Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts after defeating Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic in a third round men's singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, England, Friday, June 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts after defeating Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic in a third round men's singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, England, Friday, June 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Maria Sharapova of Russia reacts during a third round women's singles against Su-Wei Hsieh of Taiwan at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, England, Friday, June 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)
Novak Djokovic of Serbia, right, is congratulated by Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic in a third round men's singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, England, Friday, June 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Maria Sharapova of Russia plays a return to Su-Wei Hsieh of Taiwan during a third round women's singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, England, Friday, June 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)
Novak Djokovic of Serbia reaches for a shot by Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic during a third round men's singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, England, Friday, June 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) ? Novak Djokovic is tough to beat at Wimbledon, outdoors or in.
Playing the day's first Centre Court match Friday under the retractable roof, defending champion Djokovic rallied past Radek Stepanek 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2.
When a drizzle delayed the start of the third round, tournament officials decided Djokovic's match should be played inside. An odd spectacle ensued: The roof closed as the sun came out and outside court covers came off.
The No. 1-ranked Djokovic missed opportunities to seize an early lead, failing to convert his first five break-point chances before he lost serve at love to drop the opening set. But he dominated from there, breaking in the first game in each of the final three sets.
Also advancing to the second week was top-ranked Maria Sharapova. She rallied from a break down in the second set to beat Hsieh Su-wei 6-1, 6-4.
American Sam Querrey hit the last of his 21 aces on match point and beat No. 21-seeded Milos Raonic, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (7), 7-6 (8), 6-4. That second-round match had been suspended in the third set Thursday because of rain.
Another American, 19-year-old Sloane Stephens, lost to Sabine Lisicki 7-6 (5), 1-6, 6-2.
Djokovic's fourth-round opponent will be 34th-ranked Viktor Troicki in an all-Serbian match. Troicki beat No. 15-seeded Juan Monaco 7-5, 7-5, 6-3.
Fans were still buzzing about Rafael Nadal's second-round defeat, which ended under the roof Thursday night, when Djokovic stepped onto the same court. His slow start briefly stirred speculation about another upset.
Stepanek, at 33 the oldest man left in the tournament, repeatedly played serve and volley and had Djokovic on his heels in the early going. Djokovic hit an improbable winner that skipped off the top of the net post and still lost the first set.
Then the match quickly swung his way, and the 28th-seeded Stepanek couldn't compete with Djokovic's mistake-free play. The Serb committed just 13 unforced errors in 221 points.
The match remained entertaining even as it became lopsided. One game in the final set lasted 26 points and had Djokovic smiling at Stepanek's unconventional style, which included a belly flop in pursuit of a shot.
The other half of the draw opened up when two-time champion Nadal lost to No. 100-ranked Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic, 6-7 (9), 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.
Nadal had reached the past five Grand Slam finals and won his seventh French Open title this month. He also had reached the final in his past five Wimbledons, winning the title in 2008 and 2010.
His departure creates an opportunity for three-time Wimbledon finalist Andy Roddick and Andy Murray, who seeks to become the tournament's first British champion since 1936. Both are on Nadal's side of the draw.
Rosol, who had lost in qualifying for Wimbledon in each of the last five years, simply outclassed Nadal with his powerful serving and booming ground strokes. He hit cross-court backhand winners that measured 99 mph, he stepped up to whip scorching forehand returns, and he served so well that Nadal hardly tried to get to them by the final game. The last one, his 22nd, came on match point.
"I'm not just surprised; it's like a miracle for me," Rosol said. "Like just some B team in Czech Republic can beat Real Madrid (in) soccer."
Rosol won his final 13 service points, seven with aces.
"Maybe it's once in life you can play like this against Rafael Nadal on Centre Court and you can win against him," Rosol said. "You know, it's not easy. I never expect it can happen, something like this."
In INFUSED,?a weekly column, Elizabeth J. Musgrave connects spirits, wine, and beer with culinary and creative arts.?
Summer time brings many enjoyable activities: swimming, picnics and family reunions. One of the main factors of pleasure at the relative catch-up is the food. Whether Grandma?s traditional dish, the newlywed?s epicurean attempts or Uncle Joe?s trusty barbecue, it is worth the drive to taste everyone?s culinary wizardry.
What if you could find a city that so closely resembles that same abundance of palate-pleasers that it would be worth the time to visit? Located less than a tank of gas away, Milwaukee is a reunion-style town filled with its culinary delights at every turn and ? just as with a summer time?s ever growing, extended family reunion ? all the relatives have shown up with their dishes of pride in this bordering-Lake Michigan town. A virtual smorgasbord of delights is tucked away in every corner of this revitalized family-reunion of a town. Without losing the family tree?s historical significance, Milwaukee embraces its younger, more energetic generation?s offerings.
Your mother?s Italian great uncle, Peter Sciortino?s Bakery, is there with delicious pastries like cannoli?over on Brady Street.
A distant cousin?s French husband, Bartolotta?s Lake Park Bistro, shows off his European flair with Terrine de Canard Truffee, Cote d'Agneau Grillees and well-appointed wine from his upscale, picturesque restaurant.
Usinger?s, the sweet-tempered aunt, brings her famous summer sausage and bratwurst still made in Uncle Fred?s original Old World style from charming Old World Third Street. Also representing the German side of the family at this reunion is everyone?s favorite great uncle, Mader?s, who always brings a stein of beer and traditional Rheinischer Sauerbraten.
Not to be outdone, and always wanting to bring wonderful aromas to the table, is the family?s eccentric cousin, The Spice House, located in historic Third Ward District with its fresh and exotic spices.
Never much of a cook, that uber-cool brother-in-law, Great Lakes Distillery, Wisconsin?s first distillery since Prohibition, brings along adult beverages for the over-21 relatives, including Rehorst honey-flavored vodka. Of course at every reunion, is that well-traveled clan, Milwaukee Public Market, who always brings a surprise culinary treat. And, naturally, big sister, Milwaukee Food Tours, who always knows exactly where to go and what to try, is there giving locals and visitors alike the chance to nibble and sip their way around the buffet of gastro fare. Little brother and hip Harley rider, Iron Horse Hotel, shares smart cocktails and upscale nibblers from his outdoor lounge, The Yard.
Visiting Milwaukee is like walking along the pot luck family reunion food table. Whatever you can dream up, it is there. Midwest comfort food, Old World style, fine French cuisine and the latest contemporary dining options are ready to impress everyone and definitely worth the drive.
Bottom Line: With all its culinary options, you can skip the family reunion this year and, instead, head to Milwaukee. Heck, they practically dare you.
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[Photo Credits: Elizabeth J. Musgrave; Izzy Evans]
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Elizabeth J. Musgrave?is a syndicated columnist, travel writer, performing arts and restaurant critic. Catch her newest column, Infused at GottaGo.us and FoodandDrinkDigital.com, and as Indy?s Entertainment Adviser on 93 WIBC. Follow her on Twitter @GottaGo, LinkedIn and Facebook. Gotta Go is published on Gottago.us, BroadwayWorld.com, in M magazine and the following newspapers: South Sider Voice, Indiana Weekender, New Palestine Reporter, Pendleton Times Reporter and Fortville-McCordsville Reporter.
