endlesschatter

This is a kinda interesting story from St Louis, shows how stupid some people are and how desperate some lawyers are…

Suit claims private guard failed to thwart Kirkwood council shooting – STLtoday.com

Suit claims private guard failed to thwart Kirkwood council shooting
By Heather Ratcliffe
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/05/2010

KIRKWOOD — A lawsuit faults an unarmed private security officer for allowing Charles “Cookie” Thornton into a Kirkwood City Council meeting the night he fatally shot six people and was killed by police.

“This wasn’t some fellow that was unknown to the city of Kirkwood,” said Chet Pleban, attorney for the daughter of Constance Karr, a council member and mayoral candidate slain that night.

“This was a fellow who had an extremely adversarial history with the city and he’s permitted to walk into the city building without restriction and without any sort of scrutiny whatsoever, carrying a sign and two guns after shots were heard in the parking lot.”

I guess this means if a person goes to a city counsel meeting and voices opposition, then they should barred from their rights to attend meetings.

A police report says the private officer, Ronald L. Whitehead, saw Thornton arrive outside City Hall the night of Feb. 7, 2008, and went upstairs to the meeting chamber to alert police Officer Thomas Ballman, who was providing security inside. The report says Ballman remained seated.

It also says that Whitehead returned to the lobby by the time Thornton passed him on the way to the chamber. Ballman would be among those Thornton killed.

The suit, filed Jan. 29 in St. Louis County Circuit Court, seeks in excess of $25,000 from Whitehead and his employer, Whelan Security.

Whitehead could not be reached Thursday for comment. Whelan’s president, Greg Twardowski, issued a statement saying that neither the company nor its employee was responsible for the loss of life. “While our continued condolences go out to the victims and their families … the claims asserted against us will be vigorously defended, and we are confident that they will be found to lack merit,” he wrote.

City officials had no comment about the lawsuit.

Pleban said that Thornton was carrying a large cardboard sign, so Whitehead should have known he intended to disrupt the meeting.

Unknown to those in City Hall, Thornton had shot and killed police Sgt. William Biggs outside. Inside, he killed Karr, Ballman, Public Works Director Ken Yost and Councilman Mike Lynch outright and wounded Mayor Mike Swoboda, who died months later.

Kirkwood officials hired Whalen several years earlier to provide one guard at two council meetings a month, said Beth Von Behren, a city spokeswoman. Although details of the contract with Whelan were not immediately available, the city spends about $3,400 a year for the service, Behren said.

Thornton had previously disrupted meetings to draw attention to claims the city had mistreated him over ordinance violations and other issues.

I guess there the person pushing for this lawsuit wished for the unarmed guard to have jumped in front of a bullet and maybe there would have been one less for him to use elsewhere…? Are they suing the family of the armed guard “Ballman” for not doing his job? How about the other dead police sargents family outside? Are they being sued… I mean they let the gun wielding person past them.

February 5th, 2010 | Tags: death, Open, stupid people | Category: Government and Politics | Leave a comment

Teddy Pendergrass – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Theodore DeReese “Teddy” Pendergrass (March 26, 1950 – January 13, 2010) was an American R&B/soul singer and songwriter. Pendergrass first rose to fame as lead singer of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes in the 1970s before a successful solo career at the end of the decade.

Born Theodore DeReese Pendergrass in Kingstree, South Carolina, he was the son of Jesse Pendergrass and Ida Geraldine Epps. During Teddy’s early childhood, his father left the Pendergrass family and was not an integral part of their lives. In 1962, Jesse was murdered, leaving Theodore fatherless.

Pendergrass’ career began when he was a drummer for The Cadillacs, which soon merged with Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. Melvin invited Pendergrass to become the lead singer after he jumped from the rear of a stage and started singing his heart out. Months later the group signed with Gamble and Huff on the then-CBS subsidiary Philadelphia International Records in 1972. The Blue Notes had hits such as “I Miss You”, “Bad Luck”, “Wake Up Everybody”, the two million seller “If You Don’t Know Me by Now”, and many more. Following personality conflicts between Melvin and Pendergrass, Pendergrass launched a solo career and released hit singles like “The More I Get the More I Want,” “Close the Door,” “I Don’t Love You Anymore,” “Turn Off the Lights” and others.

