By DAVID BAUDER, AP Television Writer 15 minutes ago
A CBS News employee is accused of trying to extort $2 million from David Letterman, forcing the late-night host to admit in an extraordinary monologue before millions of viewers that he had sexual relationships with female employees.
Letterman said that "this whole thing has been quite scary." But he mixed in jokes while outlining what had happened to him, seeming to confuse a laughing audience at Thursday's taping about whether the story was true.
The network said the person who was arrested works on the true-crime show "48 Hours" and has been suspended. A person with knowledge of the investigation said the suspect is Robert J. Halderman. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because authorities have not released the suspect's name.
A "48 Hours" producer named Joe Halderman was part of a team nominated for an Emmy for outstanding continuing coverage of a news story in a news magazine in 2008. Two numbers listed for Halderman were disconnected, and a message left at a third number was not immediately returned Thursday.
The Manhattan district attorney has scheduled a news conference for late Friday morning to talk about the arrested employee, who the DA says is from Connecticut.
Letterman's "Late Show" audience was the first to hear the story, which came as a shock since the 62-year-old Letterman had married longtime girlfriend Regina Lasko in March. The couple began dating in 1986 and have a son, Harry, born in November 2003. Fatherhood and his heart surgery in 2000 had seemed to mellow Letterman, who took over as the most popular late-night comedy host this summer after NBC replaced Jay Leno with Conan O'Brien on the "Tonight" show.
Letterman sat behind his desk to outline the scheme after a monologue that targeted some frequent foils like Sarah Palin and Dick Cheney.
Three weeks ago, Letterman said, he got in his car early in the morning and found a package with a letter saying, "I know that you do some terrible, terrible things and that I can prove that you do some terrible things." He acknowledged the letter contained proof.
He said it was terrifying "because there's something insidious about (it). Is he standing down there? Is he hiding under the car? Am I going to get a tap on the shoulder?"
Letterman said he called his lawyer to set up a meeting with the man, who threatened to write a screenplay and a book about Letterman unless he was given money. There were two subsequent meetings, with the man given a phony $2 million check at the last one. Letterman joked it was like the giant ceremonial check given to winners of golf tournaments.
He told the audience that he had to testify before a grand jury on Thursday.
"I was worried for myself, I was worried for my family," he said. "I felt menaced by this, and I had to tell them all of the creepy things that I had done."
He said "the creepy stuff was that I have had sex with women who work for me on this show. My response to that is yes, I have. Would it be embarrassing if it were made public? Yes, it would, especially for the women."
Whether they wanted to make the relationships public was up to them, he said.
"It's been a very bizarre experience," he said. "I felt like I needed to protect these people. I need to protect my family. I need to protect myself. Hope to protect my job."
CBS said in a statement that "we believe his comments speak for themselves."
Perhaps as a defense mechanism, Letterman sprinkled his remarks with jokes: "I know what you're saying," he said. "I'll be darned, Dave had sex."
He said he wouldn't talk further about it, and recited a Top Ten list. But it wasn't far from his mind. During banter with actor guest Woody Harrelson, Letterman said, "I've got my own problems."
It was not immediately clear when the relationships took place or how long they lasted. Letterman's "Late Show" has been on the air since 1993. Before that, "Late Night with David Letterman" aired on NBC from 1982 to 1993.
Letterman won't be taping a show Friday. Friday night's show was taped Thursday.
Alicia Maxey Greene, a spokeswoman for the Manhattan District Attorney's office, declined to comment.
It's the second set of embarrassing headlines for Letterman in four months. In June, he apologized to Palin for making a crude joke about the former Republican vice presidential candidate's 14-year-old daughter. Although there was a small "fire Letterman" demonstration outside of his studio later, CBS stood by its late-night star.
Last fall Letterman sharply denounced Palin's running mate, John McCain, for abruptly canceling a "Late Show" appearance. Weeks of withering jokes by Letterman eventually forced McCain to come on the show and beg for forgiveness.
Letterman was also the victim of a 2005 plot by a former painter on his Montana ranch to kidnap his nanny and son for a $5 million ransom. The former painter, Kelly A. Frank, briefly escaped from prison in 2007 before being recaptured.
Another alleged extortion scandal surrounding a public figure, Louisville men's basketball coach Rick Pitino, similarly forced him this summer to acknowledge an affair.
___
AP Television Writer Lynn Elber in Los Angeles and Associated Press Writer Tom McElroy in New York contributed to this report.
10/2/09
9/22/09
The US state with the highest median salary in 2009
Where to Find the Fattest Paychecks
by Les Christie
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
provided by CNNMoney.com
Census Bureau reports that Maryland had the highest median income level in 2008, at $70,545, while Mississippi ranked very last with $37,790.
Maryland is the nation's top-earning state for the third year in a row, with a median household income of $70,545 in 2008, according to a U.S. Census Bureau report released Monday.
The states with highest median incomes are concentrated in the far West and in the Northeast, around the District of Columbia.
More from CNNMoney.com:
• Fat Paychecks: Where Does Your State Rank?
• Which States Have the Longest Commutes to Work?
• Which States Have the Most Uninsured People?
Most of the lowest-earning states are in the South. Mississippi had the lowest median income of just $37,790, while West Virginia ($37,989), Arkansas ($38,815), Kentucky ($41,538), and Alabama ($42,538), round out the bottom five
The four highest earning states after Maryland, are New Jersey, which has a median household income of $70,378, Connecticut ($68,595), Alaska ($68,460) and Hawaii ($67,214).
Real Earning Power
But if you're thinking of moving to Maryland in search of big bucks think twice. While Maryland's median income is nearly twice that of Mississippi, the locals there aren't necessarily walking around with twice as much money in their pockets, because of the difference in the cost of living in each region.
CNNMoney092209-3.jpg
"It's very important to compare cost of living," said Erol Yildirim, chief economist for the Council for Community and Economic Research. "Purchasing power is very different for different areas."
And the cost of living in Bethesda, Md., is about 52% higher than it is in Tupelo, Miss., according to Yildirim. A dozen eggs costs $1.93 in Bethesda, compared with $1.50 in Tupelo, while a loaf of bread is $1.66 compared with $1.37.
And there is a huge difference in housing costs. The average apartment rental in Bethesda is $1,464 a month versus just $512 in Tupelo. And the median home price in Bethesda is $529,707 compared with just $220,000 in Tupelo.
Taking these living expenses into account wipes out much of the advantage of Maryland's higher income. Once purchasing power is taken into account, Southern and Midwestern states become much better bargains.
Change in Pay
Florida was the only state where median income actually declined, falling 0.01% before adjusting for inflation. Michigan and Montana barely inched up, by about 0.3% in each case. Income in Indiana (1.1%) and Maine (1.5%) also increased very modestly. But with inflation at over 3%, those states were effectively in negative territory.
