2007 in Review: Top News Stories

The year began with a troop surge in Iraq. Now, at year's end, violence is on the decline and some credit this to the increase in troops, but after five years, we are still occupying Iraq. Tensions continue to rise and debates ensue on the home front in regards to this issue. This will continue to be a hot debate as the 2008 presidential campaign continues.

Celebrities in the News

In 2007 celebrity news became mainstreamed and even began to appear more on national news shows. The accidental drug overdose of former Playboy Bunny and TV star Anna Nicole Smith topped the news in February. We then saw Paris Hilton charged with driving without a license and in June she was sentenced to 45 days in jail for violating probation. Paris spent a few days in jail, and some time on home confinement. In the end, she served a total of 22 days in detention and declared to Larry King that she had started a "new beginning."

Paris managed to say out of the spotlight for the second half of the year, but it shined brightly on her pantiless friends Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan. Spears was in and out of drug rehabilitation, shaved her head bald, attacked a photographer with an umbrella and other crazy antics. These actions eventually lead to her losing custody of her two young boys. Lindsay Lohan should be crowned Queen of Rehab after serving three stints in rehab during 2007 for drug and alcohol abuse. She was sentenced to one day in jail and 10 days of community service for the two DUI's she received this year.

Bizarre Astronaut Love Triangle

On February 5th, 2007 Lisa Nowak, a NASA astronaut was arrested in Orlando Florida for the attempted kidnapping of Air Force Captain Colleen Shipman. Shipman and Nowak were both in love with William Oefelein, an astronaut with whom the married Nowak had trained with.

Reports claim Nowak drove from Houston, Texas to Orlando, Florida wearing a NASA issued space diaper to confront Shipman who she knew was landing at the Orlando International Airport to spend some time with Oefelein. Based on the contents in the trunk of her car, she had a little more than confronting in mind. Nowak had packed her trunk with latex gloves, pepper spray, a black wig, BB pistol and ammunition, a 2-pound drilling hammer, garbage bags, rubber tubing, and eight-inch folding knife. Nowak was charged with attempted first-degree murder with a deadly weapon. She plans to plead insanity. Zero gravity must have really messed her up!

Virginia Tech Massacre

On April 16, 2007 the deadliest mass shooting in U.S history took place on the campus of Virginia Tech in the quiet town of Blacksburg, Virginia. Two people were shot in the West Ambler Johnston dormitory at 7:15 a.m. Elsewhere, on this 2, 600 acre campus students began their day and headed to class. At 9:26 a.m., nearly two hours after the first shooting, students and faculty received an email from the university stating: "Shooting on Campus. The university community is urged to be cautious and are asked to contact Virginia Tech Police if you observe anything suspicious or with information on the case." At approximately 9:50 a.m. Virginia Teach student Seung-Hui Cho began his massacre in Norris Hall, an engineering building on campus. In the end, Cho turned the gun on himself. Thirty-three people were killed and 15 wounded in this tragic event.

Two days after the shootings on April 19th, Virginia Governor, Timothy Kaine, appointed an independent panel to investigate the shootings and authorities' actions. On August 29, 2007 the panel released its report concluding what many already felt. The panel concluded had Virginia Tech officials notified faculty and students about the initial shooting sooner, lives might have been saved. School officials were also criticized for not dealing with Cho's mental problems.

2008 Presidential Campaign

Campaigning seems to start earlier with each presidential election. This campaign has been no exception. Our 21^st century technology has put a new spin on things. CNN teamed up with the ever popular You Tube to host a democratic debate in July and a republican debate in November. You Tube viewers submitted video questions that were presented to the candidates at the debates. The goal is to get younger people more involved in the political process and voting.

Minneapolis Bridge Collapse

Tragedy struck on a Minneapolis bridge that spans the Mississippi River, during rush hour on August 1^st. Dozens of cars plunged into the river as the main span of the bridge collapsed. In all 13 people dies and many were injured. This bridge had been classified as "structurally deficient" in 1990 but continued to pass safety inspections because it did not pose an immediate danger.

Jena Six

In September demonstrators gathered in the small town of Jenna Louisiana in support of six black teenagers accused of beating a white teenager. There had been racial tensions at the local high school, which included confrontations and 3 white students hanging nooses from an oak tree on the property. The 3 white students were suspended from school but no criminal charges were filed. Demonstrators felt the black students faced harsher punishment than the whites and that the whites should have been charged with a hate crime.

Safety Recalls

From dangerously high levels of lead in toys to toothpaste found to contain a poisonous chemical used in antifreeze, many products manufactured in China were recalled this year. US companies have been asked to monitor and inspect these imports more closely. Many Americans fear products made in China more than ever now, but it is extremely difficult to find a replacement in our marketplace.

California Wildfires

In late October, close to 1 million people had to flee their homes near Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Bernardino due to the raging wildfires. It was determined that sparking power lines ignited the largest of wildfires in San Diego. In all, the fire killed two people and burned more than 780 square miles, destroying more than 2,000 homes in Southern California.

Foreclosures

During the housing boom, we saw individuals who purchased homes, that were really more than they could afford, using sub-prime mortgage loans. These loans did not require much proof of ability to pay. The promotional rate period began to die in 2007 and now many were unable to afford the rising mortgage payments. Foreclosures are now on the incline and home prices on the decline.In late October, close to 1 million people had to flee their homes near Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Bernardino due to the raging wildfires. It was determined that sparking power lines ignited the largest of wildfires in San Diego. In all, the fire killed two people and burned more than 780 square miles, destroying more than 2,000 homes in Southern California.