USA TODAY Network Wins 11 National Headliner Awards - USA TODAY
USA TODAY Network Wins 11 National Headliner Awards - USA TODAY |
- USA TODAY Network Wins 11 National Headliner Awards - USA TODAY
- Japan’s Emperor Akihito announces abdication in final address to his people - USA TODAY
- Longtime pro surfer Sunny Garcia hospitalized - USA TODAY
- Feds: El Chapo doesn't deserve retrial, evidence against drug lord was 'overwhelming' - USA TODAY
- Are we ready for the end of the world? NASA conducts drill for potential asteroid strike - USA TODAY
| USA TODAY Network Wins 11 National Headliner Awards - USA TODAY Posted: 30 Apr 2019 09:22 AM PDT 
USA TODAY NETWORK journalists earned 11 wins last week in the 85th National Headliner Awards, one of the oldest and largest annual contests recognizing journalistic merit in the communications industry. First place in a news series in daily newspapers in the top 20 market went to Laura Trujillo, Alia Dastagir and Anne Godlasky for USA TODAY's "Surviving Suicide" project. "This was a bold, meaningful, effective and helpful series about an issue the country continues to struggle with. Laura Trujillo wrote a brave and painful remembrance of her mother's suicide, as well as her own rape, and USA cushioned the story with those of others, and offered meaningful ways to deal with the issue. Beautifully done," said the judges. First place in the category of health writing was won by Alison Young and Laura Ungar for USA TODAY's "Deadly Deliveries" investigation, which has led to new standards proposed by the nation's largest hospital accreditation group. "The United States is the most dangerous place in the developed world to deliver a baby. It's hard to get your head around that. USA Today took a deeper dive at why this is the case. The writing is compelling, the examples and numbers strong, and the need for continued change and oversight obvious," said the judges. John Fauber, Matt Wynn and Kristina Fiore of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel earned second place in that category for their "Bad Medicine" reporting on how doctors who lose their licenses in one state can still practice in other states. Rochelle Riley of The Detroit Free Press won first place in the category for local columns category. Her winning work included her column calling for former Michigan State President Lou Anna Simon to resign in the wake of the Larry Nassar scandal, her piece on the Aretha Franklin funeral, and her profile of a Detroit high school girl who overcame a troubled childhood to succeed and win a local science fair. The judges stated, "'She brought joy to heartbreak — and joy won.' That's how Rochelle Riley described Aretha Franklin in covering the singer's funeral. And Riley used an uncommonly strong writing voice to call on Michigan State President Lou Anna Simon to resign after the Larry Nassar scandal. And Riley's touching piece on a Detroit student's rise from a chaotic upbringing to academic achievement was outstanding. Great work, Rochelle; we loved it." Rick Barrett of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel came in first place for business news coverage for his reporting on the crisis facing Wisconsin dairy farmers. "Hundreds of Wisconsin dairy farms are going under as a glut of milk on the market collapses prices and profits. Rick Barrett's in-depth and insightful reporting puts human face on a crisis that is punching Wisconsin farmers in the gut," said the judges. Detroit Free Press reporters Eric D. Lawrence and Kristi Tanner and USA TODAY reporter Nathan Bomey came in second for business news coverage for their "Death on Foot" reporting on why pedestrian deaths are up 46% in the past decade. James E. Causey of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel won second for news series in newspapers not in top 20 media market for his "Cultivating a Community" special report, which looked at how fruits and vegetables become powerful weapons for saving young boys in Milwaukee's poorest ZIP code. Second place for best political coverage second place went to the Tennessean staff for its "Mayor Barry Scandal" reporting on the events leading up to Mayor Megan Barry's resignation. The Desert Sun's Ian James won third for environmental writing for his work on the "Poisoned Cities, Deadly Border" investigation of pollution on the border and its effects on people's health. Andrew Ford took third for best online video 3-10 minutes for his coverage for Asbury Park Press of a man who was beaten by police. Coverage of the devastating Carr Fire earned Redding Record Searchlight third place for spot news in daily newspapers of all sizes. "We are so proud of our journalists whose work was honored at the National Headliner Awards for tackling a variety of important issues and making an impact in communities across the country," said Nicole Carroll, editor in chief, USA TODAY. The Press Club of Atlantic City, which founded the National Headliners Awards in 1934, announced the 2019 Print, Photography and Online winners for the 85th annual content on Monday. Congratulations to all of our journalists who were recognized! Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/pr/2019/04/30/usa-today-network-wins-11-national-headliner-awards/3626820002/  |
| Japan’s Emperor Akihito announces abdication in final address to his people - USA TODAY Posted: 30 Apr 2019 01:45 AM PDT  Japan's Emperor Akihito announces abdication in final address to his peopleCLOSE  Here's what to know about Japan's new emperor Naruhito. Time Japan's Emperor Akihito has announced at a ceremony that he is abdicating, in his final official address to his people.