WARSAW, Poland (AP) ? England and Italy are vying for the last semifinal berth at the European Championship ? and the winner will play Germany. Follow all of the action and build-up here. All times are Polish.
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2136: Oddly, Wayne Rooney and Andrea Pirlo swapped shirts as the players went off for halftime, despite having at least another 45 minutes to play. If the scores are still level then, there will be 30 minutes of extra time to determine a winner. If neither side is able to book a spot in the semifinal after that, there will be a penalty shoot-out.
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2133: Italy edged it but most of the chances have fallen to Balotelli, who is yet to bring a meaningful save out of Joe Hart.
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2130: HALF-TIME: England 0, Italy 0.
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2128: Great moment from Pirlo, who shows just why he is so highly regarded as he floats a pass into Cassano at the back post. Cassano heads the ball back into the path of Balotelli in the center, but Lescott gets to it first and, somehow, from point blank range, pokes the ball over the bar for a corner, which England clears.
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2125: Fantastic play by Cassano, receiving the ball from Balotelli 25 yards out with his back to goal, before instantly turning and unleashing a stinging right-footed drive that Hart palms up into the air before pouncing upon the rebound.
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2121: England goes straight up the other end, Rooney and Welbeck linking up with a neat one-two before Welbeck sidefoots the ball over the bar from the edge of the penalty area. Good, entertaining game so far.
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2119: Good chance for Balotelli who gets inbetween Johnson and Terry as Marchisio clips a looping ball into his path. The Italian forward hits a tame effort on the half volley straight at Hart, his Manchester City teammate in the England goal. He had more time than he realized and was disgusted with himself as Hart made a simple stop.
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2114: Johnson has slipped over twice now when quickly changing direction and sprinting after the ball. That decision to water the pitch 15 minutes before kick off seems to be hindering the England defender and perhaps a change of footwear could be in order. Mind you, nobody else seems to be suffering in the same way.
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2110: Wayne Rooney has started to play a bit deeper in the last five minutes or so. Andrea Pirlo, the midfield dangerman who won the 2006 World Cup with Italy, has yet to see much of the ball and the Italians will have to bring him into the game more if they want to gain a greater control of the play.
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2106: The English are definitely enjoying the better of the early proceedings and look threatening going forward. Both Roy Hodgson and Cesare Prandelli have spent time in their technical areas barking out instructions to the their players but you would expect it is Hodgson who is the happier with the start to the game.
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2100: Another great chance for England. Johnson swings an inviting cross into the penalty area from the right and Rooney bends his run to meet the delivery, but he flicks his diving header well over the bar under pressure from a defender.
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2058: England seems to be encouraged by that chance from Johnson, with Wayne Rooney breaking away down the left to force a corner. The Italians clear the imminent pressure but the ball is crossed back into the center and, after an unorthodox punch away from Buffon, Parker drills the ball wide from outside the penalty area.
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2052: And now it's England's turn to go close. England works the ball down the right and Milner delivers a low cross into the penalty area and after a couple of deflections, it lands between the feet of Johnson. The right back eventually gets his shot away and it seems destined for the back of the net from close range but Buffon makes a splendid save, clawing the ball up in the air and catching the rebound.
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2050: So close! De Rossi sends a left-footed shot on the bounce crashing off the post. The ball is pulled back to the midfield man who, with the outside of his boot, sends a shot swerving onto the face of the left post from 25 yards, with an outstretched Hart in the England goal comprehensively beaten. Early letoff for Roy Hodgson's side.
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2045: And the match gets underway, with Italy, in blue, kicking off.
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2042: A rousing rendition of the Italian national anthem by Buffon, roaring out the lyrics with his eyes closed.
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2040: Buffon and Gerrard lead their teams out.
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2035: gdunbarap: Kiev pitch being watered 15 mins before kickoff. Italy happy to agree to it vs England, but not Spain 2 weeks ago. (via Twitter.)
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2030: For England, Ashley Cole, Steven Gerrard, Ashley Young, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are all a yellow card away from missing a potential semifinal clash against Germany. For Italy, goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is joined on the list of bookings by Fedricio Balzaretti, Mario Balotelli, Daniele De Rossi, Riccardo Montolivo and Leonardo Bonucci.
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2020: So Mario Balotelli starts for Italy against three of his Manchester City teammates in the England side: Joe Hart, Joleon Lescott and James Milner. England are unchanged from the side that beat Ukraine 1-0 in the last Group D match. That means Wayne Rooney partners Danny Welbeck in attack, with Andy Carroll and Theo Walcott starting on the substitutes' bench.
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1950: Italy forward Mario Balotelli returns to the starting lineup to face an unchanged England team. Balotelli is selected ahead of Antonio Di Natale. Defender Giorgio Chiellini injured his left hamstring against the Irish and his Juventus teammate Leonardo Bonucci continues to fill in. Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has opted for Riccardo Montolivo in midfield over Thiago Motta.
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1945: Here are the lineups:
England: Joe Hart, Ashley Cole, Glen Johnson, Joleon Lescott, John Terry, Steven Gerrard, James Milner, Scott Parker, Ashley Young, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck.
Italy: Gianluigi Buffon, Ignazio Abate, Federico Balzaretti, Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci, Daniele De Rossi, Claudio Marchisio, Riccardo Montolivo, Andrea Pirlo, Mario Balotelli, Antonio Cassano.
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1940: AP's Rob Harris, in Kiev: "For the first time at Euro 2012, England fans are making their presence felt in Kiev ahead of the quarterfinal against Italy. Logistical problems getting to the outer reaches of eastern Europe seem to have been partly overcome. The chorus of "We are the Champions" seems a tad premature though."
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1835: Defending champion Spain is hoping the extra two days rest that Portugal has before the semifinal encounter on Wednesday will not prove to be of advantage when they compete for a place in the final in Donetsk.
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1815: simonhaydon: Pedro Proenca was nursing broken teeth after being headbutted by a fan. Ten months later, he refs Italy vs England tonight (via Twitter.)
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1500: Former Portugal great Eusebio is in stable condition after undergoing tests on his heart. The 70-year-old Eusebio was admitted to hospital in Poznan late Saturday after feeling ill and suffering what was initially suspected to be a heart attack, hospital spokesman Stanislaw Rusek said. Doctors performed a coronary catheterization, which determined that Eusebio had not had a heart attack but merely complications from poor health. "I had the chance to speak to him this morning and asked him whether his heart hurt at all," Rusek told The Associated Press. "He smiled and said, 'not at all,' and that shows that this morning he was in good form."
It?s the latest aftershock from the housing bust: Across the country, rents are rising. Nearly 4 million families have transitioned into rentals since the foreclosure wave began; meanwhile, new construction largely dried up after the housing bubble burst. The result: Vacancy rates in many cities are low and prices are going up.
The National Association of Realtors projects a 4 percent average increase in rents nationally this year and 4 percent in 2013. It has motivated aspiring landlords to snap up property and pushed Wall Street firms to pursue buying lender-owned properties in bulk. It also means the deals renters could finagle during the worst of the downturn no longer exist in the cities that have rebounded most strongely.
