K. Stolpa's 3101 News Blog

As the race for the Democratic party presidential nomination in 2008 continues, Sen. Barack Obama holds firm as one of few candidates who have opposed the war in Iraq from the beginning.

Although fellow candidates Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and former Sen. John Edwards share similar plans for withdrawing troops from Iraq, both Clinton and Edwards voted initially voted to authorize the war. While Edwards has since apologized for his initial support and Clinton has not apologized but said her vote would have been different if she had known then what she knows now, Obama said he will continue to use his early opposition to the war in Iraq to distinguish him from the other candidates.

During his Senate race in 2004, Obama was in strong opposition to Iraq, but it was not until he had been in Washington 11 months that he delivered a major speech on the issue.

Obama's stance on Iraq is gaining him the most cheers from supporters as his campaign continues.

**A note about point/support structure in the NY Times coverage of this story:
The story uses point support throughout, but sometimes points are made with quotes, other times quotes are offered as support. Example: The article states that Obama will be using his early stance on Iraq to differentiate himself from other candidates (point). A quote from Obama follows which addressed his opinion on what the early votes said about the people who voted (support).

Posted by Kelly Stolpa at 9:57 PM | Permalink

Microchips placed in trash cans have British citizens accusing the government of invasion of privacy.

Citizens tolerate video surveillance in public spaces such as buses, phone booths, and streets, but many feel the monitoring of their trash has gone too far.

Officials said the chips are in place only to monitor how much trash is being collected and help increase national recycling rates. The technology in place now cannot actually determine the contents of a can. However, many people are concerned that the monitoring will eventually lead to weighing their waste and making them pay by how much they throw away.

Some citizens have taken their disapproval into their own hands. A 72-year-old man ripped the chip from his garbage can and then went on national TV to show how he did it.

Check out more on this story in the Star Tribune.

Posted by Kelly Stolpa at 7:50 PM | Permalink

Minnesota jumped to the forefront of renewable energy initiatives with a new bill signed Thursday. Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed the bill that calls for 25 percent of the state's electricity come from next-generation power sources by 2025.

The new law encourages the use of renewable energy sources such as wind farms, hydroelectric and solar power, as well as burning plant and animal waste. Right now, about half of Minnesota's energy comes from coal burning.

New York and Maine have similar legislation already in place, but the bulk of their energy comes from hydroelectric power. Minnesota remains at the top as far as developing renewable energy sources.

Check out more on this new law in the Star Tribune and St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Posted by Kelly Stolpa at 10:14 PM | Permalink

A St. Paul mechanic found 157 pounds of marijuana in the gas tank of a pickup truck on Monday. A man and woman were arrested but later released without being charged.

Marvin E. Kennedy, 48, and Patsy R. Floyd, 62, told authorities they were traveling from Washington to Chicago when they stopped at the Midas Auto Service Experts at 1415 White Bear Ave, because they were having car problems. A mechanic working on their truck noticed fresh weld spots on the gas tank and called the police.

The gas tank had been converted into two compartments, one containing fuel and the other over 150 pounds of pot.

Federal charges are usually filed in cases involving 500 pounds or more, but Ramsey County prosecutors could still file charges.

The Midas Mechanic who made the discovery received a death threat Wednesday, that is most likely related to his finding, authorities said.

The marijuana came from Mexico and would sell for $1000 a pound in Minnesota, police said.

Check out more on this story with The Star Tribune and Pioneer Press' continuing coverage.

Posted by Kelly Stolpa at 8:40 PM | Permalink

An Arizona airport began testing a new X-ray scanning security system that critics are calling an invasion of privacy.

Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix became the first airport to begin testing a new federal screening system that uses X-ray images to scan passengers for concealed explosives or other weapons. The Transportation Security Administration's "backscatter" is capable of producing clear images, but the TSA adjusted the scanner to produce something close to a line drawing to respect the privacy of travelers.

Critics say the backscatter's clear images are too invasive, but the adjusted images do not accurately detect concealed weapons.

Using the backscatter is completely voluntary. If a traveler does not pass the first routine security check, they can use the backscatter or opt to have a traditional pat-down search.

The machine is operating at one terminal in Phoenix for a 90 day trial period. By the end of the year, the TSA hopes to have other machines operating at airports in New York and Los Angeles.

Read what The Arizona Republic and the Star Tribune's AP coverage said about the backscatter.

