Sudden Jump In Zimbabwe Cholera Cases Jan 7, 2009
The U.N. said access to and quality of care is improving, "but should continue to be strengthened." International aid agencies have geared up in recent weeks to fight the cholera epidemic ... Mugabe's regime has accused its opponents of plotting violence, even though leaders of neighboring countries and international rights groups have said such charges are baseless ... Beatrice Mtetwa, a lawyer for the defendants, said the accused were "victims of torture" who "should not be brought before any... (CBS News)
Polynesian chickens in Peru and other mysteries Jan 7, 2009
" Look, Republicans are not going to come on board. Make 40 percent of the package tax cuts, they'll demand 100 percent. Then they'll start the thing about how you can't cut taxes on people who don't pay taxes (with only income taxes counting, of course) and demand that the plan focus on the affluent. Then they'll demand cuts in corporate taxes. And Mitch McConnell is already saying that state and local governments should get loans, not aid -- which would undermine that part of the plan, too ...... (Salon)
CNN Doc for Surgeon General? Jan 7, 2009
The offer followed a two-hour Chicago meeting in November with Obama, who said that Gupta could be the highest-profile surgeon general in history and would have an expanded role in providing health policy advice, the sources said ... Gupta, who hosts "House Call" on CNN, has discussed the job offer with his bosses at CBS and CNN to make sure he could be released from his contractual obligations, the sources said ... Gupta's only hesitation in taking the post is said to involve the financial... (The Drudge Report)
Obama: Trillion-Dollar Deficits to Last... Jan 7, 2009
WASHINGTON -- President-elect Barack Obama plans to offer states $7 billion as incentive to permanently change their unemployment-insurance laws to cover part-time workers and prevent other laid-off workers from falling through cracks in the coverage. The proposal, which is set to be included in the president-elect's two-year economic-stimulus plan, will seek to use short-term aid to cash-strapped states to force long-term changes that the Obama team believes are overdue, Obama aides said... (The Drudge Report)
Serendipitous Science: From Noisy Eyeballs to Regulating Information Flow in the Brain Jan 7, 2009
Levels of serotonin, which modulates the activity of the nucleus accumbens, also fluctuate in the sleep-wake cycle, and serotonin is a well-known sleep aid. The sleep centers of the brain (raphe nuclei) connect to the nucleus accumbens. (Scientific American)
Obama finds lovefest on Capitol Hill Jan 7, 2009
Other policy changes would subsidize employers' expenses for temporarily continuing health insurance coverage for laid-off and retired workers and their dependents, as mandated under the 22-year-old federal COBRA law, and allow workers who lose jobs that did not come with insurance benefits to be eligible, for the first time, to apply for Medicaid. Aid to states for health and education ($140 billion to $200 billion) ... The money would let local governments subsidize costs for Medicaid and... (San Francisco Chronicle)
Gates pegs '09 war costs at $136 billion Jan 7, 2009
Laid to rest at Arlington ... "This estimate is my personal assessment and does not reflect the position of the Bush administration or the incoming Obama administration," Gates said ... An official request for war funding is coming next year, Gates said, after a review by the Obama administration. (MSNBC -- Terrorism)
Maytas Infra receives Rs 110 crore project from Southern Railways Jan 7, 2009
The company has received the said project in consortium with Chennai-based CT Ramanathan and Co. According to sources, the project has been awarded for doubling broad railway track between Chengalpattu and Villupuram in Tamil Nadu. While cCommenting on the project, Mr. VV Rama Raju, cChief financial officer of Maytas Infra stated, The project, when completed will aid Southern Railways significantly ease the traffic flow between Chengalpattu and Villupuram. (TopNews)
Appeals for truce increase Jan 7, 2009
The Israeli foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, said after a meeting with officials from the Czech Republic, Sweden and France that Israel would "change the equation" in the region ... The Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar, speaking from a hiding place in a recorded speech on Hamas television, said: "The Israeli enemy in its aggression has written its next chapter in the world, which will have no place for them. They shelled everyone in Gaza. They shelled children and hospitals and mosques, and in doing so,... (Albany Times Union)