Forbes.com: 10 U.S. cities where buying beats renting
Take Minneapolis. With a tight vacancy rate of 2.5 percent, the average rent in the metro area is $965 per month, up 2.3 percent from this time last year. With home prices down more than 30 percent since 2006, it?s actually cheaper to buy. The average monthly mortgage payment on a home bought now would be $122 less than the average rent. That put Minneapolis in second place on Forbes? annual list of the worst cities for renters this year. ?The rental market here has been hot for about a year,? said Teresa Boardman, a realtor with Saint Paul Home Realty. She said rental properties in downtown Minneapolis and around the University of Minnesota have been in particularly high demand. ?My daughter had a one-bedroom apartment for almost $900, and I mean it was very small. I have clients renting efficiency apartments, and those are going to $850 to $900 a month.?
Forbes.com: In Pictures: The best and worst cities for renters
To find the places where renters fare the best and worst, we started with the 44 largest U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) and Metropolitan Divisions (MSADs). These are cities and their surrounding suburbs as defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget.
With the help of Marcus & Millichap, an Encino, Calif.-based real estate investment firm, we ranked these metro areas according to four criteria: average rent in the first quarter of 2012; how much that price has changed year-over-year; vacancy rates, because more empty units mean more choices and, typically, better prices; and the difference between the average monthly rental payment versus monthly mortgage payments (including taxes and insurance on a home at the local median asking price with a 30-year mortgage at 4.5 percent with 20 percent down).
Forbes.com: America's most affordable cities
If the Twin Cities? rental market is sparking, New York is on fire. While rents have always been notoriously high in the Big Apple, it still has long been considered a place where renting beats buying. That?s changed. The New York metro area now takes the top spot on our list of worst places for renters.
A mortgage payment on a median-priced home in the metro area currently costs $217 less than a rent check. ?They?re almost on par, which is amazing because it has usually been the reverse,? said Hessam Nadji, a managing director at Marcus & Millichap.
Forbes.com: The best cities to buy a home right now
He notes that rents in New York City only fell 10 percent to 12 percent in the downturn, and only during the worst of the 2009 recession. Thanks in large part to stronger-than-anticipated job growth, a rental market recovery took root in 2010; by the end of 2011, the rental market had not only recovered its pre-recession level prices, it started to surpass them.
Forbes.com: 12 must-know tips before becoming a landlord
The biggest rent increases have been in Manhattan, where the vacancy rate is an astoundingly low 1 percent, said Gary Malin, president of Citi Habitats. His real estate brokerage, which tracks local rent data on a monthly basis, reports that the borough?s rents are at an all-time high of 1.3 percent above the former 2007 peak. And they?ll keep climbing. A mere 2,600 additional apartment units are projected to become available in 2012, the lowest number in years. ?The reality is there isn?t a lot of new inventory to keep up with demand,? said Malin.
Other cities where rising rents are making it hard on the pocketbook are San Jose, Calif. (No. 4 on our list), Washington, D.C. (No. 6), and Boston (No. 7). ?The primary coastal metros are markets with incredibly low vacancies where it?s really hard to add units because of regulations,? explained Nadji. He said rents are surging in places where job growth has been relatively robust during the past year.
On the flip side, rental bargains can still be found in many of the cities rocked by the real estate bust. No. 1 on our list of best cities for renters: Tucson, Ariz., where the average monthly rent is just $652, a 1.6 percent increase from last year. The vacancy rate is 6 percent, helped by a relatively large pool of unsold, vacant homes, translating into more choices and reasonable rents for locals happy to stay away from an uncertain home market.
Forbes.com: American cities with the most construction under way
The renting is also good in Texas: San Antonio ranks fourth on our list of the best cities for renters and Houston is No. 6. The state is adding jobs and population, but thanks to a lack of building regulations and zoning, developers have little trouble erecting new houses and apartment complexes to keep pace with demand. ?Texas is the country?s highest construction region over a long-term period of time,? said Nadji. San Antonio has a 6.7 percent vacancy rate and Houston?s is 8.1 percent. Average rents in both metro areas are under $800.\
Latest peek at the saga's finale offers up first looks at newbies Lee Pace, Rami Malek and more. By Amy Wilkinson
Vampires in "Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2" Photo:
Jacob Black may have said it best: "A lot of red eyes around here."
The latest teaser trailer for "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2" hit the Web Wednesday (June 20), and it's brimming with a bounty of new bloodsuckers descending upon Forks to defend the Cullen clan (including newborn Renesmee) against the villainous Volturi. Let's take a closer look at the saga's fresh blood.
OK, this isn't exactly our first glimpse of the Denali coven member, as she made a brief appearance at Bella and Edward's nuptials during "Breaking Dawn - Part 1." But her role in the series finale is profound enough to warrant a mention. You see, it's Irina who tells the Volturi that the Cullens have supposedly created an immortal child — the result of biting a youngster, freezing them in a perpetual adolescence. Of course, we know that Renesmee is a rare vampire-human hybrid, having been conceived by Bella and Edward. The Volturi don't know that, though, so they set off to exact punishment for the high crime.
No, that isn't Mark Wahlberg reprising his "Rock Star" role, it's "Pushing Daisies" actor Lee Pace looking all kinds of scruffy as nomadic vampire Garrett. (No room for a blow-dryer on the road, I guess!) Unlike many of the assembled immortals, Garrett doesn't have a special talent — except maybe fortitude, as his ability to endure fellow vampire Kate's powers stops her from attacking the Volturi and inciting a blood bath. In the trailer, it looks as though Garrett may have already aligned himself with the Denali coven before the events of "Breaking Dawn," which would be a departure from Stephenie Meyer's source material.
One of the more intriguing moments from the latest look is Benjamin's rather damp display of talent. The Egyptian coven member can control the elements and does so in grand fashion, bending a swath of water to his will. Like Bella, Benjamin spends a great deal of time during "Part 2" practicing and harnessing his abilities for use against the Volturi.
The blond bloodsucker you see sparingly throughout the trailer is English vamp Alistair, a longtime friend of Carlisle Cullen. Alistair spends most of his time sulking in the attic and disappears before the Volturi arrive. Seeing as he gets a few good looks here, it wouldn't be unreasonable to think he might stick around for the final face-off in this iteration.
Zafrina and Senna, along with maker Kachiri, comprise the Amazon coven. Zafrina boasts the ability to create vivid illusions and spends time entertaining Renesmee with her mental images. But it's Kachiri (not seen in the trailer) who helps Alice and Jasper track down important immortal-children evidence to present to the Volturi in the Cullens' defense. "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2" hits theaters November 16.
Are you excited to see the new vampires in action?
On June 20th, 2012, posted in: Choir, Concert, Cooking, Culture, Dance, Debating, Drama, Ensembles, Featured, Galleries, Houses, News, Photography Society, Public Speaking, Vocal Ensemble by Pat
Tags: Achievement, Concert, Culture, Eisteddfod
In 2010 an new tradition was started? it was one which provided a platform for girls with significant talent in the arts to reveal some of their work.?It?was thought that?it should take the form of a two-day Wynberg Eisteddfod, that it?should be organised?every alternate year -?those in which we were?not responsible for?hosting the major production ? and?it should happen?in the last week of the second term. The intention is both to celebrate excellence and to encourage participation in the arts.