Louisiana saw the biggest jump in income, up 6.9%. But that may be the result of all the Federal dollars flowing into the area to rebuild it after Katrina. The state's unemployment rate averaged less than 5% during 2008.
Another big winner was the District of Columbia, which saw median income rise 6.7% in a year when the White House changed hands. Alaska (6.4%), Hawaii (6.3%) and Delaware (6.2%) also recorded solid gains.
Brookings Institute demographer William Frey notes that the current economic downturn may have actually given these median income levels a boost. That's because when times get tough, many of the lowest-paying jobs disappear, artificially boosting income statistics.
And many of the workers who hold the lowest-paying jobs are immigrants, who are often highly mobile, and may elect to return home and opt out of the U.S. workforce altogether.
Frey notes that in 2008, the percentage of foreign-born U.S. residents fell to 12.5% from 12.6% in 2007, due mostly to a downturn in net immigration from Mexico, said Frey. "When many low income people leave," said Frey, "median income can go up."
by Les Christie
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
provided by CNNMoney.com
Census Bureau reports that Maryland had the highest median income level in 2008, at $70,545, while Mississippi ranked very last with $37,790.
Maryland is the nation's top-earning state for the third year in a row, with a median household income of $70,545 in 2008, according to a U.S. Census Bureau report released Monday.
The states with highest median incomes are concentrated in the far West and in the Northeast, around the District of Columbia.
More from CNNMoney.com:
• Fat Paychecks: Where Does Your State Rank?
• Which States Have the Longest Commutes to Work?
• Which States Have the Most Uninsured People?
Most of the lowest-earning states are in the South. Mississippi had the lowest median income of just $37,790, while West Virginia ($37,989), Arkansas ($38,815), Kentucky ($41,538), and Alabama ($42,538), round out the bottom five
The four highest earning states after Maryland, are New Jersey, which has a median household income of $70,378, Connecticut ($68,595), Alaska ($68,460) and Hawaii ($67,214).
Real Earning Power
But if you're thinking of moving to Maryland in search of big bucks think twice. While Maryland's median income is nearly twice that of Mississippi, the locals there aren't necessarily walking around with twice as much money in their pockets, because of the difference in the cost of living in each region.
CNNMoney092209-3.jpg
"It's very important to compare cost of living," said Erol Yildirim, chief economist for the Council for Community and Economic Research. "Purchasing power is very different for different areas."
And the cost of living in Bethesda, Md., is about 52% higher than it is in Tupelo, Miss., according to Yildirim. A dozen eggs costs $1.93 in Bethesda, compared with $1.50 in Tupelo, while a loaf of bread is $1.66 compared with $1.37.
And there is a huge difference in housing costs. The average apartment rental in Bethesda is $1,464 a month versus just $512 in Tupelo. And the median home price in Bethesda is $529,707 compared with just $220,000 in Tupelo.
Taking these living expenses into account wipes out much of the advantage of Maryland's higher income. Once purchasing power is taken into account, Southern and Midwestern states become much better bargains.
Change in Pay
Florida was the only state where median income actually declined, falling 0.01% before adjusting for inflation. Michigan and Montana barely inched up, by about 0.3% in each case. Income in Indiana (1.1%) and Maine (1.5%) also increased very modestly. But with inflation at over 3%, those states were effectively in negative territory.
Louisiana saw the biggest jump in income, up 6.9%. But that may be the result of all the Federal dollars flowing into the area to rebuild it after Katrina. The state's unemployment rate averaged less than 5% during 2008.
Another big winner was the District of Columbia, which saw median income rise 6.7% in a year when the White House changed hands. Alaska (6.4%), Hawaii (6.3%) and Delaware (6.2%) also recorded solid gains.
Brookings Institute demographer William Frey notes that the current economic downturn may have actually given these median income levels a boost. That's because when times get tough, many of the lowest-paying jobs disappear, artificially boosting income statistics.
And many of the workers who hold the lowest-paying jobs are immigrants, who are often highly mobile, and may elect to return home and opt out of the U.S. workforce altogether.
Frey notes that in 2008, the percentage of foreign-born U.S. residents fell to 12.5% from 12.6% in 2007, due mostly to a downturn in net immigration from Mexico, said Frey. "When many low income people leave," said Frey, "median income can go up."
8/2/09
World's most dangerous spots
Seven dangerous destinations
Gizelle Lau - Mon Jun 15, 10:19 AM
When it comes to travelling the world, there's always risk - risk of getting robbed, getting caught in a tourist scam, or being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
That's why it's important to exercise caution and know what to expect when travelling to a new destination for your first time and to avoid dangerous destinations. But you'd be surprised that some of these travel destinations are actually more dangerous that you know.
Read on with TripAtlas.com as we take you to seven dangerous destinations and countries in the world to let you know what to watch out for and whether it's worth the risk - or adrenaline rush - to visit. Get more travel tips like How to Avoid Food Poisoning When Travelling and Safety Tips for Women Travelling Alone; or discover the 10 Most Unfriendly LGBT Travel Destinations.
Seven dangerous destinations in the world
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea is known as one of the most heterogeneous indigenous populations in the world, with over 700 languages spoke by indigenous groups. It's also not a tourism destination in a traditional sense, but many travellers visit for a taste of adventure and to experience the many cultures in PNG. In major cities like Port Moresby and rural towns like Tari, Mt. Hagen, and Goroka in the highlands, criminal gangs are known to be active and police presence is minimal or non-existent. Tribal conflict is also known to take place. It's not a good idea to go out at night, especially for female travellers. Another threat in Papua New Guinea are saltwater crocodiles that grow to 7 metres or more and occasionally prey on humans.
Colombia
In the past five years, Colombia has become a great travel destination for its coffee tourism, Amazon rainforest, Carnival celebrations, the pre-Columbian city of Ciudad Perdida, and high-altitude volcano park, Los Nevados National Park. In the 1980s and 1990's, Colombia was ravaged by violence, had the highest rate of kidnappings in the world and was overrun by the drug trade. Government presence and security has improved drastically but there is still crime in certain regions and some guerrillas still exist in rural areas. It's best to stay within major cities and in developed areas like Bogota, Cartagena, and Santa Marta.
Laos
Laos is a popular must-visit country for backpackers travelling through South-East Asia (usually en route to or from Cambodia, Thailand or Vietnam). Laos boasts the Pha That Luang in Vientiane; Si Phan Don or the "Four Thousand Islands"; and the World Heritage City of Luang Prabang. Despite being one of the poorest countries in South-East Asia, crime levels are low though petty theft is growing and many travellers don't venture far at night. It's dangerous to travel the eastern and northern parts of the country near the Vietnam border where land mines from the Vietnam War kill hundreds of people each year. Sexual relations between locals and foreigners along with drug use and criticism of the Lao government can you get in serious trouble in an arbitrary judicial system.
North Korea
Guided tours are the only way you can travel in North Korea, getting in via China (no entry from South Korea since Dec 2008), thus requiring two visas. All foreigners are monitored in conversations, movement, and behaviour - especially involving political or religious activity. There are, however, many sites and monuments to the country that travellers can visit like the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum or the tomb of King Kongmin.
