Howard Berkes

U.S. Olympic Skater's Sabotage Gets Day In 'Court'

Howard Berkes — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 22:53:00 +0000

Months of claims and counterclaims come to a head in a hotel conference room in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, when the International Skating Union considers the deliberate sabotage of a speed skate involving an American Olympic medalist and, allegedly, his former coach.

The ISU's disciplinary commission is scheduled to hear testimony behind closed doors from Simon Cho, a Vancouver Olympic bronze medalist in short track speedskating, former American short track coach Jae Su Chun, and at least two witnesses.

Uzbek national charged with aiding a terrorist group and training others in how to build and use a weapon of mass destruction.

The reason?

Hands-Free Gadgets In Car Don't Mean Driving Is Risk-Free

Howard Berkes — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:48:00 +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.

Amid Data Controversy, NSA Builds Its Biggest Data Farm

Howard Berkes — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 06:58:00 +0000

As privacy advocates and security experts debate the validity of the National Security Agency's massive data gathering operations, the agency is putting the finishing touches on its biggest data farm yet.

The gargantuan $1.2 billion complex at a National Guard base 26 miles south of Salt Lake City features 1.5 million square feet of top secret space.

Salt, Flies, Pickled Tongues: A Perfect Great Salt Lake Swim

Howard Berkes — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 21:09:00 +0000

It's the "liquid lie of the desert," as writer Terry Tempest Williams describes it, a vast inland sea so salty it triggers retching when swallowed. Brine shrimp swarm its waters and brine flies blanket the shore. In the right wind and weather its putrid smell reaches Salt Lake City neighborhoods 16 miles away.