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American political news, history and information
WASHINGTON, April 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is a transcript from a press briefing by White House Deputy Press Secretary Dana Perino:
ATLANTA, April 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Hooters of America announced that it is demanding that the Troy City Council vote at the April 16 Council meeting on the Consent Judgment negotiated between Hooters of America and the City in January. The Company had requested a public vote, but the Troy City Attorney has refused to place the matter on the agenda for public vote, and instead has indicated the matter will only be considered in a closed session. The City Attorney's action effectively pushes any public vote on the issue until at least the next regular public meeting of Council on May 14. Twice before the Company has asked for the January Consent Judgment to be put on the agenda and each time the Council has avoided voting on it. When the matter first came up in January the Council voted to "table" the issue until after a federal judge ruled on the City's motion to dismiss a federal lawsuit filed by Hooters.
After the judge ruled in late February to allow the suit to stand, the Council again placed the January Consent Judgment on the agenda for their April 2 meeting. However, due to the order in which the items appeared on the April 2 agenda, the Council was able to again avoid voting on it. The January Consent Judgment appeared on the agenda as part of a 3-part question that included a March Consent Judgment proposed by Hooters. By voting against the March Consent Judgment by a vote of 5-2, the Council never had to consider the January Consent Judgment.
KANSAS CITY, Mo., April 13 /PRNewswire/ -- This month, Hostess(R) Ho Hos(R) are celebrating 40 sweet years as one of America's favorite Swiss- rolled, chocolate covered snack cakes. Since being introduced in 1967, Ho Hos have become an enduring icon enjoyed by chocolate lovers of all ages bite by chocolatey bite.
FLOSSMOOR, Ill., April 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The League of Black Women issued the following statement today regarding Don Imus' insult against the Rutgers University women's basetball team:
The League of Black Women welcomes the decision by CBS to fire embattled shock jock Don Imus after his grievous racial slur against the Rutgers University women's basketball team. However, the time it took for network executives to reach this conclusion begs the question: Why did it take so long?
More than 150 years after former slave turned abolitionist Sojourner Truth asked, "Ain't I a Woman?", Imus' now infamous "nappy-headed hos" slur came as a stunning reminder to all black women that no matter how high we fly, no matter how much we achieve, there are those who still regard us as less than legitimate.
BURBANK, Calif., April 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Hilary Duff marks another career milestone this week, by taking the highest selling debut on this week's Nielsen's Soundscan chart. Dignity marks the first album Hilary Duff wrote, a new musical style and a more mature look. The album was released April 3 on Disney's Hollywood Records.
Bob Cavallo, Chairman of Disney's Hollywood Records, commented, "Hilary delivered on this record. It reflects her growth as a career artist. She worked tirelessly with the whole Hollywood Records staff to market this record, and today's chart debut is a testament to that."
The debut followed a massive media blitz which included an MTV documentary-type special, "This Is Now," a cover of USA Today, rave print reviews, hosting TRL for a week, widespread retail presence, appearances on Good Morning America, Kid's Choice, Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live and Ellen, massive online coverage on MySpace and Yahoo, as well as a radio audience of over 11 million listeners.
Washington, D.C. - 4/12/2007 -- Eleven percent of all leisure travelers in the U.S. travel alone and the number is growing. So it is no surprise that travel counselors are seeing increasing business from single travelers who are looking not only for advice about great destinations but also about how to travel safely.
Travelers between the ages of 18-35 are the largest group of solo travelers, accounting for 35 percent of all single travelers, according to the Travel Industry Association. The next largest group of solo travelers are 35-49 year olds (27 percent), 50-64 year olds (26 percent) and 65+ (12 percent).
The number of single travelers is growing, according to a recent survey of AAA/CAA clubs, which found that 27 percent of travel counselors are seeing an increase in the number of trips they are booking for single travelers.
WASHINGTON, April 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The United States Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), will provide $450,000 through the U.S. Embassy in Ouagadougou to the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) for vaccines urgently needed to maintain control of an outbreak of meningitis. On April 10, U.S. Ambassador Jeanine Jackson issued a disaster declaration.
WASHINGTON, April 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The world's richest countries are failing to help millions of children in conflict-affected nations get an education, a new Save the Children report reveals today, ahead of a series of crucial world donor meetings. For example, in the Sudanese region of Darfur, over 50 percent of children are out of school, many forced from their homes due to violence, but almost no funding has been provided specifically to educate these children.
The new report, "Last in line, last in school" shows that most donor nations prioritize education assistance to more stable countries over those affected by conflict, leaving millions of children in conflict-affected countries with little hope of breaking the cycle of poverty and conflict, despite pledges from donor countries to ensure that every child receives an education by 2015. The study is based on an analysis of education aid reported by donor countries to the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA.)