Charities hurt in Madoff case get charity Jan 7, 2009
"We are talking with other donors about possible ways to mitigate the losses suffered by our grantees," said Laura Silber, director of public affairs for the Open Society Institute, a grant-making foundation founded by billionaire George Soros ... "We have never seen anything like we have seen this year," said Michele Alexander, director of development at Human Rights Watch, which is dedicated to defending and protecting human rights internationally ... JEHT President Robert Crane was not... (MSNBC -- Business)
Mercy Corps' delayed food shipment due to arrive in Gaza Jan 7, 2009
org - Shipment was postponed for two days; agency calls for improved access for humanitarian aid ... The agency is increasingly concerned about the prospects for delivering aid within the territory, which been divided by recent military actions ... "Only a trickle of aid is getting in," explains David Holdridge, Mercy Corps Regional Program Director for the Middle East. (AlertNet)
Aid workers' movements in Gaza severely restricted - IRIN Jan 7, 2009
Reuters AlertNet - ISRAEL-OPT: Aid workers' movements in Gaza severely restricted ... ISRAEL-OPT: Aid workers' movements in Gaza severely restricted 06 Jan 2009 23:40:36 GMT Source: IRIN Reuters and AlertNet are not responsible for the content of this article or for any external internet sites ... GAZA CITY/RAMALLAH, 6 January 2009 () - The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has over 10,000 staff in Gaza, but their deployment has been severely restricted due to Israeli bombing and tank... (AlertNet)
Indian exporters to axe millions of jobs Jan 7, 2009
Singhs top adviser Montek Singh Ahluwalia on January 2 ruled out further aid for the economy after two stimulus packages in a month. Theres really nothing the country can do to avoid a further period of economic pain and job losses over the next few months, said Robert Prior-Wandesforde, an economist at HSBC Group Plc in Singapore ... International trade will shrink in 2009 for the first time in more than 25 years as economic growth slows and commodity prices slide, the World Bank said... (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
New Congress convenes Jan 7, 2009
"We are ready to answer the call of the American people by putting the past eight years behind us and delivering the change that our country desperately needs," he said ... Aides to Obama and senior congressional officials have been at work for weeks crafting an economic stimulus plan that could reach $1 trillion or more ... Tax cuts, federal spending, aid to the states, all designed to inject cash into an economy where consumer spending has plummeted, manufacturing withered and job losses... (AZCentral -- News)
Gates Estimates 2009 War Costs At $136B Jan 7, 2009
"This estimate is my personal assessment and does not reflect the position of the Bush administration or the incoming Obama administration," Gates said ... An official request for war funding is coming after a review by the Obama administration, Gates said ... In the letter, sent to the chairmen of the House and Senate panels overseeing the war, Gates said that Congress should expect that the Obama administration "will conduct a fresh review of these matters and provide an updated and more... (Click2Houston, TX)
Econ slump hitting older Americans hard, AARP says Jan 7, 2009
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The recession is hitting older Americans hard, forcing many to cut back on contributions to retirement accounts and extras like entertainment and restaurant meals, AARP officials said on Tuesday ... The 40-million member group said it is working to ensure the stimulus package being developed by President-elect Barack Obama includes help for the unemployed and aid to cash-strapped states for health care ... The group is also seeking help for homeowners facing bankruptcy,... (Reuters)
Suhakam: Excessive force used Jan 7, 2009
The panel of inquiry chairman Datin Paduka Zaitoon Othman said the panel found that the excessive use of force by the law enforcement personnel violated the safety and security of Chang Jiun Haur and Chan Siew Meng ... However, she said that due to the contradicting and unclear evidence, the panel was unable to identify who among the law enforcement personnel were responsible for such violation ... She said the panel of inquiry also noted that the police did not attend to the injuries on Jiun... (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Yo-yo dieting, Oprah and you Jan 7, 2009