You are never to speak the name let alone speak ill of Kim II-sung, Kim Jon-II, the Juche ideology, the North Korean people or government - lest you face the consequences. If the nuclear weapon testing and the arrest, imprisonment, and trial of American journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling isn't enough to deter a visit to North Korea - then perhaps Lee and Ling's sentence of 12 years of hard labour for undefined "grave crimes" against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea regime - will change your mind.
Haiti
Haiti is a popular destination along major cruise routes heading to Mexico, the Caribbean and South America. Most cruise ships stop in Labadee, the safest tourist destination in Haiti. The country has been plagued by political violence for most of its history and is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. So despite a newly elected president in May 2006, Haiti is still quite dangerous with high political tension, lawlessness, crime, roadblocks, armed gangs, kidnapping, assault and more. Political demonstrations and spontaneous violent confrontations are known to happen in areas like Cite Soleil in Port-au-Prince.
Georgia
Georgia is believed to be one of the oldest wine producing regions and a big drawn for oenophiles. Ancient monasteries, mountaineering, and skiing in Bakuriani are also popular draws for travellers. It is in the separatist regions of Georgia, in Akhmeti, Abkhazia and South Ossetia that pose a danger to travellers. In these volatile areas, Georgian military fight separatists groups partnered with Russia troops. Foreign tourists have been kidnapped, crime is high, and it is advised to bring an armed escort should you decide to visit those areas.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is home to lots of wildlife safaris, ancient African city of Great Zimbabwe, the rock formations of Matobo, and Victoria Falls, one of the most prominent natural attractions in the world. It is also home to a long history of political strife, financial debt, and human rights issues, especially under the current Mugabe administration. With a weak infrastructure and an estimated 80% unemployment rate, Zimbabwe is known for outbreaks of civil unrest, political violence, crime, the 4th highest HIV/AIDS infection rate and a new spread of Cholera since late 2008.
The Philippines, Venezuela, and Jamaica are pretty well-developed destinations for tourism but it is still easy for tourists to become victims to robbery, crime, and assault.
Most dangerous countries and destinations in the world
In case you're wondering, the most dangerous places in the world today are those that are fighting wars and are politically unstable: Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Pakistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Pakistan, and Yemen. For journalists, tourists, and many innocent locals, the violence, war, and injustices taking place in these countries is life threatening.
Unfortunately, what most dangerous destinations have in common is that they were all once subjected to colonization by Europeans (while European countries find themselves as some of the safest countries) and have suffered from inadequate development in the aftermath of independence.
For more information on many of the countries and more, visit the CIA World Factbook (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html).
Want to book a holiday or vacation to a safe, secure destination? Visit TripAtlas.com's Trip Builder to connect with over 104,000 travel agents and companies ready to offer you the best competitive prices on their flights, hotels, and more.
Gizelle Lau - Mon Jun 15, 10:19 AM
When it comes to travelling the world, there's always risk - risk of getting robbed, getting caught in a tourist scam, or being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
That's why it's important to exercise caution and know what to expect when travelling to a new destination for your first time and to avoid dangerous destinations. But you'd be surprised that some of these travel destinations are actually more dangerous that you know.
Read on with TripAtlas.com as we take you to seven dangerous destinations and countries in the world to let you know what to watch out for and whether it's worth the risk - or adrenaline rush - to visit. Get more travel tips like How to Avoid Food Poisoning When Travelling and Safety Tips for Women Travelling Alone; or discover the 10 Most Unfriendly LGBT Travel Destinations.
Seven dangerous destinations in the world
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea is known as one of the most heterogeneous indigenous populations in the world, with over 700 languages spoke by indigenous groups. It's also not a tourism destination in a traditional sense, but many travellers visit for a taste of adventure and to experience the many cultures in PNG. In major cities like Port Moresby and rural towns like Tari, Mt. Hagen, and Goroka in the highlands, criminal gangs are known to be active and police presence is minimal or non-existent. Tribal conflict is also known to take place. It's not a good idea to go out at night, especially for female travellers. Another threat in Papua New Guinea are saltwater crocodiles that grow to 7 metres or more and occasionally prey on humans.
Colombia
In the past five years, Colombia has become a great travel destination for its coffee tourism, Amazon rainforest, Carnival celebrations, the pre-Columbian city of Ciudad Perdida, and high-altitude volcano park, Los Nevados National Park. In the 1980s and 1990's, Colombia was ravaged by violence, had the highest rate of kidnappings in the world and was overrun by the drug trade. Government presence and security has improved drastically but there is still crime in certain regions and some guerrillas still exist in rural areas. It's best to stay within major cities and in developed areas like Bogota, Cartagena, and Santa Marta.
Laos
Laos is a popular must-visit country for backpackers travelling through South-East Asia (usually en route to or from Cambodia, Thailand or Vietnam). Laos boasts the Pha That Luang in Vientiane; Si Phan Don or the "Four Thousand Islands"; and the World Heritage City of Luang Prabang. Despite being one of the poorest countries in South-East Asia, crime levels are low though petty theft is growing and many travellers don't venture far at night. It's dangerous to travel the eastern and northern parts of the country near the Vietnam border where land mines from the Vietnam War kill hundreds of people each year. Sexual relations between locals and foreigners along with drug use and criticism of the Lao government can you get in serious trouble in an arbitrary judicial system.
North Korea
Guided tours are the only way you can travel in North Korea, getting in via China (no entry from South Korea since Dec 2008), thus requiring two visas. All foreigners are monitored in conversations, movement, and behaviour - especially involving political or religious activity. There are, however, many sites and monuments to the country that travellers can visit like the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum or the tomb of King Kongmin.
You are never to speak the name let alone speak ill of Kim II-sung, Kim Jon-II, the Juche ideology, the North Korean people or government - lest you face the consequences. If the nuclear weapon testing and the arrest, imprisonment, and trial of American journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling isn't enough to deter a visit to North Korea - then perhaps Lee and Ling's sentence of 12 years of hard labour for undefined "grave crimes" against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea regime - will change your mind.
Haiti
Haiti is a popular destination along major cruise routes heading to Mexico, the Caribbean and South America. Most cruise ships stop in Labadee, the safest tourist destination in Haiti. The country has been plagued by political violence for most of its history and is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. So despite a newly elected president in May 2006, Haiti is still quite dangerous with high political tension, lawlessness, crime, roadblocks, armed gangs, kidnapping, assault and more. Political demonstrations and spontaneous violent confrontations are known to happen in areas like Cite Soleil in Port-au-Prince.
