NewsBank HOT TOPICS

November 2009 HOT TOPICS in the NewsBank Database:

· These topics are posted on the NewsBank menu page, under the Other NewsBank Products link.

CURRENT EVENTS RESEARCH TOPICS:

ECONOMICS: New Home Sales Drop
TOPIC: After rising for 5 months, new home sales dropped in September. What is the primary reason given for this unexpected drop? How is the information to track this trend gathered?
SEARCH TERMS: home sales AND Commerce Department

SPORTS: Yankees Make Their 40th World Series Appearance
TOPIC: The New York Yankees will be making their 40th appearance in this year's World Series. What have been some of the most exciting Series games that they have participated in? Who are some of the most famous players in the history of the team, and what are their claims to fame? What is significant about the team that they are playing against?
SEARCH TERMS: Yankees AND World Series

Civics, Government and Politics: Taliban Attacks
TOPIC: An armed assault on a guesthouse used by the UN and other international organizations left five UN workers and three Afghan civilians dead. It was later followed by rocket attacks on a hotel used by foreigners. The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the attacks. Do attacks within the capital city indicate weakness on the part of the government? Is the fact they are aimed at outsiders important? Are these attacks aimed at influencing the upcoming presidential runoff election?
SEARCH TERMS: Afghanistan AND attacks AND Taliban

CRIME AND LAW: NASA Launches New Rocket
TOPIC: NASA has launched its new experimental test rocket the Ares I-X. What is the purpose of this prototype rocket? What are the difficulties that NASA originally had with the launch of this rocket?
SEARCH TERMS: NASA AND Ares IX

CRIME AND LAW: Distracted Pilots
TOPIC: Two Northwest Airlines pilots have had their licenses revoked for spending time on laptop computers rather than paying attention to their instrument panels. What was the result of their distracted flying? What are some other examples of pilot distraction that could put a flight at risk?
SEARCH TERMS: pilot AND Northwest Airlines

SOCIAL STUDIES RESEARCH TOPICS:

Civics, Government and Politics: Political Endorsements
TOPIC: President Obama will be appearing with Virginia gubernatorial candidate R. Creigh Deeds, and Sarah Palin is endorsing New York's Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman for Congress. What is at risk when a national politician endorses a candidate? What are some of the specific factors in these races that make the endorsements so interesting to political analysts?
SEARCH TERMS: political AND endorsements
Civics, Government and Politics: Political Violence in Iraq
TOPIC: Political violence has picked up in advance of upcoming elections in Iraq with multiple car bombings occurring. Who is responsible for the bombings? What are their aims?
SEARCH TERMS: Iraq AND bombings OR elections
Civics, Government and Politics: Elections in Africa
TOPIC: Mozambicans went to the polls to choose members of Parliament and a President. Armando Guebuza, the current President, was re-elected. His party, Frelimo, has held power for the past 34 years. How did it first come to power? How has it retained popularity? How effective has it been as a governing power?
SEARCH TERMS: Mozambique AND elections
Civics, Government and Politics: Elections in Afghanistan
TOPIC: A runoff election has been announced in Afghanistan, after a U.N. commission determined that widespread voter fraud lead to Hamid Karzai's re-election as president. How did they determine this? How difficult is it to have an election in Afghanistan?
SEARCH TERMS: Afghanistan AND runoff election

CRIME AND LAW: FBI and Translators
TOPIC: The FBI has lost translators resulting in a growing backlog of audio intelligence documents that could involve terror plots. What are some factors that make it difficult to hire new translators? What action is being taken to help with this problem?
SEARCH TERMS: FBI AND translators
CRIME AND LAW: Radovan Karadzic
TOPIC: Radovan Karadzic is representing himself against charges of war crimes, but he refuses to attend the trial claiming a lack of time to prepare for his defense.
What are the charges against him? How should the judge react to his absence?
SEARCH TERMS: Radovan Karadzic AND trial

ECONOMICS: Recession in the United Kingdom
TOPIC: Figures released after the third quarter of 2009 show that the United Kingdom remains in recession. It has been in recession for six quarters in a row. What were analysts expecting the numbers to be? How does Britain's performance compare with other European economies?
SEARCH TERMS: United Kingdom AND recession
ECONOMICS: Dow Jones Surpasses 10,000
TOPIC: For the first time in a year the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose above 10,000. What has been the impact of this on investors? Why is this number significant?
SEARCH TERMS: Dow Jones AND 10,000