She said she didn t realize she was depressed but she was ... A survey published in the February issue of Consumer Reports reveals the secrets of successful dieters, many of whom say they lost weight themselves, without the aid of a commercial diet program, medical treatment, book or diet pills ... Eat fruits and vegetables: Forty-nine percent of successful losers and the always thin said they ate five or more servings a day at least five days a week. (La Crosse Tribune, WI)
Men charged with assault Jan 7, 2009
The men agreed to meet on the hospital grounds to settle the debt, and the victim brought his friend along in case there was a problem, Jenkins said ... The man then punched the victim several times in the face and was joined by McCormick, Jenkins said ... The victim s friend went to his aid and was allegedly punched in the face several times by Girard and McCormick and knocked to the ground. (Braintree Forum, MA)
Local resident not fooled by 'holy' man (7) Jan 7, 2009
Even though West was a complete stranger, Chapman trusted her enough to ask her to aid him in his quest to distribute his funds ... I would not be happy in death and alive to know that someone is suing you because of board powers, he said ... He said he lived at Princes Gate, 1145 Exhibition court London SW7 2PH.. (Park Hills Daily Journal, MO)
House, Senate Convene For New Congress Jan 7, 2009
Aides to Mr. Obama and senior congressional officials have been at work for weeks that could reach $1 trillion or more. Tax cuts, federal spending, aid to the states, all designed to inject cash into an economy where consumer spending has plummeted, manufacturing withered and job losses grown ... They, in turn, said they believed his pledge of bipartisanship. (CBS News -- US)
Rushford nanotechnology company hopes to employ 70 people Jan 7, 2009
Everybody wants something that s more durable, that will last longer, he said ... The prospect of this job growth has prompted several local groups to put up money to aid the business ... The centerpiece of the workspace is a hypersonic plasma particle deposition chamber, an imposing piece of machinery that speeds particles up to Mach 8 and costs more than 1 million, Fox said. (Winona Daily News, MN)
Fighting continues as Israel considers peace plan Jan 7, 2009
Sounds of heavy gunfire engulfed the Zeitoun neighborhood east of Gaza City and Israel said it struck 40 Hamas targets during the hours of darkness. One morning airstrike killed four people, Gaza officials said, but their identities were unclear ... The Islamic militants said they ambushed an Israeli tank and set it ablaze. (OregonLive, OR -- News)
Zimbabwe: Cholera Spread Continues And Death Toll Keeps Climbing Jan 7, 2009
Medical charities and aid organisations are said to be preparing for more outbreaks as the rainy season heads towards its peak in the coming weeks. Treatment still remains a luxury for the majority of people and it is widely believed that the worst is yet to come. (allAfrica.com)
General Motors, Eli Lilly are big movers Jan 7, 2009
The automaker's financing arm, GMAC, said bondholders agreed to swap debt for equity to help it qualify for federal aid ... The health insurer said it is ending an agreement to buy the New Jersey Medicaid business of rival Centene ... The computer maker said its president of global operations and its marketing chief will leave as part of a restructuring. (Yahoo News -- Pharmaceutical Industry News)
Twin Cities United Way gets $500K donation Jan 7, 2009
An anonymous $500,000 donation to the is providing aid to 45 area food shelters. Randi Yoder, the Greater Twin Cities United Way s senior vice president of donor relations, said the $500,000 in December came on top of $100,000 given by Golden Valley-based in the same month to support food-relief efforts ... 25 million in emergency food relief in the past three months, Yoder said. (Twin Cities Business Journal, MN)
Israeli strike kills dozens at UN school Jan 7, 2009
The attack on the school has definitely created a new timetable, said Uri Dromi, Israel's spokesman during the Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres governments of the 1990s ... We would never do this deliberately, said Mr. Dromi, who weathered a similar situation years ago ... Said John Ging, the Irish head of the UN refugee program in Gaza: There's nowhere safe in Gaza. (Globe and Mail)
