Front Page News

( 3 September, evening edition )

( Ripped From The Headlines: Special Morning Edition, 31 Aug 2005 )

( Monday Aug 29th, Evening Edition )

( August 26th, evening edition )

( August 20th, morning edition )

( August 16th, evening edition )

( A1-above the fold, ripped from the headlines )

( 4 July 2005, A1, above the fold )

( Daily Prophet, 20 June, Afternoon Edition )

( Lestrange Kills Malfoy Wife )

( 17 April 2005 - A1 above the fold )

( Daily Prophet, 11 April 2005 - A1 above the fold )

Evening Edition for March 7th

Ministry Regulations Cause Rise in Arrests, LES Understaffed
by Nelson Coughlan

The new regulations restricting travel through muggle areas have caused a dramatic rise in arrests as witches and wizards either forget or deliberately ignore the new laws. LES members have been forced to borrow personnel from the Auror floor to cover all the cases, leaving the entire Department severely understaffed.

Many citizens are unsympathetic to the MLE's plight, however. Marigold Burtch, a resident of Diagon Alley, has family members who live in nearby muggle London. "The Ministry shouldn't be allowed to tell me I can't visit my own mother," she shared. "Security is one thing, but keeping families apart is just wrong!"

Others, such as the owner of Nature's Garden, have business reasons for going into the muggle world. "I work directly with the local farmers to get my goods," says Phyllida Spore. "It's how I make sure everything is fresh; it's what my business is built on! How am I supposed to run anything if I can't work with my suppliers? The Ministry is going to put me out of business, it is."

And Phyllida isn't alone. Prices on base goods have increased dramatically since the new restrictions in almost every industry as craftsmen and builders have been forced to turn to imports. Rumors from the MoIMC suggest that the Ministry has had to scramble to keep foreign businesses from artificially increasing their prices on their exports, but they are receiving little help from foreign governments.

Gringotts Warns Against Hoarding
by Dean Ingold

Sources within the Gringotts bank say that an increasing number of people have been in to deposit their hoarded cash, valuables, and even household goods.

"A customer came in with crates of canned food," says an anonymous source inside the bank. "Crates of it! Who needs that much of anything?" The same source reports other cases of people hoarding basic items, presumably against the fear that prices will continue to rise.

Officials warn against the practice, since such hoarding can have disastrous long-term effects on the economy at large. In many cases, simple panic can exacerbate small issues into full-blown crises. Despite these warnings, there seems to be no slowing of the number of customers pouring into Gringotts.

Ministry Review Soon to Begin

After weeks of meetings and deliberations, the Ministry announced today that it would be conducting a review in conjunction with a special committee convened by the Prime Minister. The review committee will be made up of both wizards and muggles in equal number and will be looking into various policies, budgets, and organizational matters which have been brought up during the Ministerial meetings. What action will be taken at the end of this review has yet to be found, but the Minister has stated that the purpose is to locate and eradicate outdated, corrupt, or unfeasible practices.

"Times have been changing faster than anyone has realized," says one of the Minister's aids. "A lot of our policies toward muggles and the muggle government just aren't practical anymore because we haven't kept up with them when we had the chance. No one likes that it has to happen like this, but we'll be better off for it at the end."

Contrary to popular belief, no part of this review will take place within the Ministry building itself.

Violence in Swansea Averted

A riot was nearly caused in Swansea this afternoon when the secrecy charms on a local wizarding business failed, relieving a branch of the Bobbin's Apothecary chain to the muggle passers-by. Several muggles noticed the 'new' shop and went in to investigate, at which time they became very alarmed by a potions demonstration that was taking place on the sales floor.

The Bobbin's manager was quick to close the business to customers, but not before word got out to other residents and shoppers in the area. A large crowd of muggles formed outside the shop door, although the purpose behind the gathering is unclear at this time. Aurors and Obliviators arrived on the scene just as one muggle began throwing rocks at the store and dispersed the crowd. Despite the best efforts of the Obliviators, news of the incident spread to the muggle news networks within minutes and it has been reported across the country.

Charms correspondent Hortense Helgager says such occurrences may become more common in the near-future. "Anti-muggle charms are largely dependent on the muggles innate willingness to overlook things. As muggles become more and more aware of the magical world, those charms are more prone to failing."

For the time being, Bobbin's has closed all except for their Blackthorn and Hogsmead locations and placed them under more complete protections, which allow only specific people to enter. The Swansea location is to remain closed but not hidden as the Ministry plans to pass it off as an occult shop to the muggle public. Customers who frequent the closed locations can place orders by owl for home delivery.

Next Playoffs Match On Hold
by Susan Weatherall

Disgruntled fans have papered the DoMGS with complaints about the decision to postpone the next playoffs game between the Prides and the Bats indefinitely. League officials cited the difficulties in getting attendance rates up due to the new travel restrictions as the reason. Officials do not believe that they can cover the costs of hosting a game if the attendance dips below a certain point, and doing so would make the league incapable of financing the remainder of the season.

Officials are looking for alternate ways to hold games or for getting spectators to official pitches. As soon as a feasible method can be worked out, games will progress again at the usual rate.

