Today on CNN Newsroom
1st Black Female to Head an Ivy League University
Ruth Simmons admits she used to be a nuisance to her teachers when she was a schoolgirl. Now, as president of Brown University, she is among the top educators in the world. She is also the first African-American woman to head an ivy league school.
Los Zetas: Mexico's Most Feared Drug Cartel
CNN's Michael Ware travels to Veracruz, Mexico, where a powerful new drug cartel has risen to power: highly trained, highly motivated commandos formerly with the Mexican military. Ware warns that Los Zetas represent law enforcement's worst nightmare come true.
A New Opening in U.S.-North Korea Relations?
American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee were sentenced in June to 12 years of hard labor for entering North Korea illegally. An expert on North Korea says if they had been sent to a labor camp, they probably would never have been heard from again. So why were the women not sent to the labor camp? The reason may foretell a possible opening for U.S. diplomacy when dealing with North Korea.
Is the economy bottoming out?
Thanks so much for all of your comments.
Today in our 4pm ET hour, Josh Levs took your questions about the economy to the experts, and showed some web pages from CNNMoney.com offering information, ideas… and even a little bit of fun. As promised, here are those links:
Clunkers...
http://money.cnn.com/2009/08/07/autos/cash_for_clunkers_sales/index.htm?postversion=2009080714
http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2009/autos/0908/gallery.cash_for_clunker_trade_in/index.html
Housing...
http://money.cnn.com/2009/08/05/real_estate/buy_foreclosures_now/index.htm?postversion=2009080609
http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2009/moneymag/0906/gallery.online_mortgage.moneymag/index.html
http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2009/fortune/0908/gallery.unsold_million_dollar_houses.fortune/index.html
Jobs...
http://www.cnn.com/jobs
And here are the Dolans, who joined us and tackled some of your questions...
http://www.dolans.com/
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We had to postpone our Economy theme hour Saturday due to breaking news out of New York/New Jersey. So we are going to re-examine this topic today and we want to hear from you!
The Labor Department says the unemployment rate has dipped a bit, consumers turned in their clunkers for cash in a big way and then this, a few mixed signals on the housing market.
Yes, analysts say existing home sales got a recent bump but then there’s this grim forecast on so called “homes underwater”. Over the next year, half of American homes may be worth less than owners owe on them according to Deutchebank.
So how do you assess all of this? Are these signs of a slowing recession? Perhaps you have questions about how to make the best financial decisions rightnow as it pertains to homeownership, car buying or employment. We want to hear from you.
Tell us your questions and concerns then tune in to Fredricka Whitfield Saturday at 4 P.M.
Covering the country
Each week our affiliates across the country work tirelessly to bring us the best news from their area.
Here are three stories that stood out to us this weekend.
One of our California affiliates tells us a story of a National Guard unit that is adopting a dog from the Humane Society. The dog will be their mascot when they deploy to Iraq.
WALB out of Georgia wants to know if you drive a hard bargain? Reporter Christian Jennings tells us that more people are bargaining for retail and commercial goods. And believe it or not, they often get a better deal.
And then there's this heartwarming story out of Oregon. Our affiliate KATU spoke with a 90 year-old blind man who suddenly regained his vision.
When health care forums turn violent
Heated debates are taking place across the country in what could be a make-or-break month for health care reform.
Democratic lawmakers are spending their August recess trying to drum up support for the President's plan.
But some town hall meetings are turning into shouting matches.
What do you think about the protests and debates going on? Are these debates healthy?
Tire falls from the sky
iReporter Jason Miller says a tire from a helicopter-plane collision over the Hudson River landed on the road near him.
He told CNN's Josh Levs what he saw.
Cash for Clunkers: Concerns and questions
Now that Congress has approved more cash for clunkers, here's the big question.
Will the program remain as popular with consumers?
Friday, Fredricka Whitfield checked back in with Earl Stewart, a Toyota dealer we've talked to before about the program.
Also CNN Personal Finance Editor Gerri Willis says the program is not for everyone.
White House adviser talks economy, health care and clunkers.
President Obama made some optimistic comments reguarding economy this past week.
Fredricka Whitfield spoke with economic adviser Jared Bernstein to find out the reason behing the optimism.
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