Nothing but The Truth

The RV capital of the country, Elkhart, Ind., got a visit from Barack Obama on Monday, as the president pushed for passage of an economic stimulus package. "Who was that guy with Obama?" asked the city's daily newspaper, The Truth. It was Ed Neufeldt, a 62-year-0ld laid-off RV worker chosen to introduce the president during an appearance before 2,000 people at a high school.

Neufeldt believed he was chosen to do the introduction because he earlier was featured on ABC News doing volunteer work at his church.

From the small city with double-digit unemployment, Neufeldt said he hoped the attention from Obama's visit would help his fellow unemployed get back to work.

In the quote of the day, Neufeldt told the newspaper: "It's a new world for me. I feel like Joe the Plumber, except I'm Ed the Unemployed."

An extra edition was published by the The Truth on Monday and included in Tuesday's newspaper.

Six Wins, Seventh Heaven

With Sunday's win over the Cardinals, the Pittsburgh Steelers claimed their sixth Super Bowl victory. "A championship is the Pittsburgh version of seventh heaven," Robert Dvorchak wrote in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The Post-Gazette labeled the team "Lord of the Rings" and summed up the thrilling game with "Harrison's immaculate interception, Holmes' dramatic reception seal Steelers sixth Super Bowl victory, 27-23." Receiver Santonio Holmes, named the game's most valuable player, was pictured the width of the page with arms wide.

The Arizona Republic was all about "Heartbreak" and a "Stinging end to a profound season." Dan Bickley began his front-page column, "In the NFL, they say that nobody remembers who loses the Super Bowl." But in a reference to inside content, the front page said, "Game will be remembered as a classic." "Cardinals nearly win first Super Bowl, then see it snatched away."

Eye on the (Foot) Ball

For the few who weren't tied to their televisions, news Web sites provided top Super Bowl headlines from quarter to quarter:

7:24 p.m.: USA TODAY: "Steelers taking early command."

7:33: The Arizona Republic: "Cards strike back; close lead in second quarter."

7:53 p.m. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "Steelers 10 Cardinals 7. Second quarter in progress."

8 p.m.: The Tampa Tribune: "Cardinals go to their strength to close gap."

8:01 p.m.: The New York Post: "Jennifer Hudson returned to the spotlight ... with a flawless performance of the national anthem ..."

8:28 p.m.: USA TODAY: "'The Boss' lights up the Super Bowl."

8:59 p.m.: The Arizona Republic: "Cards' first drive of second half stalls."

9:02 p.m.: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "Steelers fans get rowdy after late first-half TD."

9:05 p.m. Los Angeles Times: "Arizona: 7 Pittsburgh: 20."

9:18 p.m.: The New York Times: "Ads That Pushed Our Usual (Well-Worn) Buttons/Few commercials that ran during Super Bowl XLIII offered anything special."

9:28 p.m.: The Arizona Republic: "Fitzgerald touchdown gives Cardinals some hope."

9:50 p.m.: The Arizona Republic: "Cardinals lead on Fitzgerald touchdown."

9:52 p.m.: The New York Times: "Cardinals 23, Steelers 20/In the final minutes of the fourth quarter, the momentum has shifted to Arizona."

9:57 p.m.: The Tampa Tribune: "Fitzgerald's Leap Breathes New Life into Cardinals."

10:01 p.m.: The Tampa Tribune: "Fitzgerald's 2 TDs Thrust Cardinals Into Remarkable Lead."

10:02 p.m.: The Arizona Republic: "Tampa shocker: Cardinals storm back."

10:09: The Washington Post: "Steelers Lead Cardinals, 27-23."

10:10 p.m.: The Arizona Republic: "Miracle season ends inches from title." It added: "The Cards lose a nailbiter in Tampa."

10:12: The New York Times: "Steelers 27, Cardinals 23."

10:14: The Tampa Tribune: "Amazing: Holmes Catch Regains Lead for Steelers."

10:15 p.m.: The New York Times: "Steelers Win Super Bowl."

10:17 p.m.: The Washington Post: "Steelers Capture Super Bowl Over Cardinals."

