Blog #14- House Votes to repeal health care law against long odds

In Washington the House of Representatives voted to repeal the Obama administration's signature health-care legislation Wednesday evening, a vote of newly electedRepublican majority called a fulfillment of their number 1 campaign promise. The legislation is unlikely to make it past the Democratic-controlled Senate, where Majority Leader Harry Reid has said he won't bring it to the floor for a vote. Republicans have not presented an alternative bill to replace the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which passed in 2010 over their unanimous opposition. Most Republicans have acknowledged the virtual impossibility of an outright repeal, but have said they will try to cut funding to portions of the measure or eliminate specific provisions in the months ahead. The nearly $900 billion health-care law passed Congress in 2010 over unaimous Repulican opposition. the extend health coverage to 32 million Americans when fully implemented.

I personally think that it was a good reason to extend the health care bill because it would extend health care to people that don't have health care for their family. The health care bill requires americans to obtain heath insurance from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions, eliminates lifetime caps on coverage and allows families to keep children on their policies until age 26.


http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/01/19/health.care/index.html?hpt=T2

Blog Entry #13- Ariz. suspect's parents: 'We don't know why this happened'

In Phoenix Arizona the parents of Jared Loughner, the 22-year-old suspect in the mass shooting in Arizona, expressed sorrow on Tuesday. "There are no words that can possibly express how we feel. We wish there were, so we could make you feel better," according to the statement to accused Jared Lee Loughner's family. "We don't understand why this happened. It may not make any difference, but we wish that we could change the events that happened on Saturday," the family statement said. "We care very deeply about the victims and their families. We are so very sorry for their loss." Earlier in the day, a neighbor had described Loughner's parents as "devastated" and "hurting." Wayne Smith, who has been bringing Amy and Randy Loughner their mail, said the couple "couldn't say much, they were crying too much. They can't talk without breaking down ... they're hurting."

I kinda feel sad for these parents of this young man. As fun as it will be for folks to decide that this could never happen in their family, one can truly never know what is in someone's heart or mind until they commit an act so evil as to be unexplainable. I hope they are able to somehow get away from Arizona for awhile, and allow themselves to heal. As it seems likely that their son had a psychiatric disorder that they as his parents would have been powerless to do anything about as there son is an adult, there will always be those monday morning quarterbacks who will blame them. I hope that people continue to pray for this kid and his parents.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41014125/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

Blog Entry #12- Flash floods surprise Australia's third biggest city

In Sydney Australia flash floods swept through an Australian city Monday, killing at least two people, trapping others in cars and leaving some clinging to trees as relentless rains brought more misery to a region battling its worst flooding in decades. The raging torrent of muddy water picked up cars and tossed them like toys, carried away furniture as it washed through stores and prompted scores of emergency calls as it swamped Toowoomba, a city of about 90,000 in Queensland state in the northeast. At least two people were killed, including one female pedestrian, Queensland Fire and Rescue Service Assistant Commissioner Tom Dawson said. Reuters earlier reported that five people have been confirmed killed.

This is a really devastating article because of all the flooding that is going on in Australia. A lot of the farm land in Austraila are in low laying areas and in valleys and along rivers and stuff that so if there is a lot of flooding at the wrong time of year there will also be a lot of crops. It is very sad that they lost two people and trappng other people in car and leaving some people that are clinging to trees. Some people are in more misery due to these flooding conditions.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40996681/ns/world_news-asiapacific/

Blog Entry #11- Shooting suspect warned of violence in Facebook post

In Omaha Nebraska the son of a police detective shot and wounded the principal and assistant principal of his high school on Wednesday, then shot himself in his car a few blocks away, authorities said. Robert Butler who transferred in November to Millard South High School and left a suicide note on the social media site. This is what he said in the note."Everybody that used to know me I'm sorry but Omaha changed me and the school I attend is even worse you are going here about the evil and I did but that school drove me to do this. I want you guys to remember me for who I was before this OK. It greatly affected the lives of the families ruined but I'm sorry. goodbye," Butler posted on his Facebook page. Butler has been suspended from school on Wednesday morning,when classes resumed after the winter break, for using his vehicle to tear up the football field, local media reported. The principal, Curtis Case, was in stable but serious condition at Creighton University Medical Center, according to spokeswoman Kelsey Archer. He had been at the school for five or six years, Millard Schools Superintendent Keith Lutz said.Assistant principal Vicki Caspar was in critical condition. She was a veteran administrator at the school, Lutz said. The school was equipped with security cameras and guards and performed safety drills, Lutz said. "But nothing prepares you," he said. A 16-year-old student at the school told The Associated Press she was just beginning lunch when a school administrator came into the cafeteria.

