Seattle News Bites: June 19, 2001

Watching our various local news broadcasts today up to 7 PM, we couldn't help but notice how many stories were either missed or placed way towards the bottom!

Just take a look at these missed or low priority--mostly missed--stories and see whether you can find a reason why:

Former VP candidate, Geraldine Ferro came forward today to announce that she has an incurable form of blood cancer, which was diagnosed five years ago and is now in remission.
A California man has been convicted of animal cruelty by a San Jose jury after just 45 minutes of deliberation. The man, Andrew Burnett, had thrown a small dog into on-coming traffic on a busy California highway after a minor fender-bender with another car. He claimed that the dog, which was eventually struck and killed by a minivan, had bit him when he had reached into the woman's car.
Mr. Burnett faces up to 3 years in prison, which we believe is too little for a crime this inhuman.
10 people suspected of planning a terrorist strike against those conducting the investigation into attack on the USS Cole were arrested today in Yemen. Authorities have recovered weapons and bomb-making equipment and are saying that the threat was very real!
Baseball's "Iron Man," Cal Ripken, Jr. will be retiring from baseball at the end of this season.
A massive tornado practically wiped-out the small town of Siren, Wisconsin. The tornado, with winds of 200 mph and no discernable funnel struck without warning and destroyed over 100 homes in this town of 950.
Congressional hearings into Ford's role in Ford Explorer rollover accidents began today. One Congressman, claimed that Ford was replacing the Firestone tires with ones having an even worse record of accidents. Ford and Firestone have been blaming each other for the cause of the rollover crashes.
This comes on the heals of a $1 billion dollar lawsuit in Florida against Firestone for it's role in the crashes.
Juan Raul Garza, who was convicted of three drug-related murders was executed this morning in Terra Haute, IN at the same facility used to execute Timothy McVeigh.
Garza's lawyers had appealed to the US Supreme Court claiming that International Rights were violated during his sentencing when jurors heard about four other murders committed in Mexico, but ones for which he was never convicted. In addition, his lawyers had claimed that his civil rights were violated because he is a minority. Both claims were denied and the execution took place. Mr. Garza's family had even submitted a videotape asking for clemency.
The parents of Etan Patz have asked a NY court to declare him legally dead.
Etan, who was 6 at the time of his disappearance has been missing since May 1979--22 years!! The search for Etan was one of the most intensive in history and his case is credited with sparking the national missing child movement.
His parents have long believed that their son was murdered by a man who is currently serving time on an unrelated crime, child molestation. By having their son declared legally deceased, the parents will be able to file a wrongful death suit against his alleged murderer.
A NY jury has begun hearing testimony today to determine whether the second man convicted in the bombings of US Embassies should receive the death penalty, or be sentenced to life without parole. The first man avoided the death sentence, and we'll just have to wait to see what happens with the second.
Commentary: We just can't understand how Timothy McVeigh can get the death penalty for killing 168, while a terrorist who killed over 200 does not. Who is the more dangerous? Who deserves to die more? We think the answer is clear: the terrorist!
Russian Prime Minister Putin has said that, if President Bush goes ahead with his plans for a missle defense shield and breaks the 1972 anti-ballistic missle treaty, Russia will consider all previously negotiated treaties voided and will halt destruction of nuclear missles. In addition, Mr. Putin has said that Russia's remaining missles might be armed with multiple warheads.

Commentary

Chandra, who interned for US Congressman Gary Condit, has been missing for 7 weeks!

So far, no ransom request has been received, no trace of her has been found, no one knows whether she's been kidnapped or murdered, no money has been withdrawn from her bank account, and the FBI is still investigating.

Her mother, Susan has recently come forward claiming that Chandra told her she was having a relationship with the Congressman; something the Congressman says is untrue.

And in the latest development, her father, Robert, said he had called a number which appeared several times on her phone records; a number which turned out to be the Congressman's pager. The Congressman reportedly called him back after 5 minutes, during which time the two had an awkward conversation.

Rumors are circulating that the Congressman may somehow involved, although no evidence has been released showing this, and the Congressman himself has denied both having an affair with Chandra and being involved in her disappearance.

Many are wondering why the Congressman has been relatively silent, not speaking-out more in public about her disappearance, especially given the rumors around their possibly having an affair.

We're almost 100% positive that if Chandra was from the Northwest, or if she interned for a Washington State Congressman, the story would be receiving a great deal of coverage!

Just another example of how our local news is out-of-touch with what happens in the world!