EDUCATION: Greater Accountability in Medical Education
TOPIC: The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education is investigating classes and companies that violate rules against commercial bias. What pattern has spurred this investigation? What are the current medical education requirements for a doctor to keep their accreditation?
SEARCH TERMS: health care AND accountability

HISTORY: New Brazilian Commission
TOPIC: Brazil seems ready to appoint a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate what happened to opponents of its military government in the 1960s and 1970s. What do commissions like this do? What other countries have used this way of researching the past? Has the process worked in those countries?
SEARCH TERMS: Brazil AND Truth and Reconciliation Commission
HISTORY: John Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry
TOPIC: It has been 150 years since John Brown raided Harper's Ferry in protest of slavery. What is the background of John Brown? What were some of his previous acts against slavery?
SEARCH TERMS: John Brown

SOCIAL ISSUES: President Obama Wins the Nobel Peace Prize
TOPIC: President Obama has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. What was the response to President Obama and others to this choice? What was the reason behind the choice, and how does it compare to past recipients?
SEARCH TERMS: Nobel AND Obama AND Peace

SCIENCE AND HEALTH RESEARCH TOPICS

ENVIRONMENT: Climate Plan and Rust Belt
TOPIC: The upper Midwest, which has been hit especially hard by the recession, is concerned about President Obama's climate plan. What aspects of the plan are this region most concerned about, and why? What industries would be most impacted, and how?
SEARCH TERMS: climate plan AND rust belt
ENVIRONMENT: Earthquake in Indonesia
TOPIC: Indonesia suffered from another earthquake. It measured 5.8 on the Richter scale, but it did not set off a tsunami. What is the Richter scale? What does it measure? Who devised it? What other events are measured in similar fashion?
SEARCH TERMS: earthquakes AND Richter scale

HEALTH: Women's Health Needs
TOPIC: Women in the rural developing world die in childbirth in inordinate numbers. Lowering this number was one of the Millennium Development Goals. What are the conditions that drive this statistic? What can be done to improve pregnancy outcomes for these regions?
SEARCH TERMS: women AND childbirth AND death
HEALTH: Medical Marijuana
TOPIC: The federal government has decided it will no longer prosecute medical marijuana users and providers that follow state laws. What is the impact on the states with this decision? What have been some of the federal/state relations on this issue in the past?SEARCH TERMS: medical marijuana

HEALTH: Nobel Prize for Medicine
TOPIC: Elizabeth Blackburn, Carol Greider and Jack Szostak have won the 2009 Nobel Prize for medicine. This year marks the first year that two women have shared a Nobel Prize for science. What medical research earned these winners their prize? What are some of the specifics of the science in this research?
SEARCH TERMS: Nobel Prize AND medicine

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: Pliosaur Discovered
TOPIC: The eight-foot-long skull of a pliosaur was found off the coast of England. The size of the head leads to estimates that the creature would have been more than 50 feet long. What were pliosaurs? When did they live?
SEARCH TERMS: Pliosaurs
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: Scientific Fraud
TOPIC: Hwang Woo-suk was found guilty of scientific fraud over his claims to have grown human embryonic stem cells. These cells could have been of great importance in treating various diseases. Why are stem cells important? What sort of diseases could be treated with them? What did Hwang do that was important, and what did he do that was wrong?
SEARCH TERMS: Hwang Woo-suk AND stem cells
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: Bombing the Moon
TOPIC: In what was frequently mislabeled a bombing, two spacecrafts have crashed into the moon in an effort to find possible water supplies. Why was the crash mistaken as a bombing? What evidence was there to suggest water may exist below the surface of the moon?
SEARCH TERMS: bomb AND moon