On March 18, 1982, in the Germantown section of Philadelphia on Lincoln Drive, Pendergrass was involved in an automobile accident. The brakes failed on his 1981 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit, causing the car to hit a guard rail, cross into the opposite traffic lane, and hit two trees. Pendergrass and his passenger, Tenika Watson, a transsexual nightclub performer with whom Pendergrass was casually acquainted, were trapped in the wreckage for 45 minutes. While Watson walked away from the accident with minor injuries, Pendergrass suffered a spinal cord injury, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.

Pendergrass had several children with different women back home in Philadelphia. In 1987, he married a former dancer of his named Karen. The couple amicably divorced in Pendergrass’ later years and Karen stayed as Teddy’s caregiver. Teddy then married a woman named Joan.

In 2009, Pendergrass underwent surgery for colon cancer and had difficulty recovering from that disease from which he eventually died on January 13, 2010, at age 59, while hospitalized at Bryn Mawr Hospital in suburban Philadelphia. He is survived by his son, Teddy Pendergrass II, and two daughters.

January 21st, 2010 | Tags: death, Entertainment | Category: Entertainment | Leave a comment

This week’s cover: Patrick Swayze, 1952-2009 | EW.com

Though he was nominated for three golden Globes over the course of his 30-year career, Patrick Swayze measured his success by lives touched, not money made or awards won. “No matter what opinion Hollywood has of you,” Swayze once told Entertainment Weekly, “the fans never forget you if you never forget them.”

On September 14, at the age of 57, Swayze died after an extraordinarily brave and dignified 20-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Swayze had initially responded well to treatment, and spent four months working 12-hour days on the A&E undercover drama The Beast while undergoing chemotherapy. He refused to take medication that might hinder what would become his final onscreen performance – even though the pain became intense. After he passed away, tributes have poured in from friends and colleagues. “Patrick was a rare and beautiful combination of raw masculinity and amazing grace,” recalled his Dirty Dancing costar Jennifer Grey.

The first hints of Swayze’s stardom emerged in his 1987 breakout film, Dirty Dancing. After that film’s success, Swayze was offered everything from a cologne deal to a record contract. But he was determined not to be pigeonholed as a gyrating boy toy. He sought cover in action films that let him run in what he called “crazy Swayze adrenaline-junkie mode.” The movies that he chose appealed to the side of him that was a self-proclaimed “searcher.” To Swayze, Road House showcased the beauty of martial arts via a bouncer with a philosophy degree from New York University.

September 18th, 2009 | Tags: death, Entertainment, Movies, Open | Category: Entertainment, Open | Leave a comment

Former world champion boxer Vernon Forrest killed in Atlanta shooting – ESPN

Vernon Forrest Shot And Killed

Former two-division world champion Vernon Forrest was shot and killed Saturday night during an attempted robbery, police said Sunday. Fulton County medical examiner Michele Stauffenberg confirmed the case was a homicide and that the autopsy showed Forrest died from “multiple gunshot wounds involving the torso and thigh.” Sgt. Lisa Keyes said a police report on the shooting was not immediately available.

WSB Radio in Atlanta first reported the shooting, citing a police spokesman. Forrest, who was 38, lived in Atlanta and was an Augusta, Ga., native.  Lt. Keith Meadows told the radio station that Forrest was shot seven or eight times — at least once in the head — as he chased at least two men who had tried to steal his Jaguar as he put air in its tires at an Atlanta gas station. Forrest had a gun and confronted the men, who fatally wounded him with two semi-automatic weapons, according to police.

