Alhambra, California (CNN) -- At first, the pool builder thought his Bobcat bulldozer struck garbage as he dug a hole in a residential backyard. After all, in the older neighborhoods of San Marino, California, people used to bury their garbage.

But the plastic bag didn't contain trash.

Jose Perez, operating the Bobcat with his father as a co-worker, asked his dad what was inside. His father grabbed an 18-inch piece of reinforcement bar to poke around.

"He looked inside it, and he mouthed to me that there were bones in it," Perez testified Wednesday in a Los Angeles County court. "He thought it was a dog, but it didn't look like a dog.

"I told him to drop it, and he did," Perez continued. "It was a human skull."

As the prosecution witness referred to the plastic bag and the pool digging project in a photograph on a big screen in court, defendant Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter, in a blue jail jumpsuit, stared intently at the scene where prosecutors accuse him of murdering a man in 1985.

The skull was found nine years later, on May 5, 1994, Perez testified.

The testimony was evidence that Los Angeles County prosecutors began presenting during a preliminary hearing for the German-born Gerhartsreiter, who has garnered renown for impersonating a Rockefeller and inspiring a movie about the caper. He is now accused of killing a Southern California man who has been missing since the mid-1980s.

Frank Sheridan, a forensic pathologist, testified the skull suffered at least one blow to the forehead and at least two blows to the right side. The several fractures were made at or about the time of death, said Sheridan, who is also the medical examiner of San Bernardino County in California.

The shape of two fractures also indicated an object with a curved surface, such as a baseball bat, was used to deliver the blows, Sheridan said under questioning by a prosecutor.

"This individual was alive when these fractures occurred," said Sheridan, who examined a reconstructed version of the skull. In his career, he has performed 8,000 autopsies, he said.

"There's a lot of force involved in these blows," Sheridan added. "Each one of them would have rendered the person unconscious.

"The injuries we're talking about here would have very clearly been fatal in the absence of medical care, and they could have been fatal even with medical care," he said.

At the pool construction site, investigators eventually found nearly the entire skeleton of a man whose height was between 5 feet 4 inches and 5 feet 7 1/2 inches, testified Judith Daye, a physical anthropologist who worked for the Los Angeles County's coroner office and reviewed the bones at the site.

The missing bones included a kneecap, four fingers and a few toes, a common occurrence with buried remains, "especially the hands and feet because the bones are very small," Daye testified.

Many discovered bones were inside clothing that was wrapped in plastic, such as the pelvis inside jeans and the upper torso bones inside a shirt, Daye testified.

The preliminary hearing, to determine whether Gerhartsreiter should be bound over for trial, is expected to last six days, said Sandi Gibbons, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

Gerhartsreiter, 50, is accused of killing John Sohus, who was 27 at the time of his 1985 disappearance. His mother once owned the San Marino home where the remains were found.

During the Wednesday hearing, Los Angeles County Judge Jared Moses rejected a defense request that Gerhartsreiter be referred to as "Mr. Rockefeller" in court. The defense attorney said he and other attorneys on the team knew Gerhartsreiter as "Mr. Rockefeller."

But the judge said: "I get individuals in court who have a number of akas," a police term meaning "also known as," but "I have never seen a circumstance in court where a person is referred to by one of his akas."

Gerhartsreiter, who has

Question: What was found fractured?

Question: at least how many blows did the skull receive

Question: Who is accused of murder?

Question: who was accused of murder

Question: what was found after the skull's discovery

Question: who did he clam to be

Question: What is Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter accused of

Question: Who did he once claim to be?

Answer: human skull."

Answer: two

Answer: Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter,

Answer: Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter,

Answer: nearly the entire skeleton of a man

Answer: impersonating a Rockefeller

Answer: of killing a Southern California man who has been missing since the mid-1980s.

Answer: Rockefeller

Summary:
NEW: Almost entire skeleton found after skull's discovery, anthropologist testifies .
The fractured skull received at least three blows, a forensic pathologist says .
Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter is accused of murder .
He led a life of multiple identities and once claimed to be "Clark Rockefeller"


Although it may have been Jon and Kate Gosselin's unusual family that landed them a reality show, it is their marital problems-- to which much of their audience can likely relate-- that have made them a household name in recent weeks. Jon and Kate Gosselin's marital problems have give their TLC show record-breaking ratings. During the previous four seasons of TLC's Jon & Kate Plus Eight, the couple has bickered, eye-rolled, and jabbed its way through adventures in rearing now 9-year-old twins and now 5-year-old sextuplets. In this past Monday's record-breaking fifth-season premiere (9.8 million viewers), Jon and Kate finally addressed the very topic that has kept them on tabloid covers for weeks: Their marriage is on the rocks. Even without the stress of eight children, rolling cameras, and public scrutiny, all couples encounter tension in their relationships. Below, five trigger points that have tested Jon and Kate in their reality-TV run -- and how to make sure the same stressors don't take a toll on your relationship. Stress trigger No. 1: A growing family Whether you're bringing home one new baby or six, expanding your brood requires adjustment. Sleep deprivation can trigger depression and anxiety, said Dr. Ken Robbins, a clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin. New moms are also at risk for postpartum depression, and both parents will likely feel stretched for time. Health.com: 4 Myths about healthy sex Then there's the issue of intimacy, which will undoubtedly be affected with children in the house. "Sex lives of people who have children are worse -- there's data to prove it," said Dr. Andrew Goldstein, an obstetrician and gynecologist at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the author of Reclaiming Desire. "But a relationship is not like a job where you just have to accomplish what is necessary; you can't just put it on autopilot." Smart solutions: Couples need to work together to find creative ways to support and appreciate each other through this transition. • Adjust sleep schedules so that one partner sleeps while the other is awake with the baby. • When possible, get a friend or relative to occasionally help out at night so mom and dad have some time to cultivate their relationship one-on-one. Especially as kids get older, make sure they understand that mom and dad need time to themselves. • Be aware of the signs of postpartum depression like appetite changes, trouble concentrating, loss of energy, and hopelessness. Health.com: 6 Rules for a healthy postpartum slim-down • Make activities that promote mental health -- such as exercise and social time -- a top priority. Stress trigger No. 2: Career changes Before Jon & Kate Plus Eight, the Gosselins worked like the rest of us-- she as a nurse, he as an IT consultant. But things have changed since their family morphed into reality-show fodder, with Kate parlaying her notoriety into a career that includes two books, television appearances, and publicity tours. "Kate's career has taken off and I'm a bit lost," Jon told People magazine in April. Any couple going through a similar change -- whether one partner loses a job or takes on a new one-- can experience tension in the relationship. Smart solutions: Couples should speak honestly and listen carefully to each other to see if a career change has affected their relationship. • The partner who is earning less money may struggle with a diminished self-esteem and feel extra sensitive, while the other may feel resentful about being the primary breadwinner. But both partners need to respect the other's role and recognize their situation as shared. In the case of Jon and Kate, "the only reason she can do what she does is because he probably takes care of the kids while she's giving a lecture," Goldstein pointed out. • Find family and friends dealing with this same issue. Talking about shared struggles can help couples gain perspective and give them a chance to feel good about using their experience to help others.

Question: All couples encounter what?

Question: What number of children do Jon and Kate have?

Question: how many trigger points have tested Jon and Kate?

Question: What is Jon and Kate's last name?

Question: What number of trigger points have tested Jon and Kate;?

Question: What trigger points have tested Jon and Kate?

Question: What problems are the Gosselin's having?

Answer: tension in their relationships.

Answer: eight

Answer: five

Answer: Gosselin's

Answer: five

Answer: A growing family

Answer: marital

Summary:
Jon and Kate Gosselin's marital problems are what audience likely can relate to .
Even without eight children, all couples encounter tension in relationships .
Five trigger points have tested Jon and Kate; tips on preventing the stressors .


Amadou Bagayoko and Mariam Doumbia are the blind husband and wife team from Mali who first gained widespread international attention in 2005 with their album "Dimanche a Bamako". Amadou and Mariam have made the crossover to find international pop success. After writing and performing together since they met at Institute of Young Blind of Bamako in 1977, their international break-through came when world music heavyweight Manu Chao produced their commercial hit album. With a more pop-friendly sound but with the couple's positive and mesmeric vocals and Bagayoko's guitar playing, the duo have been feted by musicians across the world; the played opening sets for the Scissor Sisters and will be the opening act for Coldplay on their latest tour. Having made the transition from world music to international pop sensations the couple talk to African Voices about their journey through music, coping with the setback of blindness and how their careers are on a high over 30 years after they began singing. Watch the show on CNN on Saturday July 25, 12.30, 21.30 GMT and Sunday July 26, 18.00 GMT.

Question: where did they meet?

Question: What band did they open for?

Question: What couple became international music stars?

Question: In what year did their album bring them crossover fame.

Question: Where are the blind husband and wife team from?

Question: Where did they first meet?

Question: When did the couple meet?

Question: In what year did they meet?

Answer: Institute of Young Blind of Bamako

Answer: Scissor Sisters

Answer: Amadou

Answer: 2005

Answer: Mali

Answer: Institute of Young Blind of Bamako

Answer: 1977,

Answer: 1977,

Summary:
Blind husband and wife team from Mali have become international music stars .
Met at Institute for Young Blind in Bamako in 1977, married three years later .
2005 album brought them crossover fame; opening act for Coldplay before solo tour .


