Stories from here, around the world, and beyond
December 10, 2008
The United Nations celebrated the 60th anniversary of Human Rights Day yesterday.
Springfield
Heartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company, a subsidiary of insurance giant AIG, and the City of Springfield have come to an agreement on a claim for the explosion of the Dallman power plant November of last year. The company has already paid out over $30 million for the claim. The remaining to be paid by the AIG subsidiary falls short by about $1.8 million of the total $52.5 million. The November 10, 2007 explosion is blamed on faulty valves. Repairs are at around 80% and the new power plant, that was being built in November of 2007, is also in the last stages of completion. CWLP is a publicly owned utility.
Illinois
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich celebrates his birthday the day after being arrested for charges of corruption. Posting nearly $5 thousand dollars bail, Blagojevich is free and awaiting trial. Attorney's for the Gov. say he will not resign and that he did nothing wrong.
Blagojevich is being charged with bartering for favors for him and his wife, for both political and financial gain. These charges included withholding funding for a children's hospital until donations where made, calling for the firing of the editorial board at the Chicago Tribune and how Obama's election could open up jobs and money. US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald says he was arrested to keep any further illegal activity from occuring.
Monday, the Gov. said anyone wanting to record him can do so. He made the statements just after announcing that the State of Illinois would stop business with Bank of America if the bank did not give in to worker's demands at a window and door factory in Chicago. The Bank of America canceled financing for the Republic Windows and Doors Company. Displaced Workers staged a sit-in at the factory, demanding back pay and vacation pay. Bank of America has since given in to the workers demands.
Former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar says that Blagojevich should resign and that Illinois voters are partly to blame for the continued corruption in Illinois.
Senator Dick Dubin has called for a special session for Illinois to select a replacement for President Elect Barack Obama. Meanwhile, the Illinois Legislature is planning legislation to allow for a special election to fill the open senate seat.
Though he has not being charged with anything, there are questions about Obama, and those close to him, back-stepping on having contact with Gov. Blagojevich about the senate appointment.
National
A Congressional report is accusing Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin of abusing his power. The report titled "Deception and Distrust: The Federal Communications Commission Under Chairman Kevin J. Martin" claims Martin manipulated and withheld information from the other FCC commissioners and from Congress, neglected his statutory responsibilities to produce certain information to Congress, and ignored evidence that certain national communications programs were being grossly mismanaged, according to the report issued by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Secretary of State Condeleza Rice and the woman who could replace her, New York Senator Hillary Clinton, dined at Rice's apartment in Washington's Watergate complex Monday. It is reported they dined on sea bass, wild rice, and mushroom soup while talking about foreign policy.
Three of five Guantanamo Bay detainees that agreed to confess to the charges of plotting the September 11, 2001 terror attacks have retracted their decision. This is after a judge required competency hearings on two of the three.
International
Musicians from around the world, including Massive Attack and Tom Morello are banning together in protest of their music being used as part of the "advanced interrogation techniques" in Guantanamo Bay.
The campaign will include moments of silence at concerts to bring about awareness of the common act of using music to break-down inmates - according to Reprieve, who represents dozens of Guantanamo Bay detainees and is organizing the campaign.
Donald Vance, a private contractor from Chicago, claims he enjoyed rock music before being imprisoned. Vance now tells the associated press he is near suicidal. He claims to be held for reporting illegal weapons deals. The Associated press reports "According to a lawsuit he has filed, his jailers said he was being held because his employer was suspected of selling weapons to terrorists and insurgents. The U.S. military confirms Vance was jailed but won't elaborate because of the lawsuit."
Not all musicians are against the practice. The lead singer for Drowning Pool, who's song "Bodies" is a favorite at Gitmo, is on record saying the band is proud to have their songs used to help deter the next 9/11.
"It's very simple — we want the government to fall."
The shooting of a teenager by police in Greece has sparked riots that has lasted for four days. The burial of the 15-year-old boy in Athens was attended by around 6,000 people. This comes amidst uncertain economic and social reforms and the Socialist Opposition leader calling for early elections.
Petros Constantinou, an organizer with the Socialist Workers Party, said in Athens "This government wants the poor to pay for all the country's problems — never the rich — and they keep those who protest in line using police oppression."
Pakistan says it is ready for war with India if they plan to be aggressive after terrorist gunman from Pakistan killed over 170 people late November. India claims the group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) is responsible for the attacks. The group is from Pakistan. Though Pakistan has arrested 16 people in connection with the attack, they refuse to extradite them India.
Odd
A Swiss philanthropist who donated $65,000 to her local fire house had her home burn down. The truck Annemarie Geckeler helped purchase, alongside five other trucks, could not save the 79-year-old's multi million dollar home.
Beyond Planet Earth
German astronomers claim to have discovered a black hole within our solar system. Using telescope in Chile, they tracked over 20 stars in the Milky Way circling a black hole. The "black pearl" is four million times heavier than the Sun, according the astronomers.
