Herbert Blog

President Obama has brought in less large donor money during this election cycle compared to 2008, reports Fox News.

Nearly 59 percent of the donations to the Obama campaign have been under $200. The Obama campaign has raised over $196 million dollars and has $104 million on hand.

Obama's opponent, Mitt Romney has around $10 million cash on hand.

Many believe there is a lack of enthusiasm and money because Obama is not in a primary fight.

Supporters of Romney said Super Political Action Committees may help build Romney's war chest. However, Obama also has large support from political action committees. Many of those SuperPACs come from Hollywood and Silicon Valley, reports CBS News.

A bill that would require all high school students to learn CPR has passed both the House and Senate in Minnesota, reports My Fox 9.

Norm Okerstrom, a father who nearly lost his son three years ago, is an advocate and supporter of the bill. He said if it weren't for the person with CPR skills, his son wouldn't be alive.

Both the House and Senate in Minnesota passed the bills and Gov. Dayton is expected to sign it. There have only been a few language barriers in the bill that have caused some hesitation for lawmakers.

The American Heart Association said there are a variety of ways in which schools can help teach CPR for a free or reduced cost, according to Twelve TV News.

Last week, supporters marched through the Capitol to urge Gov. Dayton to sign the bill.

A recent bill in the Minnesota Legislature would allow wolf hunts in the state, reports KARE 11.

After being removed from the endangered species list in January, many in the state have debated a possible hunt for the creatures. The population has expanded to more than 3,000 in the state. Many pro-wolf hunters argue that native ecosystems can't handle the large population and many farmers have been losing livestock to the animals.

Native Americans who find wolves sacred to their culture and other environmental groups are opposed to the hunts.

The bill has currently stalled and many on both sides said the issue needs more investigation so that the population is not depleted.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has currently not taken a position on the issue, however they would need to help work on the rules and requirements on a hunting season, reports MPR.

New reports have surfaced involving the United States Secret Service members and prostitutes in Colombia, reports CBS News.

There are new allegations saying some Secret Service agents, staying in the Hilton Hotel where President Obama stayed a few days later, paid prostitutes for sexual favors.

Previous allegations surround eleven secret service agents that paid for sexual favors from prostitutes, just days before Obama visited for a summit with the Colombian President, reports Fox News.

As the scandal grows, many congressmen are calling for investigations and questioning if White House officials may be involved.

President Obama condemned the agents actions last week when the allegations surfaced. So far three agents have been dismissed.

If Israel decides to attack Iran, drivers can expect gas prices to soar, according to ABC News.

Richard Clarke, a former White House counter-terrorism official said Iranian ships could attack oil tankers or block areas of oil transportation that are vital for the oil industry.

President Obama has discouraged Israel from attacking Iran. However, Clarke believes Obama would open the strategic petroleum reserves in the U.S. to keep prices lower.

Other analysts believe new terror threats would evolve and a new cyberwar would occur in order to gain more information on Iranian activities.

Iran has allegedly began building spy drones, similar to those of the United States, according to The International News.

Israel has said it may bomb Iran by the end of next week, according to The International News.

James Vollmer has a positive attitude, even after a pole vaulting accident at a high school track meet left him paralyzed, reports the Rapid City Journal.

On Dec. 1, 2010, Vollmer was practicing pole vaulting in Jamestown, ND when the accident happened. Vollmer doesn't remember exactly what happened and what caused things to go wrong, but he ended up falling 15 feet that severely injured his spinal cord.

Prior to the accident, Vollmer was a high school standout in the pole vaulting arena and had great potential for a college pole vaulting career.

Today, Vollmer said he can't change the outcome of the event, but he has began doing things he loved again. One of those things is pole vaulting. He helps coach and assist pole vaulting and track at Rapid City Central High School.

He currently attends the University Center in Rapid City and hopes to become a school counselor and coach when he graduates.

Like many actors, Matthew Broderick has had his share of ups and downs in his career. From a budding star of the brat pack in the 1980's to his theatrical performances today, Broderick keeps evolving, reports the New York Times.

Broderick will be performing in "Nice Work if You Can Get It," in New York City starting April 24.

Broderick will soon be 50, but it hasn't slowed him down. He's recently performed in the broadway hit "The Producers" and other smaller theater productions on and off Broadway.

Much of the recent theater work has required Broderick to take singing and dancing lessons, the latter which proved to be more difficult than he expected.

Broderick's first Broadway experience was in the revival of "How to Succeed Without Really Trying," in 1995.

On Tuesday, the Minnesota DNR announced it is only offering 87 moose hunting licenses for the next season, reports the Duluth News Tribune.

Due to a declining moose population throughout the state, the DNR decreased the amount of permits allowed. Last year, 105 permits were allowed.

Although it is a 59 percent decrease in permits, the DNR expects 50 moose to be harvested in Northeastern Minnesota, where they are more common, according to the Duluth News Tribune.

The estimated moose population in Minnesota is 4,230 individuals, down from 4,900 the previous year, according to the Pioneer Press.

Nearby states, such as Michigan don't have as many licenses as Minnesota. Minnesota has had a history of moose hunting, according to the Pioneer Press.

The Minnesota Senate proposed a $496 million bonding bill on Wednesday, according to the Star Tribune.
Gov. Mark Dayton previously proposed a $775 million bonding bill, whereas the Minnesota House proposed a slim $280 million bonding bill.

Much of the Senate's proposed bill regards money for state colleges and universities, excluding much from the University of Minnesota. The University previously received $78 million, but the proposed Senate bill would only provide the University with $39 million.

Some of the other projects left out of the Senate proposal, was funding for the Nicollet Mall renovation and a regional baseball park for St. Paul, according to MinnPost.

Other funding would go to renovating the State Capitol building, roads and bridges, and natural resources.

More than 546 acres of forest in the Black Hills National Forest in Southwest South Dakota have burned, reports the Argus Leader.

The fire was contained Saturday night according to the National Forest Service.

The fire was started Wednesday after a lightning strike. No damage or injuries have been reported.

The fire, named the Apple Fire burned mainly grass, shrub and seedlings, leaving most of the Ponderosa pine trees with little to no damage, according to the Rapid City Journal.

Small fires that only burn the ground and small shrubs can be good for many ecosystems in the Black Hills and many of the plants grow back quickly, reports the Rapid City Journal.