AltWeeklies Wire
Hispanics Delivered by Border Midwives Are Having Trouble Getting U.S. Passportsnew
David Hernandez just wants his passport, but the State Department won't give it to him. There is a history of midwife deception along the border, so the U.S. government has to be sure applicants are not using fraudulently filed birth certificates. Thus far, Hernandez has not convinced them that his is the real McCoy.
Houston Press |
Chris Vogel |
12-23-2008 |
Sex
Obama's Weasel Words on Iraq
Obama promises to redeploy "combat troops" from Iraq. In practice, however, there's no difference between "combat troops" and "advisers." Four years from now, Americans will still be fighting, killing and dying in Iraq.
eHarmony Must Provide Services to Same-Sex Couplesnew

As part of a settlement agreement to end a sexual preference discrimination lawsuit, eHarmony must start a new online dating site allowing users to search for same-sex partners. The new service, "Compatible Partners," will be up and running by March 31.
Pasadena Weekly |
Andre Coleman |
12-23-2008 |
LGBT
After the Auto Bailout, Now What?new
What has to happen is an intelligent, radical plan to restructure and refocus the auto industry, and soon. You see, they are going to need more money. Lots more, and what they are doing isn't working.
Metro Times |
Jack Lessenberry |
12-23-2008 |
Economy
No News is Bad News: How Reporting Cutbacks Affect Us Allnew
David Poulson -- a longtime reporter and editor who's now associate director of the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism at Michigan State University -- wants people to understand is that the cutbacks being made at papers across the country affect way more than the journalists receiving pink slips.
Metro Times |
Staff |
12-23-2008 |
Media
Scientologists Face Harsh Critics While Moving into Pasadenanew
Can't we all just get along? And if not, what does it say for Scientology members' ability to worship and live life as they choose?
Pasadena Weekly |
Carl Kozlowski |
12-23-2008 |
Religion
Blaming the Workers: UAW Not Behind the Big Three's Woesnew
Over and over again, I've heard people repeat that the trouble was that the average UAW worker costs the auto companies $73 per hour. Nice work if you can get it. Matter of fact, it made me want to pack a lunch bucket and trudge off to Dodge Main. Trouble is, when I checked, I found that this statistic is simply not true.
Metro Times |
Jack Lessenberry |
12-23-2008 |
Economy
Cornerback Dwayne Goodrich: 'The Cowboy Who Killed Those Kids'new
Former cornerback Dwayne Goodrich comes to grips with his hit-and-run of three Good Samaritans as he plans for life after prison.
Dallas Observer |
Richie Whitt |
12-22-2008 |
Crime & Justice
The Army's Brain Lives in Seattlenew
Cray Inc. is improving soldiers' armor, tanks, and supercomputers, thanks to millions in government contracts.
Seattle Weekly |
Rick Anderson |
12-22-2008 |
War
Program for Fallen Soldiers' Families Feels the Economic Pinchnew
Debbie Busch founded the nonprofit Helping to Unite Gold Star Survivors in 2003 to provide the loved ones of slain soldiers with support groups, summer camps and phone calls during difficult times such as birthdays, holidays and anniversaries. Six years later, Busch worries she and her tiny staff may soon have to close because of lack of funding.
Dallas Observer |
Megan Feldman |
12-22-2008 |
War
Victims of a Bolivian Massacre Seek Justice in Miaminew
It has been five years since Bolivian soldiers killed Marlene Rojas Mamani in the village of Warisata. Today her parents have come to Miami seeking justice.
Miami New Times |
Tim Elfrink |
12-22-2008 |
International
Bad Management of One Low-Income Florida Apartment Bldg. Leaves Residents in Limbonew
By all accounts, the elderly residents of Bethany Towers are suffering.
Creative Loafing (Tampa) |
Alex Pickett |
12-22-2008 |
Housing & Development
Prophet of Boom (and Bust): Now Will They Listen to Ravi Batra?new

The 65-year-old academic has an amazing record of economic and social forecasting going back several decades, from the rise of Islam, which he predicted in the 1960s, to the mergers booms and soaring stock prices of the '90s, and the stock market crash of 2000.
Fort Worth Weekly |
Kendall Anderson |
12-22-2008 |
Economy
A Debate on Recyled Wastewaternew

Is reclaimed wastewater too contaminated to use, or is it too valuable to waste? Two PhDs argue two sides of the issue.
Santa Barbara Independent |
Edo McGowan and Barry Keller |
12-22-2008 |
Environment
The Old Thailand Returnsnew
The political crisis in Thailand is over, and so is the ten-year experiment with democracy. The rich and the comfortably off have risen in outraged revolt against equal treatment for the poor, and it's back to the bad old days of shaky coalitions and bought-and-paid-for politicians.
NOW Magazine |
Gwynne Dyer |
12-22-2008 |
International