US News or So They Report

Net Neutrality: Why the new rules don't guarantee internet equality
Net neutrality: The FCC has the power to issue regulations that protect net neutrality, but digital advocacy groups say the rules that passed do not accomplish this.

By Samantha Murphy, TechNewsDaily / December 22, 2010

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Tuesday (Dec. 21) passed a set of controversial Net neutrality rules that aims to give everyone equal access to the Web. However, the rules have been under massive scrutiny, and critics say they don't actually achieve this goal.  clear here to read the entire report  Click here to read the entire report or use the following url http://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation/Latest-News-Wires/2010/1222/Net-Neutrality-Why-the-new-rules-don-t-guarantee-internet-equality  Click here to go directly to the video or use the following url  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CenjxdM_ZEfeature=player_embedded

Senate passes the revised 9/11 health benefits bill
Washington (CNN) -- The Senate on Wednesday passed a compromise version of a bill to provide free medical treatment to first responders of the September 11 terrorist attack.
The bill passed on a voice vote on what is expected to be the final day of the lame-duck session of Congress. It now goes to the House, which also is expected to approve it and send it to President Barack Obama to be signed into law.  click here to read the full story or use the following url   http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/12/22/911.bill/index.html

'Tis The Season For Gay Rights
By: Karen Dolan
Fellow, Institute for Policy Studies
Posted: December 22, 2010 01:56 PM

Tis the Season: A Victory for Civil Rights


Let's celebrate this day, Dec 22 2010. It is the day President Barak Obama signs into the law the repeal of the onerous policy of "Don't Ask, Don't tell" in which a person can be expelled from the U.S. military based on his or her sexual orientation. This policy was egregiously discriminatory and should never have been implemented. That the Senate was able to garner significant bipartisan support for its eleventh hour repeal this 111th Congress is remarkable and reason for celebrating indeed.  Click here to read the full story, or use the following url   http://www.huffingtonpost.com/karen-dolan/tis-the-season-for-gay-ri_b_800351.html


Broadway actor blasts Spider-man musical director
By the CNN Wire Staff
December 22, 2010 3:10 p.m. EST

New York (CNN) -- Broadway actor Adam Pascal has called for the prosecution of the director of the musical "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" after a series of accidents, including the hospitalization of an actor who fell at least 20 feet during Monday night's performance.

"They should put Julie Taymor in jail for assault!" Pascal posted on the internet site Facebook.

He also called for lawsuits against Taymor and others invested in the production like musical stars Bono and David Howell Evans.  Click here to read the full story, or use the following url  http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/12/22/new.york.spiderman.pascal/

Two firefighters dead, 17 hurt in Chicago blaze
NPR 12-22-10
Two firefighters were killed Wednesday battling a three-alarm fire in an abandoned building on Chicago's South Side. At least 17 others were hurt.
The men who died were among four firefighters buried in debris when the building's roof and one wall collapsed  click here to read the full story at NPR or use the following url 
http://www.npr.org/2010/12/22/132257493/2-killed-in-chicago-blaze-that-injured-16-firefighters


House Republicans Strip Norton of Voting Privileges
By Aaron Morrissey in News on December 22, 2010 3:47 PM
quote "When I interviewed Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton in September, I asked her what her biggest challenge was. She responded, "I've been able to things done, even when Republicans [control the Congress]. You've got to say "how can I deal with them? I may have to deal with them again." Well, she'll certainly have to deal with a lot more Republicans during the next session of Congress -- and she'll have to deal with them without a vote on the floor of the House."   click here to read the full story oruse the following url  
http://dcist.com/2010/12/house_republicans_strip_nortons_vot.php



Commissioner threatens to shut down Westmoreland CountyBy Rich Cholodofsky
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Westmoreland County Commissioner Tom Balya this morning threatened to shut down county government on Jan. 1 unless Republican Commissioner Charles Anderson agreed to vote in favor of a new 2011 budget that he helped to draft.  click here to read the full story or use the following url  
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/westmoreland/s_714928.html

Oakland suspends large-scale pot cultivation plan
MARCUS WOHLSEN - 12/22/2010 8:18:10 PM
The city of Oakland's plan to license large medical marijuana growing operations was put on hold following a warning from the district attorney that city officials could face prosecution.

The City Council voted 7-1 in closed session Tuesday night to suspend the application process for permits that would have let recipients set up four industrial-scale indoor pot farms. Applications were to have been due Wednesday.  clcik here to read the full story or use the following url
http://www.onenewsnow.com/AP/Search/US/Default.aspx?id=1260254



Tax Time Just Got Easier
Posted 12/22/2010 2:33 PM by Rich Smith from Motley Fool

"Hold the applause. Just send money."

So goes the cheeky old saw. But this week, I'm going to suggest that as Americans prepare to mail the Internal Revenue Service our quarterly estimated tax payments (what? You say you've got a "real" job? Not self-employed? Lucky duck), we also give a round of applause to the folks who just made tax time easier. Not pleasant, mind you. Just easier.