In the ceremony at the palace on Tuesday, Akihito also thanked his people for their support during his 30-year reign as emperor. He said it was fortunate for him that he could fulfil his duties with full trust and faith in his people. Akihito's reign ends at midnight Tuesday, after which his son, Crown Prince Naruhito, ascends the throne as new emperor. Naruhito's ascension will be formalized at a separate ceremony on Wednesday. President Donald Trump expressed his appreciation for Akihito and Empress Michiko and used the occasion to "recognize the tremendous importance" of the U.S.'s relationship with Japan. "Emperor Akihito welcomed five United States presidents to Japan and reigned from the end of the Cold War to the present day," Trump said in a statement. "Our bilateral relationship was critical to navigating the global challenges of those times." Nuclear power:Nuclear power finds odd bedfellow in 2020 Dems as voters look for climate change solutions Biden: Joe Biden is the 2020 Democratic frontrunner. Now he has a target on his back. Like what you're reading?: Download the USA TODAY app for more
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| Longtime pro surfer Sunny Garcia hospitalized - USA TODAY Posted: 30 Apr 2019 04:37 AM PDT Longtime professional surfer Sunny Garcia has been hospitalized, the World Surf League announced on Twitter early Tuesday morning. The league confirmed "with heavy hearts" that Garcia has been admitted to the intensive care unit at an unspecified hospital amid speculation about his condition late Monday. The 49-year-old Hawaiian has won the Triple Crown of Surfing — which consists of three challenging events off the coast of Oahu — on six occasions, most recently in 2004. "Sunny has always been a great champion of surfing, both in and out of the water," the World Surf League wrote on Twitter. "Our prayers are with him and his loved ones at this deeply challenging time." The WSL did not specify what led to Garcia's hospitalization. Garcia has been a professional surfer for more than three decades, becoming one of Hawaii's most accomplished and well-known representatives in the sport. He won the World Surf League's world championship in 2000, when the organization was known as the Association of Surfing Professionals, and he was inducted into the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame in 2015. Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on Twitter @Tom_Schad.
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| Posted: 29 Apr 2019 07:06 PM PDT CLOSE U.S. Attorney Richard Donoghue says this is a victory for the American and Mexican people along with anyone who has lost a loved one to the "black hole of addiction." USA TODAY NEW YORK — Convicted Mexican drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán should not receive a new trial because arguments that he was found guilty by a tainted jury are vague and based on anonymous hearsay, federal prosecutors argued Monday. The prosecutors rejected defense arguments that the February conviction of the former Sinaloa drug cartel leader was unfair because some jurors reportedly ignored the court's warnings to avoid media coverage about the case — and in doing so were exposed to allegations that were not presented in court. "No extraordinary circumstances justifying a new trial are presented here," the government lawyers contended in the 96-page filing. "These allegations do not meet the strict standard for a post-verdict hearing on this motion, let alone present a basis for a new trial." Guzmán attorney Jeffrey Lichtman tweeted a response that accused prosecutors of being "desperate to avoid a hearing which would include testimony from jurors" because the proceeding would "reveal that jurors systematically lied to the judge regarding their claims of not seeing any media coverage during the trial." "The Chapo Guzmán case has always been nothing more than glorified inquisition," added Lichtman. The dueling legal arguments mark the latest legal development in the internationally watched case against the former Sinaloa drug cartel leader following his February conviction on charges of drug trafficking, weapons possession and usage, and operating a criminal enterprise. The trial featured damning prosecution testimony by a parade of former Guzmán confederates who testified that he ruled led a violent drug conspiracy that smuggled tons of cocaine and other drugs into the United States during a decades-long criminal career. The testimony was backed by recorded calls that let jurors hear Guzmán issuing orders about the smuggling. The verdict means that Guzmán faces an automatic sentence of life imprisonment. He remains jailed under heavy security pending his scheduled June 25 sentencing. More: Federal jury finds drug lord Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán guilty of all counts More: 'El Chapo' allegedly had sex with underage girls, called them his 'vitamins,' records show More: Witness: El Chapo cursed, tortured and shot enemies, ordered one buried alive The debate over a potential new trial was spurred by a Vice News report just after Guzmán's conviction that said featured an interview with an unidentified juror or alternate juror. That person said least six jurors from the anonymous panel violated the court's instructions by actively following social media and other coverage of the 12-week trial, Vice reported. In a motion for a new trial filed in March, defense lawyers argued the alleged violations raised the possibility that the jurors may have been improperly influenced to vote for a conviction based in part on prejudicial allegations that were not introduced as evidence. The material included a former drug lieutenant's charge that Guzmán drugged and raped young girls, plus news reports that one of the defense lawyers allegedly had an adulterous affair with a former client, the defense team claimed. The jurors should be questioned about the reported violations during an evidentiary hearing that would include written or oral questions from the defense team, attorneys Marc Fernich and Lichtman contended. Prosecutors rejected that conclusion. "The defendant's motion rests entirely upon an anonymously sourced, uncorroborated article published