SPORTS RESEARCH TOPICS

SPORTS: World Cup in South Africa
TOPIC: South Africa, host of the 2010 World Cup, looks to improve its chances by bringing back Carlos Alberto Parreira as the coach of its national soccer team. Who is Carlos Parreira, and what are his ties with the South African national side? Who is he replacing, and why is he replacing him?
SEARCH TERMS: South Africa AND Carlos Parreira
SPORTS: Brawn and Button Are Champions
TOPIC: Jenson Button and his Brawn team have won the Formula One championship driver and team awards. What is remarkable about the Brawn team's victory? How does Formula One racing differ from NASCAR and Indy Car racing?
SEARCH TERMS: Jenson Button AND Formula One
SPORTS: Golf Added to the 2016 Olympics
TOPIC: Golf has been added to the Olympics for the 2016 Summer Games. Rugby sevens is the other new sport added. Will Olympic exposure broaden the appeal of the Games? How will the golfers who will compete be chosen? What is Rugby sevens?
SEARCH TERMS: Olympic Games AND (golf OR Rugby sevens)
SPORTS: Cardinals Hire Mark McGuire as Hitting Coach
TOPIC: Mark McGuire is the new hitting coach for the St. Louis Cardinals. What are some high and low points in his career? What teams has he played for?
SEARCH TERMS: Mark McGuire AND hitting coach
SPORTS: Bill, The Big Whistle, Chadwick
TOPIC: Bill, The Big Whistle, Chadwick was a legendary hockey referee. What distinguished him as a referee immediately upon hire by the NHL? What handicap did he have to overcome to do his job?
SEARCH TERMS: Bill Chadwick

ARTS AND LITERATURE RESEARCH TOPICS

FILM AND TELEVISION: NCIS
TOPIC: NCIS has been topping the broadcast ratings for the fifth straight week. What has been praised as the reasons this show is so popular? What is the show about? From what series is this show a spin-off?
SEARCH TERMS: NCIS AND rating
FILM AND TELEVISION: Pusan International Film Festival
TOPIC: Asian films are featured at South Korea's Pusan Film Festival. Among other films were two set during the 1937 Rape of Nanking. What was that event and why are films about it controversial? What other films were on view at PIFF?
SEARCH TERMS: Pusan International Film Festival
FILM AND TELEVISION: New Michael Jackson Film
TOPIC: Footage taken before Michael Jackson's death of rehearsals for his planned 50 concert tour is being released in a film called Michael Jackson's This Is It. The film includes the posthumously released song of the same name. Who co-wrote this song with Michael Jackson? What is the reaction to this film from Michael Jackson's family, and why? What do you think the producers of this film wanted to accomplish in the making of this documentary?
SEARCH TERMS: Michael Jackson AND "This is It"
FINE ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE: Egypt and the Louvre Museum
TOPIC: Egypt briefly severed official ties with the Louvre Museum claiming it has refused to return stolen artifacts. It has also demanded back the bust of Nefertiti from the newly re-opened Neues Museum in Berlin. What are the reasons Egypt wants these artifacts returned? What other artifacts is it pursuing? What convention covers these museum pieces?
SEARCH TERMS: Louvre AND Egypt AND artifacts
FINE ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE: Irving Penn
TOPIC: Irving Penn was a famous photographer. What kind of photography made him famous? What is the subject of some of his most famous photographs?
SEARCH TERMS: Irving Penn
LITERATURE: The Lost Symbol
TOPIC: Dan Brown's latest book is The Lost Symbol. What themes in this thriller are consistent with the author's other work? What controversial group is central to the plot of this book?
SEARCH TERMS: Dan Brown AND Lost Symbol
LITERATURE: Nobel Prize for Literature
TOPIC: Herta Mueller, a Romanian writer, has won the 2009 Nobel Prize for Literature. What sort of fiction does she write? What events in her life have influenced her work?
SEARCH TERMS: Herta Mueller
PERFORMING ARTS: Mercedes Sosa
TOPIC: Mercedes Sosa was an Argentinean folk singer. Why was her music a touchstone for the generation that lived through the repressive military government? What were some of her best-known songs?
SEARCH TERMS: Mercedes Sosa
PEOPLE RESEARCH TOPICS
PEOPLE: Anthony D. Marshall
TOPIC: The theatrical producer and only child of the late philanthropist Brooke Astor was arrested for the illegal handling of his mother's will and financial affairs. What are the details of his crimes? What other crime was Mr. Marshall accused of, and how did that case end?
SEARCH TERMS: Marshall AND Astor AND estate
PEOPLE: Soupy Sales
TOPIC: Soupy Sales was an early TV personality best known as host and sketch comedian on the children's show Lunch with Soupy Sales. What other programs was he known for? How did Mr. Sales begin his career? SEARCH TERMS: Soupy Sales
PEOPLE: Juanita Castro
TOPIC: Juanita Castro claims to have begun working with the CIA against her brother Fidel in 1961 and continued to do so until she fled into exile in 1964. Why did she do so? How did she contact the CIA? What was life in exile like for her?SEARCH TERMS: Juanita Castro
PEOPLE: Reinhard Mohn
TOPIC: Reinhard Mohn made the German publishing firm Bertelsmann one of the largest in the world. What were his innovations in employee relations? How did he transform his small family firm into a world-wide powerhouse?
SEARCH TERMS: Reinhard Mohn AND Bertelsmann
PEOPLE: Elinor Ostrom
TOPIC: Elinor Ostrom has won this year's Nobel Prize for Economics. What was the research that won her the prize? What are the design principals that she has proposed?
SEARCH TERMS: Elinor Ostrom

NewsBank Hot Topics for August

NewsBank Hot Topics are topics, issues, and events from throughout the world relative to social studies, science, health, sports, the arts and people that can be found in the NewsBank products.