Posted by Kelly Stolpa at 6:07 PM | Permalink

Scottie Pippen said he is interested in making a comeback to the NBA. Pippen, 41, said he would return to the game if he could join a playoff contending team, possibly as a player-coach.

Pippen would be chasing a seventh championship if he came back. He won six championships with the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan, and was also part of two U.S. Olympic gold medal winning teams.

Pippen retired in Oct. 2004, after a 17-year career in the NBA.

Pippen made an appearance at the All-Star festivities in Las Vegas where he competed in the 2007 Haier Shooting Stars contest with current Chicago Bull Ben Gordon and Candice Dupree from the WNBA's Chicago Sky.

Read more at ESPN.com and the New York Times.

Posted by Kelly Stolpa at 12:29 AM | Permalink

Car bombs killed 63 people in Baghdad shortly after an American security patrol.

The blasts took place in the mostly Shiite neighborhood of New Baghdad. A series of three bombs were detonated in an open-air market. The first two simultaneous blasts killed 62 people and the third killed one. The explosions left 131 more injured.

The car bombs ended a calm in Baghdad attributed to news Baghdad security plans that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki had called "a dazzling success," two days earlier.

Other damages included the partial collapse of a two-story building and dozens of cars going up in flames.

Read more in the Pioneer Press and the New York Times.

Posted by Kelly Stolpa at 12:02 AM | Permalink

Civil Unions will become legal in New Jersey on Monday. A new law will make New Jersey the third state in the nation to allow same-sex couples to have civil unions. Some couples are already planning ceremonies.

Same-sex couples that have civil unions in other states will now officially be recognized in New Jersey as of 12:01 a.m. Monday. Ceremonies reaffirming these unions are scheduled for the first minutes of Monday morning.

New Jersey joins Vermont and Connecticut in allowing civil unions, while Massachusetts remains the only state to recognize same-sex marriages.

For couples that do not already have unions in other states, there is a 72-hour waiting period to apply for a license, just like marriages. Some town halls are opening at 12:01 a.m. Monday to allow couples to apply for their licenses.

Gay rights organizations said they will continue to push for same-sex marriage rights in New Jersey, while conservative groups plan to push state legislature to pass legislation defining marriage as between a man and a woman.

Read more on civil unions in New Jersey: Pioneer Press
Star Tribune
New York Times

Posted by Kelly Stolpa at 11:45 PM | Permalink

Billionaire T. Denny Sanford announced a $400 million donation, one of the biggest charitable gifts ever, to a South Dakota medical organization.

The former Souix Valley Hospitals & Health has already changed its name to Sanford Health in recognition of the gift.

Number 117 on The Forbes 400 Richest Americans, Sanford, 71, is worth an estimated $2.5 billion.

The focus of most of Sanford's donations has been healthcare in South Dakota and Minnesota, specically children's healthcare. Thanks to Sanford sharing his fortune, there are now The T. Denny Sanford Pediatric Center at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, the William Sanford Welcome Center at Bethesda Hospital in St. Paul, the Sanford Medical School at the University of South Dakota, and now Sanford Health.

Originally from St. Paul, Sanford attended the University of Minnesota and made his fortune through banks and credit card companies.

Read more about Sanford's donation in the Star Tribune.

Posted by Kelly Stolpa at 9:27 PM | Permalink

South Dakota lawmakers reworked last year's abortion ban proposal to hopefully gain the ban more acceptance with the public. Last year, a near-total abortion ban was shot down by voters.

The new bill lawmakers introduced in January would allow for more exceptions, including for victims of rape or incest and if the pregnancy would significantly endanger the woman's health. Voters cited the lack of exceptions as a reason for not supporting the ban last November.

The new bill includes a 17 week gestation period limit on the rape and incest exception. There are also now requirements restricting when rape and incest cases must be reported to police and doctors.

Some lawmakers think it is too soon for another bill to be put in front of the voters, said Democratic Sen. Julie Bartling.

Republican Rep. Gordon Howie said legislators should not lose their momentum, citing the slim margin with which November's repeal was passed. Only 56 percent of voters opposed the more strict bill.

Check out more about South Dakota's proposed abortion ban from AP and Dakota Voice.

Posted by Kelly Stolpa at 4:09 PM | Permalink

Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., officially announced his campaign for the White House on Saturday in Illinois. Obama would become the United States' first black president if he were to win in Nov. 2008.