10:18 p.m. USA TODAY Sports home page: "Steelers Rally to defeat the Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII."

10:19 p.m.: USA TODAY: "Curtains for Cards: Steelers win thriller."

10:23 p.m.: Post-Gazette: "Steelers 27 Cardinals 23/Late drive wins sixth Super Bowl."

The Word on Illinois Governor

After weeks of accusations, allegations and denials, only a few words were needed by front pages in Illinois to report on the fate of Rod Blagojevich.

"Thrown Out," the Northwest Herald of Crystal Lake said after the Illinois Senate voted 59-0 to impeach the embattled governor.

"He's Gone," The State Journal Register said from Springfield. The state capital newspaper noted that Blagojevich, accused of trying to sell the U.S. Senate seat once held by Barack Obama, was the first Illinois governor to be tossed from office. "Ousted," proclaimed the Daily Herald of suburban Chicago.

From "Bye-Bye Blago" to "Game Over" to "Blag-Gone," Illinois newspaper headlines reflected the gritty style of the state's first Democratic governor in 25 years. The Chicago Sun-Times quoted Blagojevich, the son of a transit ticket taker: "Sorry for what?"

The Chicago Tribune looked forward with a quote from Patrick Quinn, the No. 2 who immediately was sworn in as governor: "The ordeal is over."

The headline on the Southtown Star front page in Tinley Park was just a hair too cute, but it did sum up the news: "Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow."

Inaugural Pages Celebrate Hometown Heroes

Washington is now home to Barack Obama and Joe Biden. But America's new president and vice president are tied to Chicago and Wilmington, Del. Hometown newspapers the Chicago Tribune and The News Journal provided extraordinary coverage of the inauguration. The Tribune's front page reversed a quote from Obama's inaugural address into a picture of the new president taking the oath of office. "A dream that once seemed inconceivable became an irrefutable fact on Tuesday," it said, with a reference to an inside commemorative section. The Chicago Sun-Times pictured a close-up of Obama with his right hand raised and an inset quote "So Help Me God."

The News Journal chose a photo that included members of the Obama family and incorporated its nameplate and a reference to 25 pages of coverage in its front-page design. "Delaware's Biden becomes nation's 47th vice president," it added with a photo of Joe Biden and his wife, Jill.

Obama is the first president from Hawaii, and The Honolulu Advertiser used the Getty Images photo that appeared on The News Journal and paired it with a photo of the crowd gathered for the ceremony. "President Barack Obama, born and raised in our Islands, launches the next chapter of American history."

Portraits of Obama and Scranton-native Biden appeared on the cover of a special section of The Times-Tribune in Pennsylvania. Its "Souvenir Edition" front page said: "Hope and History."

Wide Shot Stars at Inaugural

CBS' Bob Schieffer said in his analysis of the inauguration that the real star of the afternoon ceremony was the sea of humanity gathered at the Capitol and along the Mall to witness the historic event. "The star of this show is the wide shot," he said. CBS included a crowds photo gallery in its inauguration coverage, and USA TODAY used an image of the crowd on its Home Page. The Chicago Tribune's The Swamp blog quoted a Washington Post estimate of a record 2 million in attendance.

An Oath Anticipated Around the World

Through campaign stops, primaries and debates, images and stories from the American presidential election appeared on front pages around the world in 2008. The international media was especially captivated by the campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Clinton has worldwide recognition as a former first lady. The history-making promise of Obama's campaign also was a tug for an international audience. Or maybe it was a worldwide need for change that created the interest. Whatever the reason, the interest was intense. So it is no surprise that Inauguration Day is front and center from Austria and the United Kingdom to Brazil and Chile to India and Indonesia. "The United States of Obama," said the front page of Die Presse in Vienna, Austria. "A Monumental Moment," declared The Namibian in Windhoek, Namibia. Like some U.S. newspapers, the international press used the U.S. ritual that happens every four years and the election of America's first African-American president to expressed hope. In a front-page column from Washington, The Guardian of London proclaimed the events as a "Magic spell that will open new American era."