Although the number of out-of-school primary-age children in the world has dramatically fallen from over 100 million to 77 million in recent years, the situation in countries affected by conflict has seen little improvement. Indeed, they are home to 39 million children who may never see the inside of a classroom. This means that unless these children are reached, the Millennium Development Goal of primary education for all will remain out of reach.
WASHINGTON, April 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi today issued the following statement in response to President Bush's rejection of Democrats' invitations to work with Congress on changing course in Iraq:
WASHINGTON, April 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on the Bush Administration's announcement that all active-duty Army personnel in Iraq will serve 15-month tours, three months longer than usual:
"Today's announcement just underscores the fact that the burden of the war in Iraqhas fallen upon our troops and their families. The Bush Administration has failed to create a plan to fully equip and train our troops, bring them home safely and soon, and provide our veterans with the quality care they deserve.
WASHINGTON, April 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Council on American- Islamic Relations (CAIR) today called on advertisers and guests to boycott Don Imus' radio program because of his long history of racist and bigoted comments.
In the latest controversy, Don Imus made racist and demeaning remarks about the Rutgers women's basketball team. Imus has since been suspended for a two-week period.
WASHINGTON, April 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid today issued the following statement in response to the Pentagon's announcement that the Army will extend tours in Iraq to 15 months:
WASHINGTON, April 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A federal grand jury in Reno, Nev., returned an indictment charging Joseph R. Francis with tax evasion, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today. The indictment alleges that Francis, whose companies Mantra Films Inc. and Sands Media Inc. produce and sell the Girls Gone Wild videotapes and DVDs, deducted more than $20 million in false business expenses on the companies' 2002 and 2003 corporate income tax returns.
According to the indictment, Francis used offshore bank accounts and entities purportedly owned by others to conceal income he earned during 2002 and 2003. The indictment also alleges that Francis transferred more than $15 million from an offshore bank account to a brokerage account in Irvine, Calif., held in the name of Rothwell Limited, a Cayman Islands corporation, that Francis controlled.
WASHINGTON, April 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today condemning the indefensible comments of radio host Don Imus:
"Like Americans all across the country, I want to express my deep disgust with the despicable words used by Don Imus. What he said was indefensible, and hurtful. Such racist and sexist words have no place in our society.
WASHINGTON, April 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- I am pleased to join millions of Americans in thanking Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senators on both sides of the aisle for putting partisan differences aside and passing S. 5, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. It's a great day for scientists and patients across this country.
WASHINGTON, April 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid today issued the following statement after the Senate passed S. 5, the Stem Cell Bill:
MINNEAPOLIS, April 11 /PRNewswire/ -- The international law firm of Dorsey & Whitney LLP today announced that Thomas J. Vilsack will join its Des Moines office on May 1, 2007. Tom Vilsack served as Iowa governor from 1998 through 2006. In addition to a distinguished public service career as governor, Iowa state senator and the mayor of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, Vilsack is a highly regarded litigator with more than 25 years of trial experience handling complex litigation and class actions with state-wide and national implications.
Tom Vilsack is a past president of the Iowa Trial Lawyers Association, and is a Distinguished Visiting Professor of Law at Drake University Law School. Admitted to the Iowa bar in 1975, he received his law degree from Albany Law School.
WASHINGTON, April 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is a transcript of remarks by President Bush on stem cells:
Scientists believe that stem cells have the potential for medical breakthroughs in treating debilitating medical diseases and disorders. However, the advancement of science and medicine need not conflict with the ethical imperative to protect every human life. I am a strong supporter of scientific research -- which is why I authorized the first federal funding for research on embryonic stem cells, under careful safeguards, starting in 2001.
My policy unleashed an unprecedented scientific effort using the stem cell lines my policy approved for funding. While encouraging -- not banning -- research, my policy also ensures that federal funds are not used to create incentives to destroy, or harm, or create living human embryos for purposes of research.
WASHINGTON, April 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Justice Department today reached an agreement with the owners and managers of several rental properties in Knoxville, Tenn., to resolve allegations of systemic discrimination against female tenants. The settlement, pending approval by the U.S. District Court in Knoxville, will require the defendants to pay a total of $110,000 to nine alleged victims and pay a civil penalty to the government of $15,000.
"Today's settlement represents another step toward making the American dream a reality for women and families," said Wan J. Kim, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. "I am proud of the Justice Department's unprecedented efforts in ensuring that those who engage in discrimination based on sex are prosecuted to the full extent of the law."
"My office is committed to strenuously enforcing the Fair Housing Act to protect Americans from housing discrimination," said James R. Dedrick, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee. "We were pleased to work with the Civil Rights Division in obtaining compensation for victims and protecting vulnerable members of our society from such discrimination in the future."
WASHINGTON, April 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Ritter today submitted recommendations to the U.S. Forest Service for the management of roadless areas in Colorado.
