"Chicago Tribune" Reader

"Chicago Tribune" Reader

Obama arrives in Colorado to meet with shooting victims

Posted: 22 Jul 2012 02:58 PM PDT

President Barack Obama waves from the steps of Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Sunday, July 22, 2012. Obama is traveling to Aurora, Colo., to visit with families of victims of the movie theater shooting as well as local officials. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)President Obama arrived at Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora Sunday afternoon and was greeted by Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan and Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates. The four swiftly departed in a motorcade as lightning struck only a few miles away from the tarmac. They are headed [...]

Officials: Trooper attempts suicide after woman shot to death

Posted: 22 Jul 2012 03:31 PM PDT

An off-duty Illinois State Police trooper is suspected of shooting a woman to death, then turning the gun on himself in a domestic attack in Westchester early this morning, authorities said.

Trip wires, Batman items found in Colo. shooting suspect's home

Posted: 22 Jul 2012 01:19 PM PDT

The apartment was crisscrossed with waist-high trip wires attached to more than 30 improvised grenades strewn across the living room floor, with 10 gallons of gasoline nearby "to enhance the thermal effect," a source said.

Commander: Afghan withdrawal halfway done

Posted: 22 Jul 2012 01:44 PM PDT

U.S. Gen. John Allen, top commander of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) and US forces in Afghanistan gestures during an interview with the Associated Press in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, July 22, 2012. Gen. Allen says this year's pullout of 23,000 American troops is at the halfway point. He told The Associated Press in an interview Sunday that a significant number will leave in August and early September. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)This year's pullout of 23,000 American troops from Afghanistan is at the halfway mark, U.S. Gen. John Allen, the top commander of U.S. and NATO forces, said Sunday in an interview with The Associated Press.

Church remembers victim, prays for alleged gunman

Posted: 22 Jul 2012 12:38 PM PDT

This photo provided by The Cowden Family shows shooting victim Gordon W. Cowden. Twelve people were killed and dozens were injured in the attack early Friday, July 20, 2012 at the packed theater during a showing of the Batman movie, "The Dark Knight Rises." in Aurora, Colo. Police have identified the suspected shooter as James Holmes, 24. (AP Photo/The Cowden Family)Some worshipers held their hands up to heaven. Others wiped away tears. Together, the overflow crowd in the hundreds at Colorado Community Church sang with a greater purpose than most Sundays. "When the darkness closes in, Lord, still I will say, blessed be the name of the Lord," they belted out in [...]

Victims' tweets give insight on life, death

Posted: 22 Jul 2012 10:55 AM PDT

This Sept. 20, 2011 photo provided by The Sullivan Family, shows shooting victim Alex Sullivan. Twelve people were killed and dozens were injured in the attack early Friday, July 20, 2012 at the packed theater during a showing of the Batman movie, "The Dark Knight Rises." in Aurora, Colo. Police have identified the suspected shooter as James Holmes, 24. (AP Photo/The Sullivan Family)For Jessica Ghawi and Alex Sullivan, life's final minutes were about anticipation — not for anything life-altering, just a few hours of entertainment.

Obama arrives in Colorado to meet victims' families

Posted: 22 Jul 2012 02:45 PM PDT

President Barack Obama waves as he leaves the White House in Washington for a trip to visit the families of victims of the shooting in Aurora, Colo., Sunday, July 22, 2012. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)President Barack Obama dashed to Colorado on Sunday to meet with families of those gunned down in a movie theater and to hear from state and local officials about the shooting that left 12 people dead and dozens more injured.

Norway remembers victims on attack anniversary

Posted: 22 Jul 2012 08:30 AM PDT

Norway on Sunday paused to commemorate the 77 victims of a bomb and gun massacre that shocked the peaceful nation one year ago, a tragedy that the prime minister said had brought Norwegians together in defence of democracy and tolerance.

Sexual assault victim could be charged for tweeting names

Posted: 22 Jul 2012 10:47 AM PDT

A Kentucky girl who was sexually assaulted could face contempt of court charges after she tweeted the names of her juvenile attackers. Savannah Dietrich, the 17-year-old victim, was frustrated by a plea deal reached late last month by the two boys who assaulted her, and took to Twitter to expose them--violating a court order to [...]

Bombs kill 20 and wound 80 across Iraq

Posted: 22 Jul 2012 11:09 AM PDT

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Car bombs in two towns south of Baghdad and in the Iraqi city of Najaf killed a total of 20 people on Sunday and wounded 80, police and hospital sources said, in one of the most violent days of the past two weeks. Three car bombs killed 11 people and wounded 38 in Mahmudiya, a town 30 km (20 miles) south of Baghdad, according to police. The first detonated in a car in a parking lot, the second in another car as police arrived at the scene and a third at the town's police station, the police sources said. ...