Needham Briefs (Nov. 8) Jan 7, 2009
Safety will be the focus throughout the class, and participants will review basic first aid and emergency preparedness. Participants will not, however, be certified in First Aid ... African Baobab and Needham Rotary, along with Rotary International, have joined forces to accomplish some exciting, groundbreaking-events to improve the community of Sironko, Uganda, which has been deeply affected by the pandemic of AIDS, leaving many orphaned children. (Needham Tab, MA)
Applications being accepted for Swampscott's Integrated Preschool Jan 7, 2009
Financial aid is available based upon need. Prior to enrollment, children will be screened to ensure the presence of developmentally appropriate skills. (Swampscott Reporter, MA)
Bloomer Schools looking at making cuts Jan 7, 2009
Bloomer Superintendent Mary Randall said the district began looking at next school year s budget in November and realized that cuts will have to be made ... I already have the administrators input, and when you ask staff members, they have opinions because they work with the children every day and they know where the resources need to be, Randall said ... Those reductions, you know they re coming when you wait two years to settle a contract, Randall said. (Chippewa Falls Chippewa Herald, WI)
Israel shells near UN school, killing at least 30 Jan 7, 2009
The Israeli army said its soldiers came under fire from militants hiding in the school and responded ... Despite international criticism over civilian deaths and a diplomatic push to broker a cease-fire, Israeli said it would push on with the offensive against Hamas ... Israeli ground forces edged closer to two major Gaza towns, and a total of 70 Palestinians were killed Tuesday - with just two confirmed as militants, health officials in Gaza said. (Ames Daily Tribune, IA)
Lots of hard work ahead in Boston Jan 7, 2009
I ve always said that we can t achieve progress without having partnership, and this week, I was proud to renew the collaborative relationship that I share with the City Council, as District Councilor Michael Ross of Mission Hill was elected Council President ... With the possibility of state cuts to local aid, we will all have to work together to craft a sensible and prudent budget ... Projects such as the redevelopment of the Boston Housing Authority s Washington Beech property are aiding in... (Rsolindale Parkway Transcript, MA)
Pittman resigns from Brother Martin Jan 7, 2009
Pittman cited a need to help in the family business as his reason, saying that the construction company C.R. Pittman, Inc., needed aid in following through with several contracts it recently obtained. My grandpa started the business, Pittman said ... Pittman, 45, said he spoke with the administration during the past few days and both came to an understanding that this was the best move for the head coach and the school. (WWLTV.com, LA)
FEMA deadline looms for Ike victims Jan 7, 2009
NEW ORLEANS -- Next Monday is the deadline for victims of Hurricane Ike in Louisiana to apply for aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency ... Federal aid for Ike victims includes rental assistance, funds for home repairs and reimbursement for transportation expenses. (WWLTV.com, LA)
Year in Review part 1 Jan 7, 2009
"It brings a lot of people together," said Brownell ... "I think this is a very good ordinance," said resident Howard Schumann ... He said the document does need a few tweaks, but should become part of local law as soon as possible. (Millbrook Round Table, NY)
Good Samaritans aid elderly couple Jan 7, 2009
When she sat down for breakfast and saw the newspaper article, she said she asked, Whats this ... For two years, Carol said, they have tried to give the electric lift away but could not find anyone to take it ... Carol said because she understands what it is like to be in need of an electric lift, she didnt hesitate to call the Barhams and tell them about the lift. (Paragould Daily Press, AR)
Officials: Brookline ready for potential state aid cuts Jan 7, 2009
Gov. Deval Patrick is expected to push for reductions in aid to cities and towns as the state struggles to make up revenue shortfall that could reach $1 billion ... If this revenue comes in short, as we suspect it will, the governor, along with the Legislature, will again need to find places in the budget to make reductions, Senate President Therese Murray said in a statement last week ... At that point, everything, including local aid, will have to be on the table. (Brookline TAB, MA)