"Given the Bush administration's lack of support for the 2001 rule, Governor Ritter thinks his state's roadless petition is a good 'insurance policy.' But his 'insurance policy' is outdated and protects less than what's currently covered.
WASHINGTON, April 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Justice Department today reached a $60,000 settlement with a Springfield, Ill., development company and the estate of its former principal officer to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit filed in November 2005. The settlement resolves allegations that the defendants refused to sell property in a Springfield-area subdivision because the buyer intended to house six persons with disabilities there.
"All persons with disabilities deserve the right to be protected by federal civil rights laws," said Wan J. Kim, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. "The Justice Department will continue to vigorously enforce the federal fair housing laws to provide fairness in housing markets."
In its lawsuit, the United States alleged that Fleetwood Capital Development LLC and its principal officer, John Howard (now deceased), violated the Fair Housing Act when they refused to sell a lot in their new subdivision to Bethesda Lutheran Homes and Services because they learned that Bethesda intended to use the property for a group home for six developmentally disabled adults. Under the settlement, which must be approved by the court, the defendants will adopt nondiscriminatory procedures for the sale of the remaining lots in the subdivision, will pay $50,000 in monetary damages to Bethesda, and will pay $10,000 as a civil penalty to the United States.
BOSTON, April 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Two Lawrence men were charged today in federal court with being previously convicted felons in possession of firearms.
United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan; Glenn N. Anderson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in New England; Jonathan Blodgett, Essex County District Attorney; and John J. Romero, Chief of the Lawrence Police Department, announced today that CESAR COLON, 24, and NEFTALI DONES, 21, both of Lawrence, Massachusetts, were each charged with one-count of being previously convicted felons in possession of a firearm.
An indictment returned by a federal grand jury alleges that on or about January 11, 2007, COLON possessed a loaded Ruger .45 caliber pistol. An information also filed today, alleges that on the same date DONES possessed a Bryco 9mm pistol and four rounds of 9mm ammunition. It is further alleged that at the time they possessed the pistols, each had been previously convicted of a felony. Federal law prohibits individuals previously convicted of a felony from possessing firearms or ammunition.
WILMINGTON, Del., April 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Proving that crazy and absurd antics of college life are no longer confined to fraternities and sororities but have now expanded into the classroom and administration buildings, the Intercollegiate Studies Institute's Collegiate Network (CN) announced the 10th annual "Campus Outrage Awards." "We use these awards to shed light on the most outrageous instances of intolerance and intimidation on the part of college officials," said Stephen Klugewicz, executive director of CN.
RADNOR, Pa., April 11 /PRNewswire/ -- The following statement was issued today by the law firm of Schiffrin Barroway Topaz & Kessler, LLP:
A landmark $352 million settlement was achieved by European investors with Royal Dutch Shell plc (NYSE: RDS.A, RDS.B; LN: RDSA, RDSB; EN: RDSA, RDSB) relating to Shell's(*) 2004 restatement of reserves. The European settlement of securities fraud claims on a class-wide basis, the first of its kind, seeks to resolve claims exclusively on behalf of European and other non-United States investors.
WATSONVILLE, Calif., April 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Granite Construction Incorporated (NYSE:GVA) announced that Granite Construction Company, a wholly owned subsidiary, has formally requested that the Oregon Department of Transportation ("ODOT") terminate its contract to build the US 20 Pioneer Mountain to Eddyville Design-Build project. The $130 million contract was awarded in July 2005 to Yaquina River Constructors ("YRC"), a joint venture of Granite and its majority-owned subsidiary, Wilder Construction Company.
While clearing and excavating the site, numerous and massive landslides throughout the seven-mile project site were discovered. Some of these landslides are at critical sections of the project, including under bridge abutments. The additional costs and time associated with these slides is currently estimated to be approximately $61 million and would add two years to the duration of the project. After conferring with ODOT on the most cost effective way to deal with these differing site conditions, Granite requested that ODOT terminate the original contract with YRC. ODOT responded in writing that it is willing to consider a negotiated contract termination. The agency will discuss the proposal with YRC in the coming weeks to determine if termination would be in the best interests of Oregon taxpayers.
WASHINGTON, April 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- At 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday April 11th at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. in the Marrow Room, Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America ("NACA") will announce a commitment of One Billion dollars to rescue the victims of predatory lenders and to organize victims to stop the foreclosures and make them whole.
NACA's purchase program has set the national standard for how lending should be done for people who are considered "subprime." NACA counsels people into a mortgage they can afford, rather than set the borrowers up for failure ... as the crash of the subprime market has made crystal clear. Now NACA brings that standard to refinances.
WASHINGTON, April 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "The Congressional Black Caucus Political Education and Leadership Institute (CBC Institute) is sponsoring and will hold four primary debates -- two among Democratic presidential candidates and two among Republican presidential candidates. Regarding media stories or inquiries about the broadcasting of these events, the CBC Institute has secured agreements with CNN and FOX News to nationally telecast the debates. Each network will telecast one debate for Democrats and one for Republicans, and we are proceeding with these agreements.
