Cable's Focus on Sniper Helped the Authorities, but Also Drew Harsh Critics
Date: 25 October 2002
By Felicity Barringer and Jim Rutenberg
Felicity Barringer
Omnivirous coverage cable news networks gave to hunt for sniper terrorizing Washington area has thrust them again into heated debate over nature of cable news; there is evidence that all that attention proved crucial in capture of prime suspects, but also that feeding audience diet of recycled information, misinformation and speculation just kept audience mesmerized and terrified; photo (M)
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After Three Weeks of Tension, Face of Inquiry Wears a Smile
Date: 25 October 2002
By Jayson Blair
Jayson Blair
Montgomery County, Md, Police Chief Charles A Moose arrives at news conference to announce arrests of suspects in sniper killings, wearing broad smile for first time in weeks; has been public face of task force, and he has been seen by some as sympathetic, methodical and confident and by others as temperamental, testy and unsure; his often-tense relationship with news media recalled; friends and collegues say arrest should erase doubts about him; Lt Gov Kathleen Kennedy Townsend praises his work; photo (M)
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Japan Extends the Visit of 5 From North Korea
Date: 25 October 2002
By Howard W. French
Howard French
Japan says it will extend stay of five people kidnapped by North Korea decades ago as long as possible so returnees can decide their future 'freely'; drama of five returnees has been played out under extraordinary glare of news media; returnees said to be torn between long-lost families in Japan and children and spouses left behind in North Korea (M)
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Democrats Stronger With Lautenberg, Poll Shows
Date: 26 October 2002
By David Kocieniewski and Marjorie Connelly
David Kocieniewski
New York Times/CBS News Poll shows legal maneuvering that allowed former Sen Frank R Lautenberg to replace Sen Robert G Torricelli as Democratic nominee on ballot in New Jersey's US Senate race has strengthened Democrats' chances of retaining seat; many polls showed that Republican nominee Douglas R Forrester opened sizable lead before Torricelli resigned from race on Sept 30, causing Democratic leaders in Washington to worry that race might cost part its single-seat margin in Senate; poll finds Lautenberg has support of 48 percent of likely voters, while Forrester is favored by 36 percent, with 13 percent undecided; photos (M)
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Dead Parrot Society
Date: 25 October 2002
By Paul Krugman
Paul Krugman
Paul Krugman Op-Ed column on recent news articles questioning veracity of facts promulgated by Bush administration says, to put it bluntly, administration 'lies a lot'; contends that Pres Bush retains public image as plain-spoken man, when in fact he is as 'slippery and evasive' as any politician in memory; says this is more than question of character, and there is method in administration's mendacity; holds inner circle must think that full control of government can be used to lock in permanent political advantage, even though the more public learns about their policies, the less it likes them; says big question is whether press, which is beginning to find its voice, will lose it again in face of one-party government (M)
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A SECOND DOWNGRADE FOR INTERPUBLIC'S DEBT
Date: 26 October 2002
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Moody's Investors Service downgrades $3 billion of debt of Interpublic Group of Companies (S)
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CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF ALLMERICA FINANCIAL RESIGNS
Date: 26 October 2002
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
John F O'Brien resigns as president and chief executive of Allmerica Financial Corp, financially troubled insurer; will continue as director (M)
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MEDIMMUNE EXPECTS DELAY IN INTRODUCTION OF VACCINE
Date: 25 October 2002
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
MedImmune says its FluMist nasal flu vaccine will probably not receive federal approval until second quarter of 2003 (S)
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HOUSEHOLD INTERNATIONAL SELLS STOCK TO RAISE CASH
Date: 26 October 2002
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Household International sells $900 million in stock and in debt convertible into stock to Goldman Sachs Group as it tries to reassure investors that it has sufficient cash to pay its obligations; also sells $3.2 billion of loans and $4.3 billion of deposits to two undisclosed buyers (S)
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A $58.5 MILLION VERDICT AGAINST CHRYSLER IS OVERTURNED
Date: 26 October 2002
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Pennsylvania appeals court overturns $58.5 million verdict against DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler Corp subsidiary for vehicle owners who said they were injured by defective air bags (M)
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