The Archipelago Jan 7, 2009
"He has been suffering from diarrhea over the past two days, but has been treated," Dina said ... "I also don't feel well," she said ... "There is no firewood to cook. We drink water directly from the river," said Henri, another survivor. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia)
Israel 'welcomes' end to fighting Jan 7, 2009
By Jim Michaels, USA TODAY JERUSALEM Israel ordered a pause in its Gaza offensive for three hours Wednesday to allow food and fuel to reach besieged Palestinians, and a government spokesman said it "welcomes" an Egyptian-French cease-fire proposal as long as Hamas halts militant rockets and weapons smuggling. Hamas said it would only support a deal that included an opening of Gaza's borders ... French President Nicolas Sarkozy said in Paris that both Israel and the moderate Palestinian... (USA Today -- News)
Iraqi doctors dismiss claims that Jessica Lynch was raped in hospital Jan 7, 2009
Israel and Hamas said they were temporarily holding their fire in the Gaza Strip today to ease the flow of aid ... A ceasefire in the Gaza Strip is attainable within days if the smuggling routes which supply arms and money to Hamas can be shut down, international envoy Tony Blair said today. (Yahoo News -- Jessica Lynch)
Doctors Stuck At Bottleneck On Egypt-Gaza Border Jan 7, 2009
Doctors Eager To Aid Gaza Palestinians Stuck At Egypt Border, Blocked From Crossing Into Strip ... On Tuesday, a representative from a Norwegian medical aid organization was allowed to enter the Gaza Strip from Rafah ... "This is a shame," said Mognie, who used his vacation to travel from Greece to try to help in Gaza. (CBS News -- World)
Obama finds lovefest on Capitol Hill Jan 7, 2009
Other policy changes would subsidize employers' expenses for temporarily continuing health insurance coverage for laid-off and retired workers and their dependents, as mandated under the 22-year-old federal COBRA law, and allow workers who lose jobs that did not come with insurance benefits to be eligible, for the first time, to apply for Medicaid. Aid to states for health and education ($140 billion to $200 billion) ... The money would let local governments subsidize costs for Medicaid and... (San Francisco Chronicle -- Politics)
COMMUNITY CALENDAR Jan 7, 2009
First Aid at LW YMCA. First Aid class will be held at the Lake Wales YMCA from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, 4. (Lake Wales News, FL)
Officers on leave; coroner says robbery suspect was shot in the head Jan 7, 2009
Bloomington and Normal police said Tuesday that each department placed an officer on administrative leave after the shooting ... Someone from our department did fire, but we dont know yet who hit him, said Normals Assistant Chief Kirk Ijams ... Normal is conducting its own administrative review of the incident, he said. (The Pantagraph newspaper)
Obama offers conservatives a win-win Jan 7, 2009
Obama has said shutting the prison camp down will be a priority ... The prisoners at Guantanamo are all foreign fighters, caught in the war on terror and suspected of aiding al Qaeda or other rouge groups ... Their first target is the current prohibition against using foreign aid money to fund groups that perform abortion. (Atmore Advance, AL)
WEB EXCLUSIVE:Fact vs. Fiction in Gaza Jan 7, 2009
Fact: Warehouses in Gaza are filled to capacity, according to international aid groups ... And even as Hamas was firing rockets and mortars during Israel during the ceasefire, Israel facilitated the delivery of 2,500 tons (delivered on 93 trucks) of humanitarian aid, medical supplies and medication through the Kerem Shalom cargo terminal ... Since the beginning of the operation, about 6,500 tons of aid have been transferred into Gaza at the request of the international organizations, the... (Cleveland Jewish News, OH)
RI mission seeks to enter Gaza Jan 7, 2009
We really have to stop the aggression and the killing, and then bring in aid ... They sure were in a hurry to impose sanctions against Iraq when they said Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction ... I will also remind the Indonesian aid team that even though I fully support the initiative driven by humanitarian concern, I think it is beyond our capability to channel the aid directly into Gaza. (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Editorial)
Georgetown Fire Log Jan 7, 2009