SCHAUMBURG, Ill., April 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has posted a comprehensive list of all pet foods recalled in connection to a suspected wheat gluten contamination. This information has been posted by the AVMA to help pet owners and veterinarians more easily and quickly sort through the over 100 pet foods currently recalled.
The number and brands of pet foods that have been recalled in connection to contaminated wheat gluten has grown since Menu Foods, a private-label pet food producer based in Canada, initially announced the recall on March 16. The AVMA Pet Food Recall list consolidates all manufacturer, brand and formulation information.
The AVMA also reminds pet owners what should be done if an animal is found to be affected by these contaminated pet foods. Most importantly, pets need to be seen and treated by a veterinarian. If your pet shows signs of loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting or change in urination, consult a veterinarian immediately.
NEWTOWN, Pa., April 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Daniel O. Bernstine, who has been President of Portland State University in Portland, Oregon, for the last decade, will be the new President and Chief Executive Officer of the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) starting July 1, 2007. President Bernstine was Dean of the University of Wisconsin Law School from 1990 to 1997.
LSAC, whose members include law schools across the United States and Canada, owns the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and administers a wide array of admission services for law school applicants. LSAC is a leader in encouraging members of underrepresented groups to attend law school and become lawyers. LSAC also funds extensive social science research on law and legal institutions. LSAC's headquarters are in Newtown, Pennsylvania.
ENOLA, Pa., April 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- During April, Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), anti-sexual violence advocates and organizations focus their efforts on raising awareness nationwide. They hold special events and campaigns to draw attention to sexual violence as a major public health issue.
The NSVRC's 2007 campaign theme for SAAM is Prevent Sexual Violence ... in our communities. Over 125 events are registered on the national calendar including 37 screenings of the documentary No! Confronting Sexual Assault in our Communities.
Annually the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) also recognizes programs and individuals working to end sexual violence.
LONDON, April 11/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Royal Dutch Shell plc (NYSE: RDS.A , NYSE: RDS.B) today announced the proposed settlement of claims outside the US related to the 2004 restatement of reserves.
Without admitting any wrongdoing, Shell* agreed to pay $352.6 million, plus administrative costs, to investors covered by the settlement. They include non-US investors who purchased their shares outside the United States. The parties to the settlement agreement include certain institutional investors including ABP, PGGM, the Vereniging van Effectenbezitters (VEB) an organization representing individual shareholders in The Netherlands and similar organisations, and the Shell Reserves Compensation Foundation, a settlement foundation representing all shareholders covered by the settlement agreement.
The agreement depends on the Amsterdam Court of Appeals declaring the settlement binding for all of the shareholders that it covers and is subject to agreed opt-out provisions.
WASHINGTON, April 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA is targeting June 8 as the next possible launch opportunity for space shuttle Atlantis' STS-117 mission to the International Space Station.
Tuesday's decision by agency management followed a meeting that reviewed the progress in repairing insulating foam on the shuttle's external fuel tank, which was damaged during a sudden hail storm Feb. 26 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla. That damage required engineers to repair approximately 2,660 sites on the tank.
The meeting also included an assessment of using the repaired external tank for the STS-117 mission versus swapping to one that arrived last week from the manufacturing plant in New Orleans. Managers decided to finish repairs to Atlantis' current tank and use it for STS-117. The tank that arrived Friday will be prepared for space shuttle Endeavour's STS-118 mission to the space station and now is targeted for launch in August.
April 10, 2007 (VOA) -- The Ethiopian government has acknowledged holding 41 suspected terrorists from other countries, and says it allowed foreign investigators to question them.
The acknowledgment from the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry Tuesday followed an Associated Press report on the foreign detainees last week. The report said U.S. intelligence officials had interrogated the suspects as part of a hunt for al-Qaida suspects in the Horn of Africa.
The Ethiopian statement suggested the detainees were captured recently in Somalia. Ethiopia has several thousand troops in Somalia to help that country's government fight Islamist insurgents.
SAN FRANCISCO, April 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The Shinnyo-en Foundation announced today that it will honor Emmy Award and Golden Globe-winning actor Martin Sheen with the Pathfinder's Peace Award at the Six Billion Paths to Peace Forum at 5:00 p.m. on April 20, 2007, at the Richard Nixon Library in Yorba Linda, California. Sheen will be honored for his path to peace in helping others who are in need and promoting a more harmonious world. Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning actress Alfre Woodard also will be honored at the Forum for her service work in Africa.
"Martin Sheen's path to peace has encouraged deeper compassion among humankind, helping others find their journey to peace and harmony," said Harumitsu Inouye, Executive Director, Shinnyo-en Foundation. "We are inspired by how he has helped others throughout the world through his art and life to be more conscious about ways to contribute to a more peaceful world."
