News Story #4

The Carjacker

Gabriel Gabriel
San Mateo County Times

San Mateo -- Alan Ticas-Soto, 21, tried to steal a car Saturday night with a newly married woman still in the passenger seat. Sheryl Wolcott, a San Mateo County deputy district attorney described some of the details of the alleged crime. She said the newlyweds, whose names were not released, were planning to spend their wedding night at a nearby Embassy Suites.

They were not injured in the incident. However, according to Wolcott, "This took them a little off-track."

They had stopped off for a late night snack at the Taco Bell on East Fourth Avenue in San Mateo on their way to the hotel. The bride was still in her wedding dress, and the groom was still in his tuxedo. Wolcott said the newlyweds had stopped off for a late night snack at the Taco Bell on East Fourth Avenue in San Mateo on their way to the hotel.

The bride was still in her wedding dress, and the groom was still in his tuxedo.

The groom got out of the car, a 2003 Nissan Altima, and left the engine running. His new wife stayed in the car while he headed toward the restaurant.

Police said the groom hadn't even gotten inside the restaurant when Ticas-Soto ran through the parking lot and leaped in the idling car. However, police said he didn't get very far.

First, he hard a hard time getting the car into reverse, and had to fiddle with the gear shift a bit before getting it into gear.

Ticas-Soto was almost certainly distracted by the screams of the 22-year-old bride in the passenger seat. She was frantically trying to unbuckle her seat belt and get away from him.

When he saw what was happening, the groom ran back and opened the passenger-side door, trying to help his wife get out of the car. She finally tumbled out, landing on the parking lot. She was unhurt, though shaken.

The suspect put the car into a forward gear and promptly smashed into a Taco Bell sign, according to the police. He leaped out of the car and ran away. In the meantime, witnesses called the police.

Patrolling nearby, police officer Brendan Boyle noticed a man matching the suspect's description. The man was running southbound on South Delaware Street at Ninth Avenue. Boyle called it in and patrol cars converged on the scene. They caught Ticas-Soto and arrested him without incident. Police say he told them that he'd been taking methamphetamines for three straight days.

Ticas-Soto is now facing felony carjacking charges and misdemeanor drug charges. He is being held in San Mateo County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail. Ticas-Soto does not have a criminal record. He pleaded not guilty in San Mateo Superior Court on Monday.

No attorney has yet been assigned to Ticas-Soto's case by the county private defender program. If Ticas-Soto is found guilty, he could face up to nine years in state prison for the carjacking.

News Story #3

Gas line break

By Gabriel Gabriel
San Francisco Chronicle

SAN FRANCISICO – Traffic is at a standstill. It's really snarled. The police have cordoned off all the surrounding streets, effectively shutting down a four-block area near Folsom and 11th Streets, the South of Market area, where a high-pressure gas pipe had been accidentally ruptured.

A PG&E person says that a private construction crew was trying to repair sewer lines. In the process, they severed a two-inch underground gas pipe with a backhoe, he said. It happened a little before 12:30 p.m.

People were standing around at the edges of the incident. Several very irate at the fact that this unfortunate accident happened because it caused at least 100 people to be forced out of the area, including neighborhood residents, dozens of business owners and their customers.

Carlann Lauria, manager of Crocker's Lockers says, "Ask my customers. They were pretty irate." Crocker's Lockers is a self-storage company on Folsom near 10th Street. Despite the area being closed off, the employees kept busy. They went outside the police perimeter to collect payment checks from their customers.

Samantha Feldman, manager of Wa-Ha-Ka restaurant says her employees and patrons were forced to leave. The restaurant is located on the corner where the construction crew had been working. Feldman said the restaurant lost about $500 dollars worth of business in the shutdown.

Thankfully, all repairs should be made and there should be business as usual a little after 5p.m., according to PG&E.

One Feature Lead

95^th birthday party up in smoke

By Gabriel Gabriel

TULSA, Okla. – As Mabel McCullough celebrated her 95^th birthday party, held by the First United Methodist Church women’s group. They were interrupted by 24 unexpected guests, local firefighters.

They had a carrot cake for her birthday cake. On it were 95 candles. With help, McCullough blew them all out. And that created a big cloud of smoke. Eddi Carlin, one of the guests said, “There wasn't an inch to spare. By the time we had them all lit, it looked like a torch."

