Thursday, June 19, 2008

• The US House Once Again Takes Up a Multi-Billion Dollar War-Funding Bill
• California Medical Marijuana Users Targeted for Asset Forfeiture Seizure
• Local Renewable Energy Transmission Options Examined
• The United Nations Denounces Sexual Violence as a Weapon of War
• The DOJ Goes After Perpetrators of Mortgage Fraud
• The VA Accused of Testing Non-Approved Drugs on Veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• LGBT Community Prepares to Battle State Constitutional Bans on Same Sex Marriage

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The US House Once Again Takes Up a Multi-Billion Dollar War-Funding Bill

After being deadlocked by a threatened veto from President Bush, the House is finally getting back to business on the Iraq supplemental spending bill. At issue: $161.8 billion for the occupation, unemployment benefits, college tuition for soldiers and even flood relief for the Midwest. Karen Miller has more.

California Medical Marijuana Users Targeted for Asset Forfeiture Seizure

Twelve states in the US have laws legalizing medical marijuana. In California, medical marijuana is legal, legal to buy at a dispensary, but also illegal to sell. That arrangement has a slew of challenges for medical marijuana patients who say they are caught in the crossfire of the drug wars. In Mendocino County medical marijuana patients say they are vulnerable to law enforcement raids, and asset forfeiture seizure. FSRN's Christina Aanestad has this report.

Local Renewable Energy Transmission Options Examined

The electricity transmission system in the United States is becoming antiquated. The lines are aging, and with energy deregulation, being used in ways they were not initially designed for. In addition, a growing population means a growing demand for energy. Those wanting to develop renewable energy sources are finding the power lines are set up to serve coal, hydroelectric and nuclear production facilities. This is a huge barrier for the renewable energy industry. But a study released this week by the Minnesota Department of Commerce shows there may be hope for using the existing lines for renewable energy. Instead of focusing entirely on building new power lines to distant large-scale wind farms at a huge cost, the report shows a significant amount of power from smaller community-based facilities could be injected into the existing system. Essentially, there's a localized, cheaper, more efficient way to think about renewable electricity production and transmission. To find out more about this idea of Community Based Energy Development, or C-BED, FSRN spoke with George Crocker of the North American Water Office based in Minnesota. Crocker was instrumental in convincing the state to commission the report, which he refers to as the "sweet spot study."

The United Nations Denounces Sexual Violence as a Weapon of War

The use of sexual violence as a weapon of war is epidemic, as the bodies of women and girls of all ages become battlegrounds in conflict zones the world over. In an effort to remedy the problem, the United Nations Security Council today approved a resolution to recognize sexual violence as a security issue for the council to address.

The DOJ Goes After Perpetrators of Mortgage Fraud

What the DOJ is calling "Operations Malicious Mortgage" has, over the past 3 ½ months, resulted in charges against more than 400 people. Just yesterday, the DOJ arrested 60 additional people, and the arrests continue today. Two former Bear Stearns hedge fund managers, Matthew Tannin and Ralph Cioffi, were arraigned today on nine counts of securities fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy. Personal investments in funds like this are referred to as "skin in the game." One attorney involved in the case says Tannin and Cioffi both "viewed the funds situation as 'perilous'," yet they failed to inform their investors of the problems. In one email written by Matthew Tannin in March of 2007, the fund manager wrote, "Believe it or not, I've been able to convince people to add more money." Prosecutors however made clear that neither Tannin nor Cioffi are being blamed for the collapse of Bear Stearns. Attorneys for Tannin and Cioffi dispute the charges.

The VA Accused of Testing Non-Approved Drugs on Veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

On Tuesday, the Washington Times reported that the Veterans Administration has been targeting War Veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, with a new drug designed to help them quit smoking. But the side effects of that drug can include suicidal thoughts or actions. The drug varenicline, which is marketed under the name Chantix, is now approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The Department of Veterans Affairs enrolled nearly 1,000 patients diagnosed with PTSD in test studies using different methods to quit smoking; 143 of them were prescribed Chantix, but before it was approved by the FDA. Last November, the FDA issued a warning about evidence of depression and suicidal thoughts among people using Chantix. In January, Chantix's Manufacturer, Pfizer, updated labels to include the warning. The Federal Aviation Agency has banned the use of the drug among its pilots and air traffic control personnel. Despite all this, the Veterans Administration only warned people using the drug about the possible side effects in February. he Veterans Association has defended itself from the recent criticism, stating "This research program, like all VA research, is approved by independent institutional review boards to ensure the safety of all participants." They go on to say, "The progress of the study is regularly scrutinized by a VA Data Safety Monitoring Board that closely tracks any and all reported side effects related to the study to ensure safety." Presidential Nominee Barack Obama responded to these findings and called them outrageous and unacceptable. He said that he would be asking for a full and thorough investigation immediately. Yesterday three members of Congress joined that call.

LGBT Community Prepares to Battle State Constitutional Bans on Same Sex Marriage

As people across the country celebrate pride month and the first same sex marriages in California, many LGBT advocates are preparing for their next challenge to marriage - constitutional bans. The measure will be on the ballot in California and Florida. As Sean Kinane reports from Tampa, opponents say Amendment 2 could take away the rights of opposite sex non-married couples as well.