David Livingston/Getty ImagesVernon Forrest, a recent WBC junior middleweight champion, was killed Saturday as he chased at least two men who had tried to steal his car, police said. “At this point we have a general description of at least two black males driving a red Monte Carlo,” Meadows said, according to the report.

Keyes said that there are no official suspects at this time.

Promoter Gary Shaw, who had two stints as Forrest’s promoter, said, “It’s 100 percent confirmed. He’s dead. I will say this about him — he was a decent human being. His work with kids, I think people knew how much he cared for kids, underprivileged and mentally challenged people. He was a real decent human being outside the ropes.”

Charles Watson, the boxer’s manager, said police and witnesses told him that Forrest had stopped at a gas station to put air in his car tire when a man approached asking for money. “Somehow, Vernon had his wallet out and the guy snatched his wallet and started running,” Watson said. “Vernon pursued after him. The guy turned the corner and Vernon didn’t see him. He turned around to go back to the car. That’s when he started firing.”

Watson said that Forrest’s 11-year-old godson was with him but had gone into the convenience store and did not witness the shooting.  “What can you say? Alexis Arguello, Arturo Gatti and Vernon Forrest all leaving us within 30 days? I think it’s a little much for our sport to handle,” Shaw said, referring to the recent high-profile deaths of two other boxing stars. “The violence, the guns have to go. Violence belongs inside the ropes. Not outside them. It’s just senseless. Maybe boxing ought to dedicate itself to keeping the violence inside the ropes and try to send that message out to the world.”

Gatti, a former two-time champion who retired in 2007, was found dead July 11 at a Brazilian resort. Gatti’s wife, Amanda Rodrigues, is being held as the prime suspect. Arguello, another former champion, was found dead on July 1 at his home in Managua, Nicaragua, in an apparent suicide. He was elected mayor of Nicaragua’s capital last year.

July 26th, 2009 | Tags: death, Entertainment, fights | Category: Entertainment, Open | Leave a comment

Arturo Gatti Found Dead At Age 37

SAO PAULO — Former boxing champion Arturo Gatti, one of the most exciting fighters of his generation, was found dead in a hotel room in the posh seaside resort of Porto de Galihnas early Saturday.

Police investigator Edilson Alves told The Associated Press that the body of the former junior welterweight champ was discovered in his hotel room at the tourist resort, where Gatti had arrived on Friday with his Brazilian wife Amanda and 1-year-old son.

Alves said police were investigating and it was unclear how the 37-year-old Canadian died. Foul play is suspected in the death, the CBC reported.

“It is still too early to say anything concrete, although it is all very strange,” Alves said.

A spokeswoman for the state public safety department said Gatti’s wife and son were unhurt. The women declined to give a name in keeping with department policy.

“There were no bullet or stab wounds on his body, but police did find blood stains on the floor,” she said.

Brazilian boxer and four-time world champion Acelino “Popo” Freitas told the G1 Web site of Brazil’s largest television network Globo that he was a close friend of Gatti and his wife, and that he “knew they were having some sort of problem and were about to separate, but I didn’t know they were in Brazil.”

Francisco Assis, a local police investigator, told G1 that Gatti could have died up to eight hours before his body was found early Saturday.

Gatti (40-9, 31 KOs), nicknamed “Thunder”, was best known for his all-action style, which was epitomized in his classic trilogy with Micky Ward in 2002 and 2003.

July 22nd, 2009 | Tags: death, Entertainment, fights | Category: Entertainment, Open | Leave a comment

Walter Cronkite – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Walter Leland Cronkite, Jr. (November 4, 1916 – July 17, 2009) was an American broadcast journalist, best known as anchorman for the CBS Evening News for 19 years (1962–81). During the heyday of CBS News in the 1970s and 1980s, he was often cited in viewer opinion polls as “the most trusted man in America” because of his professional experience and kindly demeanor. Cronkite died on July 17, 2009 at the age of 92 from cerebrovascular disease.

