The Two-Way
10:50 am
Wed January 11, 2012

Hostess, Maker Of Twinkies, Files For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection

Credit Tim Boyle / Getty Images
A Twinkie shows off its creamy filling in this file photo from 2005. A snack-cake sales slump is one reason Hostess Brands is seeking protection from its creditors.

Originally published on Wed January 11, 2012 9:10 am

Twinkies maker Hostess Brands Inc., is again seeking protection from its creditors, filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as the company tries to cope with high debt and rising costs of labor and raw materials.

Hostess, which also makes Ho Hos, Sno Balls, and Wonder Bread, is a privately held company based in Irving, Tex. It owes millions to suppliers and labor unions. The company has reportedly found some financing to keep it running during bankruptcy proceedings.

For our Newscast desk, Larry Abramson reports:

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Bill Chappell is a blogger and producer who works with NPR's Morning Edition and Digital Media group. In addition to coordinating Web features, he frequently contributes to NPR's blogs, from The Two Way and All Tech Considered to The Salt.

Chappell's work at NPR has ranged from being the site's first full-time homepage editor to leading the London 2012 Olympics blog, The Torch. His assignments have included being the lead web producer for NPR's trip to Asia's Grand Trunk Road, as well as establishing the Peabody Award-winning StoryCorps on NPR.org.

In 2009, Chappell was a key editorial member of the small team that redesigned NPR's web site. One year later, the site won its first Peabody Award, along with the National Press Foundation's Excellence in Online Journalism award.

At NPR, Chappell trains both digital and radio staff to use digital tools to tell compelling stories, in addition to "evangelizing" — promoting more collaboration between departments. Other shows he has worked with include All Things Considered, Fresh Air, and Talk of the Nation.

Prior to joining NPR in late 2003, Chappell worked on the Assignment Desk at CNN International, handling coverage in areas from the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America, and coordinating CNN's pool coverage out of Qatar.

Chappell's work for CNN also included producing Web stories and editing digital video for SI.com, as well as editing and producing stories for CNN.com's features division. He also worked at the network's video and research library.

Before joining CNN, Chappell wrote about movies, restaurants and music for alternative weeklies, in addition to his first job: editing the police blotter.

From 2002-2003, Chappell served as editor-in-chief of The Trans-Atlantic Journal, a business and lifestyle monthly geared for expatriate Europeans working and living in the United States.

A holder of bachelor's degrees in English and History from the University of Georgia, he attended graduate school for English Literature at the University of South Carolina.

The Exchange
9:00 am
Wed January 11, 2012

A New Hampshire Primary Post-mort

Credit Tracy Lee Carroll for NHPR

After nearly a  year of speeches, rallies, political ads and debates, New Hampshire's First in the Nation Primary ended pretty quickly tonight with Mitt Romney taking gold.  Ron Paul finished a strong second with John Huntsman, who put all his cards into the Granite State, finished a respectable third.  Today we'll we'll look back at last night's contest, see who the big winners and loser were and where the race to be the Republican Presidential candidate goes from here. 

 

Guests: 

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Campaign 2012
2:56 am
Wed January 11, 2012

Romney Wins Big, Makes History

Credit Tracy Lee Carroll for NHPR

 

Last night was vindication for Mitt Romney as the former Massachusetts governor claimed nearly 40 percent of the vote; Texas Congressman Ron Paul took second with 23 percent.

"Thank you New Hampshire. Tonight we made history," said Romney.

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Paul State Director
2:50 am
Wed January 11, 2012

How Paul Did It

Credit NHPR
Ron Paul on the campaign trail.

Texas Congressman Ron Paul did three times better in the 2012 primary than in 2008.  NHPR's Jon Greeenberg sat down with the campaign's state director, Jared Chicoine. Chicoine has a dozen years of electoral work under his belt.  He was in Senator Bob Smith's primary battle with John E. Sununu.  Chicoine also worked with State Senator Bob O'Dell, and the congressional campaign of Sean Mahoney.

Sitting in a hotel lobby in Bow on the night of the primary, Chicoine told us a bit about the Ron Paul ground game.

Transcript available later.

Paul party
2:38 am
Wed January 11, 2012

A Second Place Win for Paul

Texas congressman Ron Paul’s second place finish  put his supporters into celebration mode last night. 

Coming in second typically feels like a disappointment.  Not for Heather Mellem of Manchester. 

“Romney might win this election, but Ron Paul is first in ideas.  And he’s taken his cause to a level I’ve never expected he could take it to. Amazing,” she said.

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Campaign 2012
1:30 am
Wed January 11, 2012

New Hampshire Primary 2012: Wrap-up

 

 

 

 

Summary results | Town results

Updates from the field :

"If we don't get our act together at home, we will see the end of the American Century by 2050" - Jon Huntsman 9:34 p.m.

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Campaign 2012
1:01 am
Wed January 11, 2012

Santorum and Gingrich Campaigns Head to South Carolina

Neither of them finished in the top three in New Hampshire, but Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum both say their campaigns will continue.

The two of them battled for fourth place behind Mitt Romney, Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman.

Gingrich says he’ll campaign tomorrow in South Carolina.

“I’m asking each of you not to slow down, in the next couple of days, make a list of every person you know in South Carolina and every person you know in Florida cause those are the next two great contests.”

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Campaign 2012
12:58 am
Wed January 11, 2012

Santorum Supporters Still Hopeful

Credit Kevin Flynn

Supporters of former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum say they weren’t surprised by his near tie for fourth place with Newt Gingrich in New Hampshire’s presidential primary.

Rick Santorum told supporters that he knew New Hampshire would be tough to win.

He focused most of his campaign in Iowa and didn’t spend a lot of money in New Hampshire.

While supporters were disappointed in his finish, Dan Tamburello, state co-chair for Santorum’s campaign, says it wasn’t unexpected.

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Campaign 2012
12:33 am
Wed January 11, 2012

Gingrich Ready to Move On to South Carolina

 

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich wants to put New Hampshire in the rear view mirror.

His followers are already looking forward to South Carolina.

Gingrich supporter Warren Kindler from Epping isn’t surprised that Gingrich didn’t fare well in New Hampshire. 

Kindler: Mitt’s had a long time to campaign in New Hampshire he’s very well known, he’s fairly well liked he’s a neighboring ex-governor, former governor

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