Monday, Dec. 15 9:02 a.m. Medical aid on Jewett Street. 10:59 a.m. Medical aid on Jewett Street ... 11:57 p.m. Medical aid on Central Street. (Georgetown Record, MA)
Fire claims home on Level Run Road Jan 7, 2009
"We arrived to find the fire well involved," said Hurt Volunteer Fire Department Chief Brian Dudley. Hurt, paged out as mutual aid for Renan, arrived on the scene first ... "I think it was a total loss, structurally and with personal property," Dudley said. (Altivista Journal, VA)
Full Story Jan 7, 2009
Miami News, Fort Lauderdale News, Florida News er Channel 7 Fox Miami WSVN-TV - Israel halts campaign for 3 hours to let in aid ... Israel halts campaign for 3 hours to let in aid ... With criticism rising of the operation's spiraling civilian death toll and Gazans increasingly suffering the effects of nonstop airstrikes and shelling, Israel's military said opened "humanitarian corridors" to allow aid supplies to reach Palestinians. (WSVN-TV Miami, FL)
A topsy-turvy 2008 tour Jan 7, 2009
Representatives from 14 fire-related statewide agencies unanimously selected Little Elm Fire Chief Joe Florentino as the first state coordinator of the Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) ... Then-Mayor Tom Kanuch said that the city had received 234 letters against the rate increase ... Midway officials said they plan to file an appeal with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. (McKinney Courier-Gazette, TX)
Top 10 Allen stories for 2008 Jan 7, 2009
When I made the interception I didn t even think it was true, Hartshorne said ... They said run and go, Thomas said ... When you think about Tucker and all the things he s gone through and what he s done for this team, Westerberg said. (McKinney Courier-Gazette, TX)
UN Security Council convened on Tuesday over the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, intensifying the international diplomatic drive to push for an early end to the ongoing assault.• Israel shells UN schools in 11th day of strike Jan 7, 2009
An Israeli air and ground strike on al-Fakhoura school run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) in Jabalia refugee camp on Tuesday evening killed 46 people and wounded 150 others, medics said ... "In spite of rising the blue flag of UNRWA on our schools, the Israeli army has been targeting those schools by missiles and tanks shells," said Abu Hasna, adding "four of our schools were hit. The latest was al-Fakhoura school." ... Israel's military said its shelling on the school in... (Xinhuanet, China)
NHS patient error deaths 'rising' Jan 7, 2009
It represents a 60% rise in the last two years, but experts said it was due to better reporting not worsening care ... Nonetheless, the Liberal Democrats, who requested the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) data from the government, said the health service needed to improve its performance ... Norman Lamb, the party's health spokesman, said: "Most of these deaths are avoidable and completely unacceptable. "Along with very high standards in most hospitals, there are also areas of completely... (BBC News)
Self-harm charities funding fears Jan 7, 2009
Penumbra said four of its six projects faced funding reductions ... The Scottish Government said helping young people with mental health problems was a top priority for ministers, health boards and councils ... Fiona Downie, self harm development worker at Penumbra in West Lothian, said she was saddened by the withdrawal of funding. (BBC News)
MAN OF THE YEAR Jan 7, 2009
Obama was brought up by his maternal grandparents who lived in a two-bedroom apartment in Hawaii and the only reason he got into a school as good as Punahon, a big private school in Honolulu was because there was financial aid for a few bright minority students ... Obama's key message was "change we can believe in" and he said again and again: "yes, we can" ... Delivering the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention on July 29, 2004, the single event that was said to have brought... (Guardian News, Nigeria)
NO help: Nitric oxide monitoring does not help most children with asthma Jan 7, 2009
"There can be no doubt that adding frequent assessments of FENO to management plans of most children and adults with asthma will add unjustifiable costs without providing clinical benefit. Whether there is a role for monitoring FENO to aid management of severe asthma is untested," wrote Stephen Stick, Ph. D., of the Princess Margaret Hospital for Children in Perth, Australia and Peter Franklin, Ph. (EurekAlert!)