Cronkite was born in Saint Joseph, Missouri, the son of Helen Lena (née Fritsche) and Dr. Walter Leland Cronkite, a dentist. He had remote Dutch ancestry on his father’s side, the family surname originally being Krankheyt.

Cronkite lived in Kansas City, Missouri until he was ten, when his family moved to Houston, Texas.  He attended junior high school at Lanier Junior High School (now Lanier Middle School) and high school at San Jacinto High School where he edited the high school newspaper.  He was a member of the Boy Scouts. He attended college at The University of Texas at Austin, where he worked on The Daily Texan, and became a member of the Nu chapter of the Chi Phi Fraternity.  He also was a member of the Houston chapter of DeMolay, a Masonic fraternal organization for boys. It was while attending the University of Texas that Cronkite had his first taste of performance appearing in a play with fellow students Eli Wallach and Ann Sheridan.

Career

He dropped out of college in his junior year in 1935 after starting a series of newspaper reporting jobs covering news and sports.  He entered broadcasting as a radio announcer for WKY in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In 1936, he met his future wife Mary Elizabeth Maxwell (known by her nickname “Betsy”) while working as the sports announcer for KCMO (AM) in Kansas City, Missouri.  His broadcast name was “Walter Wilcox”.  He would explain later that radio stations at the time did not want people to use their real names for fear of taking their listeners with them if they left. In Kansas City, he joined the United Press in 1937.  He became one of the top American reporters in World War II, covering battles in North Africa and Europe.  He was one of eight journalists selected by the U.S. Army Air Forces to fly bombing raids over Germany in a B-17 Flying Fortress.  He also landed in a glider with the 101st Airborne in Operation Market-Garden and covered the Battle of the Bulge. After the war, he covered the Nuremberg trials, and served as the United Press main reporter in Moscow for two years.

The CBS Evening News

Cronkite succeeded Douglas Edwards as anchorman of the CBS Evening News on April 16, 1962, a job in which he became an American icon.  The program expanded from 15 to 30 minutes on September 2, 1963, making Cronkite the anchor of American network television’s first nightly half-hour news program.

In 1969, with Apollo 11, and later with Apollo 13, Cronkite received the best ratings and made CBS the most-watched television network for the missions.

In 1970, Walter Cronkite received a “Freedom of the Press” George Polk Award. That same year, the CBS Evening News finally dominated the American TV news viewing audience, when Huntley retired. Although NBC finally settled on the skilled and well-respected broadcast journalist John Chancellor, Cronkite proved to be more popular and continued to be top-rated until his retirement in 1981.  That year, President Jimmy Carter awarded Cronkite the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

One of Cronkite’s trademarks was ending the CBS Evening News with the phrase, “…And that’s the way it is:”, followed by the date (keeping to standards of objective journalism, he omitted this phrase on nights when he ended the newscast with opinion or commentary).  Beginning with January 16, 1980, Day 50 of the Iran hostage crisis, Cronkite added the length of the hostages’ captivity to the show’s closing to remind the audience of the unresolved situation, ending only on Day 444, January 20, 1981.  

Cronkite trained himself to speak at a rate of 124 words per minute in his newscasts, so that viewers could clearly understand him. In contrast, Americans average about 165 words per minute, and fast, difficult-to-understand talkers speak close to 200 words per minute.  Currently, Walter Cronkite’s voice can be heard announcing CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric at the beginning of the news broadcast, and at Retirement Living TV’s Daily Cafe.

Kennedy assassination
Cronkite is vividly remembered by many Americans for breaking the news of the death of President Kennedy on Friday, November 22, 1963. Cronkite had been standing at the United Press International wire machine in the CBS newsroom as the bulletin of the President’s shooting broke and clamored to get on the air to break the news. However, cameras were not ready for use and Cronkite would be forced to break the news without them while one warmed up.