What an amazing two days we have had.? With more than a quarter of the school participating in the event, and classes being invited as audiences at various times during the day it really is an extraordinary event. Categories include the Culinary Arts ? Junior and Senior; the Visual Arts including photography and film; Creative Writing; Drama, Public Speaking, Debating, Dance and Music ? vocal and instrumental. It?s huge. As a teacher photographing and at times filming some of these performances it is moving and inspiring to see these young girls ? women ? putting themselves in the very glaring spotlight.
To share some of these extraordinary performances with you, we will be hosting an Eisteddfod Concert at 19:00 in the Aileen Currie Hall. There is no charge (although if you would like to make a donation, we would be happy to accept it) but we do invite you to come and see a selection of the best performances we have seen over the last two days.
What you can expect includes the winning houseplay, directed by Carly Katzef and? Kelley-Beth Oliphant, the award-winning Senior Drama Group, our award-winning Vocal Ensemble, some?top dancers?and a visual arts and photographic exhibition. We have soloists, ensembles, duos, trios in the fields of music, drama, dance and public speaking.
Wynberg parents, you have amazing daughters. Bring your family and friends to celebrate their achievements.
Dorothy Sandusky, wife of former Penn State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky arrives at the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte, Pa., Tuesday, June 19, 2012. Jerry Sandusky is charged with 51 counts of child sexual abuse involving 10 boys over a period of 15 years. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Dorothy Sandusky, wife of former Penn State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky arrives at the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte, Pa., Tuesday, June 19, 2012. Jerry Sandusky is charged with 51 counts of child sexual abuse involving 10 boys over a period of 15 years. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Former Penn State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky arrives at the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte, Pa., Tuesday, June 19, 2012. Sandusky is charged with 51 counts of child sexual abuse involving 10 boys over a period of 15 years. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Former Penn State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky arrives at the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte, Pa., Tuesday, June 19, 2012. Sandusky is charged with 51 counts of child sexual abuse involving 10 boys over a period of 15 years. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Former Penn State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky arrives at the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte, Pa., Tuesday, June 19, 2012. Sandusky is charged with 51 counts of child sexual abuse involving 10 boys over a period of 15 years. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Former Penn State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky arrives at the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte, Pa., Tuesday, June 19, 2012. Sandusky is charged with 51 counts of child sexual abuse involving 10 boys over a period of 15 years. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
BELLEFONTE, Pa. (AP) ? Jerry Sandusky's wife testified Tuesday that she remembers most of the men who told a jury that her husband sexually abused them, but she said he never had inappropriate contact with them as boys.
She also said that the basement where the boys would stay wasn't soundproof, a statement that contradicted one man's testimony that he screamed during an assault but couldn't be heard.
Defense lawyers called the former Penn State assistant football coach's wife to the witness stand Tuesday after they went after two investigators, suggesting that police shared details among accusers and planted the seeds of the alleged victims' evolving accounts of abuse.
The jury also heard from a psychologist who testified that Sandusky has a personality disorder that might explain the "creepy" letters he sent to one of his accusers. The defense also offered more testimony touting Jerry Sandusky's reputation as a family man and community stalwart.
Sandusky is charged with 51 criminal counts related to 10 alleged victims over a 15-year span. He's accused of engaging in illegal sexual contact ranging from fondling to forced oral and anal sex.
Dottie Sandusky has stood by her husband, posting his bail, accompanying him to court proceedings and issuing a statement in December that proclaimed his innocence and said that accusers were making up their stories. She is not charged in the case.
In her testimony she said she knew several of the accusers, some well. Some of them, she said, were "clingy" around her husband while another was "charming." Nearly all would stay overnight in the Sandusky home and her husband "would tell them good night," she said.
One witness testified last week that he was attacked by Jerry Sandusky in the basement of the ex-coach's home and cried out for help when Dottie Sandusky was upstairs. She, however, said the basement was not soundproof and she would have been able to hear shouting if she was upstairs.
She also rebutted one victim's claim that Sandusky tried to engage in oral sex with him while in a hotel bathroom at the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, Texas. The man said the assault was interrupted when Dottie Sandusky walked into an adjoining room.
"They were just standing ... in a hallway kind of thing... they had their clothes on, they were fully clothed," she said.
The psychologist, Elliot Atkins, told jurors that he diagnosed Sandusky with histrionic personality disorder after talking with the ex-coach for six hours.
People with the disorder often interact with others in inappropriately seductive ways and don't feel comfortable unless they're the center of attention, Atkins explained.
"Often these are people who did not have as much success in relationships ? emotional or romantic ? (and) relationships in life," he said, responding to questions from Sandusky lawyer Joe Amendola.
According to the National Institutes of Health, histrionic personality disorder occurs more often in women than in men.
Sandusky's attorney is hoping to convince jurors that the disorder could explain his client's letters to the accuser known as Victim 4 and other interaction that prosecutors allege show his grooming of victims.
A prosecution psychologist, John Sebastian O'Brien II, however, testified that Sandusky was a man who juggled many tasks at once, something not akin to the disorder.
"I don't see anything in any of that information to suggest he was a person with a personality disorder that caused him any problems," O'Brien said.
Amendola also questioned two state police investigators about what details they shared during interviews with the alleged victims, in particular with Victim 4.
Amendola asked retired Cpl. Joseph Leiter if investigators told interviewees about others who had stepped forward.
"In some of our interviews ... we did tell them," he said.
Asked why, Leiter said it was to let possible victims know they were not alone.
"Each of these accusers was very, very seriously injured, and very concerned, and we had told them ? especially prior to going to the grand jury ? that they wouldn't be alone, that there were others," Leiter said.
Leiter said that did not include sharing individual accusers' recollections of abuse, such as specific sex acts.
"We never told them what anyone else had ever told us," he said.
But Amendola later read Leiter portions of an interview transcript in which the investigator told the accuser that others had reported abuse that progressed to oral sex and rape.
Victim 4, now 28, testified last week that Sandusky sexually abused him in the locker-room showers and in hotels for five years while trying to ensure his silence with gifts and trips to bowl games.
On the stand, he admitted that he lied to police and his own lawyer about the alleged abuse, saying he had "denied it forever." But he testified calmly and firmly, saying Sandusky performed oral sex on him and sent him "creepy love letters."
The man's attorney, Ben Andreozzi, also was called to the stand and asked about a discussion he had with investigators during a break in an interview with his client.
On a difficult-to-hear recording of the discussion, Andreozzi and Leiter can be heard talking about the investigation while the accuser is out of the room.
Andreozzi acknowledged to jurors that a guilty verdict in Sandusky's trial could have an impact on his client if he files a civil lawsuit, but he told the court that hadn't been decided yet.
Andreozzi also denied coaching his client on what to say to investigators.
