News Story #4

A Pacific Gas and Electric Company in San Francisco yesterday severed a two-inch gas pipe with a backhoe, closing down a four-black area near Folsom and 11^th Street.

The incident forced residents and business owners to evacuate from 12:30 p.m. to 5:09 p.m. Since Folsom and 11^th Street are heavily thoroughfares, traffic was at a standstill.

Approximately 100 evacuees stood around the edges of the police perimeter, and most people felt irate.

“Ask my customers. They were pretty irate,” explained Carlann Lauria, the manager of the self-storage company Crocker’s Locker. Lauria and her customers stood outside the perimeter as she collected payment checks.

The Manager of the Wa-H-a-Ka restaurant, Samantha Feldman, also adds that her business suffered from the evacuation. According to Feldman, lost about $500 worth of business from the shutdown.

News Story #3

Firefighters rescued a retired man from his burning home yesterday in San Jose.

Captain Rob Piper stated that the victim, Robert Kent, suffered second and third-degree burns on 50 percent of his body from his smoky house.

Piper adds that the incident occurred in Kent’s single story home on Annapolis Way. The fire evidently started in the kitchen, where Firefighters rescued an unconscious Kent on his kitchen floor. Eventually, the fire engulfed the whole house.

A nursing supervisor at Valley Medical Center in San Jose stated that Kent is currently listed in grave condition.

AP Style Exercise (I-L)

1) The last time she played soccer, she suffered a serious injury to her knee. Sometimes it's hard to understand why she wants to keep playing. (2)

2) He was indicted an assault charge, but his attorney said the case against him is circumstantial and she is sure the enquiry will exonerate him. (2)

3) He knows it isn’t kosher, but green Jell-O is his favorite dessert. This admission has prompted his friends to question both his taste and his judgement. (3)

4) Now that he has DSL, he finds it much easier to go online to check his e-mail and download files. (3)

5) He stood behind the lecturn, addressing his long time colleagues at the K. of C. (3)

Copy Edit the World (Part I)

"There's this malaise in the country, there's a sense of hopelessness and a sense that people are so beat down," he said. "(Scott-Heron) says it in 'Winter in America' that no one's really fighting, that everyone is just shrugging their shoulders and just taking it."

- The Spartan Daily; http://media.www.thespartandaily.com/media/storage/paper852/news/2010/02/25/Features/Disc-Jockey.Cooks.Up.Soundtrack.For.Social.Change-3879412-page2.shtml

Since the writer is inserting their own words into someone else's quote, his or hers clarification or addition should be placed in brackets, instead of parentheses.

"One time, I woke up at 3 a.m. craving beef noodle soup, walked down some stairs and made a turn at the corner, and lo and behold, there was a beef noodle soup cart."

-The Spartan Daily; http://media.www.thespartandaily.com/media/storage/paper852/news/2010/02/25/

Opinion/When-In.Taiwan.Do.As.The.Taiwanese.Do-3879298.shtml

I believe the "lo" being referred to is a type-o is suppose to be "look".

As we are a community where people live, we think its important that just like out in the world where there are laws that prohibit harassment and assault, that it's the same in our resident halls," Stephanie
Hubbard said.

-The Spartan Daily; http://media.www.thespartandaily.com/media/storage/paper852/news/2010/02/25/News/Sjsu-Housing.Services.Modifies.Harassment.Policy-3879401.shtml

This mistake is the improper use of "its" and "it's". In this case, the writer used "its" when he should have used "it's" since he wasn't trying to show possession. By adding the apostrophe (since "it's" is a contraction of "it is"), the sentence can clearly translate into "As we are a community where people live, we think it is important...".

Louann Padilla-Pino, a sophomore business administration major and Spartan cheerleader. "We've lost two coaches, we've lost teammates for different reasons and we just really pulled together as a team."

-The Spartan Daily; http://media.www.thespartandaily.com/media/storage/paper852/news/2010/02/25/-Sports/Cheer.Team.HighSpirited.In.Face.Of.Competition-3879373-page2.shtml

The first sentence of this paragraph is a fragment. Perhaps the writer could have inserted "Louann Padilla-Pino... stated, 'We've lost two coaches....'"