At 1:40 PM, A “CBS News Bulletin” bumper slide broke into the live broadcast of As the World Turns (ATWT). Over the slide Cronkite began reading:

“Here is a bulletin from CBS News. In Dallas, Texas, three shots were fired at President Kennedy’s motorcade in downtown Dallas. The first reports say that President Kennedy has been seriously wounded by this shooting.”

A second bulletin arrived as Cronkite was reading the first one, which detailed the severity of President Kennedy’s wounds:

“More details just arrived. These details about the same as previously…President Kennedy shot today just as his motorcade left downtown Dallas. Mrs. Kennedy jumped up and grabbed Mr. Kennedy, she called “Oh no!,” the motorcade sped on. United Press [International] says that the wounds for President Kennedy perhaps could be fatal. Repeating, a bulletin from CBS News: President Kennedy has been shot by a would-be assassin in Dallas, Texas. Stay tuned to CBS News for further details.”

Just before the bulletin cut out, a CBS News staffer was heard saying “Connally too,” apparently having just heard the news that Texas Governor John Connally had also been shot while riding in the Presidential limousine with his wife Nellie and Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy.

“Here is a bulletin from CBS News. Further details on an assassination attempt against President Kennedy in Dallas, Texas. President Kennedy was shot as he drove from Dallas Airport to downtown Dallas; Governor Connally of Texas, in the car with him, was also shot. It is reported that three bullets rang out. A Secret Service man has been…was heard to shout from the car, “He’s dead.” Whether he referred to President Kennedy or not is not yet known. The President, cradled in the arms of his wife Mrs. Kennedy, was carried to an ambulance and the car rushed to Parkland Hospital outside Dallas, the President was taken to an emergency room in the hospital. Other White House officials were in doubt in the corridors of the hospital as to the condition of President Kennedy. Repeating this bulletin: President Kennedy shot while driving in an open car from the airport in Dallas, Texas, to downtown Dallas.”

Cronkite later reported that the priest (Father Oscar Huber) called in to perform the Last Rites to the President did not believe that he was dead when he performed them, seeming to contradict what Barker and Rather had been reporting (and contrary to what Huber had told other reporters on the scene, as he had said Kennedy was dead when he entered the room to perform the Last Rites and had to pull back a sheet covering his body to perform them). Ten minutes later he received a report that the two priests who were with Kennedy were now saying that he was dead, declaring that it was as close to official as they could get. However, Cronkite continued to stress that there was no official confirmation of the death of Kennedy from the hospital (although his words seemed to indicate that this was the most likely outcome).

Vietnam War
Cronkite reported on location during the Vietnam War.

Following Cronkite’s editorial report during the Tet Offensive that the Vietnam War was unwinnable, President Lyndon Johnson is reported to have said, “If I’ve lost Cronkite, I’ve lost Middle America.”[20]

During the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Cronkite was anchoring the CBS network coverage as violence and protests occurred outside the convention, as well as scuffles inside the convention hall. When Dan Rather was punched to the floor (on camera) by security personnel, Cronkite commented, “I think we’ve got a bunch of thugs here, Dan.”

July 17th, 2009 | Tags: death, Entertainment, Open | Category: Featured, Open | Leave a comment

Billy Mays – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

William Darrell “Billy” Mays, Jr. (July 20, 1958 – June 28, 2009) was a television direct-response advertisement salesperson most notable for promoting OxiClean, Orange Glo, and other cleaning, home-based, and maintenance products. His distinctive beard and loud sales pitches made him a recognized television presence in the USA.

Mays was born in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, and began his career as salesman on the Atlantic City boardwalk. He traveled across the United States for 12 years, selling various items before he was hired to sell OxiClean and other products on the Home Shopping Network. His success as a TV pitchman led him to found Mays Promotions, Inc. On April 15, 2009, the Discovery Channel began airing Pitchmen, a documentary series that featured Mays. On the morning of June 28, 2009, Mays was found dead in his home by his wife.