Carlin also said, "We had just sat down to eat when we saw them in the doorway." Referring to the 24 firefighters who showed up without warning apparently the soke form the blown-out candles set off a smoke alarm. As a result, five engines and two ladder companies arrived.

Fire Chief Lonnie Lamb says, "In my 23 years on the job, I've seen a lot of thing set off a fire alarm, but I don't think I've ever heard of one going off because of a birthday cake."

Despite the uninvited guests McCullough did not seemed to be disturbed by the intrusion. She embraced it and turned it into an opportunity to have her photo taken with Tulsa’s finest. However the firefighters did not stick around to have some cake.

AP Style Exercise (I-L)

JOUR 61 – AP Style Exercise (I-L)

1) There’s been no letup all day. After class, I plan to soak in my Jacuzzi and then lie down for a short nap.

2) They called the late Sen. Fred Fried a left-winger because he voted against the Patriot Act.

3) As they unfurled her white sails, the sailboat caught the breeze and began to slice steadily through the waves. Their dream cruise of the Pacific islands had begun.

4) After two days of hard rain and rising waters, the river flooded its banks, leaving the road partly impassable.

Top News #5

John McCain to attend debate

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10566209

In the article, John McCain to attend debate, found on the Mercury News website, the author Nedra Pickler from the Associated Press writes in repose to the action that Sen. John McCain wanted to postpone Friday’s first presidential debate, until Congress comes to agreement about the $700 billion dollar bailout. McCain will now be attending even though there has been no decision on the bailout. After Sen. Barack Obama questioned the multitasking skills of McCain others spoke on the how McCain wanted to seem above politics, in the article “Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a McCain supporter, said the Republican made a "huge mistake" by even discussing canceling the debate.” Where McCain interjects with wanting to take the politics aside and try to figure out the economic crisis at hand. Both senators met with President Bush and congressional leaders in Washington on Thursday where there were instances of shouting, placing the blame on Obama.

This article mainly shows the conflict between the two senators competing for the support of the United States. Both having different views and different ways of handling the issues that the U.S. is going to have to deal with or not deal with, showing that they should be the best man for the job. The way that McCain wanted to postpone the first presidential debate was very bizarre, as a potential president there should be a sense of urgency, however deadlines are deadlines. Obama took advantage of that situation and questioned the multitasking ability of McCain as well as others. McCain caved in and decided to not change the date of the debate because the American people want to hear what these potential presidents have to say about the state that our nation is in.

Last Week

I have posed my work for the fourth week, even though they are late. i had several work and family emergencies that resulted in not getting my assignments tuned in on time. I understand that i have already lost out on the points required and i know that late work is not accepted. i just wanted to post it just in case i can possibly get late points, even though i know late work is not accepted in no way or fashion because in the real world the deadlines dont wait for anyone or anything regardless of whats going on in the writers life. i guess where I'm getting at is i posted last weeks work for my benefit, to know that i did it and i didnt just not want to do the homework. thank you for your time. and from now on, i'll make sure to get my work online as soon as humanly possible.

News Story #2

Tourists robbed at gunpoint in Saint Mary’s Cathedral parking lot.

WeiMing Chen, 28, and his wife, Li Lu, 30 had been with their tour group that morning. They left the group at about 10 a.m. and walked to the cathedral's lower parking lot, where they were taking pictures. According to Sgt. Lawrence Price of the San Francisco police department

A man approached them. After he approached them, the thief waved a pistol around. Then he demanded their money. Chen handed over his money, about $100. However, the thief wanted more. Chen gave him his Visa card. He also gave him their passports, camera and airline tickets.

Chen described the assailant as being about 18 years old. The victims later said he was wearing a black jacket and cap.

According to Sgt. Lawrence Price of the San Francisco police department, the suspect took off running and they are in the process of searching for the suspect.

Nobody knows if the couple was able to make their 1 p.m. flight back to Taipei. The whole tour group, about 30 employees of a Taiwan airline, were scheduled to leave then.

News Story #1

News Story #1

San Jose firefighters rescue man from burning home.

Firefighters rescued an unconscious and severely burned Robert Kent from the floor of the kitchen in his single-story home yesterday. Kent is in his 50s and is retired.

According to San Jose fire Captain Rob Piper, the fire started in the kitchen and spread to the attic and smoke engulfed the whole house.

