Jessica Pearce
State of Play: Home Prices Decline For Another Month
The average home price for 20 metropolitan areas fell almost a full percent between April and May, according to the Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller Home Price Indexes, which measure home prices in 20 markets around the United States. For the year, the index is down 15.8 percent compared to May 2007. The 10-city index has fallen [...]
State of Play: Obama in Iraq
Sen. Barack Obama arrived in Baghdad today as part of his week-long trip abroad. This is his third stop, after visiting Afghanistan and Kuwait. In Iraq, Obama, along with a congressional delegation including Sens. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) will meet with top U.S. and Iraqi officials and military commanders, including Army Gen. [...]
State of Play: iPhone Fever
Apple released the new iPhone today to long lines of gadget-loving, though impatient customers. When I walked by a line of 50+ people waiting outside an AT&T store in Dupont Circle this morning and wondered aloud what was going on, I got some incredulous looks. "The iPhone, duh!" hissed one man in a suit.
The [...]
State of Play: Iran Test-Fires Missiles
Iran reportedly set off nine long- and medium-range test missiles today. Officials in the country’s capital city Tehran said the missile is able to hit targets 1,250 miles away from its firing position, a range that includes Israel.
The United States criticized the tests, accusing Iran of violating the recent United Nations Security Council resolution, which [...]
You Can’t Nader McCain, But Can You Barr Him?
Third party candidates may be making inroads into Congressional and state political races, which could affect the outcome of this year’s presidential election, according to a new report from the University of Minnesota’s Center for the Study of Politics and Governance.
While third-party candidates haven’t come close to occupying the Oval Office, they are having [...]
State of Play: Suicide Bomber Kills 40 in Kabul Blast
A suicide bomber killed at least 40 people and injured 140 in Kabul Monday morning, when he rammed a car into two Indian diplomatic vehicles at the gates of the Indian Embassy. According to The New York Times, no group has claimed responsibility for the blast. Some Afghan officials said they suspect the bombing was [...]
State of Play: Bulldozer Ordeal Kills Three
A Palestinian resident of East Jerusalem bulldozed his way through cars and buses in downtown Jerusalem, killing at least three and injuring 40. The ordeal ended when a police officer fatally shooting the driver. Israeli police called the incident a terrorist attack, but no group has claimed responsibility.
Reports of the incident ranged from dramatic to [...]
State of Play: California Wildfires Rage
More than 1,400 wildfires are raging though Northern California. So far the blazes have destroyed more than 364,600 acres and devoured at least 28 homes. President George W. Bush declared a huge swatch of land from Nevada to the Pacific Ocean a federal disaster area Sunday.
The regional disaster has picked up national attention.
Calif. [...]
State of Play: North Korea Removed From Terror List
The axis of evil is down one member- Kim Jong Il, leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (aka North Korea), has issued a 60-page declaration describing its nuclear capabilities, both in power and in weapons. President George W. Bush announced that he would remove North Korea from the State Department’s list of state [...]
Another Year for Abstinence-Only Education Funding?
Tucked into a Medicare spending bill that passed the House yesterday is a provision that would extend a controversial abstinence-only education program for another year. It’s so controversial that 22 states have actually opted out of taking the funding. Two more states have said they plan to decline the funds when the new fiscal year [...]
