Streak continues: Indian-American speller from Ohio claims bee victory; 8th in 12 years

Spelling bee winner part of Indian-American streak

WASHINGTON – Shantanu Srivatsa and Anamika Veeramani sat nervously, side by side on stage.
Once again, an Indian-American was going to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee. It was just a matter of what word and what time on Friday.
Shantanu, 13, an eighth-grader from West Fargo, N.D., stepped to the …. Source  : Streak continues: Indian-American speller from Ohio claims bee victory; 8th in 12 years.

Anamika Veeramani Wins Spelling Bee

OLYMPIA (GaeaTimes.com)- 14 year old North Royalton resident Anamika Veeramani was awarded the first prize in the Scripps National Spelling Bee Championship of 2010. The event took place on Friday night at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Washington DC and was broadcast live on ABC. Anamika Veeramani beat 272 other contestants from across the … Read : Anamika Veeramani Wins Spelling Bee.

Indian-American teen wins Spelling Bee crown

WASHINGTON – Spelling ‘juvia’ and ’stromuhr’ correctly, Indian American Anamika Veeramani has won the 2010 Scripps National Spelling Bee crown to retain the honour for the ‘desis’ for the third year in a row.

“I’m really, really happy. This is one of the best moments of my life,” said the 14-year-old from North Royalton, Ohio, … Read more >>.

Cleveland wins! 14-year-old ends Ohio drought, spells ’stromuhr’ to win National Spelling Bee

Teen breaks Cleveland drought, wins Spelling Bee

WASHINGTON – Who says Cleveland can’t win a championship?
The long-suffering sports city – which can’t seem to win a trophy on a court or a field – captured one in a hotel ballroom Friday night when 14-year-old Anamika Veeramani took first prize at the 83rd Scripps National Spelling Bee.
“Go … Read : Cleveland wins! 14-year-old ends Ohio drought, spells ’stromuhr’ to win National Spelling Bee.

Great coach, even better man: Here’s to John Wooden and a life well lived

Here’s to John Wooden and a life well lived

LOS ANGELES – He was a coach when coaching meant something else, long before the job became a pathway to riches and fame.
A coach when student athletes were really students, and the thought of making millions of dollars rolling out basketballs in the gym seemed preposterous.
A coach … Original source on Gaea Times at : Great coach, even better man: Here’s to John Wooden and a life well lived.

Ohio teen spells ’stromuhr’ to win National Spelling Bee, 3rd straight Indian-American champ

Ohio teen wins National Spelling Bee
WASHINGTON – No theatrical flourishes for Anamika Veeramani. She kept her hands behind her back and rattled off the letters of every word she was given – until she was crowned the spelling bee champion.

The 14-year-old girl from North Royalton, Ohio, won the 83rd Scripps National Spelling Bee on Friday, … Original source on Gaea Times at : Ohio teen spells ’stromuhr’ to win National Spelling Bee, 3rd straight Indian-American champ.

Jamaal Wilkes: Former UCLA coach and Hall of Famer John Wooden is lucid, but frail in hospital

Former player says Wooden is lucid but frail

LOS ANGELES – Former UCLA basketball coach and Hall of Famer John Wooden remained hospitalized Friday with little information being released about his condition, although a recent visitor described him as alert but frail.
Former UCLA and Los Angeles Lakers star Jamaal Wilkes told The Associated Press that he …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

8 finalists, Shaq and a controversial decision supply lots of drama at National Spelling Bee

Finalists compete for National Spelling Bee crown

WASHINGTON – After a round that lasted 7 hours – with a long pause in between – the spelling bee finally had its eight finalists.
Four boys and four girls remained Friday night to vie for the title of champion speller at the 83rd Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Among the spellers … Read this article on Gaea Times at : 8 finalists, Shaq and a controversial decision supply lots of drama at National Spelling Bee.

Calif. teacher pension fund delays decision about whether to drop its expected rate of return

Calif. teacher pension fund delays rate decision

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The board of the California State Teachers’ Retirement System has delayed a decision about whether it should decrease the rate of return it expects to receive on its investments.
If the returns shrink, local school districts and the state would be asked to pay more to ensure …. Read the original article  : Calif. teacher pension fund delays decision about whether to drop its expected rate of return.

Shaq and a controversy: Plenty of drama as 10 advance to prime-time at National Spelling Bee

Shaq and controversy on final day of Spelling Bee

WASHINGTON – Even Shaquille O’Neal got overshadowed by a bit of controversy at the spelling bee.
O’Neal walked onstage Friday at the Scripps National Spelling Bee and challenged last year’s winner to a spell-off, but he didn’t generate anywhere near the passion created by a decision to suspend …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Shaq and a controversy: Plenty of drama as 10 advance to prime-time at National Spelling Bee.