Americans love beef; we eat nearly 63 pounds per person each year. Although that's a lot, the amount is down from our 1976 high of 89 pounds. When buying beef, we tend to stick to what we know, which may be why almost 60 percent of our beef dollars go for ground beef. Even as an experienced chef, I often brought home familiar cuts. But researching my book, "Field Guide to Meat," led me to expand my repertoire to tasty, if less familiar, cuts like hanger steak and tri-tip. Soon you can do the same, knowing which cuts to choose for maximum flavor and nutrition. A 3½-ounce serving provides 27g to 30g of protein and is an excellent source of iron, zinc, and phosphorus. Beef Background Humans began domesticating cattle, Bos taurus, about 8,500 years ago. Columbus first brought cattle to the New World, and by 1690, descendants of Columbus' cattle ranging in Mexico were driven north and became known as Texas Longhorns. Others arrived later with the colonists. America's top five cattle breeds are Angus from Scotland, Hereford from England, Limousin from France, Simmenthal from Switzerland, and Charolais from France. More than 90 percent of the beef we buy originates in America, while most of the rest is Canadian bred. The beef we eat comes mostly from 18- to 24-month-old steers, averaging about 1,000 pounds, and yielding about 450 pounds of meat. Each is divided for wholesale into eight primals (major portions): the chuck (shoulder and upper ribs), the rib, the loin, the sirloin (hip), the round (upper leg), the brisket (breast), the plate (belly), and the small flank. Organs like liver and kidneys are called variety meats. When evaluating your choices at the grocery store, here are a few key terms and facts to know: • Grain-finished: Nearly 75 percent of U.S. beef comes from cattle fattened on grain (usually corn) for three to six months in feedlots. Since corn is not a natural part of a cow's diet, cattle fed on it may experience stress and other ailments, so they are routinely treated with antibiotics. They also receive growth hormones to increase their size (and value, as beef is sold by weight). Until recently, inexpensive corn has helped keep down the price of beef. • Grass-finished: Grass- or pasture-finished beef comes from cattle that forage on grasses and legumes. Their meat is lower in saturated fat, cholesterol, and calories than grain-finished. (Because it is quite lean, cook rare to medium-rare for juiciness.) Grass-fed beef has a distinct flavor, often described as bold, complex, and gamy. Many people believe that grass-fed cattle are a more sustainable choice. However, raising grass-fed cattle is time-consuming and requires large open spaces, variables that raise its price. Most is imported from Canada, followed by Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, and Brazil. • Aging: Dry-aging is the traditional process preferred by many steak lovers. The concentrated, intense flavor of dry-aged beef develops as it hangs in special temperature- and humidity-controlled rooms from 10 days to six weeks. The longer the aging, the better the flavor and tenderness, but also the more the shrinkage as water evaporates and a dark crust develops, which must be cut away. About 90 percent of American beef is sold as large vacuum-packed cuts. During the average seven-day period the beef spends "in the bag," it ages in a process called "wet-aging." • Processing and packaging: Until the 1960s butcher shops bought beef as half- or quarter-carcasses. Packers then began selling vacuum-packed beef, the same large cuts sold at warehouse club stores. Retailers refrigerated the boxes until needed, then opened the package and cut the meat into portions for sale. Next came case-ready meat, which precluded the need for skilled butchers on-site in markets

Question: How many pounds of beef does each person consume every year?

Question: How many pounds of beef per person each year  are consumed ?

Question: What do people tend to stick to?

Question: When did humans begin domesticating cattle?

Question: What type of beef do most of us stick with?

Answer: 63

Answer: 63

Answer: we know,

Answer: about 8,500 years ago.

Answer: ground

Summary:
Humans began domesticating cattle, Bos taurus, about 8,500 years ago .
Americans today consume nearly 63 pounds of beef per person each year .
Most of us tend to stick with beef cuts we know .


An Israel air force pilot, the son of an astronaut who died aboard the space shuttle Columbia in 2003, was killed Sunday in an F-16 fighter jet crash, Israel Defense Forces said in a statement. A military helicopter hovers over the Hebron Hills, site of the jet crash Sunday of Israel air force pilot Assaf Ramon. Lt. Assaf Ramon died in the crash near the Israeli community of P'nei Chever in the southern Hebron Hills, the IDF said. The F-16 crashed "during a routine flight as part of the advanced pilot training course," the statement said. The wreckage of the plane was found by search and rescue forces, the IDF said. Ramon was posthumously promoted to captain, officials said. He was the son of Col. Ilan Ramon, Israel's first astronaut. The elder Ramon died February 1, 2003, with six others aboard the space shuttle Columbia when it broke apart over Texas, minutes before it would have landed in Florida. Maj. Gen. Ido Nehushtan, Israel air force commander, launched an investigation into the crash, the IDF said. All F-16 training flights were canceled until further notice. Nehushtan and Maj. Gen. Avi Zamir, head of the Personnel Branch, "visited the home of Rona Ramon and informed her of the tragic event," the IDF said. Rona Ramon is Assaf Ramon's mother and the widow of Ilan Ramon. The younger Ramon excelled in an IAF pilot training course last month, received a presidential honor, and was given his pilot's wings by President Shimon Peres, Israeli military officials said. Funeral arrangements were pending.

Question:
Who informed mother?
What happened to Ramon's father?
What happened to Lt. Ramon?

Answer: Nehushtan and Maj. Gen. Avi Zamir,

Answer: died aboard the space shuttle Columbia

Answer: died in the crash near the Israeli community of P'nei Chever in the southern Hebron Hills,

Summary:
Lt. Assaf Ramon fatally crashes during routine flight, Israel Defense Forces say .
IDF: Personnel Branch brass "informed [mother Rona Ramon] of the tragic event"
Assaf Ramon's father died February 1, 2003, aboard the space shuttle Columbia .


Anatalya, Turkey (CNN) -- Lapped by the pristine waters of the Mediterranean Sea, the Turkish coastal city of Antalya attracts millions of sun-seeking tourists each year, beguiling them with its sweeping scenery, picture-perfect beaches and blazing sunshine.

It is this abundance of sunlight -- Turkey receives greater annual solar radiation energy than Spain and Germany according to estimates by the Joint Research Center of the European Commission -- that has prompted Antalya's local authorities to push ahead with plans to harness the city's solar potential.

"We aim to make Antalya the leader of solar power generation of Turkey and to promote it to the world as 'The Solar City,'" says Antalya's mayor Mustafa Akaydin.

The declaration comes as the sun-soaked city, located some 700 kilometers south of Istanbul, starts rolling out its ambitious plans to use solar power to generate electricity, emulating the successful example of cities like Barcelona, Spain, which has put in place regulations requiring solar panels to be fitted to all large new buildings.

In April, the city opened the "Antalya Solar House," an ecological research and educational center designed by architectural firm Temiz Dunya to raise awareness about the benefits of renewable energy and promote eco-tourism.

The zero-emission structure, which was built with ecological materials, generates most of its energy using photovoltaic panels (22kW in total) as well as a windmill and heat pumps.

'Living' buildings could inhale city carbon emissions

These systems are supplemented with gray-water recycling -- re-use of used water from bathtubs, showers and so on. -- and passive solar heating features such as a greenhouse to collect heat during the winter months. It also has a green roof that facilitates rainwater harvesting and acts as heat insulation.

"The building is also very significant because it is Turkey's first energy positive building," says architect Mehmet Bengu Uluengin, the designer behind the Solar House. "It actually produces more energy than it consumes."

The architect says the structure has fascinated the local population while helping to change perceptions that buildings can only be big energy consumers.

"The idea that having a building that not only provides its own energy but actually gives some back is a totally new phenomenon for Turkish people," says Uluengin, who is also a professor at Istanbul's Bahcesehir University. "They like it, they find it very intriguing."

Local authorities expect around a thousand people to visit Solar House each month, including students, green investors and hotel owners. They say the project is just the first part of a long-term initiative to turn Antalya into a climate-friendly city -- other initiatives include a waste management facility that will convert the city's sewage into biogas.

"Antalya has already been the pioneering city of green energy (in Turkey)," says Akaydin. "We are trying to make Antalya the leader of agriculture, tourism, park and garden lighting, energy generating and (solar) panel producing."

While educating the local population about achieving energy efficiency, Uluengin says the technology used in the Solar House can also help Antalya -- Turkey's biggest coastal resort and home to several five-star hotels -- to become an ideal destination for eco-conscious tourists.

"There are several hotels which are considering green energy to attract customers," he says.

"A hotel which can say that ... if you're staying here your carbon footprint is zero for the duration of your stay -- this is becoming very interesting for people worldwide," he adds.

For the moment, however, sunny Antalya is still far from being branded a green resort -- local authorities estimate that eco-visitors account for just 1% of the city's tourism.

Mayor Akaydin says that Turkey is missing a trick by failing to exploit its clean energy capabilities.

"Turkey has a very big potential in solar and wind energy. Unfortunately, the insufficient and wrong policies of the government prevent the promotion of them," he says.

Turkey's geothermal potential

Despite receiving plenty of sun, Turkey has been remarkably sluggish

Question: what was developing a sound solar industry

Question: what does turkey's tourist hotspot want?

Question: Who wants to generate solar power?

Question: What city wants to become climate-friendly?

Question: what did antalya launch?

Question: what did turkey wants to do

Question: What become a climate-friendly city

Question: What country is slow in developing a solar industry?

Answer: Turkey

Answer: become an ideal destination for eco-conscious

Answer: Antalya's mayor Mustafa Akaydin.

Answer: Antalya

Answer: the "Antalya Solar House,"

Answer: promote it to the world as 'The Solar City,'"

Answer: Antalya

Answer: Turkey

Summary:
Antalya has launched a long-term initiative to become a climate-friendly city .
Turkey's tourist hotspot wants to use solar power to generate electricity .
The country has been slow in developing a sound solar industry .