"He viewed Jerry as a father figure to him. It's been extremely difficult talking about this publicly," Andreozzi said.
The defense appeared to catch one of the investigators in a lie after recalling him to the stand.
Trooper Scott Rossman said that he hadn't spoken to Leiter about their testimony after he first left the stand Tuesday, but Leiter said they had talked about it.
Meanwhile, another witness told jurors she knew Victim 4 through her brother and that he had a reputation for "dishonesty and embellished stories." The woman, who said her brother was the alleged victim's best friend, is an Iraq war veteran who suffered a brain injury before she was discharged.
The defense also called former New York Jets linebacker Lance Mehl, who played for the Nittany Lions in the 1970s.
"We all looked up to him as a class act," Mehl said when Amendola asked him about Sandusky's reputation.
Earlier Tuesday, Amendola told reporters to "stay tuned" to find out if Sandusky would take the stand himself, comparing the case to a soap opera. Asked which soap opera, Amendola initially said "General Hospital," then "All My Children."
Prosecutors rested their case Monday after presenting 21 witnesses, including eight who said they had been assaulted by Sandusky. The identities of two other alleged victims are unknown to investigators.
Sandusky's arrest led the university trustees to fire Paterno as coach in November, saying his response to the 2001 report from McQueary showed a lack of leadership. Paterno died of cancer in January.
By taking the stand, Dottie Sandusky has presumably waived any right not to testify against her husband, one prominent Philadelphia defense lawyer said.
Spouses can assert spousal immunity to avoid testifying about anything said in confidence to them by their spouse. But Dottie Sandusky has presumably agreed to waive that privilege since she took the stand, lawyer Brian McMonagle said.
"They're doing that to show he's got a wife, he's normal, kids came over and slept there and there's never a problem," McMonagle said. "They want to paint him as normal as they can. I'm sure she's probably going to be an effective witness in that regard."
LOS ANGELES (AP) ? Zoo animals remain hot at the box office. Singing stars and Adam Sandler are not.
Ben Stiller and his voice co-stars of "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted" held on to the No. 1 spot again, with $35.5 million for the animated sequel's second weekend in domestic theaters.
Studio estimates Sunday put Ridley Scott's sci-fi adventure "Prometheus" at No. 2 again with $20.2 million.
"Madagascar 3" and "Prometheus" held off two under-achieving newcomers. The star-studded musical "Rock of Ages," whose cast includes Tom Cruise, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Alec Baldwin, flopped at No. 3 with $15.1 million.
Sandler's "That's My Boy" bombed with $13 million, the worst showing for one of his broad comedies since the mid-1990s. "That's My Boy" came in at No. 5, behind the $13.8 million for "Snow White & the Huntsman," a film that's been out for three weekends already.
"Sure, we would have liked to have done more," said Rory Bruer, head of distribution at Sony, which released "That's My Boy" and most of Sandler's past movies. "But you've got to give it to Adam. He mixes it up. This is a really off-the-wall comedy."
"That's My Boy" stars Sandler as a guy who became a fleeting teen celebrity after getting his seventh-grade teacher pregnant and now is a middle-aged loser trying to reconnect with his son (Andy Samberg).
As with most Sandler movies, the reviews were bad, but that usually does not stop his audience of young males from showing up.
The R rating for "That's My Boy" may have cut into the movie's business, prohibiting those under 17 from seeing it without an adult. Sandler's comedies usually are rated PG-13.
But Sandler has plenty of fans in their late teens and 20s, and that crowd had little interest in "That's My Boy."
Among Sandler's mainstream live-action comedies, it was the worst debut since 1996's "Happy Gilmore," which played in far fewer theaters than "That's My Boy" and came as Sandler was just climbing to stardom. And factoring in today's higher admission prices, "That's My Boy" sold fewer tickets than "Happy Gilmore."
Some of Sandler's handful of comic dramas and other more serious movies did less business than "That's My Boy." But even his 2000 bomb "Little Nicky" opened bigger, with $16.1 million in its first weekend.
Sandler has been one of Hollywood's steadiest earners since the late 1990s, with hits such as "The Longest Yard," ''Anger Management," ''Big Daddy" and "Grown-ups" opening with more than $40 million and becoming $100 million hits.
Sony remains high on Sandler, backing his upcoming animated comedy "Hotel Transylvania," along with "Grown-ups 2."
"It's a good business to be in, the Adam Sandler business," Bruer said.
Warner Bros. had its own dud with "Rock of Ages," adapted from the stage show built around 1980s rock hits and featuring an ensemble that includes Cruise, Zeta-Jones, Baldwin, Julianne Hough and Mary J. Blige.
Dan Fellman, the studio's head of distribution, was not ready to pull the plug on the movie, saying he hoped it might hang on in subsequent weekends. "Rock of Ages" drew mostly older, female crowds, an audience that does not necessarily rush out to a movie over opening weekend.
"Musicals, there have been a couple in the summer like "Hairspray" and "Mamma Mia!", that tend to have good holding power as counter-programming. We're hoping we can get back on track," Fellman said.
"Rock of Ages" added $4.1 million in a handful of overseas markets.
Between "Rock of Ages" and "That's My Boy," Hollywood fell back into a pattern that persisted at the start of summer season in May as new movies debuted weakly, unable to dislodge strong holdovers.
The superhero tale "The Avengers" has dominated so far, remaining in the top-10 after seven weekends, its $8.8 million take raising its domestic total to $586.7 million. The film has taken in $1.4 billion worldwide.
There have been only a few other hits, including "Men in Black 3," ''Madagascar 3" and "Snow White & the Huntsman."
"That's My Boy" and "Rock of Ages" have joined Johnny Depp's "Dark Shadows" among star-driven releases that fell flat.
"It doesn't always follow that big stars bring in the big bucks," said Paul Dergarabedian, analyst for box-office tracker Hollywood.com. "'Madagascar' and 'Prometheus' tell you that it's about the concept more than the stars."
DreamWorks Animation's "Madagascar 3" raised its domestic total to $120.5 million after two weekends. The movie added $53 million overseas, bringing its international receipts to $157 million and its worldwide haul to $278 million.
"Prometheus," released by 20th Century Fox, lifted its domestic total to $88.9 million after two weekends. With $25.5 million overseas, "Prometheus" pushed its international revenue to $128.9 million for a worldwide haul of $218 million.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted," $35.5 million ($53 million international).
2. "Prometheus," $20.2 million ($25.5 million international).
3. "Rock of Ages," $15.1 million ($4.1 million international).
4. "Snow White & the Huntsman," $13.8 million.
5. "That's My Boy," $13 million.
6. "Men in Black 3," $10 million ($19.7 million international).
7. "The Avengers," $8.8 million ($3.9 million international).
8. "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel," $2.2 million.
9. "Moonrise Kingdom," $2.18 million.
10. "What to Expect When You're Expecting," $1.3 million.
