Today on CNN Newsroom
DIY Economy: Five Layoffs, Starting Over
An engineer decides to cash in his retirement and start fresh with his wife as his business partner. The 51-year-olds took the plunge after going through five layoffs since they got married nearly 30 years ago. Take a look at this DIY (Do-It-Yourself) Economy story. There are lessons here.
College Grad Blues
College students who graduated during the recession are wondering if their degrees were worth the trouble. Thousands are not able to find work. Others are taking jobs like serving coffee. Here's one young woman's story.
How Do We Fix Our Schools?
That's the question we're trying to answer this week on CNN.
From teacher shortages and budget cuts to high dropout rates, we're examining the challenges school systems face every day. We’re also taking a look at successes. Which schools are getting it right and how can other schools follow their lead?
That's where you come in. We want to hear your ideas and suggestions on ways to fix our schools.
Leave us a comment. We’ll share them throughout the week in the CNN Newsroom.
Winding Down the War
The last full U.S. combat brigade is heading home from Iraq. Members of the 4th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division crossed the border into Kuwait early this morning. The move comes more than seven years after the U.S. invaded Iraq. The Pentagon says 4,406 American troops have died in the Iraq war. According to Iraq Body Count, 106,146 civilians have died.
That’s where we want you to weigh in. Was it worth it?
Leave us a comment. We’ll share some of them on the air in the CNN Newsroom, 11am ET — 1p ET.
Dashed Dreams In Unforgiving Economy
Behind every "Going Out of Business" sign there is a story.
Every day except Sunda for the past 5 years, the lunch crowd in Lilburn, Georgia could count on a great piece of New York pizza.
But now the Slice-O-Rama pizza parlor is closed for good.
The bad economy wrecked the American Dream for owners David Maddlone and Terry Odom.
Watch this story CNN photographer David Rust, editor Mike Welter and I put together on one of the Slice-O-Rama's final days serving up pizza.
Failing to Educate Black Males
Another huge problem facing America's public schools, a new study on black males in public education titled "Yes, We Can" shows that only 47 percent of African American males graduate from high school compared to 78 percent of white male students. The study also looks at possible solutions to closing that gap. I dig a little deeper into this problem with John Jackson, president and CEO of the Schott Foundation for Public Education, the organization that conducted the study and Geoffrey Canada, who heads the Harlem Children's Zone. Check out the video below:
Pres. Obama: Comments & Backlash on the N.Y. Mosque
President Obama is facing criticism from all sides for his comments on the building of an Islamic center and mosque near Ground Zero.
On Friday, the president said, "Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country.” He went on to say, “That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances."
The President made the comments during a White House speech marking the start of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month.
While politicians aren’t holding back with their opinions, we want to hear from you. What do you think about the President’s comments? Should he have even weighed in on the debate?
Leave us a comment. We’ll share some of them in the CNN Newsroom, 11am — 1pm ET.
DIY Economy: Hauling Junk
Our new series DIY (Do It Yourself) Economy looks at people who lost their jobs in the recession then created their own job. Roger Panitch lost his job as a pharmaceutical salesman, then as an executive recruiter. He cashed in half his 401(K) retirement savings and bought a franchise– hauling junk. It's the first time he's ever been his own boss and he loves it.
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