Below are the Hot topics for August:

CURRENT EVENTS RESEARCH TOPICS
ECONOMICS: Economic Recovery
TOPIC: The stock market began to rebound during the month of July. The media is cautiously predicting that the recession is ending because of this and the rebound in the real estate market. Others are not so sure, citing the enormous consumer credit card debt and the high cost of employee health care to companies. What has been the cause of the recent spikes in the market? What have been some of the predictions for the near future of the U.S. and world economy? What are predictions for the long term economy?
SEARCH TERMS: stock market AND recession

HEALTH: Health Care Reform Bill
TOPIC: Legislation for health care reform is being debated in Congress. What details have been the primary focus of the debate, and what are the different views on them? What have been the major efforts to reform health care in the United States since the end of the Second World War?
SEARCH TERMS: health care AND legislation

CRIME AND LAW: Sotomayor Hearings
TOPIC: As part of the confirmation procedure, Judge Sonia Sotomayor has been questioned about her judicial process and philosophy by the Senate Judicial Committee. What are some questions that Judge Sotomayor was asked that outline philosophical legal approaches of both the judge and the questioner, and how are they shown? What is entailed in the full confirmation process?
SEARCH TERMS: Sotomayor AND Senate AND confirmation

CRIME AND LAW: Seven Men Arrested in Terror Plot
TOPIC: Seven men, six of them U.S. citizens, have been arrested in North Carolina for conspiring to wage violent jihad overseas. How did this conspiracy start and what was the process in which these men were recruited? How was this conspiracy discovered by law enforcement?
SEARCH TERMS: North Carolina AND terrorist AND conspiracy

SOCIAL STUDIES RESEARCH TOPICS
Civics, Government and Politics: Sarah Palin Resigns
TOPIC: Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has resigned. What are the reasons she gives for leaving office? What have been some challenges she's had recently as governor? What are her plans?
SEARCH TERMS: Sarah Palin AND resign

Civics, Government and Politics: Senate Cancels Funds for F-22 Raptor
TOPIC: The U.S. Senate has cancelled funding for a premier fighter jet, the F-22 Raptor. What is the basis for the decision? What have been the arguments for continuing the funding?
SEARCH TERMS: F-22 AND Senate

Civics, Government and Politics: Ethnic Problems in China
TOPIC: Uighurs, a Muslim minority group within China, rioted this month in protest of their treatment by the majority Han group. The authorities responded with repressive state violence, leading to many deaths. Why are the Uighurs angry? How is their situation similar to the Tibetans, and how is it different?
SEARCH TERMS: Uighurs AND riots AND Xinjiang

CRIME AND LAW: Natalia Esremirova
TOPIC: Natalia Esremirova was kidnapped from Grozny and found murdered in neighboring Ingushetia. She was investigating allegations of human rights violations in Chechnya. She is the latest human rights campaigner to be murdered in the former Soviet Union. Who are the others? How have the authorities responded to this spread of violence against human rights campaigners? Why do these crimes continue to occur?
SEARCH TERMS: Natalia Esremirova

ECONOMICS: Brazil and Paraguay Hydroelectric Plant
TOPIC: Brazil and Paraguay reached terms on the distribution of power from the Itaipu hydroelectric plant. Though jointly operated, Paraguay used only 5% of its power output and felt it was selling the remainder to Brazil at bargain prices. What are the new terms of their agreement? How do they differ from the previous terms?
SEARCH TERMS: Brazil AND Paraguay AND Itaipu

ECONOMICS: Auto Manufacturers
TOPIC: Porsche and Volkswagen have long had intertwined ownership. Recently Porsche executives tried to increase their stake in VW and failed, prompting the top two executives to resign. It seems the firms will now merge under conditions that favor VW. Why did the smaller company feel it could take over the larger auto manufacturer? Will VW taking over Porsche result in any long term changes for that brand?
SEARCH TERMS: Volkswagen AND Porsche