At a Pittsburgh home show in 1993, Mays struck up a friendship with rival salesman Max Appel, founder of Orange Glo International, a Denver-based manufacturer of cleaning products. He was then hired by the company to promote their line of cleaners, OxiClean, Orange Clean, Orange Glo, and Kaboom on the Home Shopping Network in St. Petersburg, Florida. Customer response to Mays’ sales pitches was enthusiastic, with a sharp increase in sales after his first day on the network, although some reviews were poor. He was very well known for shouting in an abrasive manner during infomercials. For example, Washington Post staff writer Frank Ahrens called him “a full-volume pitchman, amped up like a candidate for a tranquilizer-gun takedown.”

Mays was the CEO and founder of Mays Promotions, Inc., based at his home in Odessa, Florida. His services as a pitchman became highly sought-after, and he appeared in commercials for many diverse “as seen on TV” products such as Mighty Putty. Mays claimed to be an avid user of the products he promoted. In December 2008, Mays began appearing in ads for ESPN’s online service, ESPN360. These ads were a slight departure for Mays as they were designed to be parodies of his and other infomercial cliches with Mays appearing to be doing a parody of himself. He also made a live appearance during the 2008 Champs Sports Bowl promoting ESPN’s and ABC’s January 1, 2009 bowl games.

In February 2009, Mays publicly challenged Vince Offer to a “pitch-off” between their respective products, the Zorbeez and the Shamwow. Popular Mechanics compared the absorbency of two towel products and declared Shamwow the clear winner. On April 15, 2009, the Discovery Channel began airing Pitchmen, a documentary series that features Mays and Anthony Sullivan in their jobs in direct response marketing. Mays and Sullivan appeared together on the June 23, 2009 episode of The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien.

Mays was found unresponsive by his wife in his Tampa, Florida, home on the morning of June 28, 2009. A person known as “Ma’am” called 911 to report that he was unresponsive. He was then pronounced dead at 7:45 am, appearing to have died sometime overnight. The Associated Press reported that there were no indications that the house had been broken into, and that police did not suspect foul play.

On June 29, after an initial autopsy on Mays’ body, Dr. Vernard Adams, the Hillsborough County, Florida medical examiner, stated that Mays suffered from hypertensive heart disease and that heart disease was the likely cause of his death. However, a final determination as to the cause of death would not be made until toxicology and tissue tests were complete.

June 29th, 2009 | Tags: actors, death, Entertainment | Category: Entertainment | Leave a comment

Autopsy Planned After Pop Legend Michael Jackson’s Sudden Death – Celebrity Gossip | Entertainment News | Arts And Entertainment – FOXNews.com

Authorities scheduled an autopsy for Friday in the death of pop music icon Michael Jackson in an attempt to clear up the mystery surrounding his death, including whether prescription drugs played a role.

Jackson, whose fame spanned from his childhood with the legendary Jackson 5 to a superstar solo career that earned him the nickname ‘King of Pop,’ died Thursday afternoon at a Los Angeles hospital. He was 50.

The autopsy was planned for 11 a.m. EDT, though results were not likely to be final until toxicology tests could be completed, a process that could take several days and sometimes weeks.

However, if a cause can be determined by the autopsy, they will announce the results, said Los Angeles County Coroner Investigator Jerry McKibben.

Police said they were investigating, standard procedure in high-profile cases.

There has been speculation that drugs may have played a role in the death of the icon, with TMZ citing sources who claim he was given a “heavy dose of morphine” before his death. Other reports claim that Jackson received a shot of Demerol — a similar narcotic— shortly before his death.

June 25th, 2009 | Tags: actors, death, Entertainment | Category: Entertainment, Open | Leave a comment

FOXNews.com – A Timeline of Events in the Swine Flu Outbreak – Incredible Health

A Timeline of Events in the Swine Flu Outbreak

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

— December 2005 to January 2009: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention receives reports of 12 cases of human infection with swine flu. Five of these 12 cases occurred in patients who had direct exposure to pigs and six reported being near pigs. Exposure in one case is unknown.

