(CNN Student News) -- December 19, 2008
Quick Guide
The Headlines - Check out some unseasonable weather in our look at today's headlines.
Historic Headlines - Look back at some of the biggest news stories from the past semester.
Off the Beaten Path - Journey Off the Beaten Path to see some lighter holiday headlines.
Transcript
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: Hi, I'm Carl Azuz, and welcome to the last CNN Student News broadcast of 2008. Before we break for the holidays, we're kicking off with the headlines!
AZUZ: An international court convicts high-level Rwandan military officials of genocide. Back in 1994, an estimated 800,000 people were killed in the violence that gripped the African nation. Yesterday, the alleged mastermind, Colonel Theoneste Bagosora, and two other officers were all sentenced to life in prison. The court ruled that Bagosora was responsible because he commanded the troops who carried out the crimes.
A health crisis in Zimbabwe surpasses a tragic milestone. The United Nations said this week that a cholera outbreak has claimed more than a thousand lives. More than 20,000 suspected cases have been recorded since August. The U.N. says 80% of Zimbabwe's population doesn't have access to safe drinking water or sanitary facilities, both conditions that can cause this disease to spread.
Back in the U.S., Chrysler is planning to stop all vehicle production for at least a month. After the last shift today, the automaker will close all of its plants until January 19th, at the earliest. This is adding about two weeks to the company's normal holiday shutdown. Ford and GM, the two other members of the Big Three, recently announced similar moves.
And what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, especially when it's snowed in! The city was hit with its worst winter coating in nearly three decades, up to six inches in some areas, according to the National Weather Service. Looks like you can have a white Christmas, even in the desert.
Shoutout
NINETTE SOSA, CNN STUDENT NEWS: Today's Shoutout goes to Coach Lovier's 9th and 10th grade classes at Columbia High School in Columbia, South Carolina! Which of these headlines happened first? A) U.S. declares recession, B) Obama elected president, C) Phelps sets medal record or D) Congress passes financial bailout? You've got three seconds -- GO! Michael Phelps won a record eight gold medals in August. That's your answer and that's your Shoutout!
AZUZ: Of course, we've covered all of those headlines over the last several months on CNN Student News. From athletic accomplishments to an economic crisis, terror attacks to tainted food, and of course an historic race for the White House. Here's our look back at some of the biggest stories that have happened so far this school year.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AZUZ: It's happening here, it's happening abroad, and it's just not stopping.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, (R) ARIZONA: Our economy is in crisis.
U.S. PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH: The financial crisis.
BARACK OBAMA, U.S. PRESIDENT-ELECT: The most serious economic crisis of our time.
MCCAIN: We've seen huge swings in the market.
ALI VELSHI, SENIOR CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Up 936.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: Biggest one-day point gain ever.
VELSHI: A drop of 733 points.
BLITZER: Second-largest daily point loss ever.
AZUZ: Bailout, bailout, bailout.
PAUL LAMONICA, EDITOR-AT-LARGE, CNNMONEY.COM: That 700 billion number is really just a benchmark right now.
HENRY PAULSON, U.S. TREASURY SECRETARY: The taxpayer already is going to suffer the consequences if things don't work the way they should work.
OBAMA: My plan.
JOE BIDEN, U.S. VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT: Some genuine ideas.
GOV. SARAH PALIN, (R) ALASKA: Create over 30,000 new jobs.
SUZE ORMAN, FINANCIAL COMMENTATOR: You have got to understand that student loan debt can never be dismissed or discharged by bankruptcy.
OBAMA: We'll create another 2 million jobs.
MCCAIN: Create jobs.
OBAMA: Create jobs.
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON, (D) NEW YORK: Jobs, baby, jobs.
AZUZ: Recession. Japan, one of the world's biggest economic powers, is in one.
KYUNG LAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is the report that officially says Japan's economy, the world's second largest economy, has now slipped into recession for the first time since 2001.