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor returns to old Bronx elementary school, housing project

Sotomayor revisits her NYC school, housing project

NEW YORK – U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor returned Friday to the Bronx housing project where she spent part of her childhood, recalling how an unlikely encounter there with Robert F. Kennedy ignited her passion for public service.
The Bronx native fought back tears at the ceremony renaming the … Original source on Gaea Times at : Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor returns to old Bronx elementary school, housing project.

Private employers hold back hiring in May; gov’t fuels 413,000 gain with temp census hires

Private employers hold back on hiring in May
WASHINGTON – A swell in temporary government hiring for the census drove almost all the job market’s gains last month – a huge disappointment to Wall Street and a sign that private employers aren’t yet confident enough in the recovery to …. Original article  : Private employers hold back hiring in May; gov’t fuels 413,000 gain with temp census hires.

Shaq and a controversy: All in a day’s excitement as finals approach at National Spelling Bee

Shaq and controversy on finals day at Spelling Bee

WASHINGTON – Even Shaquille O’Neal got overshadowed by a bit of controversy at the spelling bee.
O’Neal walked onstage Friday at the Scripps National Spelling Bee and challenged last year’s winner to a spell-off, but the presence of the NBA great didn’t generate anywhere near the passion created … Read more : Shaq and a controversy: All in a day’s excitement as finals approach at National Spelling Bee.

California high school ends ‘Beat the Jew’ game; 7 seniors face discipline

Calif. high school ends ‘Beat the Jew’ game

LOS ANGELES – Seven seniors at a Southern California high school were facing disciplinary action for participating in a game called “Beat the Jew” in which losers were subjected to “incineration” or “enslavement,” a school administrator said Friday.
The game involved some students playing the role of Nazis who … Read : California high school ends ‘Beat the Jew’ game; 7 seniors face discipline.

EPA cites concern for endangered species as feds ponder selling NY animal lab island

EPA seeks thorough review of NY animal lab site

GARDEN CITY, N.Y. – A federal review of the proposed sale of a remote island housing an animal disease laboratory must include a study of any impact lab testing had on the environment, as well as consideration of endangered bird species found there, two EPA officials said … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : EPA cites concern for endangered species as feds ponder selling NY animal lab island.

10 advance to finals of National Spelling Bee; champion to be crowned Friday night

10 advance to finals of National Spelling Bee

WASHINGTON – Ten spellers have advanced to the finals of the 83rd Scripps National Spelling Bee.
The spellers are all that remained from the 273 that began the week at the competition in Washington, D.C.
Forty-eight advanced to the semifinals Friday morning, and they were whittled down to the group … Read more >>.

Spelling bee favorite knocked out in semifinals; champion to be crowned Friday night

Spelling bee favorite knocked out in semifinals

WASHINGTON – Tim Ruiter studied some 20,000 note cards to prepare for the National Spelling Bee, only to be stumped by a skirt worn by men in the Balkans.
The 13-year-old from Centreville, Va. – and the runner-up at last year’s bee – was eliminated in the first round of …. Source article  : Spelling bee favorite knocked out in semifinals; champion to be crowned Friday night.

Exiles, Hong Kongers, Taiwanese president break silence on 21st Tiananmen anniversary

Exiles, Hong Kongers break silence on Tiananmen

HONG KONG – Exiled student leaders, Hong Kong citizens and Taiwan’s president on Friday challenged China’s silence on the 21st anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown with tributes outside the mainland – and on the Internet.
Tens of thousands of people held aloft white candles at a large park … Read more >>>.

Spelling bee favorite who was runner-up last year is eliminated, stumped by ‘fustanella’

Spelling bee favorite knocked out in semifinal

WASHINGTON – Tim Ruiter studied some 20,000 note cards to prepare for the National Spelling Bee, only to be stumped by a skirt worn by men in the Balkans.
The 13-year-old from Centreville, Va. – and the runner-up at last year’s bee – was eliminated in the first round of … Read more : Spelling bee favorite who was runner-up last year is eliminated, stumped by ‘fustanella’.

E-mail reveals Ohio St president called Texas counterpart in unfolding Big Ten addition review

E-mail hints at Texas in Big Ten addition talks

COLUMBUS, Ohio – An e-mail sent by the president of Ohio State to the Big Ten’s commissioner hints that the conference is pursuing Texas as part of its expansion plans.
Ohio State president Gordon Gee told Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany in an April 20 e-mail that Gee … Read more : E-mail reveals Ohio St president called Texas counterpart in unfolding Big Ten addition review.