— March 28: Believed to be the date of the earliest onset of the swine flu cases in the U.S., Dr. Nancy Cox of the CDC said in an April 23 press briefing.

— April 2: A 4-year-old boy contracted the virus before this date in Veracruz state, Mexican Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordova later said citing test results. A community in Veracruz has been protesting pollution from a large pig farm.

— April 6: Local health officials declare a health alert due to a respiratory disease outbreak in the Mexican town of La Gloria in Veracruz state. Health officials record 400 cases of people who sought medical treatment in the previous week in the town. About 60 percent of the town of 3,000 are affected.

— April 17: CDC determines that two children in adjacent counties in southern California had illnesses caused by infection with swine flu. Both children became sick in late March.

— April 22: CDC confirms three additional cases of swine flu in California and two in Texas, near San Antonio.

— April 22: The Oaxaca Health Department indicates that 16 employees at the Hospital Civil Aurelio Valdivieso have contracted respiratory disease.

— April 24: Mexico’s Minister of Health confirms 20 deaths from swine flu, but 40 other fatalities were being probed and at least 943 nationwide were sick from the suspected flu. Mexico City shuts down schools, museums, libraries, and state-run theaters across the capital.

— April 26: The number of confirmed cases in the U.S. climbs to 20 in five states. Mexico reports suspect clinical cases have been reported in 19 of the country’s 32 states. Canada confirms six cases.

— April 27: The World Health Organization raises its pandemic alert status to Phase 4, meaning there is sustained human-to-human transmission of the virus causing outbreaks in at least one country.

Cordova said 1,995 people have been hospitalized with serious cases of pneumonia since mid-April and about half of those have been released. The government does not yet know how many were swine flu. The CDC reports the suspected death toll in Mexico has climbed to 149.

The number of confirmed cases in the U.S. climbs to at least 42 in five states.

Spain reports its first confirmed swine flu case.

April 28: The number of confirmed swine flu cases in the U.S. is up to 68 and more than a dozen suspected cases, including two probable cases in South Carolina and a confirmed case in Indiana.

There is a suspected case in Orlando, Fla., but the CDC has yet to confirm it.

The number of worldwide cases reportedly climbed to 93, including two confirmed cases in Israel and a second case in Spain.

Meanwhile, the WHO says U.S. swine flu patients may have transmitted the virus to others in the United States, indicating that the new strain is spreading beyond travelers returning from Mexico.

Mexico’s capital orders restaurants to serve only take-out food in the widening swine flu shutdown.

World stock markets fall as investors worried that any swine flu pandemic could derail a global economic recovery.

Cuba suspends flights to and from Mexico for a 48-hour time period as a precautionary measure.

Carnival Cruise Lines announced it canceled Mexico stops for three ships scheduled to visit the country Tuesday. It hasn’t yet announced a decision on future stops there.

Swine flu has been ruled out as the cause of one of two recent deaths being investigated by the Los Angeles County coroner’s office. Coroner’s Assistant Chief Ed Winter said Tuesday that swine flu was not found in a La Mirada man. Winter says lab testing is pending in the case of a Long Beach man but swine flu is now not suspected.

— April 29: A 23-month-old boy from Mexico died at a Houston, Texas hospital Monday night from a variant of H1N1 swine flu.

Probable swine flu cases are being reported in Illinois, Nebraska and Minnesota.

Germany, which confirmed three cases, is the latest country affected.

In Cairo, the Egyptian government says it will slaughter all pigs in the country because of swine flu.

A Massachusetts health official says two siblings in that state have tested positive for swine flu after traveling to Mexico.

There is a total of 91 confirmed swine flu cases in the U.S., inlcuding Michigan, Arizona, Nevada and Indiana.

South Carolina health officials have identified eight additional ‘probable’ cases of swine flu, bringing the total number to 10.

April 29th, 2009 | Tags: death, Unusual | Category: Beyond usual, Open | Comments (1)