Andrew L. Shapiro is founder and president of GreenOrder, a strategy and management consulting firm that specializes in energy and the environment and is a subsidiary of LRN. Brad Bate and Ted Grozier, consultants at GreenOrder, also contributed to this article. Andrew Shapiro says society should aim to transform all jobs into "green jobs." NEW YORK (CNN) --   In a recent CNN commentary entitled "Green jobs: hope or hype?" Samuel Sherraden argues that green job creation will be insufficient to bring America out of recession. But Sherraden narrowly defines green as a "sector," and fails to see its potential as a strategy for the revitalization of the entire economy. When the public debate is focused around the precise number of green jobs created in, say, a solar panel factory, we miss the opportunity as a country to think more broadly about greening the economy -- and building a foundation for real growth and competitiveness. The aspiration to create "green jobs" should really be seen as shorthand for two public priorities -- immediate job creation and long-term transformation of the economy for sustainability and prosperity -- and both goals can be addressed simultaneously. However, in judging our progress, a simple tally of jobs in "green sectors" is only a partial indicator of the impact and thus can be misleading. A lot depends here on definitions. For example, Sherraden cites a 2008 report produced by Global Insight on behalf of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, which identifies a little more than 750,000 green jobs in the United States today. A report in the same year, from the American Solar Energy Society, counts more than 9 million green jobs in the United States. This is not to say that one report is better than the other, but to point out that much difference -- in this case, more than 8 million jobs -- depends on how you count. The critical point Sherraden misses is that it's not just job creation in new green industries that matter, but also new jobs in traditional industries -- or the retooling of old jobs -- to make those industries greener. A great example is the real estate industry. Energy efficiency retrofits of buildings and homes have the potential to yield significant savings in energy costs while creating work for building engineers, electricians, contractors, manufacturers and people in a whole host of other industries that would not typically be considered "green." By comparison, 10 or 15 years ago anyone who used a computer was considered to have a "tech job," but now nearly everyone uses a computer (and a cell phone and a PDA) and yet we don't call all jobs "tech jobs." We talk about how technology has changed every industry and profession. Moreover, even investments in sectors we recognize as green can have other positive economic impacts. Investing in wind power, for example, creates jobs in wind turbine manufacturing plants as well as jobs in the industries that supply the plant with parts, jobs producing the materials that make up these parts, jobs producing the electricity used in the plant, and so on. There is solid evidence that investment in green economic activity will result in more jobs than many other comparable investments because a greater proportion of funds would go toward labor and would remain in the United States. The Center for American Progress and the Political Economy Research Institute examined the impact of comparable investments in the oil and gas industry, tax refunds to stimulate household spending, and six specific energy efficiency and renewable energy strategies. They concluded that $100 billion of investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency would create approximately 2 million jobs, compared to 1.7 million jobs from stimulating household spending and about half a million jobs from investment in oil and gas. By investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency as strategies for our economy, we will create jobs in the United States, not just green jobs. More importantly, we lay the groundwork for American economic competitiveness and moral leadership in a carbon-constrained world. If we fail to support environmental innovation through investment and public policy, the United States will find itself at a disadvantage relative to

Question: What can be the key to revitalizing economy?

Question: Who argues that only a small number of jobs are green?

Question: Who is Andrew Shapiro?

Question: What does Shapiro say?

Question: What will green jobs do?

Question: What will be transformed?

Answer: "green jobs."

Answer: Samuel Sherraden

Answer: founder and president of GreenOrder,

Answer: society should aim to transform all jobs into "green jobs."

Answer: creation and long-term transformation of the economy for sustainability and prosperity

Answer: all jobs into "green jobs."

Summary:
Andrew Shapiro: Skeptics argue that only a small number of jobs are green .
He says green industries and jobs can be the key to revitalizing economy .
Shapiro: As economy goes green, jobs will be transformed .
He says U.S. will lose competitive edge if it doesn't invest in renewable energy .


Ann Arbor, Michigan (CNN) -- Even among the hundreds of applications, this one stood out. Most applicants to creative writing programs submit stories about the angst of their suburban childhoods. This writer's stories concerned the daily ordeals of a boy living with his family on the streets of Nairobi, Kenya, and the horrific plight of a Rwandan girl whose mother is Tutsi and father Hutu. Not only did the applicant have what writers call "material," he was blessed with an uncanny ear for human speech and the poetry to describe his characters' very unpoetic lives. I can still remember the young Kenyan boy watching his mother decant the glue she intends to sniff. The glue, the boy tells us, "glowed warm and yellow in the dull light," and when his mother had poured enough, "she cut the flow of the glue by tilting the tin up. The last stream of gum entering the bottle weakened and braided itself before tapering in midair like an icicle." Still, this applicant gave us pause. The writer had so much to say, he seemed to be trying to channel a raging waterfall through the tiny funnels of two short stories. His use of punctuation was idiosyncratic, to say the least. And the applicant was a priest! Would the other students be willing to share their stories, rife as these tend to be with profanity, drugs and sex, if a clergyman was in the room? And would this particular clergyman understand what all great religious writers know -- that true literature doesn't spring from one's certainties about the universe, but rather from one's questions? That said, how could our students be inhibited by a classmate who didn't hesitate to describe a 12-year-old Kenyan prostitute being paid by rich white tourists to perform sexual acts with their monkey? As to the shapelessness of the applicant's prose and the eccentricity of his punctuation, anyone with this writer's gifts could be taught to structure his material and punctuate his characters' speech correctly. If I still felt apprehensive about having a priest in my workshop, that anxiety vanished when Uwem Akpan walked in the room. Rather than wear his clerical garb and collar, Uwem showed up in a blue and maize University of Michigan sweatshirt. With his wide, gap-toothed smile, wall-shaking laugh, disarming candor and gleeful giggle, he exuded magnetic charm. Nor was Uwem out of place for being the only Nigerian in his cohort. Despite what the judges of the Nobel Prize might say about American writers being too insular to compete with their European counterparts, this country's MFA programs provide one of the only spaces on the planet where writers of many races, religions, nationalities and sexual orientations can come together. Writers find common ground not through the homelands they once inhabited but the thematic questions with which they grapple. Early that first semester, I assigned a story by Philip Roth called "Defender of the Faith," in which a Jewish sergeant who has witnessed the horrors of the concentration camps must decide whether to grant special favors to the Jewish recruits in his command or enforce strict impartiality. I didn't know whether Uwem would connect to Roth's quintessentially Jewish outlook. But the moment the discussion started, Uwem's hand shot up. "This is the story of my continent!" he declared. If Africans continued to put tribal allegiances above universal fairness, Uwem said, progress would remain unattainable. This abhorrence of tribalism is what makes Uwem so open-minded. Like most people who are comfortable in their own skins, he is wonderfully able to inhabit the skins of others. One semester, he audited a seminar on Holocaust literature. The professor had no idea who Uwem was, so she couldn't help but be surprised when he asked, "Can you tell me, please, how is it that people can do such terrible things to one another?" If anyone else had asked that question, the professor might have thought he was simpleminded. But she could tell that this mysterious stranger was asking his question in the most profound way, from the depths of

Question:
What is Akpan blessed with?
What was there concern about?
Who has a poetic writing ability?

Answer: an uncanny ear for human speech and the poetry to describe his characters' very unpoetic lives.

Answer: having a priest in my workshop,

Answer: Uwem Akpan

Summary:
Eileen Pollack: There was concern about Uwem Akpan's application to a writing program .
She says he fit in well and his talent soon became evident .
Akpan's blessed with great talent for hearing people and with poetic writing ability, she says .
His book of stories about African children has been selected by Oprah's book club .


Apex, Nevada (CNN) -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Monday that he is "very proud" of having told Barack Obama early on that he believed he was a viable candidate for president and could win election.

Responding to the controversy surrounding a newly published remark he made privately about Obama's race in 2008, Reid sought to emphasize his longstanding support for the nation's first African-American president.

"I can still remember the meeting that took place in my office with Sen. Barack Obama, telling him that I think he can be elected president," Reid said.

Obama "was kind of surprised that the Democratic leader was calling this new senator over to suggest that he could be elected president," he added.

A new book quotes Reid, D-Nevada, as saying privately in 2008 that Obama could be successful as a black candidate in part because of his "light-skinned" appearance and speaking patterns "with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one."

Reid said Monday that numerous prominent African-American officials, including NAACP Chairman Julian Bond and Attorney General Eric Holder, have called him to offer support amid the controversy that began over the weekend.

"I've apologized to everyone with the sound of my voice that I could have used a better choice of words," he said after an event announcing a new energy project in his home state. "And I'll continue doing my work for the African-American community."

Reid said that "as a very young man," he became a leader of civil rights efforts, including the integration of the gaming community.

He added that Interior Secretary Ken Salazar called him to say he should "tell everybody that you have done more for diversity in the United States Senate than all the rest of the people put together."

Asked whether he should apologize to voters, Reid -- who had issued a statement over the weekend apologizing "for offending any and all Americans" -- did not answer directly and instead cited the support he has received from around the country and within his own state.

"I'm not going to dwell on this any more," Reid said. "It's in the book. I've made all the statements I'm going to make."

iReport: What do you think about the words Reid used?

The book he referred to, "Game Change," went on sale Monday. The authors write that "Reid was convinced, in fact, that Obama's race would help him more than hurt him in a bid for the Democratic nomination."

Reid apologized in a statement sent to CNN over the weekend. "I deeply regret using such a poor choice of words," he said.

He added, "I sincerely apologize for offending any and all Americans, especially African-Americans, for my improper comments. I was a proud and enthusiastic supporter of Barack Obama during the campaign and have worked as hard as I can to advance President Obama's legislative agenda."

Reid called the president Saturday and apologized. In a statement issued after the call, Obama expressed support for Reid, saying, "As far as I am concerned, the book is closed."

Speaking to CNN contributor Roland Martin, Obama described Reid as "a friend of mine. He has been a stalwart champion of voting rights, civil rights."

"This is a good man who has always been on the right side of history. For him to have used some inartful language in trying to praise me and for people to try and make hay out of that makes absolutely no sense," he said in the interview, which will air this month.

"I guarantee you the average person, white or black, right now is less concerned about what Harry Reid said in a quote in a book a couple of years ago than they are about how we are going to move the country forward, and that's where we need to direct our attention."

A senior administration official said Monday that Obama will go to Nevada in February

Question: What did Obama say?

Question: What has Reid apologised for?

Question: who has always been on right side of history?

Question: to who harry reid apologizes?

Question: who apologizes to Obama for remarks?

