Howard Berkes

Hands-free gadgets don't mean risk-free driving

Howard Berkes — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 22:28:20 +0000

If you've felt smug and safe using built-in, voice-controlled technology for text messages, email and phone calls while driving, forget it. There are some sobering findings about the risk of distraction from the American Automobile Association and the University of Utah.

The proliferation of hands-free technology "is a looming public safety crisis," AAA CEO Robert Darbelnet says.

Poll: Romney near landslide in rural swing counties

Howard Berkes — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 15:22:03 +0000

As Mitt Romney and President Obama get ready for their second debate, a new bipartisan survey shows a surge for Romney in a key voter group following their first debate Oct. 3.

The random cellphone and land line poll of 600 likely rural voters in nine battleground states Oct. 9-11 has Romney at 59 percent among the survey's respondents.

Badminton Federation 'Looking Forward' In Response To Scandal

Howard Berkes — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 18:51:57 +0000

On this final day of badminton at the London Olympics, leaders of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) were vague about how they will respond to a match-throwing scandal at the games.

At a news conference at the Wembley Arena in London, BWF president Dr.

Even A 'No' Is An Olympic Moment When It's Said By Michael Phelps

Howard Berkes — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 18:51:13 +0000

An only-at-the-Olympics tale:

As Michael Phelps left a news conference at the Olympic Aquatic Center on Saturday, a photographer rushed up and asked, "Can I get one more photo?"

There is, of course, no shortage of photos of the American swimming great. He has posed for them more times than most of us ever will. But this time, Phelps continued walking through a doorway, not stopping or turning back, cradling a silver trophy honoring him as the greatest Olympian of all time.

Missy Franklin on winning gold: 'Someone needs to pinch me'

Howard Berkes — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 16:08:29 +0000

Missy Franklin couldn't contain herself — in the pool, on the medals stand and at her first gold medal news conference — after a dramatic finish in the 100 meter Olympic backstroke Monday night in London.

It wasn't an easy race. Out front and pulling hard with her graceful but powerful strokes, Emily Seebohm of Australia led in the last 50 meters, with the American Franklin a few strokes back.

The 17-year-old high school senior from Aurora, Colo, has that long and lean build perfect for swimming. Long legs; long arms; a long and muscular torso.

Olympic Flame Missed From London Skyline

Howard Berkes — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 19:32:02 +0000

Enduring symbols of the Olympics are everywhere in London, and I'm not just talking about ATMs for Visa, a ubiquitous Olympic sponsor.

The five Olympic rings grace every wall, walk, sign, banner and building in and around the Olympic Park and other venues.

But the Olympic flame, the other most recognizable symbol of the Olympics, is invisible to all but a relative few.

Spectators lucky enough — and affluent enough — to get tickets to track and field events in the Olympic Stadium will see the flame.

London Opens Up, In Danny Boyle's 'Warm-Up Act' For The Summer Olympics

Howard Berkes — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 20:53:49 +0000

Every recent opening ceremony of the Olympics went for glitter and glamour, in an escalating war of excess. Ceremony fanatics consider the Beijing opening ceremony the gaudiest of all — and Oscar-winner Danny Boyle (the director of Slumdog Millionaire) had $42 million to try to outdo the Chinese organizers.

Instead, Boyle says, "You can't get bigger than Beijing. So that, in a way, kind of liberated us. We thought, 'Great. Oh good.

Spotting An 'American Idol' Moment At The Olympics

Howard Berkes — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 04:52:26 +0000

Olympic reporting veterans like myself (London is Games No. 8) noticed something extraordinary this weekend at the first London 2012 news conference called by International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge.

The "something" sat there on the podium, directly in front of Rogge: an aquamarine bottle of Powerade, a Coca-Cola product. And next to Rogge, in front of IOC spokesman Mark Adams, was a carefully positioned bottle of caramel-colored Coke.

Mormon Leaders Warn Followers To Stop Controversial Baptisms

Howard Berkes — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 20:25:09 +0000

Mormons around the world are getting this warning Sunday: Stop posthumous baptisms of "unauthorized groups, such as celebrities and Jewish Holocaust victims."

"Our preeminent obligation is to seek out and identify our own ancestors," says a letter to be read in every Mormon congregation.

ABC News: New D.B. Cooper clues come from 'niece'

Howard Berkes — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 21:05:17 +0000

ABC News has a report out this morning that claims to name the source of the new information in the D.B. Cooper skyjacking. ABC says unnamed and unspecified sources have confirmed that a woman named Marla Cooper provided the FBI with a guitar strap for fingerprint testing.

NPR is trying to independently confirm ABC's claim. The FBI has yet to respond to a request for comment.

Marla Cooper told the network that she believes the skyjacker is her uncle, a deceased man named L.D.

FBI reveals more about new possible skyjack suspect

Howard Berkes — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 18:44:55 +0000

As we reported yesterday, the FBI jump-started D.B. Cooper mania with its revelation it has a new suspect in the unsolved skyjacking that occurred 40 years ago this November.

New details continue to trickle out with each interview with FBI Special Agent Fred Gutt. Among the new bits of information about the man who may or may not prove to be D.B.

FBI says it has 'a new suspect' in D.B. Cooper skyjacking case

Howard Berkes — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 16:08:21 +0000

Forty years after parachuting into folklore, the mysterious skyjacker identified as D.B. Cooper may soon be identified.

"We do actually have a new suspect we're looking at," says FBI spokeswoman Ayn Sandolo Dietrich in a story in the British newspaper, The Telegraph.