News stories from Saturday August 28, 1971
Summaries of the stories the major media outlets considered to be of particular importance on this date:
- Enemy forces made 24 separate attacks on the eve of the South Vietnamese national assembly elections. Though 1,300 candidates are campaigning for 159 national assembly seats, government restrictions limit candidates' activities; people seem apathetic or unaware of the election. An adviser to Vice President Nguyen Cao Ky is reportedly on his way to the United States to discuss blocking the October presidential election. [CBS]
- The Cost of Living Council made a decision favorable to the auto industry. The Council ruled that car dealers can charge as much for new model cars as they did for new models last fall. [CBS]
- The Japanese yen increased over 5% on the Tokyo currency exchange; the U.S. is hoping for a 15% increase. [CBS]
- Three California state office buildings, two of them belonging to the California prison system, were bombed today; the buildings are in San Francisco, San Mateo and Sacramento. The radical Weathermen organization claimed responsibility for two of the blasts. An anonymous caller said that the San Mateo bombing was in retaliation for the death of San Quentin inmate George Jackson. A funeral for Jackson was held in Oakland. Huey Newton delivered the eulogy. [CBS]
- Tropical storm Doria is losing strength as it moves north through New England. [CBS]
- Thirty-five people were killed by a fire on a Greek ferry boat off the coast of Italy; at least 40 others are missing. [CBS]
- Publisher Bennett Cerf has died at age 73. [CBS]
- Thousands of Puerto Ricans are returning to their homeland; Dario Resto and his family are among them. The Restos came to New York City 16 years ago and lived in the Bronx ghetto. Rep. Herman Badillo claims that studies show Puerto Ricans have the worst housing and jobs, and the lowest educational attainment of any group in America. The unemployment rate for Puerto Ricans in New York City is 10%; Resto worked in a purse factory for $98 a week. Resto said that he can't continue to live in a situation where his family is never safe. The crime rate in the Bronx is up 15%, and murders are up 40% over last year; the increased rates are believed to be due to drug addicts. [CBS]