Answer: "This is a good man who has always been on the right side of history. For him to have used some inartful language in trying to praise me and for people to try and make hay out of that makes absolutely no sense,"

Answer: offending any and all Americans, especially African-Americans,

Answer: Reid

Answer: any and all Americans, especially African-Americans,

Answer: Reid

Summary:
NEW: Obama: Reid is friend who "has always been on right side of history"
Sen. Harry Reid apologizes to Obama for remarks made during 2008 campaign .
Key Republicans have called Reid's comments racist and say he should step down .
Reid emphasizes longstanding support for President Obama .


Arlington, Virginia (CNN) -- The mantra in Washington during the current winter storm is "stay home," but some doctors and nurses really do need to get to hospitals to take care of the sick.

So, many of them rely on a group of hardy volunteer drivers for transport.

Adrian Stanton was running Virginia Hospital Center's command center Wednesday morning, coordinating the driver pickups and drop-offs. He described the volunteer drivers as "unbelievable saviors for us."

One of those volunteers is Scott Long, who left his home at 6 a.m. to pick up two nurses before heading to the hospital, where he picked up another nurse to take her home. Long initially said he does it because he thinks it's the right thing to do. But he later admitted he also does it because it he enjoys it.

"My wife can stay with the kids. I get to play in the snow and nobody can yell at me for being out driving in the snow," he told CNN.

"I had a police officer the first day pull up at a stoplight and yell at me for being on the road. I told him I was driving for the hospital and he laughed and said, 'Well then, have fun.'"

Long drives a 1995 Jeep Wrangler for his pick-ups. He says he likes the Jeep better than his four-wheel drive.

"The reason is the short wheel base. I can actually turn around in a single lane in traffic, whereas if I had my bigger four-wheel drive, it doesn't turn around and it's not as nimble," he said.

As Long was making that point, his Jeep started sliding sideways along the road. But he didn't miss a beat as he regained control.

"Like where we just slid out there, the Jeep can handle it better than the truck," he said.

The volunteer drivers are offered a gas voucher from the hospital, but Stanton said most of them turn it down. Stanton has an active list of about 30 people who drive for the hospital during inclement weather. Wednesday morning he said the drivers had done somewhere near 50 pick-ups and drop-offs in the previous 24 hours.

The hospital workers appreciate the volunteer drivers.

"I didn't have any other options," said James Schmidt. He heard about the rides from e-mails and texts that the hospital sent to its employees.

One intensive-care nurse said she had driven herself to work the past few days. "I don't know how I made it," she said, adding, "God bless" the drivers.

One night-shift supervisor named Lynne said she received a ride from Long on Thursday morning. She lives only a few miles from the hospital, but didn't think she would be able to make it home in the snow.

Lynne said, "This is worse than ..."

Long finished her sentence: "... anything so far."

Question: Who got up St 6 a.m. to begin shuttling workers?

Question: How many people drive for Virginia Hospital Center during inclement weather?

Question: what kind of weather

Question: What did Long say?

Answer: Scott Long,

Answer: 30

Answer: winter storm

Answer: "My wife can stay with the kids. I get to play in the snow and nobody can yell at me for being out driving in the snow,"

Summary:
About 30 people drive for Virginia Hospital Center during inclement weather .
Hospital transport coordinator: Volunteer drivers are "unbelievable saviors for us"
One volunteer, Scott Long, got up at 6 a.m. to begin shuttling hospital workers .
Long: "I get to play in the snow and nobody can yell at me for being out driving in the snow"


As Secretary of State Hillary Clinton continues high-level talks with Mexico's leaders this week, her comments about responsibility in the U.S.-Mexico drug trade have struck a chord with officials familiar with U.S. anti-drug efforts. Mexican federal police have been deployed openly in Ciudad Juarez, which borders El Paso, Texas. Clinton said the United States' "inability to prevent weapons from being illegally smuggled across the border" was a major contributor in Mexican violence along the border.  She went on to say that the United States has "a co-responsibility." In an interview Wednesday on "American Morning" with CNN anchor John Roberts, former Drug Enforcement Agency special agent Robert Strang talked about the three-pronged approach needed to curb drug use in America and the need to bust distribution rings. Strang is also CEO of Investigative Management Group. The following transcript has been edited for brevity and clarity: John Roberts, CNN anchor: Everybody's blaming Mexico for [the U.S. drug trade], but the secretary of state yesterday said, 'Hey, the United States shares a lot of the blame because of the pent-up demand here, the insatiable demand for drugs.' Do you agree with her?  Watch Clinton say, "We have to do a better job" » Robert Strang, former DEA special agent: Let's face it, the average first drug use is 12 years old in our country. That means kids that are in the sixth grade are trying drugs for the first time. Marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, all these drugs are coming across the border because we demand them. We have the cash to pay for them, and we really are pretty much the No. 1 consumer in the world for these drugs. Roberts: Is the United States doing enough to try to curb demand? The Office of National Drug Control Policy, I don't remember much coming out of it during the Bush administration, and I haven't seen anything come out of it in the Obama administration. Strang: We're trying all the time. I'm on the board for D.A.R.E. America, and that is teaching kids about the dangers of drugs and violence in schools. And constantly, we're trying to get money federally for this program and police officers go into the school. They teach the kids. It's a wonderful program in those trouble years, the fourth, fifth and sixth grade especially, and we need to have a little bit more money in this area. amFIX: React to Strang's comments about U.S. anti-drug effort There's three things, John: It's treatment, it's enforcement and it's education. And it's like a three-legged stool. If all three things don't work, it's going to fall down. So, we can send all of the agents in the world down to the border. We can seize all the coke, heroin, methamphetamine that we want. If we don't have treatment on demand, and if we're not educating our kids in our country about the dangers of drugs, the problem's going to grow. Roberts: When you see the Department of Homeland Security prepared to spend these hundreds of millions of dollars on border security, what do you think? Strang: I'm happy that they're doing something. This is a small piece of the enforcement operation. The best thing to do is like the case that we saw three weeks ago, when the DEA announced 750 arrests involving 250 cities between Mexico and the United States, mostly in the U.S., this huge distribution network. Because when you dismantle those networks that constantly are putting drugs from the cartels to the street, when you can put those guys in jail, when you take their assets, then you have an impact.  Watch how drugs from Mexico enter U.S. » Roberts: But would you like to see them take some of that money, and you know, they take, I think, what, $700 million, and they throw it at the border. Would you like to see them

Question:
What should money go to?
Who is Robert Strang?
What should go to prevention programs?
What is Strang's job title?

Answer: D.A.R.E. America,

Answer: former Drug Enforcement Agency special agent

Answer: $700 million,

Answer: CEO of Investigative Management Group.

Summary:
Robert Strang, former DEA special agent, says drug use starts as early as 12 .
Strang: "We can send all of the agents in the world," but border patrol not enough .
Money aimed at financial institutions should go to prevention programs, Strang says .


Asheville, North Carolina (CNN) -- President Obama prayed Sunday with the Rev. Billy Graham at Graham's mountaintop home before leaving North Carolina to attend the memorial service for 29 West Virginia coal miners killed in a recent explosion.

Obama became the first sitting U.S. president to visit Graham at his family home, according to Graham spokesman Larry Ross. He is the 12th president, dating back to Harry Truman, to meet with the so-called "pastor to the presidents."

"I am pleased to have had President Obama in my home this afternoon," Graham said in a statement, adding that Obama sought the meeting while on vacation in Asheville for the weekend. "My son Franklin and I enjoyed a brief visit with the president, followed by a time of prayer together."

During the meeting, Ross said, Obama shared some insights about his faith and the challenges of being commander-in-chief.

"Like others before him, President Obama shared how lonely, demanding and humbling the office of president can be, and how much he appreciated the counsel of people like Mr. Graham and the prayers of so many citizens," Ross said.

The two men also discussed their love of golf and the city of Chicago, where Graham attended school and held several of his religious crusades, Ross said.

At the end, Graham presented Obama with two Bibles -- one for him and the other for first lady Michelle Obama, Ross said. The two men then prayed together, with Obama first praying for Graham and then Graham "concluded with a prayer for the president, his family and his administration," according to Ross.

Obama was "extremely gratified" that Graham made time for the meeting and private prayer, White House spokesman Bill Burton said.

The visit was a follow-up to Obama's telephone call to Graham on the evangelist's 91st birthday in November, Burton said. At that time, the two agreed to meet as soon as possible, according to Burton.

Ross told CNN the visit came together hastily after the White House officially inquired on Friday, after Obama arrived in North Carolina.

Obama and his family vacationed in Asheville over the weekend, and the first couple played tennis Sunday morning before their departure, Burton said.

The meeting with Graham came three days after the Army rescinded an invitation for Franklin Graham to speak at the Pentagon on the upcoming National Day of Prayer. The Army decision was because of controversial comments about Islam by the younger Graham.

Billy Graham's statement referred to the upcoming event without mentioning the controversy involving his son.

"As we approach the National Day of Prayer on May 6, I want to encourage Christians everywhere to pray for our president, and for all those in positions of authority, and especially for the men and women serving in our military," Graham said in the statement.

In December, Franklin Graham told CNN's Campbell Brown that "true Islam" could not be practiced in America because "you can't beat your wife, you cannot murder your children if you think they've committed adultery or something like that, which they do practice in these other countries."

Franklin Graham later tried to temper his remarks by saying that he had Muslim friends.

Last week, he said he regretted the Army's decision but stood by his comments.

"I don't like the way they treat women, the way they treat minorities. I just find it horrific. But I love the people of Islam," he said, adding some of his work has been in Muslim nations.

The Army, which oversees the National Day of Prayer ceremonies at the Pentagon, feared that if Graham spoke at the Pentagon on May 6, Islamic militants would publicize his comments, potentially fueling tensions in Muslim nations such as Iraq and Afghanistan, where U.S. troops are deployed.

Graham's invitation was not the only controversy swirling about the National Day of Prayer this year.

Last week, a federal judge struck down as unconstitutional the 1952 law that established the day, saying it violated the ban on government-backed

Question: Whi is the first sitting U.S president to visit Graham home?

