Ripples Beyond Detroit

Chrysler announced that it is idling all 30 of its factories in the United States for a month, and the news carried well beyond Detroit. The decision impacts four plants in Indiana -- woes that "hit Indiana hard," said the Indianapolis Star. Its front page reported that more than 6,000 people are affected. Online, the Star offered an interactive graphic of the plants in Kokomo, Ind. In Ohio, the Toledo Blade included important numbers in its headlines -- "2 local plants" and "3,700 workers furloughed." The Blade bulleted information about the work stoppage. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch focused its story on talk of a merger between Chrysler and GM while noting that a pickup assembly plant in Missouri will be shut down from Friday into January.

Not a Question but a Statement

As President Bush was about to take questions at a press conference in Baghdad, a broadcast journalist threw shoes in protest of U.S. policy in the region. The Washington Post printed a series of four photos that showed shoes flying past the U.S. president and noted that "Throwing a shoe at someone is considered the worst possible insult in Iraq." Similar photos appeared on front pages in other places, including the Middle East. The BBC posted video and reported that the journalist, Muntadar al-Zaidi, works for Cairo-based al-Baghdadiya TV. Modesto (Calif.) Bee reporter Adam Ashton was in the room, and he shared a first-person account on his "Iraq Connection" blog. The Bee noted that it was Bush's last visit to Iraq as president. Said its headline: "War-zone farewell." The Post reported that al-Zaidi is being called a hero by some Arabs. Al-Zaidi's employer called for his release from Iraqi custody on the grounds that he has the right to free expression.

Exclamation!

It's not every day that it snows in Mississippi and Louisiana. In fact, it rarely snows there. So when southern Louisiana and parts of Mississippi got up to eight inches of snow, The Daily Advertiser in Lafayette, La., and the American Press of Lake Charles, La., simply said, "Snow!"

Added The Daily Advertiser, "For many South Louisiana residents, day was magical."

Indeed, the front page of The Times-Picayune of New Orleans captured the magic that fell in gentle white flakes (and closed schools and governments and caused power outages). Everyone took pictures, and The Times-Picayune is collecting pictures and video.

No Deal

It was the top headline on today's Los Angeles Times, Washington Post and New York Times. But no one said it better than the Detroit Free Press: "No Deal."

The U.S. Senate failed to reach a deal to bail out the Big Three automakers. "Without a Deal, Carmakers Face Bankruptcy Treat," The Washington Post said. A Free Press editorial called it a "Dreadful outcome for Detroit."

The Washington Post pictured players in the Senate, including two Republicans who played an active role in the revolt against the bailout plan approved by the U.S. House and supported by the Bush administration. In a front-page column, Daniel Howes of the Detroit Free Press wrote that the United Auto Workers have ignored Southern Republicans and "foreign-owned auto plants proliferating down South:" "Senators to UAW: It's payback time." The Los Angeles Times tallied up political donations by the Big Three and said, "Since 1990, the auto industry has cut $100 million in checks to the GOP, compared with $34 million to Democrats. But the Big Three is snubbed on bailout."

Bailout Proponents and Opponents

The U.S. House passed a $14 billion bailout for the Big 3 automakers, and today's front pages report conflicting points of view on the bailout.

From Detroit: The Free Press, which has strongly editorialized in favor of help to the automakers, printed "House OKs Aid" at the top of its page. It again used red ink to illustrate looming problems: "But why are these senators unhappy?" An answer, "GOP opponents want more UAW sacrifices."

From Alabama: Most representatives from the state voted against the bailout. The Montgomery Advertiser pictured U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby of Tuscaloosa, the leading critic of bailing out Ford, GM and Chrysler. The Press-Register of Mobile said, "Shelby waiting to block bailout" as it heads to the U.S. Senate. Huntsville is home to a Toyota assembly plant, and The Huntsville Times quoted a Detroit automotive expert as saying Shelby doesn't understand the consequences for Alabama if a bailout fails: "Bankruptcy would hit state suppliers hard."

State of Shame

"Shame" appeared in banner headlines across Illinois this morning as newspapers provided extensive coverage of the arrest of Gov. Rod Blagojevich. The Chicago Tribune said, "Governor faces shocking array of charges -- topped by accusations he tried to auction a U.S. Senate seat." That seat had been held by Barack Obama, who gave an exclusive interview to the Tribune. The Journal Star of Peoria reported that state lawmakers would return to the capital to consider a "plan to take away the governor's power to appoint a new U.S. senator."

The Daily Herald of suburban Chicago used photos to illustrate the accusations against the governor. The Rockford Register Star said, "Blago Arrested," which seemed like old news this morning. But it used as its main art an illustration that incorporated the governor's photo and a note to editorial-page editor Wally Haas written on the newspaper's endorsement of Blagojevich. "Dear Wally, I won't let you down. Rod Blagojevich," the note read.

Illinois Governor Arrested

AP is reporting that Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has been arrested on corruption charges. It quotes a federal law-enforcement official as saying the charges result from Blagojevich's handling of the selection of a successor to Illinois Sen. Barack Obama. Beyond the breaking news, the Chicago Tribune's Web site includes a backgrounder, criminal complaint, video of Blagojevich's reaction and photos of his time in office. We didn't have to wait long for the Chicago Sun-Times headline. "Busted," said the banner headline on an eight-page special edition.
The Sun-Times also is reporting: "The charges also include alleged attempts by the governor to influence the Tribune editorial board, threatening, that if the Tribune didn’t support him, he wouldn’t approve the sale of Wrigley Field." The Tribune posted a statement from Editor Gerould Kern that included: "On occasion, prosecutors asked us to delay publication of stories, asserting that disclosure would jeopardize the criminal investigation. In isolated instances, we granted the requests, but other requests were refused." From Illinois' state capital, the Springfield Journal-Register reports that the first demand for the governor's resignation has been made.