Georgia
Georgia is believed to be one of the oldest wine producing regions and a big drawn for oenophiles. Ancient monasteries, mountaineering, and skiing in Bakuriani are also popular draws for travellers. It is in the separatist regions of Georgia, in Akhmeti, Abkhazia and South Ossetia that pose a danger to travellers. In these volatile areas, Georgian military fight separatists groups partnered with Russia troops. Foreign tourists have been kidnapped, crime is high, and it is advised to bring an armed escort should you decide to visit those areas.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is home to lots of wildlife safaris, ancient African city of Great Zimbabwe, the rock formations of Matobo, and Victoria Falls, one of the most prominent natural attractions in the world. It is also home to a long history of political strife, financial debt, and human rights issues, especially under the current Mugabe administration. With a weak infrastructure and an estimated 80% unemployment rate, Zimbabwe is known for outbreaks of civil unrest, political violence, crime, the 4th highest HIV/AIDS infection rate and a new spread of Cholera since late 2008.
The Philippines, Venezuela, and Jamaica are pretty well-developed destinations for tourism but it is still easy for tourists to become victims to robbery, crime, and assault.
Most dangerous countries and destinations in the world
In case you're wondering, the most dangerous places in the world today are those that are fighting wars and are politically unstable: Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Pakistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Pakistan, and Yemen. For journalists, tourists, and many innocent locals, the violence, war, and injustices taking place in these countries is life threatening.
Unfortunately, what most dangerous destinations have in common is that they were all once subjected to colonization by Europeans (while European countries find themselves as some of the safest countries) and have suffered from inadequate development in the aftermath of independence.
For more information on many of the countries and more, visit the CIA World Factbook (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html).
Want to book a holiday or vacation to a safe, secure destination? Visit TripAtlas.com's Trip Builder to connect with over 104,000 travel agents and companies ready to offer you the best competitive prices on their flights, hotels, and more.
7/30/09
Hottest day ever recorded in Canada
Vancouver registers hottest day on record as BC is hit with heat wave
Wed Jul 29, 11:38 PM
By The Canadian Press
VANCOUVER, B.C. - The city of Vancouver has registered its hottest day on record.
Environment Canada says a temperature of 33.8 C was recorded at Vancouver airport on Wednesday, shattering the previous high of 33.3 C that was set in 1960. "A very strong ridge of high pressure is currently dominating all of B.C.," said Gary Dickinson, a meteorologist with Environment Canada.
"The ridge of high pressure also brought up from the south very warm air, which was responsible for the record-breaking temperatures."
And Dickinson says Vancouver wasn't the only city to record its hottest day ever.
"Abbotsford beat their all-time record as well. The previous record was 37.9 C and they reached 38.0 C," he said.
A number of municipalities throughout the province set daily records.
Victoria reached 35.0 C, besting the old mark of 31.1 C.
Port Alberni hit 40.0 C, with the previous record being 37.8 C.
And Bella Coola reached 41.2 C, bettering the previous high of 34.3 C that was set in 1898.
Dickinson says the sweltering weather is something British Columbians, some of whom are uncharacteristically hoping for rain, will have to get used to over the coming days.
"The ridge of high pressure responsible for the warm temperatures will continue to hold over the province for the remainder of the week and going into the weekend," he said.
"The temperatures will gradually cool over the course of the weekend."
The high temperatures have brought with them an air quality advisory for Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.
Dickinson says there are a few things residents can do to cope with the conditions.
"Drink a lot of fluids, stay hydrated and just keep yourself protected from the sun."
Wed Jul 29, 11:38 PM
By The Canadian Press
VANCOUVER, B.C. - The city of Vancouver has registered its hottest day on record.
Environment Canada says a temperature of 33.8 C was recorded at Vancouver airport on Wednesday, shattering the previous high of 33.3 C that was set in 1960. "A very strong ridge of high pressure is currently dominating all of B.C.," said Gary Dickinson, a meteorologist with Environment Canada.
"The ridge of high pressure also brought up from the south very warm air, which was responsible for the record-breaking temperatures."
And Dickinson says Vancouver wasn't the only city to record its hottest day ever.
"Abbotsford beat their all-time record as well. The previous record was 37.9 C and they reached 38.0 C," he said.
A number of municipalities throughout the province set daily records.
Victoria reached 35.0 C, besting the old mark of 31.1 C.
Port Alberni hit 40.0 C, with the previous record being 37.8 C.
And Bella Coola reached 41.2 C, bettering the previous high of 34.3 C that was set in 1898.
Dickinson says the sweltering weather is something British Columbians, some of whom are uncharacteristically hoping for rain, will have to get used to over the coming days.
"The ridge of high pressure responsible for the warm temperatures will continue to hold over the province for the remainder of the week and going into the weekend," he said.
"The temperatures will gradually cool over the course of the weekend."
The high temperatures have brought with them an air quality advisory for Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.
Dickinson says there are a few things residents can do to cope with the conditions.
"Drink a lot of fluids, stay hydrated and just keep yourself protected from the sun."
7/25/09
10 tips for selling your own home
Thinking of giving for-sale-by-owner a try? Here's what you need to know to make it a success.
By Elizabeth Rogers, 50Plus.com
Private sale wasn't the first strategy that came to mind when Elaine* and her sister helped their father sell his home when he decided to move. However, a lack-lustre response from real estate agents made them think twice about using an agent at all. They figured "why not put up a for-sale sign and see what happens?"
Elaine and her sister aren't alone in their thinking. Some estimates say that as many as one in four people sell their home privately. For-sale-by-owner (also known by its acronym FSBO) is still a new idea to many people, but the increasing amount of information and services available to help is making the idea more appealing. After all, a real estate brokerage can charge five per cent or more in commission to sell your house. More people are wondering: is it really worth it to use an agent?
If you're considering a private sale, here's what you need to know to make it a success:
Think like a sales person
The best place to start is to know your product, and then figure out how to present it to its best advantage. Start by taking notes about the features of your home that a potential buyer might be interested in. Don't just consider what's in your house, but also what's around your house. Are you close to schools, shopping or other amenities? What upgrades have you made to the home, and when were they done?
Once you've got a list, it's time to start formulating your sales tactics. Not only will you need to write ads to sell your home, but you'll also want to prepare a sales pitch to respond to phone calls or unannounced visitors.
Being ready to respond to unexpected questions is also important, Elaine advises. And the more you know about your home, the better. For instance, prospective buyers might want to know how much it will cost to heat your home in the winter or how much property taxes will be. Utilities bills and tax statements can serve as proof. If you've got receipts showing when improvements were made, like a new furnace or new windows -- keep them handy as well.
Develop a budget -- and know how to spend it
Do you get to keep all of the savings in commission we mentioned before? No -- you should expect to spend a portion of that on advertising and other services that would normally be covered by an agent. As with any home sale, expect to spend money to make money.
Doing a little number-crunching before you set out can help you see where money will be well-spent. Remember, you have to pay some expenses, like hiring a lawyer and doing some repairs, whether you use an agent or not. Some services like home-staging consulting can actually add value to your home by making it more attractive to buyers. A home inspection can give you a heads-up as to what needs to be done around your home -- you might want to repair them first, or find out what their worth before you enter the bargaining process.