Question: Who is the first sitting U.S. president to visit Graham home?

Question: How many bibles did Graham present Obama with?

Question: who visits graham

Question: who was gratified

Question: The Army pulled the invitation for Graham's son to speak where?

Question: Graham presented Obama with two what?

Answer: Obama

Answer: Obama

Answer: two

Answer: Obama

Answer: President Obama

Answer: Pentagon

Answer: Bibles

Summary:
Obama is first sitting U.S. president to visit Graham home, Graham's spokesman says .
Obama was "extraordinarily gratified" for the meeting, White House says .
Graham presented Obama with two Bibles -- one for him, other for Michelle Obama .
Army pulled invitation for Graham's son to speak at Pentagon on Day of Prayer .


Asuncion, Paraguay (CNN) -- Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo underwent prostate surgery early Friday, his spokesman said. The surgery, which was performed at the Italian Hospital in Asuncion, had been scheduled for weeks, spokesman Augusto dos Santos told reporters. The procedure was performed under local anesthesia, the spokesman said. Lugo's doctor, Nestor Martinez, said the operation was a transurethral resection, a surgery in which an instrument is inserted into the urethra to remove a section of the prostate that is blocking urine flow. Enlarged prostates are common among men as they get older. Lugo is 58. The surgery involved nine doctors and three nurses and took about an hour, Martinez said at a news conference. Lugo arrived at the hospital at 4 a.m. ( 2 a.m. ET), was wheeled into surgery at 5 a.m. and was in the recovery room by 6 a.m., Martinez said. The Paraguayan president's office released post-surgery photos of an alert-looking Lugo chatting with doctors and nurses while lying in a hospital bed. Lugo is a former Roman Catholic bishop who has been involved in several paternity controversies in the past year. He is expected to remain in the hospital until Saturday afternoon and then recuperate for three to four days in the presidential residence, spokesman dos Santos said. Lugo will carry on a restricted agenda while recuperating, the spokesman said Journalist Sanie Lopez Garelli contributed to this report.

Question: What president underwent prostate surgery?

Question: Lugo will remain in the hospital for how long?

Question: What was Lugo former job?

Answer: Fernando Lugo

Answer: until Saturday afternoon

Answer: Roman Catholic bishop

Summary:
Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo underwent prostate surgery Friday .
Lugo will remain in the hospital for a few days and then recuperate in the presidential residency .
Lugo is a former priest who has been involved in several paternity controversies in past year .


Athens, Greece (CNN) -- Greece's cabinet voted Wednesday to support Prime Minister George Papandreou's call to hold a referendum as soon as possible about the latest bailout plan, ministers coming out of the meeting told a CNN affiliate.

The vote was unanimous, though some of the ministers expressed criticism prior to casting their votes, CNN affiliate Mega Channel reported.

The cabinet vote came hours before German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and senior figures from the International Monetary Fund and European Union were to meet Wednesday with Greek officials at an emergency meeting in Cannes, France, ahead of the G-20 summit.

Their meeting comes a day after U.S. and European stock markets tumbled after Papandreou's call for the referendum on international aid for his country.

A "no" vote could theoretically force Greece to crash out of the euro and send shock waves through the global financial system.

Papandreou is seeking public backing from the Greek people for last week's bailout deal, which took months to reach.

But the move created turmoil in domestic politics, with Papandreou forced to hold an emergency Cabinet meeting late Tuesday, and angered his European counterparts.

Sarkozy and Merkel issued a terse statement on Tuesday saying they were "determined to ensure the full implementation, without delay, of decisions adopted by the summit, which are necessary now more than ever."

White House spokesman Jay Carney struck a similar note, saying Papandreou's move reinforced the need for Europe "to elaborate further and implement rapidly the decisions they made last week."

German and French markets closed down about 5% Tuesday, while London's FTSE fell 2.4% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average index closed down nearly 300 points.

Greece's former deputy finance minister, Petros Doukas, a member of the opposition New Democracy Party who is not currently in office, told CNN he doubted the referendum would take place.

Papandreou is under enormous pressure from Europe, the markets and opposition forces within Greece to backtrack on the proposal, Doukas said.

He described Papandreou's actions as a political gamble that had gone wrong, with the prime minister having tried to make the opposition parties share the pain of unpopular reforms. He suggested Papandreou would have to call elections or stand down as leader, as Greece was "not governable" with him as prime minister.

The announcement of the referendum rattled Papandreou's hold on power, as a lawmaker defected from his party, leaving him with a majority of only two in Parliament.

Milena Apostolaki announced her resignation from the PASOK party, saying the call for a referendum was "a deeply divisive procedure."

The deal reached last week would see the country's sky-high debts cut in half, but it comes with strings attached, which have led to angry demonstrations in the streets of Greece.

Reflecting that anger, Greece's opposition leader, Antonis Samaras, called Tuesday for a snap election, but it is unlikely he has the votes to force one.

Papandreou has called for a vote of confidence Friday, separate from his call for a referendum on the international bailout.

Elena Panaritis, a fellow PASOK lawmaker who advises Papandreou on economics, said she would support the confidence vote, saying the prime minister had been under heavy political pressure from inside and outside his party.

International lenders are demanding that Athens raise taxes, sell off state-owned companies and slash government spending, which would mean firing tens of thousands of state workers.

The Institute of International Finance, a global association representing many of the world's biggest banks, reaffirmed its commitment Tuesday to the bailout agreement reached last week, saying it would work closely with all parties to implement it.

The European debt crisis claimed its first American victim shortly before Papandreou announced the referendum on Monday, as MF Global filed for bankruptcy protection, leaving top Wall Street creditors holding more than $2 billion in debt. The commodities and derivatives brokerage was run by ex-Sen. Jon Corzine, a former head of Goldman Sachs.

Constantine Michalos, chairman of the Athens Chamber of Commerce, said Papandreou's referendum move had taken everyone by surprise

Question: how many points was dow jones down

Question: What was unanimous?

Question: What could send greece crashing

Question: Was the vote unanimous

Question: What could send Greece crashing out of the euro?

Question: The Dow Jones was down how many points?

Question: What did the vote follow?

Answer: 300

Answer: The vote

Answer: A "no" vote

Answer: The

Answer: A "no" vote

Answer: 300

Answer: the latest bailout plan,

Summary:
NEW: Vote was unanimous, ministers tell CNN affiliate .
Vote followed tumultuous day in the markets, with Dow Jones down 300 points .
Europe needs to push ahead with the deal, White House spokesman says .
A rejection of the deal could send Greece crashing out of the euro .


Athens, Greece (CNN) -- Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou will meet Monday with the leader of the country's main opposition party to discuss who will become the nation's next prime minister -- a day after an announcement that Papandreou he will step down amid the country's financial crisis.

Papandreou's planned resignation -- announced by President Karolos Papoulias -- is contingent on the approval of the controversial 130 billion euro bailout deal.

On Sunday, Papandreou met with Antonis Samaras -- the leader of the New Democracy party, Greece's leading opposition party -- and agreed to form a new government.

During Monday's meeting, the two will discuss who will serve in the new government as well as who will be the next prime minister, according to a statement from the president.

New national elections will be held sometime after the bailout is implemented, but no more details nor a timeline of future events were disclosed.

Earlier Sunday, Samaras told reporters that once Papandreou resigns, everything will "take its course" and "everything else is negotiable."

The move appears to close one chapter in Greece's tumultuous political and economic saga, as Papandreou had become a lightning rod for critics for his leadership of the south European nation as it tackles a prolonged financial plight.

It also paves the way for passage of an agreement that Papandreou negotiated October 26 with European leaders. The deal would wipe out 100 billion euros in Greek debt, half of what it owes to private creditors, and includes a promise of 30 billion euros to help the public sector pare its debts -- making the whole package worth a total of 130 billion euros ($178 billion).

But Greece's turmoil is far from over. The bailout -- the second it has received from the European Union and International Monetary Fund -- would be accompanied by additional austerity measures such as slashing government jobs, privatizing some businesses and reducing pensions. It also comes at a time when Greece's economy -- and to some extent the global economy -- is still staggering.

Though Greece ranks 32nd in terms of gross domestic product, experts say it wields a disproportionate influence internationally. Economists worry that a Greek default on its debt could pull down larger European economies -- particularly those of Italy and Spain, as well as struggling Portugal and Ireland.

Eurozone finance ministers are scheduled to meet Monday in Brussels, Belgium.

Within Greece, the bailout's passage would be a significant victory for Papandreou. He has insisted repeatedly in recent weeks that it needs to be approved -- signaling that he'd be willing to resign as prime minister, a job he has held since 2009, as long as that happens.

Earlier Sunday, Greece's president met ahead of a Cabinet meeting with all party leaders -- including Papandreou, who heads the socialist PASOK party, and Samaras.

Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos is likely to remain in his post as finance minister in a new government, sources told Greek television.

Candidates for the prime minister's job include Petros Moliviatis and Loukas Papaimos, according to Greek television.

The new government will have a life of four months, according to Greek television, citing sources, and elections will take place in early spring.

On Monday -- in addition to a meeting between Papandreou and Samaras -- the Greek president will hold another meeting open to heads of all Greece's political parties.

CNN's Diana Magnay, Jim Boulden and Andrew Carey in Athens and Matthew Chance and Hada Messia in Rome contributed to this report.

Question: Who will not be head of the new government?

Question: What was Papandreou's previous position?

Question: What is the name of the opposition leader?

Question: What  are the terms of this deal?

Question: Who made the statement 'Papandreou won't be head of the new government'?

Question: Where is Samaras from?

Answer: Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou

Answer: Greek Prime Minister

Answer: Antonis Samaras

Answer: slashing government jobs, privatizing some businesses and reducing pensions.

Answer: Antonis Samaras

Answer: Greece's

Summary:
Eurozone financial leaders will meet Monday in Brussels .
Papandreou won't be head of the new government, a statement says .
He and opposition leader Samaras will talk Monday to plot details .
The deal hinges on Greece approving a 130 billion euro bailout deal .