___
Online:
http://www.hollywood.com
http://www.rentrak.com
___
Universal and Focus are owned by NBC Universal, a unit of Comcast Corp.; Sony, Columbia, Sony Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Classics are units of Sony Corp.; Paramount is owned by Viacom Inc.; Disney, Pixar and Marvel are owned by The Walt Disney Co.; Miramax is owned by Filmyard Holdings LLC; 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight are owned by News Corp.; Warner Bros. and New Line are units of Time Warner Inc.; MGM is owned by a group of former creditors including Highland Capital, Anchorage Advisors and Carl Icahn; Lionsgate is owned by Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.; IFC is owned by AMC Networks Inc.; Rogue is owned by Relativity Media LLC.
Actress Jamie Anne Allman, who plays Aunt Terry on the AMC drama, speaks out about staying silent on her killer secret. By Josh Wigler
Jamie Anne Allman in AMC's 'The Killing' Photo:
Two seasons and 26 episodes later, "The Killing" has finally answered the nagging question it first posed in its pilot episode: Who killed Rosie Larsen? The answer, tragically enough, was never far from home.
In the end, Rosie was killed by a one-two punch from Richmond campaign aide Jamie Wright and her own aunt Terry, who unwittingly delivered the killing blow. Though writers claim to have known the killer's identity since the show's first episode, "Killing" actress Jamie Anne Allman — who plays Terry on the AMC drama — didn't learn about her character's murderous actions until the eleventh hour.
"[Showrunner Veena Sud] had called me a couple hours before I was going in to read for the table read for episode 13, the last episode, that I was the killer," Allman told The Hollywood Reporter in a new interview. "When she gave me the news, I was upset, I started crying. I actually thought that while I was contemplating, 'What if I'm the killer?' that I'd be excited, but I started crying and started feeling bad for Terry. 'Oh man, this is a really tragic situation.' "
Allman said she was "shocked" and "surprised" by the "intense" revelation, and that preserving the secret of being the show's titular killer was not an easy one to keep.
"I thought I would just blab [it] out," she admitted. "Even now, me being able to talk about it is weird because I haven't been able to talk about it for so long. It's not a dream if people are seeing it on TV, though, is it?"
Ultimately, while she's not happy that Terry wound up being Rosie's killer, Allman said that she's satisfied by the turn of events.
"I don't know if I would say happy but I would say fulfilled," she said. "I feel like there is justice and a lot of people got to know someone who made a lot of bad choices. And have a little more understanding as to why she made those choices."
What do you think of the killer reveal? Tell us in the comments section below!
TENS of thousands of children could be overweight without their parents realising it.
Health experts said yesterday that using Body Mass Index to calculate whether youngsters are obese is unreliable, especially for girls.
Those who are not diagnosed are at risk of suffering from diabetes and heart disease later in life.
Senior academic Claire Griffiths said: ?The problem with BMI is that it does not tell us about the weight distribution on a child.?
A team led by Ms Griffiths at Leeds Metropolitan University measured 14,967 school pupils? fat levels using both BMI scores and their Waist Circumference measure.
More than 2,000 of the 11-year-olds had a waist measurement above that which indicates serious risk in adult women.
BMI figures were in line with the latest official National Child Measurement Programme which showed one in five children were obese.
But by measuring waist circumference they found nearly 1,000 girls, 15% of those in the study, and more than 400 boys, around 6% of those measured, were also obese but would have been overlooked using BMI.
The children are classed as having ?central obesity? with excess weight around their internal organs.
OSLO, Norway (AP) ? Aung San Suu Kyi and Bono joined forces Monday as the Myanmar democracy activist's European tour moved from the home of the Nobel Peace Prize to the land of U2.
The pair spent more than an hour answering questions at an Oslo conference of peace mediators at the end of Suu Kyi's four-day visit to Norway. Then they jetted together to the Irish capital, Dublin, for an evening concert in her honor.
Bono, who wrote the 2000 hit "Walk On" in praise of Suu Kyi's long exile from her family and dedicated U2's 2009 world tour to her, had never met her before. He admitted he found her a wee bit intimidating.
"I'm star-struck ... but I'm managing to get over it," said the 52-year-old Bono, who donned his trademark yellow-tinted wraparound glasses and high-heeled boots.
Suu Kyi, in turn, said Bono had hit the right note with "Walk On," which was written from the point of view of her husband Michael Aris, who was not permitted to see his wife from 1995 to his death from cancer in 1999.
"I like that song, because it's very close to how I feel, that it's up to you to carry on," said Suu Kyi, who turns 67 on Tuesday. "It's good if you have supporters, it's good if you have people who are sympathetic and understanding. But in the end, it's your own two legs that have to carry you on."
In Norway, Suu Kyi gave two acceptance speeches for awards she received long ago ? the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 and the Rafto Prize in 1990 ? and is set to embrace more time-delayed honors in Dublin.
At a celebrity-studded concert, Bono is scheduled to unveil Amnesty International's top prize, the Ambassador of Conscience, an award for Suu Kyi that the singer announced at a Dublin U2 concert in 2009. Suu Kyi was finally released from house arrest the following year.
Also at the Dublin concert Suu Kyi is to receive an honorary doctorate from Trinity College Dublin. And afterward at an outdoor ceremony, she's to sign the roll of honor proclaiming her a Freeman of Dublin, an honorific title bestowed in her absence in 2000. Amnesty officials also plan to give her a birthday cake and lead the crowd in a chorus of "Harry Birthday."
Bono said Suu Kyi was exceptionally philosophical and spiritual for a politician. And he expressed admiration over how she had stuck to a position of nonviolence throughout her 15 years in detention.
"It's really her nonviolent position that I find so impressive, because perhaps I find it hard to fathom," he said, adding: " I think she will be remembered for that kind of spiritual insight really, as much as the sort of nitty-gritty of her politics, because she's a tough customer, too."
Suu Kyi spent much of her final hours in Oslo focused on that nitty-gritty: the challenge of coaxing Myanmar's military-controlled government toward democracy without alienating militants from warring ethnic groups who demand immediate change.
Her party, the National League for Democracy, won elections in 1990 only to see the result annulled; boycotted the next elections in 2010; and today has just entered Myanmar's legislature as a small opposition force. Changing the country's laws of government requires more than 75 percent support in the legislature ? and army members represent a blocking 25 percent of votes.
"We will need at least one army representative to vote for amendments. So we have to work with the army. ... We don't want to be in conflict with them, we want to achieve a consensus," she said in response to a question from Associated Press Television News.
Earlier, she told the audience of international conflict mediators that building unity among Myanmar's many warring ethnic groups meant she must remain open to talking with those still committed to violence.
Suu Kyi said she wouldn't "disinherit or disown" militant groups based along Myanmar's borders in Thailand and Bangladesh "because we share the same goals" of creating a proper democracy that respects minority rights in Myanmar. Nor, she said, could she promise them that such goals could be achieved without violent rebellion ? but they had both a moral and practical obligation to try.
She said her National League for Democracy could "not let go of our conviction that change could be brought about through peaceful means, and in the long run that would be better.
"The wounds that are opened up by violent conflict take a long time to heal," she said. "And while the peaceful way might take longer, in the end there are fewer wounds to be healed."