Top News #3

Alexa Gonzalez, a 12-year-old student at Junior High School in Forest Hills, New York was arrested for doodling on her desk. Gonzalez wrote "I love my friendsAbby and Faith. Lex was here 2/1/10 :)" on her desk and was then cuffed in front of her peers later that day. The no tolerance policy was the charge against the young girl. She was later released. However, Alexa's nonviolent crime was not the first. Alexa's case isn't the first in the New York area. One of the first cases to gain national notoriety was that of Chelsea Fraser. In 2007, the 13-year-old wrote "Okay" on her desk, and police handcuffed and arrested her. She was one of several students arrested in the class that day; the others were accused of plastering the walls with stickers.

Clearly, the initial feelings after reading this story was confusion and anger. This "no tolerance" policy was clearly taken too far. To handcuff a 12-year-old girl is ridiculous and abusive. What makes this story newsworthy is the emotions it provokes and the impact it has on the local community. It directly effects the students who have committed such "crimes" and the parents who send their children to these schools.

If you'd like to read more about this story, just click :

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/02/18/new.york.doodle.arrest/index.html

AP Style Exercise E-H

1) To ensure the accuracy of the news story, Susan Jones checked with her source. For Jones, this is an everyday practice, not the exception. (4)

2) As the two boys argued over who should get the last piece of pizza, both seemed equally as hungry. Clearly, they had forgotten their earlier decision to forgo having seconds. (2)

3) He suspected his neighbor was selling drugs, so he called the FBI. His neighbor, however, cried foul at the accusation. (2)

4) She grew up on the Great Plains, near Alliance, Nebraska, where the winters are long and harsh and the living is hand to mouth. (3)

5) Her car was sideswiped by a hit-and-run driver on Route 1-A this morning. She wasn't really injured, but the impact sent the contents of her purse helter-skelter. (4)

News Story #2

Fact Sheet #1 Parking Lot Crash:

A construction truck crashed into another car this afternoon in a parking lot in San Mateo killing one person and injuring three others.

The truck driver, according to San Mateo Police Captain Kevin Nguyen, lost control of the truck due to a “mechanical failure.” The truck came down 43^rd Avenue, a residential street that dead-ends in Mollie Stone’s grocery store parking lot.

The five victims, including the truck driver, have not yet been identified. The driver of the hit vehicle was declared dead at the scene, while the other 3 victims were taken to the Stanford Hospital.

Fact Sheet #2 Devil's Slide Crash:

A motorist drove off a 150-foot cliff at Highwat 1 at Devil’s slide at 4:10 a.m. today.

The 24-year old San Francisco motorists, whose name has not been released, drove his Mazda sedan in dense fog when he missed a turn and drover over the side of the cliff.

The motorist was retrieved after closing the road for two hours and then taken to a San Francisco General Hospital for observation.

The motorist suffered only one bump on his head—a minor injury. Fortunately, the motorist was wearing his seatbelt. According to CHP Sgt. Trent Ross, the accident would have been fatal if the motorists had not been wearing his seat belt

News Story #1

A 74-year-old woman crashed into a convenient store yesterday evening in Norwalk in Los Angeles County.

According to Los Angeles Sheriff Lt. Jenny Han, Lynn Rice of Norwalk drove her 1988 Cadillac into Joe’s Food Mart and Video in Norwalk. No one was injured.

The store’s owner Joe Awada explains that after the car plowed halfway through the store, Rice got out of the car and walked over to the cooler to purchase a six-pack of Budwiser beer.

“I don’t know how she managed to walk,” explaind Awada. He added that the cashier refused to sell her the beer and called the police instead.

Rice was taken to a hospital for an examination, because she had a previous medical condition. Rice was also arrested for investigation of misdemeanor driving under the influence and was later released on a $15,000 bail, said authorities.

Got What It Takes To Be A Reporter?