Athens, Greece (CNN) -- Greek lawmakers voted to approve a new round of tough budget-cutting measures Thursday, despite a second day of angry protests in which one demonstrator died.

Tens of thousands rallied outside the parliament building as lawmakers debated the unpopular measures, aimed at bringing down the country's huge national debt.

After a peaceful start, violent clashes broke out between anarchist rioters and the police, and between the anarchists and some union demonstrators who wanted to keep the protest calm.

Tear gas was fired into the crowd, while rocks and fire bombs were thrown.

The protester who died was a member of the PAME workers' union, lawmaker Makis Voridis told parliament. Hospital officials told CNN he was a 53-year-old man who suffered cardiac arrest.

The Greek minister for health said the demonstrator had been taken to an Athens hospital without a pulse and could not be revived, but he had no injuries. Earlier reports suggested he had been injured.

Lawmakers approved the austerity measures by 154 in favor to 144 against, despite nationwide protests and a two-day strike that has gripped the country.

The new bill is expected to lead to around 30,000 job losses and further cuts to wages and pensions for workers in the public sector.

"We have no hope. The only hope we have is the strength of the people," said protester Vagelis Filezis, a civil engineer, before the vote.

He said Europe's leaders were trying "to save the banks but they don't think about the people."

And he warned Italy and Spain, which are also facing debt crises: "Look at us. This is where you will be in two to three years."

Organizers had urged protesters from all over the country to come to Athens Thursday, suggesting the crowd could be larger than the 70,000-plus police estimated Wednesday.

Organizers estimated the turnout Wednesday at 120,000, which would make it one of the biggest protests in the country in years.

Police said there were about 40,000 people on the streets Thursday morning -- fewer than at the same time a day earlier -- and about 3,000 police officers.

The mood early in the day was good-natured, but when violence erupted later it was unusual for the fighting that broke out between different groups of protesters,as well as confrontations with police.

On Wednesday, clashes between protesters and police in front of the Greek parliament building left at least six protesters and 15 police officers injured, authorities said. At least 15 people were arrested.

Some marchers Thursday accused the government of planting troublemakers in the crowd to spark violence.

"They have never been caught," said teacher Thannasis Karametsus. "Why not?"

Protesters aimed to shut down wide sectors of the country during the two-day national strike.

"Don't bow your head, it's time for resistance and struggle," marchers chanted in the capital Wednesday as they gathered for the union-backed demonstration.

"I'm here for my children and everyone else's children. Those punks in there have destroyed everyone's lives," said former railway worker Diamandis Goufas, 62, pointing at parliament.

Greeks are angry at yet another round of planned austerity measures as Greece tries to bring down its stratospheric debt.

Lawmakers are trying to cut government costs to reassure international backers it is doing enough to earn the bailout funds they have promised to pour into the country.

European Union leaders are scrambling to minimize the effect of Greece's debt on their common currency, the euro.

Over the weekend, finance ministers from the world's largest economies pledged their commitment to take "all necessary actions" to stabilize markets.

They aim to keep banks well capitalized so they can weather the effects of any defaults by Greece or other indebted countries, such as Portugal, Spain, Ireland or Italy.

But there appears to be a split between France and Germany -- Europe's two largest economies -- on how to do it.

Germany has stressed that individual European states should inject capital into domestic banks that lack sufficient buffers. But analysts

Question: Clashes break out in Athens between who?

Question: Clashes break out in Athens between

Question: Who passed new austerity measures despite protests?

Question: which broke out in Athens?

Question: European Union leaders worry that Greek debt threatens which currency?

Answer: anarchist rioters and the police,

Answer: anarchist rioters and the police,

Answer: Greek lawmakers

Answer: violent clashes

Answer: euro.

Summary:
NEW: Greek lawmakers pass new austerity measures despite protests .
Clashes break out in Athens between different groups of protesters and police .
One protester dies after cardiac arrest, hospital officials say .
European Union leaders worry that Greek debt threatens the euro .


Athens, Greece (CNN) -- Protesters and police clashed violently in front of the Greek parliament building Wednesday, as tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in Athens on the first day of a two-day general strike over austerity measures.

At least six protesters and 15 police officers were injured amid the disturbances, police said, and at least 15 people were arrested.

Strikers in Greece aim to shut down wide sectors of the country, as lawmakers debate a new round of tough cost-cutting measures.

Lawmakers passed the new austerity law in principal in an initial round of voting Wednesday, by 154 votes in favor to 141 against, with five lawmakers absent. Parliament must still vote on each article of the legislation Thursday before it can become law.

"Don't bow your head, it's time for resistance and struggle," marchers chanted in the capital earlier as they gathered for the union-backed demonstration.

The violence broke out around lunchtime in one corner of the square, beside Parliament House, as a group of protesters dressed mostly in black threw rocks and Molotov cocktails at police.

Officers fired tear gas and stun grenades, or "flash bangs," in return, sending noisy detonations echoing round the square.

Smoke filled the area by mid-afternoon as a fire burned in front of the finance ministry, forcing many peaceful demonstrators to move away.

Police estimated that more than 70,000 people were protesting in Athens, and said they planned to put between 2,500 and 3,000 officers on the streets. Organizers estimated the turnout at 120,000 people.

Initially, most of the protesters gathered peacefully in front of Parliament House waving union flags, red flags and banners.

"I'm here for my children and everyone else's children. Those punks in there have destroyed everyone's lives," said former railway worker Diamandis Goufas, 62, pointing at parliament.

Greeks are angry at yet another round of planned austerity measures as Greece tries to bring down its stratospheric debt.

Lawmakers are trying to cut government costs to reassure international backers it is doing enough to earn the bailout funds they have promised to pour into the country, with the latest austerity measures expected to pass Thursday.

The new bill would lead to around 30,000 job losses and further cuts to wages and pensions for workers in the public sector.

That has left at least some Greeks furious at the countries demanding that Greece bring down its spending.

"We are not lazy; it's the Germans, they want to take our blood," said Eleftherios Zarkados.

At least one student said Wednesday that Thursday would not mark the end of the battle between politicians and the public.

"We will continue to resist even if the measures pass," said Sophia Titou, 21, a law student who works at an oil refinery.

Many on the streets say they are angry that the well-off people they believe are benefiting from corruption and tax evasion are not being pursued, while public sector workers pay the price for Greece's woes.

European Union leaders are scrambling to minimize the effect of Greece's debt on their common currency, the euro.

Over the weekend, finance ministers from the world's largest economies pledged their commitment to take "all necessary actions" to stabilize markets.

They aim to keep banks well capitalized so they can weather the effects of any defaults by Greece or other indebted countries like Portugal, Spain, Ireland or Italy.

But there appears to be a split between France and Germany -- Europe's two largest economies -- on how to do it.

Germany has stressed that individual European states should inject capital into domestic banks that lack sufficient buffers. But analysts say France is opposed to this idea because it could jeopardize the nation's top-tier credit rating.

European leaders are expected to hear concrete details about how the plan might work at a European Council meeting Sunday.

European Union heads of state are widely expected to finalize the plan in early November at a meeting of the Group of 20 world economic powers.

CNN's Andrew Carey, Diana Magnay and Ben Rooney contributed to

Question: What did the Greek lawmakers pass?

Question: How many people were injured in clashes?

Question: What has been passed in Greece?

Answer: the new austerity law

Answer: six protesters and 15 police officers

Answer: austerity law

Summary:
NEW: Greek lawmakers pass new austerity measures in an initial round of voting .
At least six protesters and 15 police officers are injured in clashes, police say .
Backers demand that Greece get its finances in order to get more bailout money .
European Union leaders worry that Greek debt threatens the euro .


Athens, Greece (CNN) -- Thousands of people marched through Athens Thursday as part of a 24-hour nationwide strike to protest further austerity measures by the embattled government.

The strike began at midnight and caused all government-run institutions -- including schools, airports, trams, subways, and most buses -- to close down. Banks and the media were also shut, meaning no broadcast news Thursday and no newspapers Friday.

There were small clashes with police and protesters threw two petrol bombs at officers in Constitution Square, in front of the Parliament building. Police fired some tear gas and pepper spray in return, but otherwise the march was relatively calm.

Sixteen people were arrested and two police officers were injured, police told CNN. Many people appeared to be suffering from the tear gas.

The protesters are angry about further government measures aimed at cutting Greece's massive deficit. They oppose the cutting of benefits and salaries, and the raising of taxes, and want more of the measures to be aimed at the wealthy.

The government says Greece has to modernize its tax structure as the country suffers from tax avoidance and other structural impediments to job growth.

But younger workers say they already pay high taxes, have little job security and make less money than older generations.

Some of the same measures prompted large demonstrations and some violence two weeks ago, but polls at the time still showed the majority of Greeks backing the government plans.

Since then, government has introduced a third round of austerity measures in Parliament amounting to $6.5 billion of cuts and tax increases, and that has caused support for the government to slip -- polls now show only a bare majority in favor of the government's actions.

The Greek government revealed late last year that its budget deficit was 12.7 percent of its gross domestic product, far exceeding the European Union limit of 3 percent. Countries participating in the EU must agree to that condition and other economic goals.

Greece aims to reduce that deficit to 8.7 percent this year and reach the EU target by 2012.

Thursday's strikes were rescheduled from March 16, when European Union officials plan to go to Athens and assess Greece's financial pledges to Europe. Protesters moved the strikes to Thursday in order to maximize disruption, because both public and private sector workers would be able to strike.

The Greek government has said it will not back down in the face of strikes.

CNN's Jim Boulden contributed to this report.

Question: Who were angry about the measures

Question: How many petrol bombs were thrown?

Question: When did strikes begin

Question: What began at midnight?

Question: When did the strike begin?

Question: What was thrown at officers

Question: What was the amount of austerity measures?