Thousands endured the cold to hear Obama's speech in front of the Old State Capital. Obama acknowledged his apparent lack of experience in the nation's capital, especially compared to rival for the Democratic nomination, Sen. Hillary Clinton. He proposed using his limited experience as a vehicle for political change.

"I know I haven't spent a lot of time learning the ways of Washington. But I've been there long enough to know that the ways of Washington must change," said Obama.

Obama also referenced President Abraham Lincoln, who delivered his famous "A house divided..." speech at the Old State Capital in 1858.

Read more about Obama entering the race for the White House in the New York Times and the Pioneer Press.

Posted by Kelly Stolpa at 11:43 PM | Permalink

United States military officials have found evidence that Iran supplied deadly weapons to Shiite extremist groups in Iraq. The weapons include explosively formed penetrators, or E.F.P.s, which have been said to have killed over 170 Americans in the last three years.

The E.F.P.s are canisters that explode and spew balls of molten copper, capable of cutting through armor. Military officials laid out canisters with serial numbers, evidence linking the weapons to Iranian suppliers. The U.S. also asserted, without providing direct evidence, that Iran is authorizing smuggling these weapons into Iraq.

The anonymous nature of these claims has raised questions of the Bush administration's motives behind accusing Iran. Intelligence officials are expected to present more evidence supporting the claims, and closely review any evidence finally presented.

Read more in The New York Times.

Posted by Kelly Stolpa at 11:19 PM | Permalink

Drew Gilpin Faust was named Harvard University's first female president.

Fifty-nine-year-old Faust is dean of Harvard's Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study and a scholar of the American South. With her appointment, Faust becomes one of four female presidents that preside over the eight Ivy League schools.

She was appointed by Harvard's Board of Overseers on Sunday, and the appointment is effective July 1.

Faust will be taking over from Pres. Derek Bok, who is serving on an interim basis following the resignation of former president Lawrence Summers. Summers' resignation could have been affected by comments he made regarding women's issues. Faust headed two faculty task forces examining gender diversity at Harvard, born in the aftermath of Summers' comments.

Read what the New York Times, the Star Tribune, and The Harvard Crimson had to say.

*A note about story structure: In the Associated Press coverage which appeared in the Star Tribune, the focus of the story was on the significance of Harvard's first female president. The top of the story included the fact that now half of the eight Ivy Leagues have female presidents and a quote from Faust. The bottom of the story includes background information about Faust that a reader would not find essential to the story. Her credentials are dispersed throughout the story surfacing only when they are relevant to the topic at hand, not listed together. Although it may seem confusing, I think this is better for the reader because a long list of credentials would bore them until they quit reading.

Posted by Kelly Stolpa at 9:57 PM | Permalink

Rental properties around the University of Minnesota are the target of Minneapolis housing inspectors. Properties will be inspected for safety code violations involving electrical systems, smoke detectors and overcrowding.

The inspections are part of a larger plan to improve neighborhoods near the university largely inhabited by students. In the Southeast Como area, private homes have been converted into apartment buildings and other rental units at one of the highest rates in Minneapolis. Between 2000 and 2006, 17 percent of single-family residencies were converted to rentals.

Jan Murlock, director of community relations for the university's Twin Cities' campus told the Pioneer Press she wants neighborhoods around campus to be safe and attractive places for students and other community members to live.

Officials expect the inspections to continue for the next two years.

Posted by Kelly Stolpa at 10:05 AM | Permalink

A statewide smoking ban will likely be put to a vote in the state legislature in the near future. The Senate Health, Housing and Family Security Committee, the first committee to vote on the ban, approved it on Monday. The Senate Business, Industry and Jobs Committee will be the next to see the ban before it goes to a floor vote.

The proposed smoking ban would prohibit smoking in all public places, including restaurants and bars. Hotel rooms, smoke shops, and Indian casinos would be the only exceptions to the ban. This statewide ban would negate local bans that differ across the state, but allows for more strict ordinances to be passed on individual basis's.

Amendments that would allow business owners to purchase licenses and install ventilation systems in order to allow smoking in their establishments were voted down in the Senate Health, Housing and Family Security Committee.

The more business-friendly committee will be the next to see the ban, and vote on amendments.

See Pioneer Press coverage from Monday, Feb. 5.

