Beyond the Bubble
National News
After his come-from-behind victory in the New Hampshire primary election Tuesday, Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) wasted no time as he headed south to continue campaigning.
Kerry began a seven-day trip through the southern states with a rally Wednesday in St. Louis, Missouri. Kerry announced a substantial victory as Rep. James Clyburn is expected to endorse Kerry. Clyburn's support is of particular significance, as 40 percent of Democratic voters in Missouri are expected to be black, and Clyburn is the state's dominant black politician.
Although Kerry trailed Howard Dean in New Hampshire polls days before the primary, he beat Dean by 13 percent. Coupled with his victory in Iowa, Kerry is confident about his chances to not only take the primaries but the presidential election as well.
"I have a message for the influence peddlers, for the polluters, the HMOs, the big drug companies that get in the way, the big oil and the special interests - who now call the White House their home," Kerry said in an interview with CNN.
"We're coming. You're going. And don't let the door hit you on the way out."
World News
Government officials in Thailand have confirmed the first death as a result of the bird flu.
Overall, Thai officials say there are at least 10 more suspected human cases of the flu, four of which may have already ended fatally.
Tests will be performed to determine whether those deaths were also caused by the virus.
The one confirmed victim of the bird flu was a 6-year-old boy.
Although government officials in Thailand had been denying the existence of the bird flu for weeks, they have now expanded the number of crisis zones from two to 10.
"It is worrying because many other birds, including quail have died, so we have to solve the problem in chickens as soon as possible," Health Minster Sudara Keyuraphan said in an interview with Reuters.
Keyuraphan said that many farmers do not know how to dispose of potentially diseased chickens properly; they simply throw them into the river.
The bird flu, also known as Influenza A (H5N1), has been reported to have affected more 10 countries in Asia, including China, Vietnam and Laos. Fear of the virus has prompted several countries to urge the slaughtering and disposal of millions of birds.
College News
A study at the University of California, Los Angeles found that events such as the 2000 presidential election and 9/11 may have caused an increase in political interest among college freshmen.
The American Freshmen annual survey, which surveyed 276,449 students from 413 four-year colleges, demonstrated that American youth are beginning to have a more active interest in politics, following a 35-year decline.
Linda Sax, a professor at UCLA who also directs the survey, said that the upturn took place just after the controversial 2000 election.
Another significant change has been an overall shift to the right. Since 1971, the amount of liberals has declined among college students from 38 percent to 24 percent.
Liberals still maintain a slight edge over the amount of conservatives, as 21 percent of freshmen surveyed considered themselves to be conservative.
Entertainment News
Debbie Rowe, Michael Jackson's ex-wife, said that the singer is not the biological father of his two eldest children, Prince Michael Jr. and Paris.
Rowe said the two children were conceived as a result of artificial insemination provided from an anonymous sperm donor. Rowe is attempting to win back custody of the children, which should become easier after these recent findings, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Jackson refused to answer questions regarding his paternity of the children in the past, but in an interview for 20/20 his parents expressed concerns that Jackson may lose custody of the children.
Rowe's statements come in light of interviews of Jackson's children conducted by child welfare officials.
Whether or not the interviews were prompted by new charges is unknown.
â€" Compiled by Lance Dwyer