Updated DHS report on risks of proposed Kansas biocontainment labPublic release date: 15-Jun-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Jennifer Walsh news@nas.edu 202-334-2138 National Academy of Sciences
WASHINGTON A new National Research Council report requested by Congress finds the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's updated site-specific risk assessment for the proposed National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan, Kan., a "substantial improvement" over the original 2010 version, but it has a number of deficiencies and inadequately characterizes the risks associated with operating the facility.
The NBAF would be the world's fourth Biosafety Level 4 laboratory capable of large animal research, replacing the aging Plum Island Animal Disease Center located off Long Island. It would study dangerous foreign animal diseases -- including highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), which affects cattle, pigs, deer, and other cloven-hoofed animals -- as well as emerging and new infectious diseases that can be transmitted between animals and people. In 2010 the Research Council reviewed the original site-specific risk assessment by DHS and found that it was inadequate due to flawed methods and assumptions. In response, Congress mandated that DHS revise its assessment to address shortcomings and directed the Research Council to evaluate the updated assessment, which is the focus of this report. Another Research Council committee, whose work is separate from this report, is examining the needs and possible scientific alternatives for a foreign animal and zoonotic disease research laboratory in the U.S.
The committee that reviewed the updated risk assessment found that many of the shortcomings identified in the 2010 report have been addressed and that the new version uses more conventional risk assessment methods and conceptual models, presents clearer descriptions of the approaches, and complies better with standard practices than the previous version. However, some of the risk analysis methods were misinterpreted and misapplied when executed. The assessment also contains questionable and inappropriate assumptions that led to artificially lower estimates of the probability of an accidental pathogen release from the facility, the committee said.
Information from the 2010 risk assessment implies that for the two greatest release scenarios there is nearly a 70 percent chance that a release of FMD could result in an infection outside the laboratory over the 50-year lifetime of the facility. In contrast, the updated assessment concludes that for 142 possible release events, the cumulative probability of a release leading to an infection is 0.11 percent, or a 1 in 46,000 chance per year.
The committee noted that some of the risk reduction may be explained by improvements to the latest design plans for the facility, but despite improvements, the updated assessment underestimates the risk of an accidental pathogen release and inadequately characterizes the uncertainties in those risks. Moreover, the committee found that the updated probabilities of releases are based on overly optimistic and unsupported estimates of human-error rates; low estimates of infectious material available for release; and inappropriate treatment of dependencies, uncertainties, and sensitivities in calculating release probabilities. For instance, the 2010 assessment concludes that human error would be the most likely cause of release, and the previous Research Council report agrees. However, the updated assessment concludes that natural hazards, specifically earthquakes and tornadoes, would be 20 times more likely to cause a pathogen release than operational activities at the facility. The committee questioned whether natural hazards posed the greatest risk for accidental release of FMD and believed the updated assessment overestimated the release probabilities due to both kinds of natural disasters versus other pathways.
In addition, the low estimates of risk found throughout the updated assessment are not in agreement with most modern, complex industrial systems, and in many instances the committee could not verify results because methods and data were unevenly or poorly presented. The updated assessment also contains inconsistent information, which made it difficult to determine the degree to which risks were underestimated.
"A risk assessment of this nature carries significant complexities, yet the practice of completing such assessments is mature enough that the committee's expectations are attainable," said Gregory Baecher, chair of the committee and Glenn L. Martin Institute Professor of Engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park. "Because a pathogen release from the NBAF could have devastating agricultural, economic, and public health consequences, a risk assessment that reaches inappropriate conclusions could have substantial repercussions."
The committee said the updated assessment addresses many of the issues outlined in the congressional mandate. However, it still does not adequately include overall risks associated with the most dangerous pathogens. Additionally, assumptions about surveillance, detection, response, and mitigation strategies were not adequately comprehensive or science-based.
The latest design plans for the NBAF appear to be sound, the committee said. It reviewed the design documents to understand the assumptions about the release probabilities for the risk assessment and to verify that design concerns raised in the previous Research Council report were addressed. The committee noted that inadequacies in the updated assessment do not imply inadequacies in the facility's design. It was beyond the committee's task to formally review or pass judgment on the actual engineering or safety of the facility.
###
The study was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and National Research Council make up the National Academies. They are independent, nonprofit institutions that provide science, technology, and health policy advice under an 1863 congressional charter. Panel members, who serve pro bono as volunteers, are chosen by the Academies for each study based on their expertise and experience and must satisfy the Academies' conflict-of-interest standards. The resulting consensus reports undergo external peer review before completion. For more information, visit http://national-academies.org/studycommitteprocess.pdf. A committee roster follows.
Contacts:
Jennifer Walsh, Media Relations Officer
Luwam Yeibio, Media Relations Assistant
Office of News and Public Information
202-334-2138; e-mail news@nas.edu
Pre-publication copies of Evaluation of the Updated Site-Specific Risk Assessment for the National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan, Kansas is available from the National Academies Press; tel. 202-334-3313 or 1-800-624-6242 or on the Internet at http://www.nap.edu. Reporters may obtain a copy from the Office of News and Public Information (contacts listed above).
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
Division on Earth and Life Studies
Board on Life Sciences
and
Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources
Committee on Evaluation of the Updated Site-Specific Risk Assessment for the
National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan, Kansas
Gregory B. Baecher* (chair)
Glenn L. Martin Institute Professor of Engineering
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Maryland
College Park
Thomas W. Armstrong
Principal Investigator
TWA8HR Occupational Hygiene Consulting LLC, and
Senior Scientific Associate
ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences Inc. (retired)
Branchburg, N.J.
Richard E. Breitmeyer
Director
California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System
University of California
Davis
Corrie Brown
Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor
Department of Veterinary Pathology
College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Georgia
Athens
Mark T. Hernandez
Professor of Environmental Engineering
University of Colorado
Boulder
Ahsan Kareem*
Robert M. Moran Professor of Engineering
Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, Ind.
Brendan McCluskey
Executive Director
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
Newark
Ali Mosleh*
Nicole J. Kim Professor of Engineering, and
Director
Center for Risk and Reliability
University of Maryland
College Park
Stephen M. Ostroff
Director
Bureau of Epidemiology
Pennsylvania Department of Health
Harrisburg
Philip Paarlberg
Professor of Agricultural Economics
Purdue University
West Lafayette, Ind.
Timothy C. Reluga
Assistant Professor of Mathematics
Pennsylvania State University
University Park
Joseph V. Rodricks
Principal
ENVIRON
Arlington, Va.
James A. Roth
Clarence Hartley Covault Distinguished Professor
College of Veterinary Medicine
Iowa State University
Iowa City
Lee H. Thompson
Assistant Professor of Pathology
University of Texas Medical Branch
Galveston
Mark C. Thurmond
Professor Emeritus
Department of Medicine and Epidemiology
Center for Animal Disease Modeling and Surveillance
School of Veterinary Medicine
University of California
Davis
Akula Venkatram
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
University of California
Riverside
Patrick M. Webb
Director of Swine Health Programs
National Pork Board
Des Moines, Iowa
STAFF
Peggy Tsai
Study Director
* Member, National Academy of Engineering
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Updated DHS report on risks of proposed Kansas biocontainment labPublic release date: 15-Jun-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Jennifer Walsh news@nas.edu 202-334-2138 National Academy of Sciences
WASHINGTON A new National Research Council report requested by Congress finds the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's updated site-specific risk assessment for the proposed National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan, Kan., a "substantial improvement" over the original 2010 version, but it has a number of deficiencies and inadequately characterizes the risks associated with operating the facility.