After taking the quiz, I scored a 24. According to my score, "Journalism is a good fit for [me], mostly-- but it may require [me] to change [my] attitude or improve some skills." This sounds about right. Initially, I was a little put off by it; I at least thought I was a "solid contender." However, after being honest with myself, I realize that this score is pretty exact. Although I do have some skills to work on (like my bad grammar, my inability to ask questions in class because I'd rather figure it out on my own, and my lack of trivia knowledge), I'm confident that i have what it takes to be a reporter.

My FOG Index [Revised]

Based on this example of my writing:

This story is just one of many relating to the dangerous drug cartel in Mexico. What makes this story particularly frightening is the innocent victims in this case. Most of the people killed were around my age. To a certain degree, any one of these innocent victims could have been friends of mine or even myself. These innocent people were either harmed or killed while going to a party. It is almost normal for many college students to go to house parties. It's very concerning to think of the possibilities. It is also scary to imagine the lack of shame and humanity these gang members have. I also have deep concern for Americans who wish to travel to boardertowns for spring break, and the dangers they could potentially face. I wish for more immediate action on Mexican Government, as well as the United States and the United Nations. I view this issue a very serious one and one that cannot be ignored any longer.

My resulting FOG Index is 10.8.

According to the text, the appropriate score should be 7 or 8. Having a score of almost 11 lets me know that me writing should be simpler, as far as the words T use and the length of my sentences. However, I find it difficult to write such simple sentences; its as if I am not making my writing sophisticated enough.

Top News #2 [Revised]

This story hasn't occured all week long. Its very new but pretty important.

In the University of Alabama, three faculty member were killed and other wounded by a school shooting. Initially, officials were not releasing the names of possible suspects, but now their prime suspect is a Harvard graduate, biology professor Amy Bishop. Although a motive is not being released, Bishop is the only suspect officials have at this point.

This story is newsworthy for a variety of reasons. Obviously, school safety is something that is very important for students and faculty members alike. With Tragedies such as Virginia Tech and now the University of Alabama, it's natural to feel concern with our own school. This story is newsworthy is because of the emotions it provokes. This story makes people feel sad because of the loss of innocent lives. Although this human-interest story is tragic, I think readers respond to this because the shooters are not the typical students. It adds a new aspect readers didn't expect, since it introduces professors having the potential of such evil.

If you're curious to read more about this story, here are some links:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/02/12/alabama.university.shooting/index.html?iref=allsearch

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/02/13/alabama.university.shooting/index.html

Lead 2 [Last week's>Revised]

Lead #2: A U.S. flight crashed yesterday killing 131 people on board just outside Pittsburgh, making it the worst air disaster in the U.S. in three years.

Leads 3-5

Lead 3: The San Mateo Coroner announced today that the woman found at Sharp Park Golf Course in Pacifica last month died of accidental drowning. The woman's body was discovered in the golf course by a local hiker.

There is no indication that 34-year-old Laura Jessica Smythe's death was not accidental, according to Robert Frost, the San Mateo County Coroner. "[Her death] was consistent with freshwater drowning, associated with probable hypothermia," stated Frost. Foster also added that Smythe's body had methamphetamines when she died.

Lead 4a: An entire flight leaving Minneapolis was evacuated today, after a landing tower employee spotted smoke near the wheels of the jet.

The 40 passengers of Flight 428 were evacuated at the Municipal Airport in Lacrosse, Wisconsin.

Lead 4b: A 7-year-old boy was found after three years on Thursday night in Brick Township, New Jersey. A neighbor immediately called the police after recognizing the child's picture shown at the end of the movie Adam: The Song Continues.

Police Arrested the boy's mother, 27-year-old Ellen Lynn Conner. Conner now faces charges of kidnapping and interference with a custody warrant.

Lead 5:

Fact Set #1: delayed identification lead

An employee of Gross Engineers suffered third-degree burns after touching a 15,000 volt power line and was listed into the intensive care unit in a Springfield hospital Wednesday afternoon.

The accident took place at he Springfield Municipal Power Plant at 222 Power Dr. where the pipe fitter, 55-year-old Duane La Chance, was apparently installing new pipes on the roof of the power plant, when he touched a power line containing 15,000 volts with a piece of angle iron, says Project Manager for Gross Engineers Henry Ronsen.