I think that was the son of a police detective shouldn't of done that especially when they say that our schools aren't going to be safe anymore because of all the shootings and and all the other things that students do and teachers don't know. There was really no regulation on guns and and other things that kids use. But these people really need people's prayers they said that in the article at the end.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40929538/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

Blog Entry #10- Snowstorm causes 100-car pileup near Fargo, N.D.

A storm of snow, ice, and rain is causing chaos throughout the midwest and it is expected to continue through New Years Day. This weather caused a 100 car pile-up in North Dakota. As a result of this pile up it caused I-94 to close. This started when two semi trucks jacknifed on Thursday. With the Visibility and road conditions so bad, highway patrol were rescueing drivers by foot and snowmobile. Three people were sent to the hospital. Out by Denver, it faced heaviest snows of the season on Friday, while in parts of Wyoming and New Mexico were getting ready for stormy weather and fridged temperatures. Phoenix was bracing for subfreezing temperatures on Friday also because the storm dumped a snowy mix of precipitation on the edge of the desert city on thursday.Strong winds have also creates snow dunes on rooftops, streets, and yards across mountanious areas of Arizona. Because of this, two major thoroughfares in northern Arizona were closed, which stranded people just south of the Grand Canyon and Flagstaff. New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and Nevada also all have major roadways shut down due to the storm. Up to a foot of snow is predicted to fall in the Denver and Colorado Springs area while the eastern plains are expected to get about 7 inches. Ski resorts are happy for the snow, but it has trapped some skiers on the mountain and prevented others from coming. This is because roads have been closed to those resorts because of the dangerous conditions and the threat of avalanches. United Airlines has had to cancel 32 flights from Denver on Thursday alone.

The title of this article really caught my eye because it was a 100 car pile up and I was interested in what caused it first. What caused this was the 2 semis that jacknifed eachother. Pretty much from this article much of the United States was experiencing the snow and wintery mix. I am kinda interested in this that New Mexico and Arizona were seeing snow and they don't really see this very much but some of this is not in our control because it is mother nature that is in charge of all this and the weather.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40861490/ns/weather/

Blog Entry #9- Dad of 2 missing kids face murder charges

In Vancleave Mississippi police says the father of two missing Alabama children will be charged with murder. Mobile Police spokesman Chris Levy said Wednesday that the discovery of remains believed to be the man's 3-year-old son gives authorities enough evidence to file two murder charges against John DeBlase, 27. A boys bones were found in rural Mississippi earlier in the day after DeBlase told police where to look. "Everything we found is absolutely consistent with the information he gave to us on what to look for," Levy said. The bones were found by search crews Wednesday morning in the woods just off Highway 57 north of Vancleave, Miss. Tests still need to be conducted to confirm the identity, but authorities are convinced the bones are the remains of Chase DeBlase, Levy said. John DeBlase has also told authorities he dumped the body of his 5-year-old daughter Natalie in the woods north of Mobile in June. Her remains have not been found. It disturbs investigators that no one came forward sooner, Levy said. Police say the boy was last seen in March and the girl in June, but their disappearances weren't reported until authorities in Kentucky received a tip recently. Mobile police began investigating last month.



Opinion: My opinion on this issue is that these two kids should not be out because they are so young. I don't really believe that the kids can ever have a true justice for their lives being taken away at such an early age. people saw that these babies were being abused and did nothing about it... more people need to stand up for kids...I blame the family of these 2 children..seems all they want to do is point fingers, when they should of been using them to call 911.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40570432/

ISSUE #3 - Safe to Eat

In 2006, several cases of food-borne illnesses called attention to the nation's process for ensur ing the safety of fresh fruit and vegetables. An outbreak of food poisoning from the dangerous bacteria E. coli. was traced in a bag of spinich. Testing revealed that this case originated at a California farm, where feral pigs had spread E. coli from cow manure into spinach fields. Similar incidents followed, causing more people to become ill. First, Americans are consuming greater amounts of fresh produce in an attempt to eat more healthfully. Unlike meat, fresh produce is often consumed raw. Many consumers have called for new safety regulations for the supply of fruit and vegetables. Whereas meat and poultry are highly regulated by the Department of Agriculture, fruit and vegetables fall under the purview of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the states. Thus far, the govern­ment has relied primarily on self-regulation by the industry and farmers.

obviously people are considering to eat healthier and they are putting some safety regulations on certain foods. E Coli has been found in 700 stereotypes and they have been identified. The E. coli serotypes that are responsible for the numerous reports of outbreaks traced to the consumption of contaminated foods and beverages. A lot of people still eat spinch even though they had the outbreak.

http://www.fda.gov/

Issue #1

Issue #2