Rebuilt Jersey Shore- Taiina Ayala

The famous/ infamous (thanks to the reality show) Jersey Shore is rebuilt and reopened just in time for the summer rush. The article I read shares the story of a man and his game stand which he just reopened after six months of being closed due to Hurricane Sandy, which notoriously wiped out various areas in the Northeast including the fun-packed amusement park on the shore of New Jersey. Not even half an hour after Jason Villano reopened his stand, a generous stranger gave him $100. The perfect stranger shared his memories with Villano of his childhood at the Jersey Shore. The man had a passion for the boardwalk and all the memories that came with it, similar to the passion Mr. Jason himself has. It was the same passion, the same love for the shore, that captured Jason Villano at age 13. The smell of the fried food, the sight of the ocean, always a vast wonder, the feel of the sun on your bare skin, and the sound of laughter erupting from the mouths of long-time friends as they enjoyed a day at the beach, and even yelps from the nearby rides. This donation to applaud his efforts in rebuilding made Villano a hopeful man. After all the devastation, he didn't know whether he would be able to see things he once saw as a young child ever again.
The Jersey Shore is back and ready to be bursting with  its annual visitors. The fact that it was able to be rebuilt gives the nation encouragement that no matter what happens, we will always come together as one unit and overcome our set-backs.

Source: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2013/05/22/jersey-shore-seaside-heights-rebuild/2144935/

"Obama to Oklahoma" by Jonathan Landeros

A tornado that hit Moore, Oklahoma killed 24 people, caused injuries for more than 375, and ruined 12,000 residencies in and around Oklahoma. "It's going to take a long time for this community to rebuild, so I want to urge every American to step up," said President Barack Obama. The city won't be easy to rebuild it to the way it was, an elementary school that was damaged in the storm alone will cost about $45 million. All together, the city will be as much as $2 billion dollars. With the help of the city and the president, Moore will be just fine. "Our spirits have been shaken this week," Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin said at that service. "Our hearts have been broken, but our resolve is strong and we will rise again. In the midst of human tragedy, we've seen the best of Oklahoma come forth." A public memorial and prayer service to honor the storm's victims was held Sunday evening at the First Baptist Church and funerals were to be made for about 24 people. President Obama will make sure to help out Oklahoma as soon as the reporters and photographers leave. "When we say that we've got your back, I promise you that we keep our word" he said. 

In my opinion, I believe that if the city of Oklahoma sticks together, they can recover everything they have lost. They will have to stay strong through out this because its not going to be an easy journey, but with the help of the President, community, and prayers all around them, they can overcome this terrifying situation. 

 

http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/26/us/oklahoma-tornado/?iref=obnetwork 

Obama Heckled by Code Pink Leader By Andres Munoz

President Barack Obama's solemn remarks on drones and counterterrorism were interrupted at length Thursday by a protester who loudly advocated for the closure of the Guantanamo Bay prison – the same position Obama was stressing in his speech.

The woman shouting was identified as peace activist Medea Benjamin of the group Code Pink, whose members have been loudly interrupting congressional hearings and official speeches for years.                                                      

It's nice to see that after she protested he directly answered her question and even let her finish. http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/05/23/obama-heckled-by-code-pink-leader/?hpt=hp_t3

Obama: U.S. will keep deploying drones -- when they are only option By Andres Munoz

Drone strikes are a necessary evil, but one that must be used with more temperance as the United States' security situation evolves, President Barack Obama said in a counterterrorism speech Thursday.

America prefers to capture, interrogate and prosecute terrorists, but there are times when this isn't possible, Obama said in his remarks at the National Defense University in Washington. Terrorists intentionally hide in hard-to-reach locales and putting boots on the ground is often out of the question, he said.

Thus, when the United States is faced with a threat from terrorists in a country where the government has only tenuous or no influence, drones strikes are the only option -- and they're legal because America "is at war with al Qaeda, the Taliban and their associated forces," Obama said.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/23/politics/obama-terror-speech/index.html?hpt=hp_inthenews

5 Things we learned from Obama's speech By Andres Munoz

 President Barack Obama recast the U.S. fight against terrorism as no longer a "boundless global war" but a targeted effort to dismantle specific extremist networks.

