In a Nutshell

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Shocking situation
discovered in Austria

Authorities in the Austrian town of Amstetten arrested 73-year-old Joseph Fritzel on charges of rape, incest and false imprisonment after his daughter was hospitalized. Fritzel allegedly had imprisoned his daughter in a sealed chamber of his cellar since 1984, continually raping her and impregnating her seven times.

DNA evidence proved that her children were the product of incest. One child died of neglect shortly after birth, three were raised by Fritzel and his wife above ground after he told his wife they had been abandoned, and three were kept in the dungeon for their entire lives until being released. The oldest had been alive for 19 years without seeing the light of day. Many who heard the story were left wondering how Fritzel’s wife and neighbors could have stayed in the dark about the situation for so long.

Obama disavows Rev. Wright

As remaining Democratic presidential contenders Senator Barack Obama of Illinois and Senator Hillary Clinton of New York fiercely campaigned in North Carolina and Indiana, before the two states voted on May 6, Senator Obama’s former pastor, Revered Jeremiah Wright, reappeared on the national scene.

At an appearance before the National Press Club, Wright repeated his belief that the U.S. government had spread AIDS among blacks. Senator Obama strongly disavowed his former minister, saying that he found Wright’s recent comments outrageous and that Wright did not speak for him and his campaign. On April 30, six super-delegates gave endorsements, with two backing Clinton and four backing Obama.

New Orleans plans Internet presidential debate

On September 18, Google and YouTube will be sponsoring a presidential debate between the major presidential contenders in New Orleans. Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, a Republican, and New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, a Democrat, are supporting the planned debate.

Conventional presidential debates will be held September 26 in Oxford, Mississippi, October 7 in Nashville, Tennessee, and October 15 in Hempstead, New York. A vice presidential debate will also be held on October 2 in St. Louis, Missouri. New Orleans had campaigned strongly to be a presidential debate site, but was rejected by the Commission on Presidential Debates. No candidate has yet accepted the debate invitation, and no television network has yet agreed to broadcast it.

Chemical company to move corporate headquarters from Virginia to Baton Rouge

The Albemarle Corporation, a specialty chemical maker, announced on April 30 that it will be moving its headquarters to Baton Rouge from Richmond, Virginia. The headquarters will have 30 employees with an annual payroll of at least $7 million. Albemarle already has approximately 600 employees in Baton Rouge, and Governor Jindal’s wife is a former employee of the corporation. The company’s many products are used in fields as diverse as consumer electronics, pharmaceuticals and construction.

Originally Published: Issue 607 - May 6, 2008

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