BUSH: Job data reflects the fact that our economy is in a recession. This is in large part because of severe problems in our housing, credit and financial markets, which have resulted in signficant job losses.
AZUZ: China's leader is promising to improve his country's food safety after dairy products contaminated with this chemical called melamine have made more than 50,000 children sick.
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's still not known what impact the contaminated milk scandal will have on exports. Tainted milk powder ingredients have been found in everything from cookies to chocolate to pizza, in more than a dozen countries so far.
AZUZ: In that wave of violence that gripped the city of Mumbai.
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Nearly four days of terror, plunging India's financial capital into chaos.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: Well, here's a look at the latest medal counts in the Olympics this morning. United States dominating now in total medals.
MICHAEL PHELPS, U.S. OLYMPIAN: Anybody can do anything they set their mind too. I said it all along: I want to be the first Michael Phelps, not the second Mark Spitz.
OBAMA: I accept your nomination for presidency of the United States.
MCCAIN: Privilege of accepting our party's nomination for president of the United States.
PALIN: We need your votes.
BIDEN: The stakes in this election, the stakes in this election could not be higher, ladies and gentlemen.
IREPORTER #1: What's at stake in this election? A lot. Decisions that will be made could change the course and directions of our country.
IREPORTER #2: What's at stake? Everything. Vote. Choose wisely. We're counting on you.
BLITZER: And CNN can now project that Barack Obama, 47 years old, will become the president-elect of the United States.
MCCAIN: And I call on all Americans, as I have often in this campaign, to not despair of our present difficulties, but to believe always in the promise and greatness of America.
OBAMA: If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Blog promo
AZUZ: We'll be off the air for the next couple weeks, but our blog is always up at CNNStudentNews.com! We've gotten a ton of awesome comments from you guys throughout the semester. Please, please, please keep it going while you've got some time off from class! Head to our Web site, and tell us how you're spending your vacation.
Word to the wise
SOSA: A Word to the Wise...
adrenaline (noun) a hormone that helps the body react to stress, often by increasing a person's heart rate and nerve action
source: www.dictionary.com
AZUZ: Our last report today is packed with stories that may just give you an adrenaline rush. A town dominated by yule-time tidings! A parade overrun by freaky floats! One home's holiday assault on the senses! Brace yourselves, as we take a journey to the lighter side of the headlines in this holiday trip Off the Beaten Path.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AZUZ: 'Twas just days before Christmas, and all through one town, decorations were out that just never come down! For Santa Claus, Indiana -- say that with a straight face -- is as real as Christmas Boulevard and, of course, Kringle Place.
But if you're looking for spirit on a southern vacation, you might try Chumuckla for its redneck celebration! It's a place where floats float with unique decoration, from trees drilled in roofs to thrones of relaxation. Sure, some arrays look like they could use some washing. But who really cares when..
MATT HOWELL, FESTIVAL PARTICIPANT: Your adrenaline gets rushing!
AZUZ: And why wouldn't it when your car's got some wood on it? They think it's...
FESTIVAL PARTICIPANT: Pretty nice; think we did pretty good on it.
AZUZ: This is pretty good too, for the whole honkin' house is rocking with music that would scare any mouse. There are creatures stirring when this thing gets going. It's like a block party with a single house glowing!
If you don't think all this amounts to a hill of beans, you might like the bright night lights of the Philippines! Don't look now, the bill's coming, and if you don't pay, Santa might just show up on an alternative sleigh.
On the streets, on the snow, every place you could go, Santa shows up in spots Santa seldomly shows! But don't be a hater, it's all in good cheer. After all...
SANTA CLAUS: Christmas is a beautiful time of year!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Goodbye
AZUZ: It certainly is, Santa. Well, we are going to be off the air for a couple of weeks, but CNN Student News will return on January 5th. On a personal note, we would like to thank all of you for tuning in, for your feedback, your e-mail and your blog responses. You guys have been great and have made for a really great year for us. So, thank you for that. Meantime, we all wish you a safe and very happy holidays. We look forward to seeing you guys in '09.
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