 He said America was at a "crossroads" and should no longer see it as a "self-defeating" perpetual fight, but one that must at some point end, "like all wars."

 Obama said "the core of al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan is on a path to defeat,'' but its affiliates elsewhere pose dangers. He also touched on new overseas and homegrown threats, and explained publicly the use of drones against terror suspects overseas.

 It's nice to see that the war seems to be well targeted and our intentions are clear.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/23/politics/5-things-obama-terror/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

Two adopted Utah brothers, 4 and 10, found dead; oldest brother, 15, arrested By Andres Munoz

  A 15-year-old Utah boy was arrested in connection with the slayings of his two younger adopted brothers, ages 4 and 10, who were apparently stabbed to death in their home, authorities said Thursday.

The oldest brother -- the eldest of six children -- was a natural child of the family and was baby-sitting his two younger siblings while the mother was out of the home with the other children, Sheriff Todd Richardson told reporters Thursday. The father, who's in the military, was in Alabama.

 This is evidence that guns are not the ones that kill. If a person has the intent then they don't need a gun to do it.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/23/us/utah-brothers-slain/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

There Was A Tornado-Jorge Olvera

     Just the other the day a tornado came along and wrecked Fort Worth. It was a surprise to see what was going on outside you're job and hearing people die. A hand full of people passed due to the incident and over a hundred people hurt.
      All I really have to say is stay safe and keep you're family close. Never know what can happen.

When Pigs Fly- Jorge Olvera

Four pigs whose feed was supplemented with potent plant leavings during the last four months of their lives ended up 20 to 30 pounds heavier than the half-dozen other pigs from the same litter when they were all sent to slaughter in March.

"They were eating more, as you can imagine," Gross said.

Giving farm animals the munchies is the latest outcome of a ballot measure passed by Washingtonvoters in November making their state one of the first to legalize the recreational use of pot. The other was Colorado. Both were among about 20 states with medical marijuana already on their books.
http://news.yahoo.com/marijuana-waste-helps-turn-pot-eating-pigs-tasty-184633031.html

51 Caught in a Tornado- Jorge Olvera

A devastating, two-mile-wide tornado touched down near Oklahoma City on Monday, killing at least 51 people including at least 20 children decimating homes, businesses and a pair of elementary schools in the suburb of Moore.

According to the state's medical examiner, the death toll was expected to rise.

The schools Plaza Towers Elementary and Briarwood Elementary were leveled by the tornado. It was unclear how many children were in them at the time the twister hit, but according to KFOR-TV, at least seven children died at Plaza Towers, and as many as two dozen more were feared to be trapped inside the rubble. An Associated Press photographer saw rescue workers pull several children out alive. A makeshift triage center was set up in the school's parking lot.
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/tornado-oklahoma-city-moore-205548879.html

Character witness for Jodi Arias pulls out, citing threats and inner turmoil - Jonas Portillo