Sheen is the first recipient of the Pathfinder's Peace Award which honors individuals who promote peace and harmony through their work. The Award will be given annually as part of the Shinnyo-en Foundation's new Six Billion Paths to Peace Project. The Project seeks to encourage individuals to practice peace in their daily lives. "Rather than viewing peace as something we hope to bring about some day, we see it as something that can be lived each day," explained Inouye. Sheen will join Inouye in releasing doves of peace from the Nixon Library to officially launch the Six Billion Paths to Peace Project.
CHICAGO, April 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Some 300,000 homeless people -- or about 23 percent of the nation's total homeless population -- are veterans, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. To help begin addressing this vexing problem, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago will open the 141-apartment, St. Leo's Residence for homeless veterans established on the St. Leo Campus on Chicago's South Side. In front of the St. Leo Residence stands an eternal flame, signifying America's undying gratitude for those men and women who served our country in wartime.
WASHINGTON, April 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today in response to President Bush's remarks on immigration reform:
"The President should work collaboratively and on a bipartisan basis to pass comprehensive immigration reform. He should embrace proposals such as the STRIVE Act by Congressmen Gutierrez and Flake, which provides an excellent framework and reflects a strong commitment by a bipartisan group of House Members toward realistic and comprehensive immigration reform.
WASHINGTON, April 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On the fourth anniversary of the fall of Baghdad, President Bush decided his best PR photo op would come on the Arizona border with Mexico, touting his immigration proposal. The PR stunt, however, doesn't distract from Iraq so much as it highlights another problem for Republicans, their failures on border security and their internal strife on immigration reform.
The president's speech from Yuma, Arizona also confirmed that the president has joined the ranks of Republicans who want nothing done on immigration reform. The president never addressed the fact that his plan includes unworkable, impractical, and unaffordable measures that would require undocumented immigrants currently working inside the United States to voluntarily self-deport, and then pay a fine of $10,000 each, an amount not feasible for many immigrants and their families who work for low wages. He also failed to mention the fact that Republicans never actually funded the 700-mile border fence they passed as a PR gimmick before the 2006 election. [Associated Press, 4/09/07; Washington Post, 10/12/06; Washington Post, 10/6/06]
The president is not the only Republican tripping over his own feet on immigration reform. The Republican field of presidential candidates has danced all over the map on immigration reform, seemingly settling on the Republican tactic of divide and scapegoat in hopes of winning over conservative voters in the GOP primary.
WASHINGTON, April 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Forests on certain parts of the planet may actually warm the Earth, according to researchers from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in a study released today.
According to the study, forests in mid- to high-latitude locations -- such as boreal forests of Canada, Scandinavia and Siberia -- may actually create a net warming. The study concludes that by the year 2100, these mid- and high- latitude forests may make some places up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than would have occurred if the forests did not exist.
The research, led by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory atmospheric scientist Govindasamy Bala, appears in the April 9-13 online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
WASHINGTON, April 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Repeating the same tired rhetoric about immigration that has used for more than six years, President Bush in a speech in Yuma, Arizona, again called for a middle class-killing guest worker program and an amnesty for illegal aliens. The president also touted his modest achievements in the area of immigration enforcement, a belated effort begun to gain credibility with the American public only after his desired guest worker amnesty bill evoked nationwide opposition.
In his Yuma address, President Bush reiterated his assertion that millions of new guest workers are needed to "do jobs Americans aren't doing." The president also denied that his plan top legalize millions of illegal aliens does is an amnesty, because they will be required to pay a few modest fines, learn a bit of English and wait a while before receiving citizenship.
WASHINGTON, April 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid released the following statement today in response to President Bush's remarks on immigration reform:
"Senate Democrats agree with President Bush that we must pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill this year. The overwhelming majority of Americans want to reform our broken immigration system so that we can improve our border security and bring millions of undocumented workers out of the shadows of our society.
WASHINGTON, April 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is a transcript of remarks by President Bush on comprehensive immigration reform:
ARLINGTON, Va., April 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In an April 12 hearing on Capitol Hill, the independent Commission on the National Guard and Reserves will focus its attention on Defense Department plans, and efforts under way, to reduce stress on the reserves caused by the high operational tempo of the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Commission reported to Congress last month that the current posture and utilization of the National Guard and Reserves as an "operational reserve" is not sustainable over time, and that significant changes to law and policy are needed. This hearing will explore what reforms are necessary to make the operational reserve a sustainable force for the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and beyond.
WASHINGTON, April 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean today issue the following statement on the fourth anniversary of the fall of Baghdad:
DETROIT, April 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As shipping interests seek to strike down the region's first law to protect boaters, anglers, swimmers and families from invasive species, three prominent conservation organizations today announced they were joining the court battle to slam the door on invasive species entering the Great Lakes.
