Batman sequel “The Dark Knight,” starring the late Heath Ledger, shattered records at the box office by bringing in $158.4 million during its three-day opening weekend.
Illinois Senator Barack Obama secured the presidential nomination of the Democratic Party, beating out New York Senator Hillary Clinton. Obama is the first black presidential candidate of a major political party in the U.S.
Belgian-Brazilian brewing company InBev announced a $52 million takeover of U.S. brewing giant Anheuser-Busch. InBev formed in 2004 when Belgian brewer Interbrew and Brazilian company AmBev merged.
Congress passed an expanded version of the GI Bill, which offers expanded education benefits for veterans and service members. Veterans and service members who served three or more years of active duty service after 9/11 will be able to receive full tuition and fees, a monthly housing stipend and a $1,000 stipend a year for books and supplies.
In addition to the expanded GI bill, Congress passed the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008. The act continues government subsidies in agriculture, as well as pursuing developments in energy research.
“The Dark Knight,” the sequel to 2005’s “Batman Begins,” grossed $158.4 million during its opening weekend, surpassing “Spider-Man 3” as the biggest three-day opening in box-office history by $7.3 million.
Crude oil prices stayed high through the summer before dropping in late July. In California, gas hit $4.50 a gallon.
President Bush lifted a White House ban on offshore drilling, and urged Congress to do the same. Although a vote on offshore drilling stalled in Congress, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she would consider a vote on it if the plan was part of a larger energy package.
Tomatoes were blamed as a source of salmonella outbreak in the United States and Canada, which infected more than 1,190 people in 42 states, the District of Columbia and Canada since April. At least 224 people were hospitalized. The United States Food and Drug Administration found the same strain of the bacteria in Mexican-grown jalapeño peppers.
Senior aides to former Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales were found to have broken Civil Service laws in hiring decisions, according to an internal report. The aides used an applicant’s political party as a factor in their decisions. One prosecutor had her job application rejected because aides thought she was a lesbian. Another applicant received high marks during his interview because he was found to be sufficiently conservative on “God, guns and gays.”
Federal authorities found Cook County Jail in Chicago was the site of a large number of human rights violations. People awaiting trial at the jail endured inadequate medical care, beatings at the hands of jail workers and dangerous building conditions. The 98-page report was the result of 17 months of investigation regarding the jail.
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