A woman who planned to testify as a character witness for Jodi Arias in a bid to spare her life decided Monday that she couldn't go through with it, saying she had received death threats and was deeply conflicted about the case.Lawyers for Arias, who was convicted earlier this month of the frenzied murder of an ex-lover, quickly asked for a mistrial in the sentencing phase on the grounds that a witness had been intimidated. The judge denied the request.The potential witness, Patricia Womack, is a childhood friend of Arias who planned to testify about Arias’ abusive childhood. Besides the threats, she said that her heart went out to the family of Travis Alexander, whom Arias was convicted of killing. “I couldn't do it,” she told NBC News in an email. “I feel there is so much good in Jodi to be saved but then also someone’s dear life was taken.”Court abruptly adjourned for the day after lawyers for Arias said they had no witnesses to call. It remained possible that jurors in the sentencing phase would hear from Arias herself, perhaps Tuesday.Karen DeSoto, a defense lawyer and legal analyst for MSNBC, said there were ways of overcoming Womack’s feelings of intimidation.“If she really is scared, then turn the cameras off,” she said. “There’s a lot of ways to cure whether somebody can testify. Clear the courtroom.”After the judge, Sherry Stephens of Maricopa County Superior Court, denied the mistrial request, lawyers for Arias asked to be taken off the case. The judge denied that request as well.Arias, 32, was found guilty May 8 of first-degree murder. She admitted to killing Alexander after a day of sex. She shot him in the face, stabbed him more than 20 times and slit his throat ear to ear. At trial, she claimed self-defense. Jurors, after hearing tearful statements from Alexander’s brother and sister, ruled that Arias had been “especially cruel,” a finding that made her eligible for the death penalty under Arizona law. The same jury is considering whether to sentence her to death. Arias was briefly put on suicide watch after the conviction. Hours after the verdict, she told an Arizona TV station that she would rather get death than life and that death was the “ultimate freedom.” Sheriff’s officials said Monday that Arias had been returned to the regular population at the county women’s jail after spending five days on suicide watch in a psychiatric ward, The Arizona Republic reported. The Arias case, with its lurid details, has been widely followed. Arias dyed her hair, turned off her phone and drove 1,000 miles from California to Alexander’s home in Arizona on June 4, 2008. Arias and Alexander had broken up after an affair. Arias testified that she had acted out Alexander’s every fantasy and even converted to his Mormon faith, but he nonetheless broke up with her and began dating — chastely, he told her — other women. According to the testimony of some of Alexander’s friends, Arias did not take the breakup well, and began stalking her former beau and slashed his tires. Her extreme jealousy culminated in Alexander’s gruesome murder, the prosecutor argued.

Marijuana Bill Advances in Illinois

Just a few days ago, Illinois voted to approve the use of medical marijuana. According to the New York Times article this is one of the toughest marijuana bills in the nation. The debate on the legalization of marijuana use was said to be a long and emotional journey. Now the pressure is on Governor Quinn as people wait for his signature to pass the law. Some people are taking this very personally and believe that marijuana has the ability to help people; at the same time, however, many people fear that the acceptance of this drug will lead to the abuse of other drugs. I personally do not have an opinion on the legalization of marijuana. If it has the ability to help people then I could understand the legalization; however many people do tend to abuse marijuana.

Natalie Newman
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/19/us/marijuana-bill-advances-in-illinois.html?ref=us&_r=0

Obama to address Morehouse College commencement by Carter Brown

'President Barack Obama is delivering the commencement address at Morehouse College, the historically black, all-male institution that counts Martin Luther King Jr. among its alumni. The Atlanta-based private school says about 500 students will receive undergraduate degrees Sunday, becoming what are known as “Morehouse Men.” It is Obama’s second graduation speech of the year. Last Sunday, he urged graduates of Ohio State University in Columbus to become vigorous participants in their democracy. Rain is pouring near downtown Atlanta, but that hasn’t deterred hundreds of spectators. Volunteers are distributing ponchos. Alumni and families of graduates sit beneath umbrellas, but the stage is covered and remains dry. Morehouse officials say only dangerous weather, not rain, will force the ceremony indoors. After the speech, Obama is scheduled to attend a Democratic Senate fundraiser in Atlanta. Obama’s third and final commencement address of the season comes Friday at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.' I think it is interesting to see that Obama takes the time to deliver speeches at so many campuses around the U.S. To me, it makes him more of a respectable person to see him taking the time out his busy schedule to give commencement speeches at campuses that are so historically significant.

Female boy by Jonathan Landeros

The adoptive parents of a child born with both female and male organs are suing S.C. for making baby boy into a girl. The biological parents of the child left him abandoned leaving it up to the doctors the decision of making the baby a boy or girl at 16 months after birth. The reason for this case is because now the "girl" being 8 years old she says she feels more like a boy stuck in a girls body. He refuses being called a girl and tries to be as boyish as he can knowing that he stuck in a girl body. All his friends, family, and leaders support him and defend him. Now they are saying that the surgery made on the child violated the 14th amendment and will suffer a trial.

OPINION : I definitely do not have a say in this I've never understood this kind of issue at all.

URL: http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/15/health/child-sex-surgery-suit/index.html

In Abortion Portests, Which to Protect, Children or speech?

