News Update 10/30/07

Weather: Needs to be added by forecaster!

National News

Charges are expected today in the slaying of a 24-year-old woman who responded to an online ad for a nanny on a popular community website. A 19-year-old man was arrested in the death of Katherine Ann Olson in what has been dubbed as the "Craigslist murder." Olson was found dead Friday night in the trunk of her car at a local nature preserve. Police have not discussed a motive for the slaying.

It's been more than two years since Hurricane Katrina tore through New Orleans levees and many of the city's police and firefighters are still working out of temporary trailers. But according to the city's recovery director Ed Blakely all of that is about to change. Blakely told reporters yesterday that the recent approval of 200-million-dollars in state-issued bonds will help push repairs on police buildings and firehouses into full swing. He says the goal is to complete the repairs before the third anniversary of Katrina.

Instead of canceling her concert in San Diego due to wildfires in the area, singer Gwen Stefani has decided to perform and donate all proceeds to the fire victims. E! Online reports in a recent radio interview, Stefani said she initially thought about cancelling her concert out of respect, but decided donating would be more useful. She is scheduled to perform tonight at Cox Arena. Meanwhile, Los Angeles Galaxy star David Beckham is also pitching in to aid the wildfire victims. He will join his team for a fundraising match against Hollywood United FC on November 4th.

Campus News

The Counseling Center staff and Health Educator, Tracy Moore, invites all students to attend an informal, “drop in” gathering in McGauvran Student Center, 2nd floor, on Wednesday, Oct. 31 from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. The Counseling Center staff and interns will be available for questions and information about their services, which are free and confidential. Tracy Moore and UML student members of “Active Minds,” will be present also. Active Minds is a national organization formed by college student Alison Malmon, who after losing her brother to suicide, developed a passion for promoting awareness of mental health. New members are welcome to join. There will be Snacks and possibly some giveaways!

The Student Veterans' Organization needs help, sending care packages to US Troops over-seas. Help send them a bit of home for the upcoming holiday season with cards, candy, toiletries, coffee, books, magazines, CD's, DVD's... the list goes on! The packages will be collected from Nov. 1st to Nov 21st at multiple collection sites on campus; including in McGauvran near the SIC booth, Campus Rec Center, and Southwick Food Court. For a complete list of donation items and collection sites contact Michael Peeples at michael_peeples@student.uml.edu. Or visit the Current Students page on the UML website!

The UMass Lowell English Department and the Barnes and Noble Bookstore at UMass Lowell will host a reading by Augusten Burroughs (author of Running with Scissors and Possible Side Effects) and John Elder Robison (author of Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger’s). Burroughs and Robison will appear on Friday, Nov. 2, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. in the Comley Lane Theater at Mahoney Hall on UML's South Campus. This program is part of the 2007 Concord Festival of Authors, funded in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. The event is free and open to the public.
For additional information, contact Melissa_Pennell@uml.edu or 978-934-4198.

Sports

In 2004 it had taken the Red Sox 86 years to win another World Series! This time it was just four seasons in between wins! But this new time frame didn't stop fans from jamming Boston streets today for another victory parade. The streets were lined with adoring fans as the city celebrated the World Series champions: "our" Boston Red Sox today. Similar to 2004, the city held a Rolling Rally that began at Fenway Park and concluded near City Hall Plaza, with the team aboard Duck Boats. The team returned from Denver yesterday afternoon, after beating the Rockies in four straight games.

UMass Lowell Field Hockey, fresh of its fifth straight Northeast-10 Conference Tournament Championship, was selected as the No. 1 seed in the North Region and host of the 2007 NCAA Division II Field Hockey Championship, the NCAA announced Monday afternoon. UML will host the semifinal Friday, Nov. 9 and championship Sunday, Nov. 11 at the Cushing Field Complex. The NCAA championship match is slated for Sunday, Nov. 11 at 1:00.

That's the latest in weather, news, and sports on WUML Lowell 91.5 fm!