The Starting Point: Tax refund options and a puppy named Bo – Yahoo! News
The Starting Point: Tax refund options and a puppy named Bo
Mon Apr 13, 8:17 AM ET
The Starting Point is a snapshot of the news stories that occurred overnight. Look for updates throughout the day on Yahoo! News and in the news box on Yahoo.com.
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Top stories overnight: Somali pirates vowed to retaliate for the deaths of three colleagues who were slain during a tense standoff in the Indian Ocean, The Associated Press reported. U.S. Navy SEAL snipers shot and killed the pirates in an effort to free an American sea captain they held hostage for more than 100 hours. One pirate, Jamac Habeb, told The AP that piracy in the region will become more violent. “From now on, if we capture foreign ships and their respective countries try to attack us, we will kill them (the hostages),” he said.
The remains of five U.S. soldiers killed by a suicide bomber in Iraq arrived at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware last night. For the fourth time since the media ban was lifted, journalists were allowed to view and record the returning casualties of war. David Pautsch, the father of the late Corporal Jason Pautsch, spoke to an AP reporter after the somber, half-hour ceremony. “You see these five caskets, flag-draped, it’s sobering beyond belief. There’s no music in the background, but just the stark reality of those caskets laying there against the backdrop of this huge 747. You’re just sobered, and you have to come to grips with the finality of it all. It provides good closure. You realize that this is the end.” The other soldiers killed were: Staff Sgt. Gary L. Woods Jr., 24; Staff Sgt. Bryan E. Hall, 25; Sgt. Edward W. Forrest Jr., 25; and Private Second Class Bryce E. Gautier, 22.
Finally, most Americans are expecting to use their tax refund to pay credit card, utility and other bills, a new poll from AP-GfK showed. Only 5 percent of those surveyed said they planned to go on a shopping spree. Are you getting a tax refund? If so, what are you planning to do with the money? Send your responses via Twitter (@ystartingpoint). I’ll post some of these comments in The Starting Point blog tomorrow.
Popular stories overnight: High winds fanned the flames at a 146-year-old Christian center in New Hampshire, The AP reported. The 11-alarm fire, which destroyed dozens of summer cottages, is currently under investigation. No residents were injured; however, one firefighter was hospitalized after a propane tank exploded. Other firefighters were treated for smoke inhalation or exhaustion.
Readers were also intrigued by the arrival of the new First Canine. President Barack Obama lived up to a campaign promise, and adopted a dog for his daughters Malia and Sasha. The black and white Portuguese water dog was a gift from Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), who owns several of the dogs himself. The 6-month old puppy will be called Bo.
Looking ahead: The Obamas will preside over the traditional Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House today. Also, the Treasury Department has reportedly directed General Motors to lay the groundwork for a bankruptcy filing by June 1. According to this article in The New York Times, these preparations will assure that a GM bankruptcy filing is ready to go should the carmaker be unable to reach an agreement with bondholders.
Today in history: In 1970, Apollo 13 was crippled when a tank containing liquid oxygen burst. The potentially devastating event inspired a blockbuster film directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, Gary Sinise and Ed Harris.
Birthdays: Singer Nellie McKay, 27. Singer Lou Bega, 34. Singer Aaron Lewis (Staind), 37. Actor Rick Schroder, 39. Musician Marc Ford (The Black Crowes), 43. Actress/comedian Caroline Rhea, 45. Chess champion Garry Kasparov, 46. Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), 49. Musician Max Weinberg, 58. Singer Peabo Bryson, 58. Actor Ron Perlman, 59. Singer Al Green, 63. Actor Tony Dow, 64. Composer Bill Conti, 67. Actor Paul Sorvino, 79. Poet Seamus Heaney, 70.
Tagline Contest: The Starting Point blog needs a snappy and informative tagline. The current tagline is “Jade Walker is the overnight editor of Yahoo! News. While America sleeps…Jade keeps the rest of the world informed.” Can you come up with something better? E-mail your suggestions using the subject “Tagline Contest.” Include your name, mailing address and tagline suggestions in the body of the e-mail. A few notes: The tagline should fit on a T-shirt. It must indicate that Jade Walker is the overnight editor. And the tagline should have some attitude, but not snarky that it belittles the most likely sad news posted above it. Deadline for entries is April 30. Winner will receive a new iPod shuffle!
Note: The Starting Point Twitter feed is available @ystartingpoint. Sign up today!
–Jade Walker is the overnight editor of Yahoo! News. While America sleeps…Jade keeps the rest of the world informed.
**Yahoo! News bloggers compile the best news content from our providers and scour the Web for the most interesting news stories so you don’t have to.
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