Kenneth T. Scott defended his beliefs on abortion and protested that aboriton was wrong by standing outside of a church on Palm Sunday and displayed disturbing photographs of early aborted children. The children that were around to see these images being displayed were very uncomfortable and the church sued Mr. Scott for not allowing the church to "pray and worship in peace." This situation has led to the controversy between whether it is okay to allow the government to restrict speech based on listener reaction because these listeners were children. Some people view this contreversy as an example of the "valuable information" young people need to be receiving, while other people view this as an example of the necessity for their to be a boundary set for certain age groups when concerning certain catagories of topic.

Natalie Newman
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/14/us/church-suit-says-abortion-protest-upset-children.html?ref=us&_r=0

More Cameras in Schools? - Taiina Ayala

   High Schools of Vermont have proposed an answer to problems dealing with security. Of course, this is a matter on everyone's mind considering the recent massacre's our country has had that have taken places in schools just like ours, or our children's. However, is the installation of security cameras in school the solution? Mount Mansfield Union High School of Vermont has just come to the decision that they are.  The high school bought these cameras seven years back, but parents and students strongly opposed the idea, so the cameras were taken down. But recently, the decision was made that they will be put back up. After thoroughly acquiring everyone's opinion involved, (the students voted 70% approval for the installation) the cameras will be re-installed throughout the interior of the school.
   Another high school, Burlington High, has as many as 32 cameras throughout their school. However, cameras are not the solution for everyone. "There are no cameras inside or on the exterior of Champlain Valley Union High School and many students like it that way." The students see the cameras as a compromising of the trust between school faculty and the students.
   Mount Mansfield High students say that they don't believe the installation will be preventative. That they will merely clear up facts after an incident has occurred.  Another main problem with this idea, is money. We all know that Dallas ISD is BROKE. And I'm sure many other school districts will have it in the budget to buy these cameras. Sure, the cost was low for Mount Mansfield High, but that's only because the cameras were already previously bought. Maybe this idea of security cameras in schools will spread, or maybe not. I personally don't have that much of an opinion on it. I agree with points made on both sides.

Source:  http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/05/11/will-cameras-make-schools-safer/2152699/

Chris Brown's Creepy Art Scaring Neighbors by Carter Brown

Apparently Chris Brown is just the crappiest neighbor ever. I've seen articles before complaining about his parking, and animals, but now people are complaining about a mural he painted on the side of his building. Only problem is it's scaring children, and their parents are not happy about it. Police were called and he was told to take it down but he won't. I see this situation from two different sides. I mean, I wouldn't want to take it down if I spent my time and painted something I liked on MY own building, I wouldn't want it painted over. But if it is scaring the town's kids and "throwing off the vibe", as a neighbor said, along with is violating the city's ordinances, then it should be removed. 'L.A. city code officials responded to complaints about the monster art and cited the "Run It!" singer $376 for unpermitted and excessive signage.' Source: http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2013/05/11/chris-brown-creepy-curbside-art-reportedly-scaring-los-angeles-neighbors/

Workers Claim Race Bias as Farms Rely on Immigrants

Some Americans, mostly black, are being turned away from jobs on the farms due to the demand for foreigners. These Americans claim they are hiring Mexicans and abusing their power by forcing them to work long hours under a blistering sun, cheating wages and more. There have been many cases announced in which those who are not foreigners have been given less desirable jobs, have been given less pay, and even fired due to their national origin.
The people who have been offended in any of the ways mentioned in this article should most definitely continue to fight for their rights and continue to press charges against large farms that have taken these workers for granted. Everyone deserves an equal oppertunity, as well as everyone deserves equal treatment. The foreigners should not be taken advantage of and used for their desire to keep a job just to receive money to live on. The people should continue to fight for their rights on the farms.

