January 2013 Archives

In the Kare 11 article, "More criticism as Boy Scouts consider policy change," the author writes a to the point lead about the Boy Scouts of America's, "proposal to move away from a mandatory no-gays membership policy and allow troop sponsors to decide the matter for themselves," said Kare 11.

This lead includes a, "what," and a, "who," of the five W's. The, "what," is the criticism of the proposed policy change. While the, "who," is the Boy Scouts of America.

Because the proposed policy change hit the news last week and criticism has begun since the proposition, there is no need to add a, "when," into the lead. This can be applied to the, "where," as well. The lead is a perfect example of prioritizing the five W's.

The author also made note to be clear, concise and focus on the active part of the story throughout the one sentence lead.

A new strain of an intestinal bug, the Sydney Norovirus, has been making its rounds causing illness for many Minnesotans.

Doctors say the Norovirus, the most common cause of intestinal illness, peaks during the wintertime, said Kare 11. Nearly every year a new strain of the virus arrives that we are not immune to, reported Kare 11.

Minnesota is not the only location where the Sydney Norovirus has struck. As of Jan. 29, the Norovirus has hit San Diego, Colorado and other states, said the Examiner.

"Norovirus is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in the United States. Each year, it causes about 21 million illnesses and contributes to about 70,000 hospitalizations and 800 deaths. Norovirus is also the most common cause of foodborne-disease outbreaks in the United States," said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This particular strain of the Norovirus can be spread from an infected person, contaminated food or water and by touching contaminated surfaces, reported the Examiner.

Gov. Mark Dayton's proposed tax relief plan, which grants up-to-$500 tax rebate to every Minnesota homeowner, sparked debate on Tuesday with the legislative committee.

The governor's broader tax package would provide 1.5 million homeowners direct relief on the first $500 of a property owner's bill, said Kare 11.

According to WCCO, the rebate could cost more than $700 million a year and would depend on increases in the sales tax and upper-end income tax.

Some are concerned that the rebate will treat every property the same, whether a property tax bill is $500 or $5,500, reported WCCO. Homeowners charged less than $500 would get a rebate equal to what they owe, said WCCO.

Others agree with the tax relief plan. "It really does go to those folks that are really being hit hard because of either they lost their job, they're a senior on a fixed income or a middle class Minnesotan whose income is maybe just starting to grow again," House Speaker Paul Thissen said on a Minnesota Public Radio call-in show Tuesday morning, reported WCCO.

Any proposed tax relief plan is unlikely to be put into action until 2014, said WCCO.

A group of eight U.S. senators proposed a new plan concerning immigration at a news conference on Monday at Capitol Hill. The plan is, "a 'tough but fair' path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants already living in the United States," reported CNN.

Seeking to rebuild the legal immigration system, senators from both sides of the political spectrum hoped to find a solution for the nation's roughly 11 million illegal immigrants, said Politico.

The four "pillars" outlined in the senators' plan include securing our nation's borders, establishing an employment verification system for undocumented workers, attaching green cards to advanced degrees in certain fields of U.S. universities and creating a guest worker program for specified positions.

Some conservatives have voiced opposition to the proposed plan. According to CNN source, Lamar Smith, who serves on the immigration subcommittee in the House, "when you legalize those who are in the country illegally, it costs taxpayers millions of dollars, costs American workers thousands of jobs and encourages more illegal immigration."

President Barack Obama plans to reveal more details about his own immigration proposal on Tuesday in Las Vegas, reported Politico.

A lethal fire broke out in a popular nightclub in Santa Maria, Brazil on Sunday. The fire killed over 230 people and left many injured, reported CNN.

Sparking around 2:30 a.m., the acoustic foam insulation of Kiss nightclub caught fire and began to spread.

About 2,000 people were inside the club when the fire broke out, which is double the maximum capacity of 1,000 people, Guido de Melo, a state fire official, said to CNN.

Among the crowd were students who were celebrating the last weekend of Brazil's summer break at a concert for the band, Gurizada Fandangueira. The club's only exit made it nearly impossible for concertgoers to leave safely. Many people died from smoke inhalation, while others were trampled in the rush to exit, said CNN.

According to a New York Times' source, Ranolfo Vieira Jr., one of the club's owners and two band members were arrested for questioning.