final day of 2008. Houston, in fact, probably will be the Jayhawks’ toughest home opponent since they tangled with Iowa more than a month ago.
ShopSmart tests reveal beauty standouts
December 31, 2008 in print edition on B9
Looking for a good blow-dryer, hair straightener or mascara? It’s not necessary to spend a lot of money, according to the latest lab test results of these products by ShopSmart, the shopping magazine published by Consumer Reports.
Horses, soldiers train for inauguration parade
The Associated Press
December 31, 2008 in print edition on B10
Training begins next week for a group of Kansas natives who will march in the inauguration parade in Washington. They’re getting ready for frigid weather, big crowds, and icy streets dotted by manhole covers, subway grates and steam vents. They have names such as Comanche, Traveler, Cyclone, Gunner and Scout.
‘Leap second’ added to clock
The Associated Press
December 31, 2008 in print edition on A1
Just a second, 2009. It’s going to take a little longer to say goodbye to a grim economic year, but all for good cause. The custodians of time will ring in the New Year by tacking a “leap second” onto the clock today to account for the minute slowing of the Earth’s rotation.
Mediation healing one Iraqi district
By Trudy Rubin
December 31, 2008 in print edition on A9
Christmas week is an appropriate time to write about a district here called Ameriyah. Eighteen months ago, Ameriyah was a hellhole where al-Qaida in Iraq ran rampant, assisted by local resistance groups and criminal gangs. It was a predominantly Sunni Arab neighborhood, where Shiites were expelled or murdered, along with Sunnis who didn’t cooperate with the killers.
Horoscopes
December 31, 2008 in print edition on B8
You often weave between two different attitudes this year. Sometimes you are the traditional Goat who wants what he or she wants, with an eye to material issues. If you are single, you meet people with ease; however, get to know the apple of your eye well before making a commitment. If you are attached, the two of you create a new venue for sharing what you both enjoy.
Gopher turnaround reminiscent of KU’s
By Dugan Arnett
December 31, 2008 in print edition on B1
Minnesota rebounded from a 1-11 record to 7-5 (so far) this season, a turnaround similar to KU’s improvement from 2-10 in 2002 to at least six wins in all but one of the years since.
From death row to activism
Nigerian made secret drawings of inmates being hanged
By Katy Pownall - Associated Press Writer
December 31, 2008 in print edition on C8
The doomed man’s eyes stare blankly ahead as he shuffles down a dark corridor, spreading a hush through the death-row cells. The hangman pushes a black hood over the convict’s head and tightens a noose around his neck. The trapdoor opens beneath his feet with a clang that reverberates around the stone walls. A gurgle, one last rattle of chains, then silence.
Sheriff steps aside on son’s sex case
The Associated Press
December 31, 2008 in print edition on B10
Wyandotte County Sheriff Leroy Green Jr. says he’s deeply saddened that his 35-year-old son is charged with child sex crimes. In a written statement issued Tuesday, the sheriff said he “has disqualified himself from any involvement” in the 15-count case against Leroy Green III. The younger Green is charged with nine counts of rape and six counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child.
Maryland holds on
The Associated Press
December 31, 2008 in print edition on B5
Da’Rel Scott got out of the doghouse in time to run over Nevada.
Dugan Arnett’s Insight Bowl notebook
By Dugan Arnett
December 31, 2008 in print edition on B3
If there were any doubts about Kansas University football coach Mark Mangino’s appreciation for junior receiver Kerry Meier, they were dispelled Tuesday during the team’s final news conference before taking on Minnesota in today’s Insight Bowl.
Wacky things dropped all over U.S. on New Year’s Eve
The Associated Press
December 31, 2008 in print edition on C1
Everyone knows about the ball that gets dropped on New Year’s Eve in Times Square. Maybe you’ve even heard about the 800-pound peach that gets dropped in Atlanta at midnight on Dec. 31.