EDUCATION: Unionization of Charter Schools
TOPIC: An increasing number of teachers at charter schools are unionizing. What have been some primary reasons cited for their effort, and how do they differ in different parts of the country? What defines a charter school verses other kinds of schools?
SEARCH TERMS: charter schools AND union

HISTORY: Anniversary of the Moon Landing
TOPIC: It has been 40 years since NASA's Apollo 11 space mission first put a man on the moon. What were some of the experiments and discoveries made on that historic day? What were some difficulties experienced by the astronauts on the mission?
SEARCH TERMS: Apollo 11 AND moon

HISTORY: From under the Waves
TOPIC: Five Roman ships and their cargo have been discovered off the coast of Italy. They were at a depth that ensured a better state of preservation than many of the other ancient shipwrecks found in the Mediterranean. What sea route did they seem to be on? What was their cargo? What cultural role did their cargo play in Roman Life? How does artifact recovery allow us to understand more about past life and culture?
SEARCH TERMS: Ancient Rome AND shipwrecks

SOCIAL ISSUES: Nigeria and Islamists
TOPIC: Islamists in Northern Nigeria attacked police, who fought back in self-defense. What has prompted this violence? How connected to other Islamist movements are the Nigerians thought to be? What are some other minority groups in Nigeria?
SEARCH TERMS: Nigeria AND police AND Islamists

SOCIAL ISSUES: The Arrest of Henry Louis Gates Jr.
TOPIC: Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. was arrested for disorderly conduct after he argued with a police officer who was responding to a call that misunderstood Professor Gates' forced entry into his own home as a break in. What have been some later developments that have come out of this incident? What had made this incident so difficult to easily resolve?
SEARCH TERMS: Henry Louis Gates

SCIENCE AND HEALTH RESEARCH TOPICS
ENVIRONMENT: Wind Power
TOPIC: More and more towns are adopting wind power as an additional source of energy. What have been some of the benefits to this around the country? What have been some unforeseen difficulties they are facing?
SEARCH TERMS: wind power AND energy

ENVIRONMENT: Floods in Mongolia
TOPIC: Mongolia suffered its worst flash flooding in decades as rainstorms battered the country. 24 people are dead, houses were destroyed and hundreds of livestock were killed. Could the increased desertification and growth of the Gobi desert have somehow caused this event? What relief efforts are happening in Mongolia?
SEARCH TERMS: Mongolia AND floods

HEALTH: Swine Flu Vaccine
TOPIC: Australia began testing of a vaccine for swine flu as the WHO declared that fatalities caused by it are increasing. The WHO fears that industrialized nations will order the bulk of the vaccines produced, leading to a disparity of fatalities between them and poorer, developing countries. What would be a fair way to distribute the vaccine?
SEARCH TERMS: swine flu vaccine AND developing countries

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: Jupiter and Collision
TOPIC: Amateur Australian astronomer Anthony Wesley captured an image of a rift in the cloud atmosphere of Jupiter, evidence of another celestial body crashing into the planet. The news sent other astronomers to their telescopes to verify the event. What do they think happened? What comet famously collided with Jupiter?
SEARCH TERMS: Jupiter AND impact

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: High-Tech Army Program
TOPIC: An older Army program called Future Combat Systems is having problems in development and is now being scaled back. What are the details and goals of this program? What have been some of the problems it has faced?
SEARCH TERMS: Future Combat Systems

SPORTS RESEARCH TOPICS
SPORTS: Buehrle Pitches Perfect Game
TOPIC: Chicago White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle recently pitched a perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays. How many perfect games have been pitched in major league history and what games were they? What are some other highlights of Buehrle's career?
SEARCH TERMS: Mark Buehrle AND perfect game

SPORTS: Tom Watson
TOPIC: To the amazement of his fans, 59-year-old Tom Watson led the British Open going into the final day only to miss a tournament winning putt on the last hole. He lost in a four-hole playoff. Who won the tournament? What are Watson's prior achievements in this tournament?
SEARCH TERMS: Tom Watson AND British Open

SPORTS: Tour de France
TOPIC: Lance Armstrong rejoined the field of the Tour de France after four years away from the sport. While his teammate Alberto Contador won the race, Armstrong came in third. What was amazing about this finish? What are Armstrong's plans for the future? What was Contador's perspective about his teammate?
SEARCH TERMS: Lance Armstrong AND Albert Contador