Evening Edition for February 9th

Clare Mullane Returned Home
by Christian Odwyer

LONDON - After two weeks of frantic searching, 8 year-old Clare Mullane was discovered in an abandoned home in Bayswater early this morning. According to the child, she had been coaxed from her front yard by a stranger claiming to be a friend of her father's who wanted to bring her to him. Instead of visiting her father at work, Clare was taken to the man's home. Some days later, she was moved to the house in Bayswater, given food, toys, and firm instructions not to leave the house, and then abandoned.

Initial investigations do not suggest that Clare Mullane was abused during her abduction, and theories abound as to why it happened. No ransom note was ever left with the parents, nor was Clare able to identify her abductors. Immediate suspicion lies with the fact that her mother was on the infamous 'Blacklist' that came out last month, but LES members also point out that her father had many criminal connections and even a record of his own. The MLE has stated that no possibilities are being ignored as they continue to search for the kidnappers.

Break Discovered in Themot Murder
by Nelson Coughlan

DIAGON ALLEY - Aurors caught a surprising break in the case of Undersecretary Wilton Themot's murder yesterday with the discovery of what they believe to be the murder weapon. While investigating the apparent disappearance of Christian Iles, aurors discovered an antique falcata (a type of single-edged knife) which matches to trace evidence found on Themot's body.

Christian Iles was reported missing by his boss on Tuesday after failing to show up to work for a week. 39, a cauldron quality inspector, Iles has no criminal record. There is no evidence of a struggle surrounding his disappearance and no demands have been made by kidnappers. Friends of Iles say he is a quiet man who keeps to himself and were shocked by the discovery of the falcata. There are no clues as of yet as to his disappearance nor any further information regarding his possible involvement in the murder, but citizens are warned to keep an eye out for him and consider him armed and dangerous.

Lestrange Spotted in Scotland
by Reginald Howard

KIRKWALL - Rabastan Lestrange was spotted by muggle tourists at the Knap of Howar in Orkney yesterday, according to sources in the Ministry. The muggles recognized him from a picture distributed by the muggle police and did not engage him, but did report it to the authorities. Aurors arrived on the scene within minutes of finding out about the sighting and have determined that Lestrange was after something in one of the many magical cairns found on the island.

The island of Papa Westray is home to one of the oldest archeological sites in Northern Europe for muggles and wizards, though Historic Scotland is aware of only the stone farmstead known as the Knap of Howar. Two more structures and a variety of cairns belonging to ancient wizards have also been discovered there, but any research ceased in the 1930's and they became mere tourist attractions. Historians and Aurors both are trying to determine what Lestrange could have been after in the cairn, without success.

Pride Whips Wasps
by Susan Weatherall

The Pride of Portree put forth an astonishing display in their first Playoff game, beating the Wimbourne Wasps 170 to 50. Pride fans received quite a treat from their team as Portree dominated the pitch in every aspect of the game. Pride Seeker Kentigerna Bundy gave officials fits as she deliberately delayed the end of the game on several instances to drive up the point difference.

The next playoff game is set for February 17th between the Montrose Magpies Ballycastle Bats.

Evening Edition for January 31st

Rabastan Lestrange Escapes Muggle Custody
Reginald Howard

BASILDON - Rabastan Lestrange was arrested late last night by muggle authorities when he was caught trying to break into a man's home. According to reports, Lestrange was discovered by Edwin Sedar as he attempted to break into a wall safe. Lestrange attempted to curse Sedar, who mistook the wand for a muggle 'firearm' (a type of explosive weapon). Sedar incapacitated Lestrange with a hatstand and called the police. Lestrange revived as the police arrived on the scene and escaped after a brief fight. Sedar and two police officers were killed in the conflict and four more were injured.

Aurors arrived a few minutes later and took the injured officers to St Mungos, where they remain in critical condition. As of yet, officials have not been able to determine what Lestrange wanted from Sedar or where he has gone. A nation-wide manhunt for the man is underway to find him, as this is the closest the MLE has been to catching Lestrange since his break-out from Azkaban.

Prime Minister in Uproar over Lestrange Incident
Christian Odwyer

LONDON - Prime Minister Hilliard Nelson became the first muggle Prime Minister in history to deliberately contact a Minister of Magic this morning when he demanded an explanation for the death of two police officers. He further made history by becoming the highest ranking muggle official to visit St Mungos, where he visited the four officers there.

Mr. Nelson has insisted on conducting a review of the Ministry of Magic, something he has put forth before without success. The logistics involved in allowing muggle officials into the Ministry and ensuring their subsequent secrecy have always been cited as the largest preventative factors. In light of recent events, however, Minister Shaklebolt has invited several members of Nelson's government to a special meeting in order to discuss the matter and see if a compromise can be reached.

For now, the muggle officers remain in critical condition and the hunt for Rabastan Lestrange continues, conducted jointly by the DoMLE and the Metropolitan Police Service.

Denbigh Prison Plans Delayed
by Dean Ingold

DENBIGH - Barely a week after construction began, the new prison facility in Denbigh is rumored to already be Beverly behind schedule due to a problem involving equipment. Though crews broke ground last Monday, they already face a shortage of basic building supplies such as stone and mortar. Attempts to engage muggle suppliers for concrete instead have begun, with no results so far.