Posted by Kelly Stolpa at 12:08 AM | Permalink

Astronauts have avoided contact with ammonia leaking from liquid cooling lines during the first two of three scheduled spacewalks. U.S. astronauts Michael Lopez-Alegria and Sunita Williams did not come into contact with the substance which froze into flakes when it leaked into space.

The astronauts were replacing temporary cooling lines with permanent ones when the leak occurred Wednesday. Mission Control was concerned about contamination issues if the ammonia flakes were to come into contact with the astronauts and be carried into the space station, but sign of contact was detected.

The three person crew aboard the space station completed the first of their scheduled spacewalks on Wednesday, the second on Sunday, with the third and final scheduled for Thursday. If the third walk is completed on schedule U.S. astronauts will hold records. The nine-day spread between spacewalks will be the shortest time three walks have been completed without a space shuttle docked to the station.

Want more information? Check out CNN.com and the Star Tribune.

Posted by Kelly Stolpa at 12:12 AM | Permalink

Police opened fire on protesters in two Nepalese towns on Sunday, killing at least three people and injuring more.

Demonstrators have been staging protests to get more representation in Nepal's national legislature and greater representation for the country's south. The group leading the demonstrations is the Madhesi People's Rights Forum (MPRF). The MPRF said protesters were unarmed and the demonstrations were peaceful until police arrived. The United Nations' human rights office in Nepal has asked police and demonstrator violence be avoided.

Protests have been continuing since Jan. 19 and the death toll of protesters and police men is at least 19.

Check out the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's coverage of this international news.

Posted by Kelly Stolpa at 11:42 PM | Permalink

Although it may be too early to tell, Democrats in Minnesota's lawmaking bodies said their may not be enough money to fund all-day kindergarten and early-childhood programs throughout the state. Right now Minnesota only allows school districts enough funding for half-day kindergarten.

Statewide funding for all-day programs would cost $160 million per year, which is too expensive said Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty. Pawlenty proposed a need-based scholarship option for low-income children seeking early-childhood or all-day kindergarten care.

The Democrats' goal for providing such early education is to close the achievement gap for low-income and minority students in Minnesota's school system. A sliding scale system was proposed by Democrats that provides allowances for early-childhood education based on a family's income. Offering the education to those who need it most would be part of phasing in an all-day kindergarten statewide.

Posted by Kelly Stolpa at 11:20 PM | Permalink

Congress prepared to debate President Bush's proposed plan for Iraq, which includes 21,500 more troops being sent overseas. Many senators, both Democrats and Republicans, oppose the troop increase but must decide on an alternative plan of action that would be best for the country.

A bipartisan resolution that opposes Bush's plan, but encourages support for forces searching for Al-Qaida was discussed late last week. Democrats opposed this plan because it will not cut off war funds.

There are also Republican plans in the making, one supporting Bush's plan, and one to continue support for troops already in the field.

Some Democrats are looking for binding legislation that will start to pull U.S. forces from the field and start bringing troops home.

Check out more on this issue:
CNN.com
Pioneer Press
Star Tribune

*A note about attribution: The CNN.com story is based mainly off of direct quotes. The Pioneer Press did less direct quoting but more paraphrasing. This story also attributed The Los Angeles Times and the Associated Press as contributors. The Star Tribune's coverage includes more partial quotes, it also directly quotes a report.

Posted by Kelly Stolpa at 10:16 PM | Permalink

A House-Senate committee discussed global climate change with experts at the Capital in St. Paul Tuesday. Global warming specialists including two University of Minnesota ecologists, David Tilman, Lee Frelich, and Arctic explorer Will Steger warned that green-house gas emissions need to be decreased.

Experts agreed that Minnesota needs to join the fight against global warming and take action to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Steger told the committee about disappearing Arctic ice which is releasing methane and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Tilman said there are a number of solutions to combat global warming.

A bill was introduced Monday that set goals for greenhouse-gas emissions in Minnesota to be reduced 50 percent from 2005 to 2050. Sen. Ellen Anderson, DFL, had introduced similar bills years before, but said she is more optimistic that this bill will catch on. More Democrats as well as Republicans are recognizing global climate change as a problem than ever before.

For more information check out the Pioneer Press and the Star Tribune's coverage.

Posted by Kelly Stolpa at 2:05 PM | Permalink