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08 Jan 2012 23:02

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U.S.: Gabrielle Giffords, one year later: How an error defined real-time news

  • The sausage was being made in front of our eyes, with all of the messiness that analogy implies.
  • Poynter’s Craig Silverman • Discussing the Gabrielle Giffords shooting one year ago today, as well as the way the media covered it on Twitter. Very notably that day, NPR tweeted that Giffords had died of a gunshot wound to the head, and a number of media outlets reported it, when she in fact hadn’t. Silverman, who runs Regret the Error for Poynter, kept a Storify from that day. It was a key moment for the real-time news movement, and a decision that once might’ve played behind closed doors is now in plain sight. It reflects the new world we live in as both news producers and news consumers — one where the errors play out in the open. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

28 Sep 2011 10:50

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U.S.: Judge to decide on Jared Lee Loughner’s fitness to eventually stand trial

  • The gunman in the Gabrielle Giffords shooting has been diagnosed as a schizophrenic. Loughner’s mental health issues, which manifested themselves in a disturbing way back in January, could prevent him from going to trial on 49 charges relating to the shooting which nearly killed a congresswoman. Did his time in a federal prison hospital help improve his condition enough to eventually stand trial? Does he need more time (as prosecutors are arguing), or is he not improving at all, as his defense attorneys claim? A judge will parse through these issues today. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

28 Jun 2011 13:44

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U.S.: Loughner’s lawyers: Doctors are forcing medication on him

  • If Jared Lee Loughner takes psychotropic drugs, he could become competent enough to stand trial. A while back, a judge ruled that Loughner can take any medicine he wants voluntarily, but his lawyers must be notified if he’s forced to take any medication to restore him to competency. However, those lawyers say that they weren’t in the room during a June 13th hearing which allowed a mental hospital to force him to take drugs to improve his mental condition — against the wishes of Loughner. Now they’re having a judge decide on the matter for a third time. So, the question is: If his lawyers are trying to prevent him from taking the medicine he needs to get better, how is he supposed to stand trial? Answer: If the decision favors Loughner, he probably won’t. source
Posted by Justin Jones • 0 Comments • Permalink

15 Jun 2011 18:28

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Politics: Rep. Gabrielle Giffords discharged from hospital

  • 1/8/2011 Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot through the head during a town hall event outside a Safeway in Tucson, Arizona. The shooter was Jared Lee Loughner, a man of obvious mental illness who killed six people that day. Giffords, however, survived and was rushed into intensive care.
  • 6/15/2011 Just over five months after a bullet passed through her brain, Gabby Giffords has been released from a hospital in Houston, having made enough rehab progress to begin outpatient therapy. She’s yet got a lot of challenges ahead, but this is unadulterated, joyous news. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

12 Jun 2011 11:33

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U.S.: In honor of this Gabrielle Giffords photo, today is good news day

  • Yeah, we know there are updates to the Anthony Weiner story. Also, the IMF got hacked pretty badly. Syrian rebels are still struggling for democracy. And Tracy Morgan is a homophobic idiot. But those stories will be here tomorrow. Just look into this woman’s eyes. She dealt with the worst non-natural-disaster news story of the year — a senseless tragedy that could have been prevented if Arizona had stricter mental health laws — and she’s able to smile that wide. She has a long way to go, but with a smile like that, you get a feeling it’s all going to be OK. So with that euphoric feeling in mind, we’re going to focus on covering optimistic stories today. If Bin Laden dies again, we’ll have to switch back, sadly, but there’s just something about not fighting this moment we need to grasp onto. We hope you understand, guys. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

19 May 2011 21:46

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U.S.: E-mails: School struggled with Jared Lee Loughner’s demeanor

  • “It was just a little alarming, especially since I have been observing the way he carries himself.” That’s a student’s reaction to Jared Lee Loughner bringing a pocketknife to class. According to a series of e-mails released by Pima Community College today as the result of a legal case, the gunman in the Gabrielle Giffords shooting exhibited a very standoffish demeanor (including what’s described as an “evil” look), expressed extreme views and told one professor he would keep quiet to avoid expulsion from their class. The e-mails show a struggle to keep Loughner, a student that many students considered threatening, in line. “I keep coming back to the conclusion that we did the best we could, given legal counsel’s advice and the limited resources available to us,” wrote the school’s former college counselor, Cecilia Alter, in the days after the Giffords shooting. Loughner voluntarily left the school months earlier. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

04 Mar 2011 15:35

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U.S.: Jared Loughner faces fresh charges in Arizona shooting rampage

  • 49 total charges for the gunman who shot Gabrielle Giffords source
  • » Focusing on the other victims: This time, the charges focus less on Gabrielle Giffords (the only wounded victim still in the hospital or in rehabilitation) and more on those killed or wounded in the attack. Some of the charges include murder charges in the death of a federal judge and congressional aide, as well as charges revolving around causing death or injury at a federally-provided event. Let’s be honest, though. No matter how many charges they nail him for – or at least try to – the fact of the matter is, he’ll be punished severely when he’s convicted.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

22 Feb 2011 23:47

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U.S.: New Jared Lee Loughner mugshots, courtesy of a legal battle

  • A bunch of news organizations fought hard for these photos. More than a dozen media outlets, in fact. And these pics of Jared Lee Loughner, the suspect in last month’s Gabrielle Giffords shooting, only came to light after a court decision forced their release (which prosecutors and defense attorneys fought against, saying that they unfairly biased potential jurors against Loughner). But it wasn’t a total loss for the lawyers. They managed to prevent the release of the search warrant records in the case. That said, these photos don’t seem quite as bad as the iconic one released after he was arrested. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

19 Jan 2011 20:54

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U.S.: Gabrielle Giffords case: Jared Lee Loughner indicted in federal court

  • 3 initial federal charges for Loughner; more will likely be coming source
  • » And in case you’re wondering: Loughner could face the death penalty for the charges, which include attempted assassination of a congresswoman.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

17 Jan 2011 12:24

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U.S.: Gabrielle Giffords’ husband: I’m willing to meet Loughner’s parents

  • I’d probably see them. You know, I don’t think it’s their fault. It’s not the parents fault. You know, I’d like to think I’m a person that’s, you know, somewhat forgiving. And, I mean, they’ve got to be hurting in this situation as much as much as anybody.
  • Gabrielle Giffords’ husband, Mark Kelly • Expressing a willingness to meet Jared Lee Loughner’s parents, Amy and Randy. A smart, brave decision on his part, especially considering the heartbreak the NASA astronaut must be feeling at the moment. We need more people like Kelly in this world. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
 
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