You see, effective Jan. 1, the IRS is about to institute a new rule requiring that brokerages begin keeping track of how much you pay when you buy a stock -- your "cost basis," in accounting parlance. Seems not all of us keep good track of our investing moves. Some of us even toss our brokerage statements in the shredder (imagine that!). And when we do that, we risk forgetting exactly how much we paid for any given stock between time of purchase and April 15.   click here to view the full story oruse the fllowing url
http://community.nasdaq.com/News/2010-12/tax-time-just-got-easier.aspx?storyid=50400

Dairy producers cautioned on antibiotic overuse

BY JEFFREY HOFFELT, Agri-View LIVESTOCK EDITOR
Wednesday, December 22, 2010 2:47 PM CST

The antibiotics debate between producers and consumers has become a highly heated contest in the livestock industry, but that does not leave the dairy sector out of the discussion.

In fact, some federal organizations have pointed at beef from dairy cattle as a driving factor in proposed legislative changes.

“When cows go into retirement, they change careers,” said Shelly Mayer, executive director of the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin (PDPW) at the organization’s Dairy Policy Summit this fall. “We are a part of the meat industry, and we need to maintain confidence to not only secure that market but to continue to grow demand for that product.”   Click here to read the full story or use the following url 
http://www.agweekly.com/articles/2010/12/22/commodities/dairy/dairy07.txt



USDA Offers Conservation Funding to Organic Producers

Wednesday, December 22, 2010 2:48 PM CST
WASHINGTON n Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today announced USDA will provide funding to help organic producers and those transitioning to organic production implement resource conservation practices on their agricultural operations.

"Increasing consumer demand for organically grown foods is providing new opportunities for small and mid-size farmers to prosper and stay competitive in today's economy," Merrigan said. "The 2008 Farm Bill calls for this assistance, and we want to help these farmers protect the natural resources on their land and create conditions that help foster organic production."  click here to read the full story or use the following url
http://www.agweekly.com/articles/2010/12/22/news/ag_news/news55.txt

Canada top of class for cancer survival: Study
Bradley Bouzane, Postmedia News
Published: Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Canada was at or near the top of six countries sampled in a study that explored survival rates for four types of cancer.

The report from the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership - published Wednesday in the medical journal The Lancet - looked at one-year and five-year survival rates for colorectal, lung, breast and ovarian cancer in Canada, Australia, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom. click here to read the full story or use the following url   http://www2.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/story.html?id=4015425


WikiLeaks: Anna Nicole 'havoc' in the Bahamas
Published On:Wednesday, December 22, 2010
By AVA
TURNQUEST
Tribune Staff Report

THE turbulent time spent in the Bahamas by the late model Anna Nicole Smith was compared to Hurricane Betsy in leaked US cables from the whistle-blower website WikiLeaks.

In a 2006 US cable, then ambassador John Rood documented the series of scandals that surrounded former Playboy model and reality TV star's Bahamian residency application and the death of her son.

The cable read: "Not since Category 4 Hurricane Betsy made landfall in 1965 has one woman done as much damage in Nassau. Lying in disarray in her wake are Doctor's Hospital, the Coroner's Court, the Department of Immigration, local mega-lawyers Callenders and Co., formerly popular Minister of Immigration Shane Gibson, and possibly Prime Minister Christie's PLP government."

In the cable sent on November 15, titled "Hurricane Anna Nicole Wreaks Havoc in the Bahamas", Mr Rood followed the fast tracking of Ms Smith's residency status through personal involvement and allegations of special favours by Mr Gibson.

The cable read: "In response to concern over the timing of the approval - residency approval typically takes years in the Bahamas - Gibson and PM Christie sought to reassure the public. They said that Anna Nicole was treated as any other applicant, noting glibly that the Ministry of Immigration should not be criticized for "improved efficiencies in government for which it deserves praise."   click here to read the rest of the story or use the following url   http://www.tribune242.com/news/12222010_WIKILEAKS_news_pg1


Bernanke Supports Moody's Critic in Debate Over Money-Market Fund Ratings

By Christopher Condon - Dec 22, 2010 12:41 PM PT

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said investor speculation over which money market mutual funds are likely to be bailed out by their parent companies during a crisis can undermine the stability of the industry that manages $2.79 trillion.

Bernanke, in a Dec. 9 letter to Anthony J. Carfang, partner in Chicago consulting firm Treasury Strategies, said market developments that reinforce speculation whether money funds may be bailed out are a “concern” and sponsor support should be addressed in the context of planned reforms of the industry.  click here to read the rest of the story or use the fllowing url
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-22/bernanke-supports-moody-s-critic-in-debate-over-money-market-fund-ratings.html

Shrinking crude supplies and optimism on economy push oil up; gasoline averages $3 a gallon
The AP 
First Posted: December 22, 2010 - 11:42 am
Last Updated: December 22, 2010 - 3:23 pm

NEW YORK — Oil prices climbed past $90 a barrel on Wednesday as the government reported a drop in the nation's crude supplies. Benchmark oil rose 66 cents to settle at $90.48 on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

In its weekly petroleum report, the Energy Department's Energy Information Administration said crude supplies dropped by 5.3 million barrels last week from the week before. That's more than twice the decline expected by analysts surveyed by Platts, the energy information arm of McGraw-Hill Cos. EIA said gasoline supplies grew by more than 2 million barrels. click here to read the full story or use the following url  http://www.greenfieldreporter.com/view/story/8eb72f6a60194ed98a8d16d8953839c5/US--Oil_Prices/