In-Class Assignment #1

Unemployed Americans reach 626,000
By Kip Mooney
Based on a report by Courtney Schlisserman and Timothy R. Homan, Bloomberg News

Americans filing initial jobless claims rose to its highest level since 1982, the Labor Department said today.
Economists project the unemployment rate rose to 7.5 percent in January, the most since 1993, according to the median projection in a Bloomberg survey. The U.S. lost 2.6 million jobs last year, the most since 1945.
The U.S. economy is "in for a tough several months," President Barack Obama said Feb. 1 in an interview with NBC. "It's going to take a number of months before we stop falling and then a little longer for us to get back on track."

Homeless Palestinians pitch tents in Gaza
By Kip Mooney
Based on a report by Andrew Hammond, Reuters

HAY AL-SALAM, Gaza Strip -- Thousands of Palestinians have pitched tents along the Gaza Strip, waiting to return home after Israel's three-week assault here.
"I lost everything," teacher Yousef Abu Eida said.
Aid agencies have handed out blankets, but many camps have no latrines.
With no formal ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, refugees say they don't feel safe.
"We can't sleep at night," Bashir Khidr said. "We're afraid the tanks will come back."

Lil' Wayne eyes slate of Grammys
By Kip Mooney
Based on a report by Jayson Rodriguez, MTV.com

Lil' Wayne has had a big year: he sold more albums than anyone else, picked up Best Hip-Hop Video at the VMAs, and even strummed his guitar alongside Kid Rock and the Country Music Awards.
Now, to cap it all off, he's poised to sweep the rap categories at the Grammys. He could even take the big prize: Album of the Year.
The New Orleans native joins past winners Lauryn Hill and OutKast as the only rappers nominated for music's top award.
His competition includes Coldplay, Radiohead, R&B crooner Ne-Yo, and Robert Plant and Allison Krauss' crossover album.
The Grammys air this Sunday, Feb. 8.