KU vs. UMinn: Head to head
December 31, 2008
During conference play this season, Kansas running back Jake Sharp was third in the Big 12 in rushing and has compiled 796 yards on 170 carries. Since breaking out in a victory over Iowa State earlier this season, Sharp has been a focal point of the team’s offense, earning honorable-mention all-conference honors.
Workers forced to take unpaid vacations
By Ellen Simon - Associated Press Writer
December 31, 2008 in print edition on B9
Here’s the vacation no one wants, courtesy of the recession: Forced time off without pay. Financially struggling universities, factories and even hospitals are requiring employees to take unpaid “furloughs” — temporary layoffs that amount to one-time pay cuts for workers and a cost savings for employers. This year, the number of temporarily laid-off workers hit a 17-year high.
Prepare for erratic new year
By Chuck Woodling
December 31, 2008 in print edition on B4
Well, folks, that’s all you get of Kansas University men’s basketball in 2008. Tuesday night’s 73-49 dispatching of Albany in Allen Fieldhouse brought one of the most memorable years in school annals to an official close. What did we learn?
Congress urged to rescind pay raise
By Rob Hotakainen - McClatchy Newspapers
December 31, 2008 in print edition on C8
Members of Congress have at least one reason to ring in the new year: They’ve given themselves a $4,700-a-year pay raise starting Thursday. With the economy in a recession and millions of Americans losing their jobs, however, members are under fire to rescind the pay hike, which will increase their base salaries to $174,000, roughly a 2.8 percent raise.
Lest we forget: The year’s forgotten and forgettable
By Kevin McDonough
December 31, 2008 in print edition on B8
Hey, where did 2008 go? It’s easy to forget that just a year ago, some viewers were looking forward to “Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann,” which debuted on ABC on Jan. 7. And how about that “Cashmere Mafia” (Jan. 6)? Was it a casualty of changing attitudes, tough times or just a wearisome show about spoiled brats?
Good move after all
Secondary shakeup turns defense around
By Tom Keegan
12:00 a.m., December 31, 2008 Updated 10:27 a.m.
To many on the outside, it appeared such a desperate move, realigning the secondary in midseason in such a way that only one player, junior safety Darrell Stuckey, remained at the same position.
Pump patrol
December 31, 2008 in print edition on A3
The Journal-World found gas prices as low as $1.36 at Wood Oil Co., 920 N. Second St.
Sour cream is perfect partner for holiday menus
By Sharon Thompson - McClatchy Newspapers
December 31, 2008 in print edition on C2
Need an appetizer in a hurry or an outstanding dessert for a dinner party? An ingredient that adds flavor and richness to many holiday recipes is sour cream. It’s usually suitable for everyone’s tastes because it’s available in regular, light or fat-free varieties, and recipes that call for it are everywhere.
2009 a time to rethink values
By Mike Hoeflich
December 31, 2008 in print edition on A9
As we enter 2009, the general mood seems to be somber. The economy, both here and abroad, is in recession, the terrorist attacks in Mumbai have brought India and Pakistan to the brink of conflict, hopes for peace in the Middle East grow dimmer, millions of people around the globe continue to die from starvation and disease needlessly. I think that it’s fair to say that the world enters 2009 in a mess.
People in the news
December 31, 2008 in print edition on B8
• Actors Bacon, Sedgwick among Madoff victims• Rapper pleads guilty to drug, theft charges• Woody Harrelson weds longtime love in Maui• Dick Clark, 79, is still rockin’ New Year’s Eve
Old Home Town - 100 years ago
December 31, 2008 in print edition on A9
From the Lawrence Daily World for Dec. 29, 1908: “R.C. Rawlings, electric line promoter, was in Lawrence today but said he had nothing new to offer but that in two weeks we will give them news that will be a welcome New Year gift.”
Israel mulls truce offer on Day 4 of Gaza assault
By Ibrahim Barzak and Jason Keyser - Associated Press Writers
December 31, 2008 in print edition on A8
Israel, under international pressure, is considering a 48-hour halt to its punishing four-day air campaign on Hamas targets in Gaza to see if Palestinian militants will stop their rocket attacks on southern Israel, Israeli officials said Tuesday.
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