Kent’s Home was not equipped with a smoke detector and the cause of the fire is now under investigation. The fire was reported around 3p.m., according to piper.

A nursing supervisor at Valley Medical Center in San Jose says that Kent is in grave condition after having over 50 percent of his body suffering with second and third degree burns.

AP Style Exercise #2 (E-H)

· ( JOUR 61 – AP Style Exercise #2 (E-H)

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

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

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

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

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

2

Top News #4

Obama rejects McCain's call to postpone first presidential debate

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_10547592?nclick_check=1

In the article Obama rejects McCain’s call to postpone first presidential debate, found on the Mercury News website, the author Beth Fouhy from the Associated Press stated that Sen. John McCain wanted to postpone the first set of three presidential debates that are to start of Friday because congress had not yet reached a decision on the $700 billion dollar bailout proposal. McCain wanted to start the debates after legislature made a decision. However Sen. Barack Obama said “it's more important than ever” that the country take heed from its next president, stating that the next leader of America should be able to multitask.

In the article there is talk about showing bipartisanship, however there seems to be different views on the $700 billion dollar bailout. Sen. John McCain wants to make the bailout his main priority because the aftermath can either help or destroy the American economy. On the other hand, Sen. Barack Obama sees the problem and wants to address the bailout in the debates, seemingly putting down McCain by questioning his multitasking skills.

The issues that arise in this article will affect (impact) every single person in America (proximity) because the next president of the U.S. will need to be able to handle the pickle the Bush administration put our nation under. Both of the presidential candidates are trying so hard to gain the support of all the American people. However with the $700 billion dollar bailout raises just another tier of complications to the already staggering economy and with the bailout and Wall St. falling under and the mass references to the next greatest fall since The Great Depression (currency and timeliness). When both senators went to meet with the president, there were accusations that Obama was screaming and being irate (conflict).

Leads Exercise # 5

Immediate and Delayed Identification Leads

Fact Set #1: Pipe fitter

Immediate:

Duane La Chance, A pipe fitter, suffered third-degree burns while installing new pipes on the roof of the Springfield Municipal Power Plant.

Delayed:

An employee of Gross Engineers suffered third-degree burns at 3 p.m. yesterday while working on the roof of Springfield Municipal Power Plant.
Duane La Chance, 55, was listed in severe condition Wednesday evening in the intensive care unit at Springfield Hospital after he accidentally touched a power line carrying 15,000 volts with a piece of angle iron.

Fact Set #2: Car accident

Immediate:

Two teens in get into a striking accident, one-tenth of a mile north of Blue Ridge Road.

Delayed:

James W. Cunning, 20, and Wayne Clay, 19, were in a car accident on U.S. 63 just one-tenth of a mile north of Blue Ridge Road at 11:45 today, according to an officer in the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department.

Cunning was driving south on U.S. 63 in a 2005 Ford Focus. Clay apparently crossed the center line and struck the vehicle that Cunning was driving. Cunning is in satisfactory condition at Springfield Hospital

Lead Exercise #4

Smoking Wheels
For each of the following sets of facts, write the lead and second paragraph of a hard news story:

40 passengers evacuated from a Wisconsin Airport

A landing tower employee witnessed the smoke near the wheels of the Northwest Airlines jet, Flight 428, at the LaCrosse, Wisconsin Municipal Airport today, subsequently following a flight from Minneapolis.

Missing Boy

From the following set of facts, write the first two paragraphs of a news story:

A 7-year-old boy missing for three years was found in Brick Township, New Jersey Monday night. A neighbor recognized the child’s picture, when it was shown after the movie Adam: the Song Continues and then called the police.

The police then arrested the boy’s mother, Ellen Lynn Conner, 27. She is in the process of facing charges of kidnapping as well as interference with a custody warrant.

JOUR 61 – AP Style Exercise #1 (A-D)

JOUR 61 – AP Style Exercise #1 (A-D)

(contains 15 errors)

A) The new head of the Journalism Department, Dr. Deborah Dunwoody, Ph.D., recently bought a house at Six Riverside Drive in San Mateo, a lovely city in the San Francisco bay area. (4)

1. Journalism Department should be lower cased

2. There should be no period after Ph.D

3. Drive should be abbreviated to Dr.

4. bay area should be capitalized, Bay Area

B) “What kind of person would break-in to my apartment and rob my brand new thongs,” she asked her friend. (3)

1. break-in should not have the hyphen, break into.