by Vice," the government lawyers wrote. "The defendant cites to unsworn hearsay and double-hearsay allegations in the Vice news article made by an alleged juror or alternate juror." CLOSE Prosecutors have started presenting evidence to jurors in the trial of the notorious drug smuggler known as El Chapo by giving them a video tour of a tunnel between Mexico and an Arizona warehouse. (Nov. 14) AP Prosecutors also argued that the defense allegations were contradicted by the trial record. The juror cited in the Vice report did not bring any of the concerns to the attention of the judge in the case, despite ample opportunity to do so, they wrote. "There is no indication that any juror lied to the court to conceal any purported bias against the defendant," the prosecutors wrote. "As the Vice article raises no concern that the defendant is innocent and that the jury wrongfully convicted him, a new trial is not justified." U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan presided over Guzmán's trial and gave jurors and alternates daily warnings to avoid any media coverage of the case. Cogan is expected to weigh the prosecution and defense filings and potentially set a hearing for oral arguments. Following that, the judge is expected to rule on whether to hold an evidentiary hearing with jurors. Federal law contains strict standards for holding such a hearing and for ordering a new trial — standards that prosecutors argued have not been met. "Given the overwhelming evidence of the defendant's guilt at trial, there is absolutely no chance that the jury convicted an innocent person — a concern this court must harbor under binding precedent to order a new trial," prosecutors wrote. "Rather, the jury rightfully convicted the defendant, the co-leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the world's most notorious criminals and a man responsible for brutal crimes." The government lawyers also cited a U.S. Supreme Court decision to support their argument that "sound public policy strongly disfavors post-verdict evidentiary hearings with juror testimony." "[L]et it once be established that verdicts solemnly made and publicly returned into court can be attacked and set aside on the testimony of those who took part in their publication and all verdicts could be, and many would be, followed by an inquiry in the hope of discovering something which might invalidate the finding," the nation's highest court said in the 1987 decision. Follow USA TODAY reporter Kevin McCoy on Twitter: @kmccoynyc Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2019/04/29/feds-drug-lord-el-chapo-shouldnt-get-new-trial-notorious/3621447002/  |
| Are we ready for the end of the world? NASA conducts drill for potential asteroid strike - USA TODAY Posted: 29 Apr 2019 09:40 AM PDT CLOSE  So Japan's space agency dropped an explosive onto the asteroid Ryugu and blew a crater into its surface. Buzz60 Today's forecast: the end of the world. Well, not really, but if a big enough asteroid was on a collision course with Earth, we'd really have something more than scattered showers to worry about. NASA (not to mention the rest of us) would like to avoid such a catastrophe. The agency is conducting a drill this week to see how we'd prepare if a giant space rock was hurtling toward our home planet. "Although large impacts are rare, it's important to be prepared," NASA said in a statement. "That's why NASA, other U.S. agencies and international partners gather periodically to simulate impact scenarios and discuss the best course of action for disaster mitigation." The project will play out as a tabletop exercise Monday-Friday at the 2019 Planetary Defense Conference in College Park, Maryland, Space.com said. NASA asteroid experts prepared a fictional scenario in which an asteroid will apparently crash into Earth in 2027. Space.com said, "They'll talk through how to determine what regions face what risks and how to respond – all in the hopes that if they ever face a similar situation in real life, they'll be ready for it." To avoid any unnecessary panic, the conference plainly states on its website that "although this scenario is realistic in many ways, it is completely fictional and does NOT describe an actual potential asteroid impact." Lindley Johnson, NASA's planetary defense officer, said in a statement that "these exercises have really helped us in the planetary defense community to understand what our colleagues on the disaster management side need to know. This exercise will help us develop more effective communications with each other and with our governments." The drill is part of the "National Near-Earth Object Preparedness Strategy and Action Plan" developed over two years and published by the White House in June 2018. More: 1,000 mph winds, shock waves deadliest effects of asteroid strike NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office, which leads the drill, is the federal entity in charge of coordinating efforts to protect Earth from hazardous asteroids. It's responsible for finding, tracking and characterizing potentially hazardous objects heading toward Earth and issuing warnings about possible impacts, should there be an actual threat. For more than 20 years, NASA and its international partners have scanned the skies for "near-Earth objects," or asteroids and comets that orbit the sun and come within 30 million miles of Earth's orbit. NASA has participated in six of these impact exercises – three at Planetary Defense Conferences (2013, 2015, 2017) and three jointly with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Deflecting an asteroid on a collision course with Earth would have to be done years before the predicted impact. The two most promising techniques NASA is investigating are the "kinetic impactor" (striking an asteroid with an object to slightly slow it down) and the "gravity tractor" (gravitationally tugging on an asteroid by placing a large mass near it). Fortunately, no known asteroid poses a significant risk of impact with Earth over the next 100 years, according to NASA. A study in 2017 found the deadliest effects of an asteroid impact would be ferocious winds of up to 1,000 mph and intense shock waves.
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