Budget Submitted Days Ahead of Deadline
by Nelson Coughlan

LONDON - The 2005 Fiscal Year Budget was approved by the Minister of Magic over the weekend, just days ahead of the deadline set for the committee. The new budget includes several urban renewal and economic stimulus plans, but is surprisingly light on the calls for increased Statute security. Most surprising of all, the DoMLE took its first budget cut in decades.

"The numbers can be quite misleading," says Undersecretary of the Treasury Allan Garnes. "While it's true that the MLE's budget allowance has been reduced, it is also true that they've enjoyed a severely inflated budget since the end of the Second War. This new budget simply returns them to their pre-war level."

Catapults Win First Game of Quidditch Playoffs
by Susan Weatherall

CAERPHILLY - The Caerphilly Catapults narrowly won their game with the Appleby Arrows after the Snitch was pushed out of bounds in the 34th minute of play. The game ended at 80-60, making it the closest (and lowest) score in a playoffs game since 1893. A fight almost ensued between the Arrows coach and the ruling official, with John Mirrow asserting that a foul was committed just before the Snitch defaulted, making the end of the game invalid. He was unable to get the ruling changed.

The next game is due to take place on February 7th between the Pride of Portree and the Wimbourne Wasps.

Evening Edition for December 14th

Plans For New Prison Released
by Dean Ingold

DENBIGH - A proposal for a new prison facility in Denbigh, Wales was finalized and submitted this week, with confident contractors already making preparations to begin the construction. The new facility will be intended to relieve the overcrowding in Azkaban by removing low-risk, non-Death Eater prisoners to their own prison, which would have comparatively relaxed security and better amenities such as prisoner-run kitchens, work programs, and socialization opportunities.

"The new prison would be more focused on rehabilitation than containment," says project manager Dean Updyke. "Azkaban currently has one goal - get them out of society. Prisoners that are later released are just going to go back to their old ways, and probably worse than before. For petty crooks and other non-violent criminals to be lumped in with Death Eaters... It just doesn't make sense. Especially if they have a short sentence."

MLE Promises Safe Shopping Season, Ministry Seeks to Increase Sales
by Reginald Howard

LONDON - The Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Pius Thicknesse, announced this afternoon that his Department guarantees a safe shopping season for all citizens. This announcement comes on the heels of various public concerns surrounding the safety of the smaller shopping districts outside of London. Incidents of muggle detection have been on the rise in recent years, putting the less guarded districts in danger.

These concerns, coupled with rising prices and a slumping economy, threaten to send the country into a full-blown recession. Sales on Diagon Alley are down 7% from the previous year and in Blackthorn Row they are down almost 12%. Marvin Howard, business analyst working for Galleon Solutions, says "People are afraid. They can see bad times coming and they're burying their gold in Gringotts vaults to prepare. The problem is that on an individual basis this is a good idea; when everyone does it, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy."

The Ministry hopes to boost buyer confidence with the assurances of a safe shopping experience, but it remains unclear whether that will be enough to lure people into the Alleys. Business owners admit that the final weeks before Christmas are the most important ones of the year and hope that more people will be persuaded to do their last-minute shopping.

Local Disturbance Frightens Leaky Customers
by Maggie Smith

DIAGON - A small explosion at a muggle shop gave guests at the popular wizarding pub The Leaky Cauldron a scare today, before it was determined that the attack was no directed at magical persons. The explosion was localized to a muggle store down the street, and aurors have determined that it is unrelated to the magical community.

2005 Fiscal Budget Still Delayed
by Nelson Coughlan

LONDON - The Ministry budget for the 2005-2006 fiscal year still has not been submitted to the Minister of Magic, making it the third latest budget in Ministry history. Minister of Magic Kingsly Shaklebolt has set a February deadline for the budget committee and threatened to take serious action if a compromise cannot be reached. Even with the new deadline, it is unclear if the budget can be implemented in time for the start of the fiscal year on April 6th.

Analysts argue that the delay in the budget is another symptom of the recent upheavals within the Ministry and point to more problems yet to come. The members of the committee were unavailable for comment.

Problems Revealed in Preparations for Ballycastle, Tutshill Match
by Susan Weatherall

WIMBOURNE - Final preparations for the closing game of the Quidditch season hit a snag this afternoon as it was revealed that the Tutshill's home stadium has become a nesting ground for Red-backed Shrikes. The birds, considered protected birds in Britain under a Biodiversity Action Plan, were being tracked by a group of muggle scientists when they found the stadium and decided to make it their home. The scientists were unable to continue their tracking experiments and panicked when their subjects appeared to just 'fall off the map,' sparking a furious storm of muggle activity in the area around the stadium. Officials are doing their best to remove the birds safely, and the Muggle-Worthy Excuse Committee is still working out a statement to give the concerned scientists. League officials say this slight bump will not effect the schedule of Friday's game, but Statue rules clearly state that large gatherings cannot take place in conjunction with so much muggle scrutiny. Fans are keeping track of the situation, eager to see how it will resolve.