SPORTS: Michael Vick Reinstated by NFL
TOPIC: Michael Vick has been reinstated by the NFL after serving 18 months for running a dog fighting ring. What are the limitations of his new status? What next steps need to be taken for Vick to play football again?
SEARCH TERMS: Michael Vick

SPORTS: Hall of Fame Inductees
TOPIC: Ricky Henderson and Jim Rice have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. What have been some highlights of each man's career? What are the criteria for induction to the Hall of Fame?
SEARCH TERMS: Ricky Henderson OR Jim Rice

SPORTS: All-Star Game
TOPIC: The American League has won this year's All-Star Game in St. Louis. How many All-Star Games have been played and which league has the most wins? What qualifies a player to make the All-Star team?
SEARCH TERMS: All-Star Game AND baseball

ARTS AND LITERATURE RESEARCH TOPICS
FILM AND TELEVISION: Hollywood Financial Slump
TOPIC: The American film industry has depended on the sale of DVDs as a primary source of its income in recent years but with the continuing recession, those profits have dropped significantly. How has the film industry adapted to the economic conditions? What have been some unexpected difficulties in reforming the industry?
SEARCH TERMS: films AND economy

FINE ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE: Comic-Con International
TOPIC: Comic-Con International is a large annual comic book convention being held in San Diego this year. How has this convention expanded in the scope of its areas of focus since the original convention was held in 1970? What are some of the rare items that can be found at this convention?
SEARCH TERMS: Comic-Con AND San Diego

FINE ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE: Civil War Photograph
TOPIC: A Spanish paper maintains that the Spanish Civil War photograph of a falling, just-killed soldier was posed by the photographer, Robert Capa, miles away from where it was said to have been shot. If the photo was staged, what implications does it have on the integrity of the work? In the digital age when photos can be easily altered, does alteration of image matter as much as it once might have?
SEARCH TERMS: Robert Capa

LITERATURE: Vasily Aksyonov
TOPIC: Vasily Aksyonov was a Russian author who found fame during Khrushchev's thaw and was later exiled. He was noted for being a chronicler of the Soviet Union's hipster movement, the stilyagi. What was Khrushchev's thaw? Who were other writers of the era who benefited from it? What were some of Aksyonov's works?
SEARCH TERMS: Vasily Aksyonov

LITERATURE: Frank McCourt
TOPIC: Frank McCourt was a famous New York high school teacher and author of memoir Angela's Ashes. What awards did Mr. McCourt's book win? What were some controversies coming out of his characterization of the Limerick?
SEARCH TERMS: Frank McCourt

PERFORMING ARTS: Merce Cunningham
TOPIC: Merce Cunningham was an innovator of avant-garde dance and choreography trough the second half of the 20th century. What is avant-garde? What groups did Mr. Cunningham work with and what are some of the lasting contributions he has made to dance?
SEARCH TERMS: Merce Cunningham

PEOPLE RESEARCH TOPICS
PEOPLE: Walter Cronkite
TOPIC: Walter Cronkite was a famous news broadcaster. What has he come to represent among many Americans in regard to news journalism? What news organizations did he work for during the course of his career? What are some of the key moments that he is known for in his reporting?
SEARCH TERMS: Walter Cronkite

PEOPLE: Kim Jong II
TOPIC: The leader of North Korean has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. How deadly is this form of cancer? What are the succession plans of the North Korean state? What impact will his illness have on North Korea's nuclear ambitions?
SEARCH TERMS: Kim Jong Il

PEOPLE: Harry Patch
TOPIC: Harry Patch was the last British veteran of World War I. He was predeceased by one week by Henry Allingham. Which branch of the services did they serve in? What honors were they given? What was Mr. Patch's opinion of the war?
SEARCH TERMS: Harry Patch OR Henry Allingham

PEOPLE: Michael Jackson Death Investigation
TOPIC: The investigation into what caused the death of Michael Jackson continues. What are some of the latest revelations in the case?
SEARCH TERMS: Michael Jackson AND investigation

PEOPLE: Hawaii Confirms Obama Birth Certificate
TOPIC: The state of Hawaii has confirmed that President Obama's birth certificate is authentic and that he was born an American citizen in the state of Hawaii in 1961. Has President Obama's birth certificate been certified as authentic before? Why does this question keep coming up?
SEARCH TERMS: Obama AND birth certificate