Answer: The protesters

Answer: two

Answer: at midnight

Answer: The strike

Answer: midnight

Answer: two petrol bombs

Answer: $6.5 billion

Summary:
Protesters angry about measures aimed at cutting Greece's massive deficit .
Strike began at midnight and caused all government-run institutions to shut .
Small clashes reported, two petrol bombs thrown at officers in central Athens .
Austerity measures amount to $6.5 billion of cuts and tax increases .


Atlanta (CNN) -- A number of states, including Georgia, already are putting things in place to opt out of the controversial No Child Left Behind Law, following President Barrack Obama's announcement Friday that states can now apply for waivers.

The law, passed in 2001, requires, among other things, that public schools meet targets designed to make all students proficient in math and reading by 2014 or face penalties. The administration will begin reviewing applications to waive some of the demands the law places on states, Obama said Friday.

Top education officials in Georgia said Friday that it should be up to each individual state to decide how best to evaluate student performance in the classroom. Following the president's announcement, Georgia State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge described his state's alternative to closing the achievement gap.

The College and Career Ready Performance Index, "lets states determine how they approach the guiding principles," Barge said Friday. Georgia is one of a handful of states, including Kentucky, Delaware, and Wisconsin that have expressed interest in waivers seeking flexibility from No Child Left Behind (NCLB).

Barge and U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) personally delivered Georgia's request for a waiver to U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan Tuesday.

Barge said the waiver will give schools more flexibility. "It will not be a matter of the entire accountability label hinging on a single test," he said.

Under the administration's new guidelines, states will be encouraged to devise standards of accountability that do not treat all schools the same.

"The purpose is not to give states and districts a reprieve from accountability, but rather to unleash energy to improve our schools at the local level," Obama said in a statement.

In order to gain approval for waivers, states must present the U.S. Department of Education with credible alternative plans to measure performance.

Georgia's proposal focuses on several indicators to measure student performance, including reading, language arts, math, science, and social studies, offering an index that will vary based on grade level.

"With NCLB, science and social studies teachers were not measured to determine adequate yearly progress," Georgia Department of Education Communications Director Matt Cardoza said. "Many times, those teachers would feel their subjects were not as important. Now, there are multiple indicators, including science and social studies."

States that do not apply for waivers will still be expected to meet the guidelines set out by No Child Left Behind. States may submit official applications for waivers by mid-November. Waivers could be granted in early 2010.

CNN's Lesa Jansen contributed to this report

Question: Georgia lays out is plan to measure what?

Question: Who announces state waivers?

Question: An alternative plan to measure what?

Question: Georgia is seeking what?

Question: What did Obama announce?

Question: What state is mentioned?

Question: Who announced the waivers?

Answer: student performance,

Answer: President Barrack Obama's

Answer: performance.

Answer: to opt out

Answer: states can now apply for waivers.

Answer: Georgia,

Answer: President Barrack Obama's

Summary:
President Obama announces state waivers to No Child Left Behind .
Georgia is among a number of states seeking a waiver .
Georgia lays out its alternative plan to measure achievement .


Atlanta (CNN) -- A woman charged with sending threatening packages to two lawmakers, including a U.S. representative, was killed Sunday after she tried to attack a police officer at her home near Atlanta, police and the lawmakers said Monday.

Jameela Barnette, 53, was armed with a knife and handgun when a police officer knocked on her door on Christmas morning as he responded to reports of an alarm inside, Cobb County Police said.

She opened the door and started assaulting the officer with the weapons, police said. The officer shot her, and Barnette died at the scene.

Barnette was the same woman who sent threatening packages earlier this year to U.S. Rep. Peter King of New York and New York State Sen. Greg Ball, their offices said Monday.

Barnette was indicted in U.S. District Court in Atlanta in October on two counts of sending threatening packages. She pleaded not guilty in November and was released on $20,000 bond, according to court records.

Earlier this month, the court also ordered Barnette to undergo a mental evaluation.

The package sent to Ball contained a hoax weapon of mass destruction, said Ball spokeswoman Brittany Oat.

The indictment said it contained threatening messages and a vial of an unknown liquid, labeled "Zyklon B," which Barnette indicated was a biological agent or toxin. The vial of liquid was in fact perfume oil, according to CNN affiliate WXXA-TV in Albany, the New York state capital, which spoke to Barnette in April.

The package also contained a toy monkey wearing the Star of David, as shown in photos released by Ball's office.

Barnette told WXXA-TV she was a grandmother and a Muslim upset with Ball for holding hearings earlier this year on New York City's vulnerability to terrorism.

"He keeps messing with Muslims," Barnette told the station in April. "Muslims have not been harassing anyone."

Barnette said she was not a threat and did not want people to think she was a dangerous person for sending the package.

A representative for Barnette could not be reached Monday.

Also in April, Barnette sent a bloody severed pig's foot and note to King's office on Capitol Hill, King said Monday. The package never reached King or his staffers because all mail to the U.S. Capitol is screened.

The note was laced with anti-Semitic rants, including statements such as "evil Jews will return this hoof to Palestine," a congressional source familiar with the situation said at the time. King is not Jewish.

"The woman, who called me a 'Muslim basher,' wrote 'kiss my black Muslim ass,'" King said in a statement Monday.

"I believe this was all a result of the blind and false hysteria stirred up by opponents of the radicalization hearings I convened in March," King said.

The officer who fired on Barnette on Sunday was treated for his injury and released at the scene, and is now on administrative leave pending investigation, according to the police department in suburbuan Atlanta.

CNN's Ashley Corum, Carol Cratty, Sara Pratley, and Melissa Gray contributed to this report.

Question:
What was in the package?
Who was killed attacking a officer?
What provoked her to attack the office?
What has she been charged with?
Who is Jameela Barnette?
What did the package contain?
Who received the threatening packages?
Which two lawmakers?

Answer: a toy monkey wearing the Star of David,

Answer: Jameela Barnette,

Answer: she was a grandmother and a Muslim upset with Ball for holding hearings earlier this year on New York City's vulnerability to terrorism.

Answer: sending threatening packages to two lawmakers,

Answer: A woman charged with sending threatening packages to two lawmakers,

Answer: a hoax weapon of mass destruction,

Answer: U.S. Rep. Peter King of New York and New York State Sen. Greg Ball,

Answer: U.S. Rep. Peter King of New York and New York State Sen. Greg Ball,

Summary:
The woman, Jameela Barnette, was killed as she tried to attack an officer, police said .
She had been charged with sending threatening packages to two lawmakers .
Both packages contained threatening letters and one contained a hoax WMD .
U.S. Rep. Peter King and New York State Sen. Greg Ball received the packages .


Atlanta (CNN) -- Engine problems forced the pilot of a Delta Air Lines aircraft to turn back Thursday night shortly after takeoff from Atlanta, the company said Friday.

The aircraft returned to Atlanta without incident, spokeswoman Gina Laughlin said.

Passengers aboard Flight 1442 from Atlanta to Charlotte, North Carolina, told CNN affiliate WSOC that they had been airborne about 10 or 20 minutes when one of the engines appeared to catch on fire. Laughlin could not confirm the report of flames, but said crew members reported smoke in the cabin following the incident.

Passenger Ginger Heath said the incident began with a shaking sensation, followed by "sparks, a great big boom and lots and lots of fire" from the engine. "After that smoke starting coming out of the air vents."

Other passengers told CNN affiliate WBTV that they heard a "huge crashing sound" and felt what seemed like "bad turbulence."

"I kind of thought I was going to die for a second," one passenger interviewed by WBTV said.

"A couple of people got hysterical," passenger Atiim Browne told WSOC. "The lady behind me was crying. A couple of people kind of looked at it, you know, as life flashing before their eyes and stuff like that. But again we got back on the floor within a couple of minutes so it wasn't too bad."

Delta mechanics were inspecting the aircraft Friday, Laughlin said.

CNN's Ayesha Durgahee contributed to this report.

Question: What did a Delta spokeswoman say the airline can't confirm?

Question: What heard passengers aboard Delta Flight?

Question: Which report does Delta spokesperson?

Question: What did passengers aboard the Delta flight say they heard?

Answer: report of flames,

Answer: "huge crashing sound"

Answer: The aircraft returned to Atlanta without incident,

Answer: a "huge crashing sound"

Summary:
NEW: Passengers aboard Delta flight say they heard crash, saw fire and smoke .
Smoke inside the cabin followed report of engine trouble, airline says .
A Delta spokeswoman says the airline can't confirm the reports of fire .


Atlanta (CNN) -- Jonathan Hanson and Katina Wright are determined to give their infant daughter a bright and stable future despite the cloud of uncertainty they face after years without steady work.

Once successful real estate agents making six figures, Hanson and Wright are now living on the poverty line.

"We made some good money," Hanson said. "But with new regulations in real estate and different laws and just the amount of foreclosures on the market, it literally took our business away."

The last few years have been a downward spiral, says the Atlanta couple, who have been living off their savings. They've sold jewelry and cars, and now they're trying to sell their home to survive. Every day, they are faced with a tough decision.

"You have to pick and choose what you want to do," Hanson said. "It's either eat that day or pay a bill."

They're not alone. Millions of American families have slipped into what the U.S. Census Bureau defines as poor. About 46.2 million people are considered to be living in poverty, 2.6 million more than last year.

"Those that are in dire need, they'll sell all their personal belongings to survive," said Sal Dimiceli, one of the top 10 CNN Heroes of 2011.

Through his weekly newspaper column, Dimiceli hears from dozens of people each week who are facing hard times. And for decades, he has made every effort to help them get back on their feet.

Through his nonprofit, The Time Is Now To Help, Dimiceli has provided about 500 people a year with food, rent, utilities and other necessities.

"We get them back on a track (so) that ... their pride is given back to them," Dimiceli said this year. "They can catch up."

There haven't been this many Americans living in poverty since 1993, according to the Census Bureau.

More than 15% of the population is now considered poor. The rate is 22% for children, meaning at least one of every five U.S. kids is living in poverty.

"If you qualify as being in poverty today, then you're really in deep poverty," said Mark Bergel, founder and executive director of A Wider Circle, a Maryland-based charity that provides furniture and other basic necessities to needy families.