Fact Set #2: immediate identification lead

Actor and comedian Chevy Chase was appointed to Bard College's board of trustees yesterday in New York.

The Alumni's appointment was announced at an alumni dinner during the school's Homecoming week.

AP Style Exercise A-D

1. Mayor RIchardson Wrigley expressed confidently that the gubernatorial debate, which begins at 7:30 p.m. this evening, will have a positive effect on his candidacy. Wrigley added, "Governor Red Davidson is a master of dirty politics, but I won't take any of his bologna."

2. For her birthday, the 9-year-old invited five good friends over for ice cream and cake. The chocolate cake was so tasty that anyone of the children could have eaten it all, but they carefully divided it between themselves.

3. Dr. Deborah Dunwoody, the new head of the Journalism Department, recently bought a house bought a house at 6 Riverside Dr. in San Mateo. [Take out "Ph.D." and "a city in the San Francisco bay area"]

4. Rome, Italy- Many Roman Catholics listened as the Pope delivered his homily today.

Top News #1 [Revised]

Fifteen gunmen stormed into a house party killing as many as 16 teenagers and injuring 12 others in the early morning of January 31 in Juarez, Mexico. The gunmen are apparently part of the Juarez Cartel gang, and investigators have yet to find a motive for the killings. The victims' ages ranged from 14-19, and they all had no known crime association. According to CNN, Juarez is one of the most deadliest as rival drug gangs fight "for routes" in the U.S. market; they also report that as many as 230 people have been killed since the start of the year. Since the shootings on the Sunday, the community and the victims' relatives have petitioned for United Nations Peacekeepers to be sent to Juarez.

This story is just one of many relating to the dangerous drug cartel in Mexico. What makes this story particularly frightening is the innocent victims in this case. Most of the people killed were around my age. To a certain degree, any one of these innocent victims could have been friends of mine or even myself. These innocent people were either harmed or killed while going to a party. It is almost normal for many college students to go to house parties. It's very concerning to think of the possibilities. It is also scary to imagine the lack of shame and humanity these gang members have. I also have deep concern for Americans who wish to travel to boardertowns for spring break, and the dangers they could potentially face. I wish for more immediate action on Mexican Government, as well as the United States and the United Nations. I view this issue a very serious one and one that cannot be ignored any longer.

Top News #1

Fifteen gunmen stormed into a house party killing as many as 16 teenagers and injuring 12 others in the early morning of January 31 in Juarez, Mexico. The gunmen are apparently part of the Juarez Cartel gang, and investigators have yet to find a motive for the killings. The victims' ages ranged from 14-19, and they all had no known crime association. According to CNN, Juarez is one of the most deadliest as rival drug gangs fight "for routes" in the U.S. market; they also report that as many as 230 people have been killed since the start of the year. Since the shootings on the Sunday, the community and the victims' relatives have petitioned for United Nations Peacekeepers to be sent to Juarez.

This story is just one of many relating to the dangerous drug cartel in Mexico. What makes this story particularly frightening is the innocent victims in this case. Most of the people killed were around my age. Its scary to imagine the lack of shame and humanity these gang members have. I also have deep concern for Americans who wish to travel to boardertowns for spring break, and the dangers they could potentially face. I wish for more immediate action on Mexican Government, as well as the United States and the United Nations. I view this issue a very serious one and one that cannot be ignored any longer.

If you want to view more information on the Juarez gangs and this story:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/02/06/mexico.juarez.drugs/index.html

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/02/01/mexico.juarez.shooting/index.html#cnnSTCText

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/01/31/mexico.juarez.shooting/index.html?iref=allsearch

Leads 1 & 2

Lead 1 (Earthquake): An earthquake with a magnitude of 2.2 took place near Alum Rock Falls Road in Santa Clara County 8:33 am this morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. There were no reported injuries or damages.

Lead 2 (Highway closed): Highway 9 was closed just west of Saratoga at Pierce Road in Santa Clara County for nine hours yesterday, due to fallen trees from the overnight wind and rain, according to a California Highway Patrol Spokeswoman.