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Kantele Franko - Spring 2008

Kantele FrankoKantele FrankoThe people of Finland decided more than a century ago that the kantele deserved to be the country's national instrument because of its influence in Finnish culture.

That has absolutely nothing to do with me, but people always ask about my name first, and then I have to explain how my father named me after an obscure science fiction character, not the folk instrument.

Once I get that out of the way, I prefer to discuss my other passions, and journalism tops the list. I study news writing and editing, political science and Spanish at Ohio University and write for its independent student newspaper. Weekends provide rare free time to indulge in peppermint tea, read about Africa and Third World development, catch up with "Grey's Anatomy" and watch college football. For the record, I support the Fighting Irish, even when their fight seems a bit lax.

I also enjoy traveling, which is probably a good thing because I've moved around recently with internships at the (Youngstown, Ohio) Vindicator, near my hometown of Austintown; the Springfield (Ohio) News-Sun and the San Francisco Chronicle. Washington will be vastly different, and I'm sure this community of stars, stripes and suits will prove to be an interesting test of my journalism chops.

Whatever happens, I know I'll pick up career lessons along the way. And maybe someday, with hard work and a bit of luck, my name will be known for reasons other than Finnish culture and European music.

**


Experts say backyard scientists can track ozone damage at home

Submitted on April 21, 2008 - 4:48pm.
WASHINGTON - From tree-planting to crafts to recycling projects, environmental groups are promoting hundreds of eco-friendly projects for Earth Day and Arbor Day. During a recent lecture at the Library of Congress, a scientist and an educator associated with the National Aeronautics and Space ..
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Faithful flock to Nationals Stadium to hear pope’s message of hope

Submitted on April 17, 2008 - 5:24pm. |
Click on photo to enlarge or download: Jane Fonner, her mother, Jacque Frank, and her sister Jill Marshall said a rosary as they sat on the sidewalk outside Nationals Park, praying that someone would have extra tickets. SHFWire photo by Nanette LightWASHINGTON - As thousands of people trickled past ..
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Crowds line streets for a too-quick view of Pope Benedict XVI

Submitted on April 16, 2008 - 5:09pm. |
Click on photo to enlarge or download: Police line Pennsylvania Avenue on Wednesday to control the crowd waiting to see Pope Benedict XVI after his White House welcome. SHFWire photo by Anel RamazanovaWASHINGTON - Crowds waited for up to two hours on Pennsylvania Avenue just outside the White House ..
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‘Hallowed ground’: Behind the scenes at Arlington National Cemetery

Submitted on April 15, 2008 - 12:43pm.
Click on photo to enlarge or download: An Old Guard caisson team arrives at the Columbarium during the April 9 funeral of Army Col. John L. Barnes at Arlington National Cemetery. SHFWire photo by Kantele Franko
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Early candidate protection adds to Secret Service burden

Submitted on April 3, 2008 - 6:29pm.
WASHINGTON - Presidential candidates received U.S. Secret Service protection earlier in this campaign cycle than ever before, adding to the agency's challenging workload, its director testified Thursday. With seven months until the general election, the Secret Service so far has provided ..
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Hearing on polar bear endangerment heats up

Submitted on April 2, 2008 - 6:26pm.
WASHINGTON - The listing of the polar bear as a "threatened" species has been put on ice during the past year as the federal government pursued more scientific evidence and activists responded with litigation to try to speed things along. But, like the sea ice habitats where the bears ..
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Study shows students support restrictions on campus credit marketing

Submitted on March 27, 2008 - 5:05pm.
WASHINGTON - When university students sign up for credit cards through marketing campaigns on or near campuses, the gimmicks and gifts they receive vary from T-shirts to food to iPods. But according to a report released Thursday based on an unscientific, informal survey, they often get something ..
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Banks, consumers duel over proposed bill on credit cardholder rights

Submitted on March 13, 2008 - 6:21pm.
WASHINGTON - Legislators postponed consumer testimony about credit cardholder protection in a last-minute decision Thursday, but bank representatives testifying at a congressional hearing still got an earful from some frustrated credit card users. Waving a two-inch-high stack of credit card ..
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Senator praises progress on I-65 biofuel corridor project

Submitted on March 10, 2008 - 5:30pm.
WASHINGTON - Republican Sen. Richard Lugar touted progress in an Indiana-led initiative to make renewable fuel available along nearly 900 miles of Interstate 65, calling the project an important step toward reducing U.S. dependence on foreign oil. The point often omitted about those efforts ..
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Young people attentive early in election, polls shows

Submitted on February 25, 2008 - 6:35pm.
WASHINGTON - As the daughter of apolitical parents, Brittany Pratt wasn't bitten by the political bug until she started classes last year at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. Then, like an increasing number of young voters, the 19-year-old caught an election fever that left her fired up ..
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