The NBAF would be the world's fourth Biosafety Level 4 laboratory capable of large animal research, replacing the aging Plum Island Animal Disease Center located off Long Island. It would study dangerous foreign animal diseases -- including highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), which affects cattle, pigs, deer, and other cloven-hoofed animals -- as well as emerging and new infectious diseases that can be transmitted between animals and people. In 2010 the Research Council reviewed the original site-specific risk assessment by DHS and found that it was inadequate due to flawed methods and assumptions. In response, Congress mandated that DHS revise its assessment to address shortcomings and directed the Research Council to evaluate the updated assessment, which is the focus of this report. Another Research Council committee, whose work is separate from this report, is examining the needs and possible scientific alternatives for a foreign animal and zoonotic disease research laboratory in the U.S.
The committee that reviewed the updated risk assessment found that many of the shortcomings identified in the 2010 report have been addressed and that the new version uses more conventional risk assessment methods and conceptual models, presents clearer descriptions of the approaches, and complies better with standard practices than the previous version. However, some of the risk analysis methods were misinterpreted and misapplied when executed. The assessment also contains questionable and inappropriate assumptions that led to artificially lower estimates of the probability of an accidental pathogen release from the facility, the committee said.
Information from the 2010 risk assessment implies that for the two greatest release scenarios there is nearly a 70 percent chance that a release of FMD could result in an infection outside the laboratory over the 50-year lifetime of the facility. In contrast, the updated assessment concludes that for 142 possible release events, the cumulative probability of a release leading to an infection is 0.11 percent, or a 1 in 46,000 chance per year.
The committee noted that some of the risk reduction may be explained by improvements to the latest design plans for the facility, but despite improvements, the updated assessment underestimates the risk of an accidental pathogen release and inadequately characterizes the uncertainties in those risks. Moreover, the committee found that the updated probabilities of releases are based on overly optimistic and unsupported estimates of human-error rates; low estimates of infectious material available for release; and inappropriate treatment of dependencies, uncertainties, and sensitivities in calculating release probabilities. For instance, the 2010 assessment concludes that human error would be the most likely cause of release, and the previous Research Council report agrees. However, the updated assessment concludes that natural hazards, specifically earthquakes and tornadoes, would be 20 times more likely to cause a pathogen release than operational activities at the facility. The committee questioned whether natural hazards posed the greatest risk for accidental release of FMD and believed the updated assessment overestimated the release probabilities due to both kinds of natural disasters versus other pathways.
In addition, the low estimates of risk found throughout the updated assessment are not in agreement with most modern, complex industrial systems, and in many instances the committee could not verify results because methods and data were unevenly or poorly presented. The updated assessment also contains inconsistent information, which made it difficult to determine the degree to which risks were underestimated.
"A risk assessment of this nature carries significant complexities, yet the practice of completing such assessments is mature enough that the committee's expectations are attainable," said Gregory Baecher, chair of the committee and Glenn L. Martin Institute Professor of Engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park. "Because a pathogen release from the NBAF could have devastating agricultural, economic, and public health consequences, a risk assessment that reaches inappropriate conclusions could have substantial repercussions."
The committee said the updated assessment addresses many of the issues outlined in the congressional mandate. However, it still does not adequately include overall risks associated with the most dangerous pathogens. Additionally, assumptions about surveillance, detection, response, and mitigation strategies were not adequately comprehensive or science-based.
The latest design plans for the NBAF appear to be sound, the committee said. It reviewed the design documents to understand the assumptions about the release probabilities for the risk assessment and to verify that design concerns raised in the previous Research Council report were addressed. The committee noted that inadequacies in the updated assessment do not imply inadequacies in the facility's design. It was beyond the committee's task to formally review or pass judgment on the actual engineering or safety of the facility.
###
The study was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and National Research Council make up the National Academies. They are independent, nonprofit institutions that provide science, technology, and health policy advice under an 1863 congressional charter. Panel members, who serve pro bono as volunteers, are chosen by the Academies for each study based on their expertise and experience and must satisfy the Academies' conflict-of-interest standards. The resulting consensus reports undergo external peer review before completion. For more information, visit http://national-academies.org/studycommitteprocess.pdf. A committee roster follows.
Contacts:
Jennifer Walsh, Media Relations Officer
Luwam Yeibio, Media Relations Assistant
Office of News and Public Information
202-334-2138; e-mail news@nas.edu
Pre-publication copies of Evaluation of the Updated Site-Specific Risk Assessment for the National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan, Kansas is available from the National Academies Press; tel. 202-334-3313 or 1-800-624-6242 or on the Internet at http://www.nap.edu. Reporters may obtain a copy from the Office of News and Public Information (contacts listed above).
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
Division on Earth and Life Studies
Board on Life Sciences
and
Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources
Committee on Evaluation of the Updated Site-Specific Risk Assessment for the
National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan, Kansas
Gregory B. Baecher* (chair)
Glenn L. Martin Institute Professor of Engineering
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Maryland
College Park
Thomas W. Armstrong
Principal Investigator
TWA8HR Occupational Hygiene Consulting LLC, and
Senior Scientific Associate
ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences Inc. (retired)
Branchburg, N.J.
Richard E. Breitmeyer
Director
California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System
University of California
Davis
Corrie Brown
Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor
Department of Veterinary Pathology
College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Georgia
Athens
Mark T. Hernandez
Professor of Environmental Engineering
University of Colorado
Boulder
Ahsan Kareem*
Robert M. Moran Professor of Engineering
Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, Ind.
Brendan McCluskey
Executive Director
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
Newark
Ali Mosleh*
Nicole J. Kim Professor of Engineering, and
Director
Center for Risk and Reliability
University of Maryland
College Park
Stephen M. Ostroff
Director
Bureau of Epidemiology
Pennsylvania Department of Health
Harrisburg
Philip Paarlberg
Professor of Agricultural Economics
Purdue University
West Lafayette, Ind.
Timothy C. Reluga
Assistant Professor of Mathematics
Pennsylvania State University
University Park
Joseph V. Rodricks
Principal
ENVIRON
Arlington, Va.
James A. Roth
Clarence Hartley Covault Distinguished Professor
College of Veterinary Medicine
Iowa State University
Iowa City
Lee H. Thompson
Assistant Professor of Pathology
University of Texas Medical Branch
Galveston
Mark C. Thurmond
Professor Emeritus
Department of Medicine and Epidemiology
Center for Animal Disease Modeling and Surveillance
School of Veterinary Medicine
University of California
Davis
Akula Venkatram
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
University of California
Riverside
Patrick M. Webb
Director of Swine Health Programs
National Pork Board
Des Moines, Iowa
STAFF
Peggy Tsai
Study Director
* Member, National Academy of Engineering
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
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