The Michigan United Conservation Clubs, National Wildlife Federation, and Alliance for the Great Lakes (formerly the Lake Michigan Federation) today filed to intervene in Detroit federal district court to defend a Michigan law intended to protect the Great Lakes from discharges of invasive species by oceangoing ships.
Interests for the oceangoing ships sued the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and Michigan Attorney General on March 15 to derail the law.
HOLMDEL, N.J., April 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Vonage Holdings Corp. (NYSE:VG) , a leading provider of broadband telephone service, today stated that it views the Court of Appeals' granting of a temporary stay on Friday allowing Vonage to continue to add customers as the first step toward resolving this matter in Vonage's favor. The stay will remain effective while the Appellate Court considers making the stay permanent.
Vonage will continue to provide digital telephone service to existing customers indefinitely by paying into escrow a quarterly royalty of 5.5% throughout the appeals process. Separately, the District Court required Vonage to post a bond of $66 million to secure Verizon's damages judgment.
ATLANTA, April 9 /PRNewswire/ -- After meetings over the weekend in the Bahamas, I, along with my law firm, Powell Goldstein LLP, have been formally retained by Howard K. Stern, individually and in his capacity as the Executor of the Estate of Anna Nicole Smith. My representation of Mr. Stern will focus on those individuals and entities guilty of making false accusations of criminal conduct against him related to the tragic deaths of Anna Nicole Smith and her son, Daniel. My representation of Mr. Stern as the named executor under the last will and testament of Anna Nicole Smith will focus on those individuals and entities responsible for the theft of personal property of Ms. Smith and/or its unlawful use, sale or other misappropriation in the media.
Like my other defamation clients, Mr. Stern has been falsely accused. Like my other defamation clients, Mr. Stern is an innocent individual who has never been charged with any crime but finds himself on trial in the media. The media trial of Mr. Stern has been based on constant shouts of guilty from a barrage of uninformed commentators based on totally inaccurate and often manufactured "facts." The nightly television, tabloid and Internet trial of Mr. Stern in the court of public opinion based on sensational lies, speculation, rumor and gossip is over.
There is no evidence that Mr. Stern was in any way responsible for the deaths of Anna Nicole Smith or her son, Daniel. The accusations that Mr. Stern is guilty of murder have been recklessly and maliciously invented and published by individuals and entities to advance their personal agendas with the complicity of a ratings-driven media.
WASHINGTON, April 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is a statement by Bernard Siegel, executive director of the Genetics Policy Institute:
Senators Norm Coleman and Johnny Isakson of Georgia filed S.30, an alleged compromise stem cell research bill they have euphemistically titled the "Hope Offered through Principled and Ethical Stem Cell Research" Act or "Hope Act" for short.
In reality, it offers scant hope to patients. Utilizing insidious language directly taken from the talking point playbook of the research foes, the bill would drive the National Institute of Health to push dubious research alternatives to embryonic stem cell research.
WASHINGTON, April 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- When upstate New York Republican Congressman Sherwood "Sherry" Boehlert retired last year, the U.S. Congress lost its most passionate "cheerleader for science."
In his 24 years in the House of Representatives, including the last six as chair of the House Science Committee, Boehlert engaged in numerous science policy debates and groundbreaking programs, including the establishment of America's National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) in 2000. He helped forge bipartisan support for the first U.S. government funds -- $422 million -- dedicated to nanoscale science and engineering research. And in his last year in Congress, Boehlert chaired several hearings on nanotechnology safety, particularly on the need to create and fund a prioritized federal nanotechnology environmental, health, and safety research plan.
NEW YORK, April 9, 2007 -- On Monday, April 16, Columbia University will announce the 91st Annual Pulitzer Prize winners and nominated finalists in Journalism, Letters, Drama and Music. A press conference will be held at the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism at 3:00 p.m. EDT. The names of winners and finalists will be posted on the Pulitzer Web site at approximately 3:15 p.m. the same day.
This will be the first year that the Pulitzer Board has permitted a full array of online materials - such as databases, interactive graphics and streaming video - in nearly all of its journalism categories. This also is the first year for the Local Reporting category, which replaces the Beat Reporting category as one of the 14 prizes in Journalism.
BALTIMORE, April 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) recently received a $16 million contract to provide four MK 41 Vertical Launcher System (VLS) ship sets to the Australian and Spanish navies. The contract for the below-deck missile launching systems is a modification to an existing Foreign Military Sales contract with the U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command.
The fixed-price contract modification covers the labor associated with production of MK 41 Baseline VII VLS ship sets for three Royal Australian Navy Hobart-class Air Warfare Destroyers (AWD) and one launcher ship set for an Alvaro de Bazan-class Spanish F-105 frigate. The work will be performed at Lockheed Martin's facility in Middle River, MD.