2. rob should be either be steal.

3. The person in quotations is asking a question, there should be a question mark at the end of the sentence, before the close quotations.

C) The instructor asked her students to read chapter six in the text, and to pay close attention to the section on the great depression, which began in the late 1920’s and continued through the 30’s. (5)

1. chapter six should be, Chapter 6.

2. great depression should be capitalized. Great Depression

3. There should be a period, instead of a comma after the Great Depression.

4. 1920’s should not have the apostrophe before the s, 1920s.

5. 30’s should be written out fully as 1930, with no apostrophe before the s, 1930s.

D) Sarah Smith has not let partial blindness or wheelchair confinement stop her from living life to the fullest. In spite of her handicaps, she volunteers at a local senior center and enjoys going for strolls (she calls them “rolls”) with her friends. (3)

1. After Sarah Smith there should be a comma.

2. Instead of “In spite of” despite is shorter and more to the point.

3. the phrase in the parenthesis can either be replaced by commas or two

dashes, which are more effective.

i.e.

Despite her handicaps, she volunteers at a local senior center and enjoys going for strolls, which she calls “rolls,” with her friends.

Top News #2

Wall Street Journal

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122131228598332189.html?mod=hpp_us_whats_news

California Train Crash Kills 17

On Friday two trains, one freight and a commuter train collided on the same tracks killing at least 17 by Saturday morning as well as injuring about 135, where 85 of which were in critical condition.

An eyewitness who witnessed the crash told authorities that the crash was horrendous and saw so may people hurting and screaming for help. She was a true hero, she went in to save all the people she could, until the authorities came. The fire department stated that there were people within the wreckage and needed to be surgically removed very carefully, in order to identify the bodies.

There were 222 people on the commuter train and there were four workers on the freight train. The cause for the collision is still unknown. Although it is not uncommon for freight and commuter trains to run on the same tracks.

Since the accident happened on September 11^th, it did not help the timing and impact of the accident, considering that people were already remembering those who were lost in an event that was more devastating, however the proximity of the event makes the accident hit harder to home since it happened within the state of California.

Top News #1 Revised

In the San Jose Mercury website, I read the article, A Glancing Blow. As the thought of another hurricane to hit the recuperating Louisiana makes everyone feel uneasy. The forecasted predictions did not seem to be very promising from the already improving state. People were taking every precaution; evacuating and going to shelters. A sigh of relief came to the people of Louisiana when the hurricanes status became less severe than previously predicted.

The timeliness and proximity of this event happening so close to when Katrina last happened took a toll of the people of Louisiana, finding that there might be another hurricane as devastating if not more than Katrina, and having a state still hurting from the past carnage that Katrina did and finding that Gustav might do the same gave the state a sense of urgency to evacuate.

Lead #3

Firefighters were injured today while evacuating 41 families from a blazing fire, according to the police. The six-story building where the incident occurred was located at 204 Union Ave.

Lead #2

A snowstorm is projected to approach the Sierras today, as a series of storms follow.

Lead #1

$150,000 in damages was awarded to a local couple yesterday who suffered injuries in a traffic accident. Butte County Court assessed the damages from the March incident that led to the lawsuit.

Top News #1

A Glancing Blow

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_10360940?nclick_check=1

In the San Jose Mercury website , I read the article, A Glancing Blow. As the thought of another hurricane to hit the recuperating Louisiana makes everyone feel uneasy. The forecasted predictions did not seem to be very promising from the already improving state. People were taking every precaution; evacuating and going to shelters. A sigh of relief came to the people of Louisiana when the hurricanes status became less severe than previously predicted.

a bit about me

i apologize for the late post. I've been tinkering with the websites, trying to figure out what is due when. again i apologize.

My name is Gabriel Gabriel. Yes, my first name is the same as my last name. Just please don’t ask me about why my parents decided to name me like that. I am 24 years old. I attended De Anza college for 3 years and attained an AA in liberal arts, as well as a certificate of achievement in speech communication. I am now attending San Jose State University. I am currently in my second semester; I’m majoring in public relations, with a minor in communications.

I was born in Honolulu, Hi., I am half Filipino and half Hawaiian. I have a girlfriend, her name is Sarah, and we have been together for two and a half years. I am a coffee slave for Starbucks, serving the masses one scripted smile at a time. :)