Research your home's market value
Property listing service PropertySold.ca warns that one of main reasons that private sales fail is that owners overprice their home. How can you get a realistic idea of what your home is worth?
-- Talk to your neighbours, particularly anyone who has recently sold a home in your areas.
-- Check the listings in the local newspaper or online (online classifieds, MLS.ca, etc) to see what homes in your neighbourhood are selling for. (Many cities now have a real estate advertising television channel such as REtv).
- Have a professional appraisal done.
Many people invite an agent (or a few agents) in to get an opinion. The feedback can certainly be useful, but this isn't the only number you should rely on. In Elaine's case, the quoted price was too low so they used other means to estimate the home's worth.
Develop a marketing plan
Where and how will you get people's attention? If you're in a high traffic or well-travelled area, a for-sale sign might be enough to get people looking. However, you should consider a balanced approach that also includes listing your property online and taking out a print advertisement in a local publication. You may also want to consider hosting an open house as part of your plan.
Don't underestimate the importance of networking. Let your friends and colleagues know that your home is for sale, or put up a poster at your church or community centre (if allowed). Take advantage of social networking sites like Facebook where you can advertise your home.
Get organized
Keeping track of advertising, phone numbers and appointments can be tricky, so it's best to think about your strategy ahead of time. PropertyGuys.com recommends purchasing an appointment diary or calendar to help with this process.
For clarification and transparency in the process, be sure to keep track of the details such as names, dates and any next steps in the process such as where and when you take out advertising. You can also use your diary or file to keep track of your budget.
Set the stage
Most home experts agree: how your home looks will have a big impact. Potential buyers typically look for clean, spacious and bright homes. Tackling clutter is usually the first thing home stagers recommend, but some thorough cleaning and a fresh coat of paint will make your home more attractive. Stashing your personal items -- whether it's family photos, knick-knacks or every day items like your tooth brush and shampoo -- will make buyers feel less like a guest in someone else's home.
If you want some extra help, hiring a home-staging consult for an hour or two can be worth the investment. If you're looking to keep costs down, Elaine recommends bringing in a friend instead, particularly someone who will give you an honest opinion. Give them a practice tour of your home and take note of the feedback. Online articles, TV home decorating shows and magazines are also inexpensive sources for good advice.
For more tips on home staging, see MoneySense's Winning the real estate war: 10 tips from home stagers.
Prepare for negotiation
Now's the time to dust off those bargaining skills. Are you ready to negotiate the price, or handle a potential bidding war? Also, don't let the thought of deals and contracts scare you off if you're not an experienced seller. Here's where your real estate lawyer can help: They can evaluate the terms of any contract and help you evaluate any offers. They can also advise you on what you need to disclose about your home.
Another thing to consider: Just because you're not using an agent, doesn't mean a buyer won't. That agent will have to be paid somehow -- so either advertise "no agents, please" or be prepared to account for his or her commission in the asking price. You might be able to negotiate a flat fee rather than a percentage.
Think about safety
There's going to be a lot of attention on your home and its contents, and there is some risk involved when inviting strangers into your home. So what can you do to stay safe?
- Enlist help. For their own safety, Elaine and her sister agreed to both be present for appointments with potential buyers. If one or the other (or one of their husbands) wasn't available, they had a plan to invite a friend instead. Two people can provide better supervision for touring groups or open houses.
- Hide it. Anything that can be broken or stolen shouldn't be around. When it comes time to sell her own home, Elaine already has plans to find safe, temporary homes for the jewellery, electronics and other valuable items -- whether it's with a trusted friend or the safe deposit box at the bank.
- Go for the lived-in look. If you have to be away from your home for any length of time, use a timer for some lights and ask a neighbour to park their car in the driveway if necessary. Empty homes are the perfect target for thieves -- some of who may have been by the home to preview its contents.
- Protect your privacy: Consider using a cell phone or setting up a new email address to handle communications instead of giving out your personal contact information.
Stay impartial
Elaine cautions that having a thick skin is essential for the process as potential buyers won't be shy when it comes to nit-picking the details of your home -- especially when it comes to pointing down flaws that might help bring the price down. Try not to take it personally; a real estate agent wouldn't get defensive or upset.
"You have to be ready to hear criticism about your home -- whether it's the decorating or layout, or things that need to be fixed," Elaine warns. "Overall, you have to be impartial and divorce yourself from it."
Get advice
Just because you decide not to use an agent that doesn't mean to you have to "go it alone". There are many services such as, PropertySold.ca, Bytheowner.com and For Sale By Owner that offer listings and sales tools for a modest fee. Other companies like PropertyGuys.com include marketing support and listings as part of an overall consulting package -- which is still the fraction of a cost of an agent's fee.
For more information on getting your home ready for market, the Canadian Home and Mortgage Corporation has a guide about Getting Your House Ready to Sell, as well as current market trends and outlooks.
As previously mentioned, there's a wealth of information available online, in magazines and even on TV -- not to mention the many books written on the subject which you can find at your local library or bookstore.
This method of selling your home isn't for everyone, but it might be worth a try before you turn to an agent. In Elaine's case, taking a chance paid off. They were able to sell the house quickly, and for more money than the agent initially predicted -- and they didn't have to pay a commission either.
By Elizabeth Rogers, 50Plus.com
Private sale wasn't the first strategy that came to mind when Elaine* and her sister helped their father sell his home when he decided to move. However, a lack-lustre response from real estate agents made them think twice about using an agent at all. They figured "why not put up a for-sale sign and see what happens?"
Elaine and her sister aren't alone in their thinking. Some estimates say that as many as one in four people sell their home privately. For-sale-by-owner (also known by its acronym FSBO) is still a new idea to many people, but the increasing amount of information and services available to help is making the idea more appealing. After all, a real estate brokerage can charge five per cent or more in commission to sell your house. More people are wondering: is it really worth it to use an agent?
If you're considering a private sale, here's what you need to know to make it a success:
Think like a sales person
The best place to start is to know your product, and then figure out how to present it to its best advantage. Start by taking notes about the features of your home that a potential buyer might be interested in. Don't just consider what's in your house, but also what's around your house. Are you close to schools, shopping or other amenities? What upgrades have you made to the home, and when were they done?
Once you've got a list, it's time to start formulating your sales tactics. Not only will you need to write ads to sell your home, but you'll also want to prepare a sales pitch to respond to phone calls or unannounced visitors.
Being ready to respond to unexpected questions is also important, Elaine advises. And the more you know about your home, the better. For instance, prospective buyers might want to know how much it will cost to heat your home in the winter or how much property taxes will be. Utilities bills and tax statements can serve as proof. If you've got receipts showing when improvements were made, like a new furnace or new windows -- keep them handy as well.
