WOW NEWS

By Beatrice Davis

Vladimir Putin may have created a power tool “himself” as Russia's Parliamentary leader when he leaves the Kremlin next year. His United Russia (UR) party won a tremendous two-thirds majority in last Sunday's elections. All attention will turn from now on to the presidential polls, set for March 2^nd, 2008. This will be an interesting situation for all of us to keep an eye on.

Dennis Quaid and his wife filed a product lawsuit in Chicago seeking more than $50,000 in damages. Baxter Healthcare Corp. the maker of heparin (blood thinner) which was given to their newborn twins at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on Nov. 18, 2007 by accident.

The twins are now at home and "appear to be doing well," said Susan E. Loggans, the Chicago attorney who filed the lawsuit. "The Quaids are a religious family, and they really believe the prayers of the public saved their kids." The Cedars-Sinai Medical Center issued an apology to the Quaids and said it has made a series of changes to prevent a recurrence, including providing more training to staff and requiring four pharmacy workers to verify a "high-alert" medication before putting it in a patient care unit. (Can we really trust hospitals completely? After all, they are human beings who work on the patients and humans make mistakes.) Like to see the changes and outcome with this lawsuit!

Kiefer Sutherland was sentenced Wednesday to 48 days in jail. In three years he was arrested twice for drunk driving. He was immediately taken away and processed at the Glendale city jail. Sutherland, 40, request to serve his time at the Glendale city jail, which was granted by the judge! "Kiefer could have waited to serve his time till after the holidays, however he kindly declined and wants get this troubled time behind him. The actor was on probation for a 2004 DUI when he was stopped after he attended a Hollywood industry party. He was pulled over after he made an illegal U-turn and failed a field sobriety test. Kiefer will seek alcohol treatment after his release from jail. He will serve the full 48 days.