The contract is the latest milestone for the AWD program. Currently, the Australian government is in the process of selecting the AWD ship design in support of final program approval. The MK 41 VLS will equally support either of the ship designs under evaluation.
CHICAGO, April 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- It is estimated that nearly 600,000 people in Chicago have been diagnosed with diabetes, a chronic disease that costs the U.S. over $132 billion each year measured in the direct and indirect costs of emergency room visits, expensive and extended hospitalizations, disability insurance costs, absenteeism and lost worker productivity. To combat these staggering statistics and help people with diabetes better manage their health, the non-profit Midwest Business Group on Health (MBGH) has established Taking Control of Your Health, an employer-based diabetes self-management program endorsed by the Institute of Medicine of Chicago.
MBGH is one of more than 30 employer groups throughout the country selected to participate in the Diabetes Ten City Challenge (DTCC), a national employer-based diabetes self-management program conducted by the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Foundation, with support from GlaxoSmithKline. Taking Control of Your Health is coordinated by MBGH, in cooperation with the Illinois Pharmacists Association and is supported by Novo Nordisk, Inc. and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.
The lack of medication adherence has been identified as a major barrier to improving the health of people with diabetes. Since financial barriers are a leading source of poor medication adherence, employees of participating member companies will benefit from incentives offered by their employers. The incentives for participants will focus on improving medication adherence by waiving or lowering co-pays for medication and medical supplies. Another incentive, and key component of the program, is for the employee-patient to meet regularly with a pharmacist coach, specially trained in diabetes education and monitoring.
WASHINGTON, April 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new federal study has found that volunteering produces many positive benefits for teens from low- income backgrounds -- they become empowered, are more likely to volunteer and become politically engaged, and believe they will graduate from college and make a difference in their communities.
But the study by the Corporation for National and Community Service also found a disturbing "class gap" in teen volunteer rates. Youth from disadvantaged circumstances have a volunteer rate of 43 percent, compared to 59 percent for other youth. They are also much less likely than other youth to take part in service-learning or school civic clubs.
ONTARIO, Calif., April 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Long-term care is the crisis of the 21st century and 3 out of 5 people will need it, while 2 out of 5 will require nursing home facilities.
According to Frank N. Darras, the nation's leading disability and long term care insurance lawyer, who reviews over 1000 cases each month, the number of Long Term Care policyholders has increased 21% annually and now there are approximately six million LTC policies in the United States.
"Barack Obama has it right, and it is encouraging to see a presidential candidate focusing on truly helping hard working senior Americans. His call for an investigation into the fraud that is running rampant in the long-term care business is a step in the right direction," says Darras.
SILVER SPRING, Md., April 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Where can you find Earth Day festivities with a flock of flamingos? A celebration with scores of skinks? How about a party with plenty of penguins? Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited zoos and aquariums around the country are throwing a Party for the Planet and everyone is invited!
In the true spirit of Earth Day, partygoers at more than 100 Parties for the Planet in 42 states and two countries will learn how they can take action to save wildlife and wild places. Zoo and aquarium visitors will take part in activities like building a toad abode, constructing a bat house, discovering how to grow a butterfly garden, hearing zookeeper chats, following the clues for scavenger hunts, and meeting some amazing wild animals.
POTOMAC, Md., April 9 /PRNewswire/ -- David Stempler, President of the Air Travelers Association, an airline passenger advocacy group, announced today their opposition to the proposed Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights ("PBOR") because it will produce worse results for passengers. According to Stempler, "the proposed legislation is feel good, but ironically will not do good for passengers."
The proposed PBOR will increase flight cancellations instead of flight delays.
Under the proposed PBOR, one passenger will have the right to exit an airliner after 3 hours on the ground prior to departure or arrival, with two 30-minute extensions, except if there is a risk to passenger safety or security. The easiest way for airlines to deal with this rule is to cancel flights. Flight cancellations are much worse for passengers than flight delays, because at least passengers arrive at their destination, but late. With a cancellation, passengers may take days or never get to their destination, especially with today's crowded flights with so few seats available on subsequent flights.
WORCESTER, Mass., April 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Mass Megawatts Wind Power Inc. (BULLETIN BOARD: MMGW) today announced a 23 percent cost reduction of its wind power plants as a result of improved design modifications. The Company will immediately use the improvements with its current and future sales contracts. Mass Megawatts can use most of the cost reductions to realize higher profits than previous expectations without sacrificing demand for it wind power plants. The improvements will allow Mass Megawatts to compete more effectively with fossil fuel energy sources like oil and natural gas in high wind areas. Additionally, engineering design modifications using augmenters and diffuser can be used more effectively with the improvements. The use of air flow acceleration techniques and wind augmentation is normally not cost effective for the more common horizontal axis wind power systems due to the long term wear of turbulence related to diffuser airflow. Additionally, horizontal wind systems are subject to a decrease in efficiency with the turbulence related to the diffuser technology.