Bergel told CNN's Lisa Sylvester that the numbers used to define poverty today are extremely low and "based on an outdated formula from the '60s."

The Census Bureau defines an individual as poor if they make less than $11,139 a year. The dollar amount rises for every member added to the household.

For example, the average family of four is considered poor if they make less than $22,314. For a family of three like Hanson, Wright and their daughter, the threshold is just a little more than $17,000.

"There's a lot of people suffering," said Karen Lee, a financial planner and author of several books, including "Simple Steps to Help People Get Unstuck Financially."

Lee said it's important for people who've never faced poverty to keep a positive outlook and believe that things can get better.

"I have seen people go from riches to rags to riches to rags," she said. "You can rebuild, and you can completely change careers and rebuild."

That's what Hanson and Wright are doing.

Hanson is betting on a new business he started: building security cages for air conditioners to prevent copper theft.

Wright is teaching herself Web development.

"I literally threw my Rolodex away, because it was all real-estate-related," she said. "It's no longer of any use to me. So being able to let go is going to be a person's biggest advantage."

Question: Who is Sal Dimiceli?

Question: Who is CNN Hero?

Question: One of every five American children is considered what?

Answer: one of the top 10 CNN Heroes of 2011.

Answer: Sal Dimiceli,

Answer: living in poverty.

Summary:
Poverty levels are the highest since 1993, according to the U.S. Census Bureau .
At least one of every five American children is considered poor .
Many families face tough decisions every day on bills and basic necessities .
CNN Hero Sal Dimiceli has helped the working poor for decades in Wisconsin .


Atlanta (CNN) -- Most adults have a warm spot in their hearts for LEGOs, the colorful interlocking building toys. The iconic name conjures up images of creative creatures and thought-provoking things built by imagination.

On a recent January weekend, LEGO held a job fair of sorts in the form of a contest, a two-day building contest called Brick Factor. The winner was awarded a full-time position of master model builder at the new LEGOLAND Discovery Center due to open in Atlanta in the spring.

There were plenty of LEGO lovers interested. People like Megan Sims.

"Of course it's a dream job," she said. "You get to play with LEGOs and kids all day. Who wouldn't want that job?"

Joshua Bohn, a college student who is a self-proclaimed lifelong LEGO enthusiast, said that among LEGO lovers this job is coveted among all others.

The master model builder for LEGOLAND Discovery Center Dallas agrees.

"It's an important job" said Cal Walsh. "The job is responsible for all the LEGO bricks in the Discovery Center".

Walsh also got his job by winning a contest. He said working for the company is like getting paid to play.

The Atlanta contestants were narrowed down on the first day by several rounds of tasks, or builds. In the first, competitors built an animal in 45 minutes. This gave birth to lions, ducks, fish and alligators. There were even some angry birds.

Build two was a little more complex; the contestants were charged with building an Atlanta icon. Entries included Ray Charles singing, the immensely popular Peachtree road race and the Fox Theatre, a well-known Midtown entertainment venue.

Twelve contestants were selected for the finals, in which they created a model that best described them. They had one hour.

Zack Cole, an architecture student, knew immediately he would build a guitar, but he wasn't the only one. "I know someone else is making a guitar, I guess ill have to make mine better."

Sims, a mother of two and the only woman left, chose to build Wonder Woman.

"As a mom, sometimes I feel I need to be a superhero to get things done."

Bohn's homage to theater, a stage scene depicting Romeo and Juliet, was selected the winner.

"I feel like I was when I was 3 or 4, when I got my first LEGO set," Bohn said.

Question: What did contestants have to do?

Question: LEGO contest winner will receive what job?

Answer: built an animal in 45 minutes.

Answer: full-time position of master model builder at the new LEGOLAND Discovery Center

Summary:
LEGO contest winner will receive job at new Atlanta Discovery Center .
Contestants were given a time limit and a theme to create something .
Winning sculpture depicted Romeo and Juliet on stage .


Atlanta (CNN) -- Nearly 700 patients and 100 employees at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta have been exposed to tuberculosis after coming in contact with a hospital employee carrying the disease, a hospital spokesman said Thursday.

The Georgia Department of Community Health and the hospital have identified 680 patients who were exposed to tuberculosis between November and February, said hospital spokesman Lance Skelly.

Patients will begin getting tested for tuberculosis next week, Skelly said. To date, no patients or employees have reported symptoms of tuberculosis, he said.

The hospital and the department began notifying people about the exposure this month, after an Emory employee was diagnosed in April with the infectious disease, he said. The employee did not know he had tuberculosis when he came in contact with employees and patients, the hospital said.

The hospital took extra precautions by contacting patients who were in the hospital for 90 days before the day the employee is known to have developed the disease, Skelly said. "That is a major reason the numbers are so much higher."

All hospital employees are screened for the disease and must receive screenings each year, it added. A hospital statement did not say whether the employee had been screened.

About 11 million people in the United States are infected with latent tuberculosis, which is symptom-free and is not contagious.

Of those, 5 to 10 percent go on to develop active tuberculosis, which can be spread to others through the air, such as through coughing or sneezing.  It can be fatal if not properly treated.

Symptoms of tuberculosis include chest pain, a bad cough (possibly with blood), weakness and a fever. While tuberculosis usually impacts the lungs, the kidneys, brain and spine may also be affected.

Both the number and rate of tuberculosis cases has been on the decline since 1993, according to the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The number of reported deaths nationwide dropped from 644 in 2006 to 544 in 2007, the most recent year for which such data is available, the CDC said.

Question: Since when have they been on the decline?

Question: What can be fatal if not properly treated?

Question: When does the TB exposure occur?

Question: Who unknowingly exposed patients and staff to TB, the hospital says?

Question: What has been on the decline since 1993?

Answer: 1993,

Answer: tuberculosis,

Answer: between November and February,

Answer: employee carrying the disease,

Answer: Both the number and rate of tuberculosis cases

Summary:
NEW: Number and rate of TB cases has been on the decline since 1993, CDC says .
A hospital employee unknowingly exposed patients and staff to TB, the hospital says .
The exposure occurs between November and February .
TB can be fatal if not properly treated .


Atlanta (CNN) -- Republican presidential hopeful Herman Cain told supporters Saturday that he is suspending his presidential campaign, which has become hobbled in recent weeks by allegations of sexual harassment and an Atlanta woman's claim that they carried on a 13-year affair.

While he will still be able to raise and spend campaign funds because he did not officially drop out, Cain's White House bid is effectively over.

Cain said he came to the decision after assessing the impact that the allegations were having on his wife, his family and his supporters.

Cain and his wife, Gloria, held hands as they walked up to the podium where Cain made his remarks in Atlanta. The crowd chanted, "Gloria! Gloria!" before the candidate spoke.

Even as he stepped aside under the weight of the allegations that have dogged him, Cain said that he was at "peace with my God" and "peace with my wife."

He repeatedly called the allegations "false and untrue," and added that "the (media) spin hurts."

"I am not going to be silenced and I will not go away," Cain said, announcing what he called his Plan B: A website, TheCainSolutions.com, through which he will continue to advocate for his platform.

His catchy "9-9-9" economic plan is not going anywhere, he said.

"Your support has been unwavering and undying," Cain told his supporters.

He will endorse another of the Republican presidential hopefuls soon, he said.

Other candidates were quick to react.

"Herman Cain provided an important voice to this process," Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann said in a statement. "His ideas and energy generated tremendous enthusiasm for the conservative movement at a time it was so desperately needed to restore confidence in our country."

Fellow Georgian Newt Gingrich said the "9-9-9" plan "got our country talking about the critical issue of how to reform our tax code and he elevated the dialogue of the Republican presidential primary in the process."

Texas Gov. Rick Perry said he knew the Cains made a "difficult decision. He helped invigorate conservative voters and our nation with a discussion of major tax reform."

Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman said Cain brought "a unique and valuable voice to the debate over how to reform our country's uncompetitive tax code and turn around the economy. I understand his decision and wish him and his family the best."

Recently, Cain acknowledged that Ginger White's allegations of an affair have led to a drop in campaign contributions, and a Des Moines Register poll showed his support among likely Republican Iowa caucus-goers has fallen to 8%, down from 23% in October. The poll has a sampling error of plus or minus 4.9 points, the newspaper said.

Respondents said they were most concerned that Cain does not understand important issues, but said the allegations against him contribute to their concern, the newspaper said.

This week, White told the news media that she and Cain engaged in an on-and-off affair for more than 13 years. She described the affair as "very casual."

White issued a statement, through her attorney, after Cain's announcement Saturday.

"Ginger White respects Mr. Cain's decision regarding his campaign and indeed would have respected any decision he made," the statement said. "That being said, she is disappointed that he has not apologized for the public statements he has made about her and other women who have spoken out."

In a fund-raising letter Tuesday night, Cain referred to White as "troubled."

Two women -- Sharon Bialek and Karen Kraushaar -- previously accused Cain of sexually harassing them in the 1990s while he was head of the National Restaurant Association. Two other women also have said Cain sexually harassed them while they worked at the association, but they have declined to be identified.

Cain told the Union Leader in New Hampshire that he repeatedly gave White money to help her with "month-to-month bills and expenses." But

Question: What did the Des Moines register report ?

Question: what allegations were made of cain?

Question: will cain endorse another candidate soon?

Question: Who will Cain endorse?

Question: What Cain will do about new candidate?

Question: What dogged the candidate?

Answer: showed his support among likely Republican Iowa caucus-goers has fallen to 8%, down from 23% in October.

Answer: sexual harassment

Answer: of the Republican presidential hopefuls

Answer: another of the Republican presidential hopefuls

Answer: endorse

Answer: the weight of the allegations

Summary:
NEW: Woman who alleges an affair with Cain wants an apology .
Cain will endorse another candidate soon .
Cain's Iowa support fell to single digits, the Des Moines Register reports .
Candidate was dogged by allegations of sexual harassment and an affair .