AltWeeklies Wire
San Diego Sues Navy, Shipbuilders and Port District to Pay for Bay Cleanupnew
For nearly 30 years after the end of World War II, Naval personnel hosed down trucks and heavy machinery with diesel fuel, then dunked them in a tributary of San Diego Bay. It was all done in the name of "decontamination" -- ironic, because a new suit alleges this is one of dozens of practices cited as primary causes of sediment contamination in the bay.
San Diego CityBeat |
Dave Maass |
10-21-2009 |
Environment
Drop the Drones: Remote Attacks Inflame Afghan Anti-Americanism
To Afghans on the ground, drones symbolize American callousness and project a smug sense of superiority -- because they protect us at the Afghans' expense.
Birth of a Blowhard: Glenn Beck in Connecticutnew
When Beck arrived at KC 101 in early 1992, he was a semi-failed, drug-and-alcohol addicted, Top-40s radio jock desperately looking for a route to stardom. By the time he left seven years later, he had figured out that talk radio was the future and conservative shtick could be revamped to serve as his escalator to fame and fortune.
Hartford Advocate |
Gregory B. Hladky |
10-21-2009 |
Media
Keystone United: Kinder, Gentler Skinheads?new
The eight-year-old group wants to "break the stereotypes of skinheads being alcoholic thugs and violent, drug-addicted criminals," according to its website. It simply believes that the white race is superior to all others, and that white people should not mingle with people of color -- and really, what's so wrong about that?
Philadelphia City Paper |
Julia Harte |
10-20-2009 |
Race & Class
One Key Point Lost in the H1N1 Flu Hysteria: Best Prevention is Basic Hygienenew
How do we stay healthy in a germy world? In Soap and Water and Common Sense, Dr. Bonnie Henry suggests we scrub our hands well -- and vaccines don't hurt, either.
The Georgia Straight |
Gail Johnson |
10-20-2009 |
Science
State of Fear in Arizona: Permanent Legal Resident Stopped For Being Brownnew
Rosa's husband is a U.S. citizen. She's a legal permanent resident, on her way to becoming a citizen herself. She plans to raise a family and go back to school. But she's thinking twice about doing either in Arizona after her run-in with two sheriff's deputies a couple of months ago.
Phoenix New Times |
Stephen Lemons |
10-20-2009 |
Race & Class
Downtown Phoenix is Full of Gleaming Progress Surrounded by Vacant Lots -- Now What?new
With boring old suburban McMansions commanding a half-million dollars, you can see why developers decided that downtown Phoenix would be the next big thing. And then the bottom dropped out.
Phoenix New Times |
Sarah Fenske |
10-20-2009 |
Housing & Development
Jerry Powers, the Man Behind 'Ocean Drive,' Refuses to Surrendernew
After 15 years as publisher of one of America's best-known glossy magazines, Powers was recently pushed out by the new owner, Niche Media. Now he's at war with his former partners. On one front, he has sued Niche in federal court for illegally trying to silence him. Meanwhile, the widow of former Ocean Drive investor Derick Daniels has accused Powers of swindling her out of millions of dollars.
Miami New Times |
Francisco Alvarado |
10-19-2009 |
Media
A Snitch in Time: A Philly Gunshot Victim Defies the Inner-City Code of Silencenew
It's been five months since Maurice Ragland testified against the man he says shot him. In doing so, he broke the cardinal rule of the Philadelphia streets -- Do Not Snitch. That he survived his wounds is amazing enough, but that he testified is just as amazing.
Philadelphia Weekly |
Mike Newall |
10-19-2009 |
Crime & Justice
Is it Too Easy to Clobber a Cabbie in Chicago?new
Walid Ziada's fellow cabbies say his attackers are getting off lightly -- despite a new Illinois law intended to protect taxi drivers.
Chicago Reader |
Kari Lydersen |
10-19-2009 |
Crime & Justice
The Assassination of Deputy Abel Escalantenew
A young father had nothing to do with LAPD's killing of Danny Leon last year. The 27-year-old officer most likely heard about it on the news, like everyone else. But, federal prosecutors believe, Escalante died for it.
L.A. Weekly |
Christine Pelisek |
10-16-2009 |
Crime & Justice
Feds Bust Twitterer, Impound Fuzzy Dolls and Buffy Videos in War on Terrornew
Elliot Madison's real crime, it seems, is being a self-proclaimed anarchist, which is no more illegal than being a self-proclaimed Democrat or Lutheran. His tweets were not more informative or subversive than MSNBC's live coverage of the G-20 protests.
Artvoice |
Michael I. Niman |
10-16-2009 |
Civil Liberties
How Canada Got Caught in an Afghan Election That Doesn't Add Upnew
The news on the Afghan election, backed so earnestly by Canada and its $35 million contribution, has gone from terrible to tragic.
NOW Magazine |
Paul Weinberg |
10-16-2009 |
International
Blogger Busted: Free Speech Goes on Trial in Central Illinoisnew
Scott Humphrey, a 57-year-old man from Springfield, Ill., faces four criminal misdemeanor charges for two specific online statements that he made on a political blog. Sources say civil suits and criminal charges will increasingly be used to stop speech on the internet.
Illinois Times |
Amanda Robert |
10-15-2009 |
Media
Bhutanese Refugees Move from Nepalese Camps to Our Slow Job Marketnew
The 15 refugee families settling in Colorado Springs face the unique challenge of surviving a time of economic turmoil while acclimating to a new culture and new language, all with limited assistance.
Colorado Springs Independent |
Anthony Lane |
10-15-2009 |
Immigration