Natalie Newman
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/07/us/suit-cites-race-bias-in-farms-use-of-immigrants.html?ref=us&_r=0

ACT Switching To Be Computer Based- Taiina Ayala

The ACT's test providers have announced that they will be switching to digital test-taking methods as early as spring 2015. Now, this won't affect us, but it might affect other tests that we might have to take in the future. Many standardized tests have switched to computers already. I recently took an Accuplacer test at my community college and it was all on a computer. It was a little different, considering that the writing portion was timed, and luckily, I type fast. To avoid problems such as these, the ACT providers say that although they are switching to using computers, they will still have the regular, old-fashioned pencil and paper version of the test available for whoever wants it. One main benefit of the switchover is the time it takes to get results. As it stands now, we have to wait at least two weeks to get our test results. Once they switch to computers, students will know their scores in a matter of minutes! Very efficient, I'm a little jealous. However, one main problem when switching to higher- technology ways, is glitches. Computers are not 100% reliable, as we all know. Jon Erickson, president of ACT's education division, said, "Hopefully, this will be more relevant than just sitting down and taking a fill-in-the-bubble test." I'm not sure about all of that, a test is still a test. I wouldn't count on anyone looking forward to, or jumping up and down in excitement for taking this test.

Source:http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/05/06/act-tests-online-college/2139665/

Referee dead by jonathan landeros

  A referee who was passioned for soccer was punched on the face by a 17 year old teenager, after giving him a yellow card. "He had actually been a player, but they broke his leg in a game, so that's how he became a referee," said his daughter. After all the attacks he had encountered in the past, he was questioned about the encouragement to keep on going, but all he replied was that it was his passion. At first everyone though it was a minor injury since everything seemed Okay, but destiny had something else stored for him. He was announced dead Saturday night little after doctors had discovered the injuries were big. The teenager is in juvenile detention, but with death involved, upgrades on the charges are on wait. The family of the referee is willing to forgive the boy, but not for now. 

OPINION: This is a very hard situation and I'm left in shock because I would not know how to react to this.

URL:
http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/06/us/utah-soccer-death/index.html

Minnesota man arrested on suspicion of plotting terror attack - Jonas Portillo

Federal officials believe a localized "terror attack" was thwarted when an FBI raid on a Minnesota man's mobile home turned up Molotov cocktails, pipe bombs and several firearms. Buford Rogers, 24, was apprehended Friday after the raid of his Montevideo, Minn., home.“The FBI believes that a terror attack was disrupted by law enforcement personnel and that the lives of several local residents were potentially saved,” the Minneapolis FBI office said in a statement released Monday. Authorities say the thwarted attack was a low-level case of domestic terrorism. The investigation remains ongoing, according to the FBI statement. Buford is linked to an unidentified militia group, officials said. The FBI wouldn't disclose information Monday about the nature or target of the alleged plot, but authorities believe Rogers was targeting an area of western Minnesota, The Associated Press reported. The alleged plot was exposed after “timely analysis of intelligence and through the cooperation and coordination” between local, state, and federal officials, the statement says. Rogers has been charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He remains in federal custody and is expected to make his first appearance in federal court this week.

Springs Fire burns 28,000 acres by Carter Brown

'Aided by cooling temperatures, the massive Springs fire in Ventura County has slowed considerably overnight and is now 60% contained, Cal Fire reported Sunday. The fire has burned 28,000 acres. Because of minimal fire activity, Cal Fire said in a statement, "there is an increase in demobilization of firefighting resources." Though the blaze has damaged 15 homes and five commercial buildings, no residences have been destroyed and no injuries have been reported, officials said. Compared with Thursday and Friday — when fire raced through Ventura County hillsides, causing officials to call for the evacuation of about 5,000 residents — Saturday was relatively calm for firefighters and residents in the most heavily threatened areas, neighborhoods full of multimillion-dollar ranch homes near Thousand Oaks and Camarillo. By late afternoon, as the air continued to cool, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesman Fernando Herrera said officials expected to have full containment by Monday. "This is good," said Herrera, looking up at fog rolling inland on ocean breezes. "This is what we want." Earlier in the day, fearing a replay of a 1993 inferno that crept from hillsides and destroyed 53 homes, crews focused their efforts on keeping the blaze from reaching neighborhoods on the rural western edges of Thousand Oaks. From a vantage point near Potrero Road and Wendy Drive, light wisps of smoke could be seen rising from a distance into the sky, but nothing more. As firefighters monitored the smoke, residents calmly snapped photographs.' Although this isn't local and hasn't necessarily affected anyone I know, it is always unfortunate when a fire breaks out and burns tons and tons of land. A fire broke out similar to this and burned land down by Possom Kingdom Lake for days. I am glad to know the fire is being contained.