Monday, May 12 2008

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Monday, May 12, 2008

A first report following China's earthquake

State media is reporting a death toll of up to 5,000 following an 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck central China. BBC reporter Quentin Somerville provides an update.

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Hillary Clinton calls West Virginia’s May 13 primary a “test” for her and Barack Obama

Polls suggest voters in West Virginia are leaning toward Hillary Clinton. In the run-up to the state's May 13 primary, Clinton made a return trip to the state, and Obama is scheduled to visit soon too. Anna Sale updates The Takeaway. She's been reporting on the primary for West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

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California legislator proposes beer tax to fill state budget gap

The subprime credit crunch and rising oil prices have rattled the country's economy, and states are feeling the pressure as well. Twenty-eight states and the District of Columbia are expected to face budget deficits in 2009 following decreases in sales tax and property tax revenue. It's no worse than in California, which faces a $16 billion shortfall. But state lawmakers are getting creative. We talk with California Assemblyman Jim Beall, D-San Jose, who is proposing a "six-pack tax."

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Making Iraq accessible for the disabled

When public services crumble in Iraq, so does accessibility for the disabled. The Takeaway is joined by Tiana Tozer, who works for Mercy Corps, an organization that helps disabled Iraqis learn how to change cultural preconceptions and advocate for help.

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The Sunday pundit mash-up

The theme of Sunday's talk shows: Hillary is toast. But then again, anything could happen...

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Missouri aims to place additional demands on voter ID

The fight over voter identification requirements has heated up after the Supreme Court upheld Indiana's voter ID law. Nineteen states are considering new voter ID measures, but we focus on Missouri, which The New York Times' Ian Urbina tells us is the only proposal that could become law in time for November’s presidential election.

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Big Sue to fetch big bucks for "Benefits Supervisor Sleeping"

Sue Tilley met British painter Lucian Freud at a London nightclub. Now his painting of her is expected to fetch up to 35 million dollars — making it the most expensive work ever by a living artist.

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The latest from Myanmar in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis

Early this morning, the first U.S. plane carrying aid landed in Yangon. It's a rare move for the ruling junta, which has resisted offers for military aid, to allow the plane to land. It carries supplies like blankets and drinking water... but no aid workers. Peter Popham, roving foreign correspondent for The Independent, has been tracking the latest.

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