Develop a budget -- and know how to spend it
Do you get to keep all of the savings in commission we mentioned before? No -- you should expect to spend a portion of that on advertising and other services that would normally be covered by an agent. As with any home sale, expect to spend money to make money.
Doing a little number-crunching before you set out can help you see where money will be well-spent. Remember, you have to pay some expenses, like hiring a lawyer and doing some repairs, whether you use an agent or not. Some services like home-staging consulting can actually add value to your home by making it more attractive to buyers. A home inspection can give you a heads-up as to what needs to be done around your home -- you might want to repair them first, or find out what their worth before you enter the bargaining process.
Research your home's market value
Property listing service PropertySold.ca warns that one of main reasons that private sales fail is that owners overprice their home. How can you get a realistic idea of what your home is worth?
-- Talk to your neighbours, particularly anyone who has recently sold a home in your areas.
-- Check the listings in the local newspaper or online (online classifieds, MLS.ca, etc) to see what homes in your neighbourhood are selling for. (Many cities now have a real estate advertising television channel such as REtv).
- Have a professional appraisal done.
Many people invite an agent (or a few agents) in to get an opinion. The feedback can certainly be useful, but this isn't the only number you should rely on. In Elaine's case, the quoted price was too low so they used other means to estimate the home's worth.
Develop a marketing plan
Where and how will you get people's attention? If you're in a high traffic or well-travelled area, a for-sale sign might be enough to get people looking. However, you should consider a balanced approach that also includes listing your property online and taking out a print advertisement in a local publication. You may also want to consider hosting an open house as part of your plan.
Don't underestimate the importance of networking. Let your friends and colleagues know that your home is for sale, or put up a poster at your church or community centre (if allowed). Take advantage of social networking sites like Facebook where you can advertise your home.
Get organized
Keeping track of advertising, phone numbers and appointments can be tricky, so it's best to think about your strategy ahead of time. PropertyGuys.com recommends purchasing an appointment diary or calendar to help with this process.
For clarification and transparency in the process, be sure to keep track of the details such as names, dates and any next steps in the process such as where and when you take out advertising. You can also use your diary or file to keep track of your budget.
Set the stage
Most home experts agree: how your home looks will have a big impact. Potential buyers typically look for clean, spacious and bright homes. Tackling clutter is usually the first thing home stagers recommend, but some thorough cleaning and a fresh coat of paint will make your home more attractive. Stashing your personal items -- whether it's family photos, knick-knacks or every day items like your tooth brush and shampoo -- will make buyers feel less like a guest in someone else's home.
If you want some extra help, hiring a home-staging consult for an hour or two can be worth the investment. If you're looking to keep costs down, Elaine recommends bringing in a friend instead, particularly someone who will give you an honest opinion. Give them a practice tour of your home and take note of the feedback. Online articles, TV home decorating shows and magazines are also inexpensive sources for good advice.
For more tips on home staging, see MoneySense's Winning the real estate war: 10 tips from home stagers.
Prepare for negotiation
Now's the time to dust off those bargaining skills. Are you ready to negotiate the price, or handle a potential bidding war? Also, don't let the thought of deals and contracts scare you off if you're not an experienced seller. Here's where your real estate lawyer can help: They can evaluate the terms of any contract and help you evaluate any offers. They can also advise you on what you need to disclose about your home.
Another thing to consider: Just because you're not using an agent, doesn't mean a buyer won't. That agent will have to be paid somehow -- so either advertise "no agents, please" or be prepared to account for his or her commission in the asking price. You might be able to negotiate a flat fee rather than a percentage.
Think about safety
There's going to be a lot of attention on your home and its contents, and there is some risk involved when inviting strangers into your home. So what can you do to stay safe?
- Enlist help. For their own safety, Elaine and her sister agreed to both be present for appointments with potential buyers. If one or the other (or one of their husbands) wasn't available, they had a plan to invite a friend instead. Two people can provide better supervision for touring groups or open houses.
- Hide it. Anything that can be broken or stolen shouldn't be around. When it comes time to sell her own home, Elaine already has plans to find safe, temporary homes for the jewellery, electronics and other valuable items -- whether it's with a trusted friend or the safe deposit box at the bank.
- Go for the lived-in look. If you have to be away from your home for any length of time, use a timer for some lights and ask a neighbour to park their car in the driveway if necessary. Empty homes are the perfect target for thieves -- some of who may have been by the home to preview its contents.
- Protect your privacy: Consider using a cell phone or setting up a new email address to handle communications instead of giving out your personal contact information.
Stay impartial
Elaine cautions that having a thick skin is essential for the process as potential buyers won't be shy when it comes to nit-picking the details of your home -- especially when it comes to pointing down flaws that might help bring the price down. Try not to take it personally; a real estate agent wouldn't get defensive or upset.
"You have to be ready to hear criticism about your home -- whether it's the decorating or layout, or things that need to be fixed," Elaine warns. "Overall, you have to be impartial and divorce yourself from it."
Get advice
Just because you decide not to use an agent that doesn't mean to you have to "go it alone". There are many services such as, PropertySold.ca, Bytheowner.com and For Sale By Owner that offer listings and sales tools for a modest fee. Other companies like PropertyGuys.com include marketing support and listings as part of an overall consulting package -- which is still the fraction of a cost of an agent's fee.
For more information on getting your home ready for market, the Canadian Home and Mortgage Corporation has a guide about Getting Your House Ready to Sell, as well as current market trends and outlooks.
As previously mentioned, there's a wealth of information available online, in magazines and even on TV -- not to mention the many books written on the subject which you can find at your local library or bookstore.
This method of selling your home isn't for everyone, but it might be worth a try before you turn to an agent. In Elaine's case, taking a chance paid off. They were able to sell the house quickly, and for more money than the agent initially predicted -- and they didn't have to pay a commission either.
7/21/09
Report: NY, NJ immigration raids violated rights
Report: NY, NJ immigration raids violated rights
AP
By DEEPTI HAJELA, Associated Press Writer Deepti Hajela, Associated Press Writer
NEW YORK – Immigration agents raiding homes for suspected illegal immigrants violated the U.S. Constitution by entering without proper consent and may have used racial profiling, a report analyzing arrest records found.
Latinos made up a disproportionate number of the people arrested who were not the stated targets of the raids, and many of their arrest reports gave no basis for why they were initially seized, said the report, which was based on data from raids in New York and New Jersey.
The Immigration Justice Clinic at Yeshiva University's Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law analyzed home raid arrest records from Immigration and Customs Enforcement offices in Long Island and throughout New Jersey. The clinic, founded last year, represents indigent immigrants facing deportation.
Its report, released Wednesday, said that since ICE agents use administrative warrants — instead of judicial warrants, which give law enforcement unfettered access — they must have a resident's consent to enter a home or else violate the constitutional right to protection against unreasonable searches.
On Long Island, 86 percent of arrest records from 100 raids between January 2006 and April 2008 showed no record of consent being given, the report found. In northern and central New Jersey, no record of consent being given was found for 24 percent of about 600 arrests in 2006 and 2007, it found.