Five NATO service members killed in Afghanistan

Posted: 22 Jul 2012 10:34 AM PDT

Afghan boys read the Quran during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan at a mosque in the city of Jalalabad, the provincial capital of Nangarhar province, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, July 22, 2011. Muslims from Morocco to Afghanistan are experiencing the toughest Ramadan in more than three decades with no food or drink, not even a sip of water, for 14 hours a day during the hottest time of the year. (AP Photo/ Rahmat Gul)Five NATO service members have been killed in roadside bombings in Afghanistan during the past two days, while Afghan officials reported Sunday that four civilians died when hundreds of shells and rockets were fired from neighboring Pakistan.

Ernie Els wins British Open with astonishing finish

Posted: 22 Jul 2012 10:26 AM PDT

Ernie Els of South Africa kisses the Claret Jug after winning the British Open golf championship at Royal Lytham & St AnnesErnie Els has won his fourth major championship in an astonishing finish, rallying to beat Adam Scott in the British Open when the Aussie bogeyed the last four holes.

Vicki Santo: 'An incredible day for an incredible man' in Cooperstown

Posted: 22 Jul 2012 01:19 PM PDT

The posthumous induction of Cubs third baseman Ron Santo, who died in 2010, was certain to be a bittersweet event for many. But in her acceptance speech, Vicki Santo, Ron's widow, spoke of it as a joyous occasion.

Prime minister: Greece now in 'Great Depression'

Posted: 22 Jul 2012 09:16 AM PDT

Greek PM Samaras and visiting former U.S. President Clinton wave to reporters during their meeting in AthensATHENS (Reuters) - Greece is in a "Great Depression" similar to the American one in the 1930s, the country's Prime Minister Antonis Samaras told former U.S. President Bill Clinton on Sunday. ...

Obama to meet with families of shooting victims in Colorado

Posted: 22 Jul 2012 01:18 PM PDT

President Barack Obama travels to Colorado today to meet families bereaved after a gunman went on a shooting rampage at a movie theater in a Denver suburb, killing at least 12 people and wounding 58.

University investigating shooting suspect's deliveries

Posted: 22 Jul 2012 10:50 AM PDT

An investigator carries out a computer hard drive from the apartment of the suspect who opened fire in a movie theater in AuroraThe University of Colorado said Sunday it was investigating whether shooting suspect James Holmes used his position as a graduate student to order materials in the potentially deadly booby traps that police said they found in his apartment.

Heaviest rains in 60 years kill 37 in Beijing

Posted: 22 Jul 2012 11:41 AM PDT

A resident walks past debris and a taxi damaged by a flood after heavy rainfalls hit Mentougou District in BeijingThe Chinese capital's heaviest rainstorm in six decades killed at least 37 people, flooded streets and stranded 80,000 people at the main airport, state media and the government said on Sunday.

Feinstein: Election year not ideal for gun debate

Posted: 22 Jul 2012 08:35 AM PDT

Federal agents unload material to collect evidence at the apartment house of shooting suspect James Eagen Holmes. Federal agents began collecting evidence from the apartment after clearing it of booby traps. in Aurora, Colo., Saturday, July 21, 2012. Holmes has been charged in the shooting at an Aurora theatre early Friday that killed twelve people and injured 59.(AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)Sen. Dianne Feinstein says the nation needs to have a "sane" discussion on gun control and ban military-style assault weapons. But the California Democrat acknowledges that probably won't happen before the November election.

Poverty on track to rise to highest level since 1960s

Posted: 22 Jul 2012 01:08 PM PDT

This July 16, 2012, photo shows new parents Garrett Goudeseune, 25, Laura Fritz, 27, left, with their daughter Adalade Goudeseune, as they pose for a photo at the Jefferson Action Center, an assistance center in the Denver suburb of Lakewood. Both Fritz and Goudeseune grew up in the Denver suburbs in families that were solidly middle class. But the couple has struggled to find work and are now relying on government assistance to cover food and $650 rent for their family. The ranks of America's poor are on track to climb to levels unseen in nearly half a century, erasing gains from the war on poverty in the 1960s amid a weak economy and fraying government safety net. Census figures for 2011 will be released this fall in the critical weeks ahead of the November elections. (AP Photo/Kristen Wyatt)The ranks of America's poor are on track to climb to levels unseen in nearly half a century, erasing gains from the war on poverty in the 1960s amid a weak economy and fraying government safety net.

Official: Iran can produce nuclear fuel for ships

Posted: 22 Jul 2012 07:59 AM PDT

Iran is capable of producing nuclear fuel for ships but has no immediate plans to upgrade the level of its uranium enrichment, the nation's nuclear chief was quoted as saying in Sunday.