SAN DIEGO, April 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- QUALCOMM Incorporated (NASDAQ:QCOM) today announced that Upaid Systems, Ltd. has agreed to dismiss with prejudice all patent-related claims asserted against QUALCOMM in the litigation brought by Upaid in the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division for infringement of U.S. Patents Nos. 6,320,947 and 6,714,632, relating to pre-paid and pre-authorized communication services and transactions. In July 2005, Upaid filed suit against QUALCOMM and Verizon Wireless alleging infringement of the patents.
COLLEGE PARK, Md., April 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Fruits and vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would like to remind you that, like any other food, it is important to handle fresh produce safely to prevent illness.
It's easy to help protect yourself and your family from illness by following these safe handling tips:
LOS ANGELES, April 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Judy Myers, CEO of uboomeru.com a new social networking site for baby boomers, a published author of best selling health and fitness books, a masters bodybuilding and fitness champion, golf champion, media mogul and CEO of entertainment company Alchemy Visions, filed a lawsuit on Friday, April 6, 2007 against Lock and Key Productions Inc., the production company for primetime television show "Deal or No Deal," starring Howie Mandell. Alexander J. Petale, a high profile celebrity attorney, is representing Ms. Myers.
Myers, a resident of San Diego's North County, Oceanside, CA, alleges in her suit she was injured February 19, 2006, while working as an "Extra," i.e. a paid audience member, on a studio soundstage at the Sunset Gower Studios in Hollywood, CA, during a production of the show, "Deal or No Deal."
Ms. Myers states in her lawsuit, filed Friday, April 6, 2007 (www.lasuperiorcourt.org Case Number BC369070), "She was asked if she wished to participate in a 'dance contest,' and if so was instructed to quickly 'hurry up and come down' to participate in a dance contest during the commercial break."
SAN JOSE, Calif., April 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, students at 40 campuses across the nation are simultaneously kicking off the "National Post- Katrina College Summit." The summit is a nationwide, week-long effort to raise awareness about the crisis in the Gulf Coast, and to promote federal legislation for a New Deal-style jobs program for the region.
The National Post-Katrina College Summit will take place on some of the leading campuses in the country, including NYU, Princeton, Michigan, Stanford, Cal, Tennessee, Tulane, Xavier, and San Jose State. The attendance at the 40 summit events is expected to top 10,000 students.
Summit events include jazz processions across campus (Hamline University), documentary films (many campuses are showing Spike Lee's film "When the Levees Broke"), speakers (Lt. General Russel Honore, one of the heroes of Hurricane Katrina, is speaking at the University of Michigan), blood drives (CSU Fullerton), petition drives (every campus), and reading the names of the 1784 Katrina victims (SJSU and University of Nevada at Reno).
WASHINGTON, April 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Letter carriers from 18 states across the nation, including National Association of Letter Carriers President William H. Young, will demonstrate in front of U.S. Postal Service headquarters with informational picketing on Monday, April 16 at 2 p.m. EDT to protest contracting out of city letter carriers jobs.
Young and the letter carriers will be joined by members of Congress angered at the Postal Service's decision to outsource mail delivery to both existing and future city letter carrier territory to private companies and individuals.
The NALC and its supporters in Congress believe contracting out will expose both residential and business postal customers to security problems, poor service, and a disjointed and unreliable delivery workforce.
FORT COLLINS, Colo., April 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Two innovative, low-cost houses designed by Dr. Alan Early of the Indonesia Aid Foundation are being tested on a seismic shake table at Colorado State University. One house is made completely of concrete, including the roof. On April 6, this house successfully held during progressively greater earthquakes, to an ultimate test of greater than 10.0 on the Richter scale. An earthquake of this magnitude is only likely to occur every 1500 years. For a structure to withstand such forces is unprecedented in known shake tests and actual earthquakes.
A second test of a similar structure with the same concrete base but with a wood frame and metal roof will be tested in the afternoon of April 10th at CSU's Engineering Research Center, Laporte Avenue, Foothills Campus, in Fort Collins, Colorado.
WASHINGTON, April 9 /PRNewswire/ -- In light of the many families being affected by negative subprime mortgages, the National Association of Realtors(R(NAR)) encouraged the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to act quickly to change the FHA mortgage insurance program to enable more homeowners and their families to keep their homes.
In a letter sent to HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson, NAR President Pat Vredevoogd Combs strongly urged action by HUD to change FHA rules and waive the requirement that a homeowner's mortgage be "current" in order to refinance into an FHA loan product.
"Many homeowners who were able to make timely payments under the original terms of their loan are finding it difficult to make payments after rate adjustments," said Combs. "We believe FHA can design a mechanism where credit worthy borrowers could refinance subject to prudent guidelines, and therefore avoid losing their homes."