Peter Markowitz, director of the clinic and one of the authors of the report, said raids often are carried out with great force, with immigration officials pushing their way into homes in pre-dawn or late-night hours.
The raids are ostensibly aimed at targeted individuals who present threats either to national security or community safety, but arrests of illegal immigrants nearby, known as collateral arrests, are also made.
While the report only analyzed data from two states, it said the pattern suggested the problem was nationwide. It listed examples from California, Texas, Arizona, Massachusetts, Georgia and other places.
A federal judge in Connecticut last month ruled that federal agents violated the constitutional rights of four illegal immigrants in a 2007 raid under similar issues. The judge ruled the immigration agents went into the immigrants' homes without warrants, probable cause or their consent, and he put a stop to deportation proceedings against the four defendants.
"The widespread illegality by a law enforcement agency should be kind of shocking to anybody," Markowitz said.
In a statement, ICE said its agents uphold the country's laws.
"We do so professionally, humanely and with an acute awareness regarding the impact enforcement has on the individuals we encounter," it said.
The agency said it also had a mandate to pursue all illegal immigrants, whether targeted or not. A spokesman for the agency declined to comment further.
The agency has about 100 Fugitive Operations Teams around the country; in fiscal year 2008, the teams made more than 34,000 arrests.
The report also found that Latinos were a disproportionate number of collateral arrests. In both New Jersey and on Long Island, two-thirds of the targeted detainees were Latino. But 87 percent of collateral arrests in New Jersey were Latino, as were 94 percent of the collateral arrests in Long Island.
Collateral arrest records can indicate why the person was seized and questioned. But the report found that almost all of the records that didn't contain that information were for Latinos taken into custody. The report said that supported community complaints that Latinos were targeted for arrest simply because of how they looked or how well they spoke English.
The report makes several recommendations, including limiting the use of home raids to a last resort for targets who pose a serious risk to national security or have violent criminal records; the use of judicial rather than administrative warrants, and the videotaping of all home raids.
It also calls for the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General to conduct an investigation.
"These are violations that go to the very heart of the Constitutional expectation of privacy in this country," Markowitz said.
AP
By DEEPTI HAJELA, Associated Press Writer Deepti Hajela, Associated Press Writer
NEW YORK – Immigration agents raiding homes for suspected illegal immigrants violated the U.S. Constitution by entering without proper consent and may have used racial profiling, a report analyzing arrest records found.
Latinos made up a disproportionate number of the people arrested who were not the stated targets of the raids, and many of their arrest reports gave no basis for why they were initially seized, said the report, which was based on data from raids in New York and New Jersey.
The Immigration Justice Clinic at Yeshiva University's Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law analyzed home raid arrest records from Immigration and Customs Enforcement offices in Long Island and throughout New Jersey. The clinic, founded last year, represents indigent immigrants facing deportation.
Its report, released Wednesday, said that since ICE agents use administrative warrants — instead of judicial warrants, which give law enforcement unfettered access — they must have a resident's consent to enter a home or else violate the constitutional right to protection against unreasonable searches.
On Long Island, 86 percent of arrest records from 100 raids between January 2006 and April 2008 showed no record of consent being given, the report found. In northern and central New Jersey, no record of consent being given was found for 24 percent of about 600 arrests in 2006 and 2007, it found.
Peter Markowitz, director of the clinic and one of the authors of the report, said raids often are carried out with great force, with immigration officials pushing their way into homes in pre-dawn or late-night hours.
The raids are ostensibly aimed at targeted individuals who present threats either to national security or community safety, but arrests of illegal immigrants nearby, known as collateral arrests, are also made.
While the report only analyzed data from two states, it said the pattern suggested the problem was nationwide. It listed examples from California, Texas, Arizona, Massachusetts, Georgia and other places.
A federal judge in Connecticut last month ruled that federal agents violated the constitutional rights of four illegal immigrants in a 2007 raid under similar issues. The judge ruled the immigration agents went into the immigrants' homes without warrants, probable cause or their consent, and he put a stop to deportation proceedings against the four defendants.
"The widespread illegality by a law enforcement agency should be kind of shocking to anybody," Markowitz said.
In a statement, ICE said its agents uphold the country's laws.
"We do so professionally, humanely and with an acute awareness regarding the impact enforcement has on the individuals we encounter," it said.
The agency said it also had a mandate to pursue all illegal immigrants, whether targeted or not. A spokesman for the agency declined to comment further.
The agency has about 100 Fugitive Operations Teams around the country; in fiscal year 2008, the teams made more than 34,000 arrests.
The report also found that Latinos were a disproportionate number of collateral arrests. In both New Jersey and on Long Island, two-thirds of the targeted detainees were Latino. But 87 percent of collateral arrests in New Jersey were Latino, as were 94 percent of the collateral arrests in Long Island.
Collateral arrest records can indicate why the person was seized and questioned. But the report found that almost all of the records that didn't contain that information were for Latinos taken into custody. The report said that supported community complaints that Latinos were targeted for arrest simply because of how they looked or how well they spoke English.
The report makes several recommendations, including limiting the use of home raids to a last resort for targets who pose a serious risk to national security or have violent criminal records; the use of judicial rather than administrative warrants, and the videotaping of all home raids.
It also calls for the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General to conduct an investigation.
"These are violations that go to the very heart of the Constitutional expectation of privacy in this country," Markowitz said.
Two black Harvard professors arrested just because they're black
Black scholar's arrest (Harvard Scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr.)
AP
By MELISSA TRUJILLO, Associated Press Writer Melissa Trujillo, Associated Press Writer
BOSTON – Police responding to a call about "two black males" breaking into a home near Harvard University ended up arresting the man who lives there — Henry Louis Gates Jr., the nation's pre-eminent black scholar.
Gates had forced his way through the front door because it was jammed, his lawyer said. Colleagues call the arrest last Thursday afternoon a clear case of racial profiling.
Cambridge police say they responded to the well-maintained two-story home after a woman reported seeing "two black males with backpacks on the porch," with one "wedging his shoulder into the door as if he was trying to force entry."
By the time police arrived, Gates was already inside. Police say he refused to come outside to speak with an officer, who told him he was investigating a report of a break-in.
"Why, because I'm a black man in America?" Gates said, according to a police report written by Sgt. James Crowley. The Cambridge police refused to comment on the arrest Monday.
Gates — the director of Harvard's W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research — initially refused to show the officer his identification, but then gave him a Harvard University ID card, according to police.
"Gates continued to yell at me, accusing me of racial bias and continued to tell me that I had not heard the last of him," the officer wrote.
Gates said he turned over his driver's license and Harvard ID — both with his photos — and repeatedly asked for the name and badge number of the officer, who refused. He said he then followed the officer as he left his house onto his front porch, where he was handcuffed in front of other officers, Gates said in a statement released by his attorney, fellow Harvard scholar Charles Ogletree, on a Web site Gates oversees, TheRoot.com
He was arrested on a disorderly conduct charge after police said he "exhibited loud and tumultuous behavior." He was released later that day on his own recognizance. An arraignment was scheduled for Aug. 26.