Ethiopia imposes aid agency curbs Jan 7, 2009
The bill bans aid agencies from working on the rights of children. Ethiopia's parliament has passed a controversial bill imposing tight restrictions on aid agencies ... Under discussion for months, the bill has already been considerably modified amid objections from aid organisations. (BBC News -- Africa)
Statehouse Roundup -- Tough decisions in store for legislators Jan 7, 2009
The new $1 billion gap that the governor said last Tuesday could materialize comes on top of the $1 ... Patrick budget chief Leslie Kirwan said as much last Tuesday, predicting that the stabilization account, now projected to finish the current fiscal year with $1 ... A breaking point in the debate often comes when local aid gets hit, as Patrick warned it would. (Marshfield Mariner, MA)
Terrell man arrested in Forney hit-and-run (664) Jan 7, 2009
Investigators say Chappell did not stop to render aid and drove away from the scene, leaving Borrago injured and lying in the roadway ... We appreciate the tips from the public and the efforts of our officers working with the public to apprehend the subject, said Forney PoliceChief Ricky Barnes ... Borragos uncle, J.R. Saldivar, said the teen was released last night from the hospital and though he has to wear a back brace is glad he is able to move around a bit. (Terrell Tribune, TX)
Doctors stuck at bottleneck on Gaza border Jan 6, 2009
Anesthesiologist Dimitrios Mognie from Greece idles his time at a cafe near the border, drinking tea and chatting with other doctors, aid workers and curious Egyptians. "This is a shame," said Mognie, who decided to use his vacation time to try help Gazans ... Security worriesMognie, who said he has worked in conflict zones such as Iraq, Angola and Somalia, added that he understood worries over security but that he was willing to take the risk to help the people in Gaza. (Huntington WSAZ-TV, WV)
Newell Children's Center seeks funding from County for training Jan 6, 2009
Staff is required to receive CPR and first aid treatment every two years and mandatory reporting training every five years ... Monson said they are anticipating about 120 hours total of training at about $45 an hour ... Rhiner said they spent $400 to send three employees to three hours of mandatory reporting training. (Storm Lake Pilot Tribune, IA)
Cities and towns need fiscal freedom Jan 6, 2009
THERE IS NO denying the possibility that the governor and Legislature may be forced to cut local aid to cities and towns in fiscal year 2010. While leaders on Beacon Hill have made attempts to hold local aid harmless, Governor Patrick announced last week that the need for an additional $1 billion in midyear cuts puts local aid firmly on the table ... Given the realities of Proposition 2 1/2, and an already overburdened residential tax base, municipalities cannot hope to survive in the current... (Boston Globe)
Bush OKs airlift of equipment to aid Darfur Jan 6, 2009
The move is intended to help a joint African Union-United Nations team save lives by improving the delivery of humanitarian aid ... Sitting with Sudan's first vice president, Salva Kiir, in the Oval Office, Bush said he waived State Department requirements in order to launch the airlift right away ... Bush said Kiir, the southern Sudan leader, is "taking the lead in helping the rebels come together, so that there would be a more unified voice in negotiating - hopefully negotiating - a peace with... (Boston Globe)
Challenge to child support rules denied Jan 6, 2009
The judge said it would be inappropriate for the federal courts to get involved in a battle over state regulations. Group members said the lawsuit will probably be refiled in state court ... US aid OK'd for ice storm disaster relief The federal government has agreed to provide disaster aid for Massachusetts communities hardest hit by the Dec. 11 ice storm. (Boston Globe)