Gates, 58, also refused to speak publicly Monday, referring calls to Ogletree.
"He was shocked to find himself being questioned and shocked that the conversation continued after he showed his identification," Ogletree said.
Ogletree declined to say whether he believed the incident was racially motivated, saying "I think the incident speaks for itself."
Some of Gates' African-American colleagues say the arrest is part of a pattern of racial profiling in Cambridge.
Allen Counter, who has taught neuroscience at Harvard for 25 years, said he was stopped on campus by two Harvard police officers in 2004 after being mistaken for a robbery suspect. They threatened to arrest him when he could not produce identification.
"We do not believe that this arrest would have happened if professor Gates was white," Counter said. "It really has been very unsettling for African-Americans throughout Harvard and throughout Cambridge that this happened."
The Rev. Al Sharpton is vowing to attend Gates' arraignment.
"This arrest is indicative of at best police abuse of power or at worst the highest example of racial profiling I have seen," Sharpton said. "I have heard of driving while black and even shopping while black but now even going to your own home while black is a new low in police community affairs."
Ogletree said Gates had returned from a trip to China on Thursday with a driver, when he found his front door jammed. He went through the back door into the home — which he leases from Harvard — shut off an alarm and worked with the driver to get the door open. The driver left, and Gates was on the phone with the property's management company when police first arrived.
Ogletree also disputed the claim that Gates, who was wearing slacks and a polo shirt and carrying a cane, was yelling at the officer.
"He has an infection that has impacted his breathing since he came back from China, so he's been in a very delicate physical state," Ogletree said.
Lawrence D. Bobo, the W.E.B Du Bois Professor of the Social Sciences at Harvard, said he met with Gates at the police station and described his colleague as feeling humiliated and "emotionally devastated."
"It's just deeply disappointing but also a pointed reminder that there are serious problems that we have to wrestle with," he said.
Bobo said he hoped Cambridge police would drop the charges and called on the department to use the incident to review training and screening procedures it has in place.
The Middlesex district attorney's office said it could not do so until after Gates' arraignment. The woman who reported the apparent break-in did not return a message Monday.
Gates joined the Harvard faculty in 1991 and holds one of 20 prestigious "university professors" positions at the school. He also was host of "African American Lives," a PBS show about the family histories of prominent U.S. blacks, and was named by Time magazine as one of the 25 most influential Americans in 1997.
"I was obviously very concerned when I learned on Thursday about the incident," Harvard president Drew Gilpin Faust said in a statement. "He and I spoke directly and I have asked him to keep me apprised."
AP
By MELISSA TRUJILLO, Associated Press Writer Melissa Trujillo, Associated Press Writer
BOSTON – Police responding to a call about "two black males" breaking into a home near Harvard University ended up arresting the man who lives there — Henry Louis Gates Jr., the nation's pre-eminent black scholar.
Gates had forced his way through the front door because it was jammed, his lawyer said. Colleagues call the arrest last Thursday afternoon a clear case of racial profiling.
Cambridge police say they responded to the well-maintained two-story home after a woman reported seeing "two black males with backpacks on the porch," with one "wedging his shoulder into the door as if he was trying to force entry."
By the time police arrived, Gates was already inside. Police say he refused to come outside to speak with an officer, who told him he was investigating a report of a break-in.
"Why, because I'm a black man in America?" Gates said, according to a police report written by Sgt. James Crowley. The Cambridge police refused to comment on the arrest Monday.
Gates — the director of Harvard's W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research — initially refused to show the officer his identification, but then gave him a Harvard University ID card, according to police.
"Gates continued to yell at me, accusing me of racial bias and continued to tell me that I had not heard the last of him," the officer wrote.
Gates said he turned over his driver's license and Harvard ID — both with his photos — and repeatedly asked for the name and badge number of the officer, who refused. He said he then followed the officer as he left his house onto his front porch, where he was handcuffed in front of other officers, Gates said in a statement released by his attorney, fellow Harvard scholar Charles Ogletree, on a Web site Gates oversees, TheRoot.com
He was arrested on a disorderly conduct charge after police said he "exhibited loud and tumultuous behavior." He was released later that day on his own recognizance. An arraignment was scheduled for Aug. 26.
Gates, 58, also refused to speak publicly Monday, referring calls to Ogletree.
"He was shocked to find himself being questioned and shocked that the conversation continued after he showed his identification," Ogletree said.
Ogletree declined to say whether he believed the incident was racially motivated, saying "I think the incident speaks for itself."
Some of Gates' African-American colleagues say the arrest is part of a pattern of racial profiling in Cambridge.
Allen Counter, who has taught neuroscience at Harvard for 25 years, said he was stopped on campus by two Harvard police officers in 2004 after being mistaken for a robbery suspect. They threatened to arrest him when he could not produce identification.
"We do not believe that this arrest would have happened if professor Gates was white," Counter said. "It really has been very unsettling for African-Americans throughout Harvard and throughout Cambridge that this happened."
The Rev. Al Sharpton is vowing to attend Gates' arraignment.
"This arrest is indicative of at best police abuse of power or at worst the highest example of racial profiling I have seen," Sharpton said. "I have heard of driving while black and even shopping while black but now even going to your own home while black is a new low in police community affairs."
Ogletree said Gates had returned from a trip to China on Thursday with a driver, when he found his front door jammed. He went through the back door into the home — which he leases from Harvard — shut off an alarm and worked with the driver to get the door open. The driver left, and Gates was on the phone with the property's management company when police first arrived.
Ogletree also disputed the claim that Gates, who was wearing slacks and a polo shirt and carrying a cane, was yelling at the officer.
"He has an infection that has impacted his breathing since he came back from China, so he's been in a very delicate physical state," Ogletree said.
Lawrence D. Bobo, the W.E.B Du Bois Professor of the Social Sciences at Harvard, said he met with Gates at the police station and described his colleague as feeling humiliated and "emotionally devastated."
"It's just deeply disappointing but also a pointed reminder that there are serious problems that we have to wrestle with," he said.
Bobo said he hoped Cambridge police would drop the charges and called on the department to use the incident to review training and screening procedures it has in place.
The Middlesex district attorney's office said it could not do so until after Gates' arraignment. The woman who reported the apparent break-in did not return a message Monday.
Gates joined the Harvard faculty in 1991 and holds one of 20 prestigious "university professors" positions at the school. He also was host of "African American Lives," a PBS show about the family histories of prominent U.S. blacks, and was named by Time magazine as one of the 25 most influential Americans in 1997.
"I was obviously very concerned when I learned on Thursday about the incident," Harvard president Drew Gilpin Faust said in a statement. "He and I spoke directly and I have asked him to keep me apprised."
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