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> Thur., Jan. 15, 2004
FSRN
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Today's lead stories:
Tax Evading Ashcroft?
Wealth Gap Race Divide Shatters MLK’s Dream
Try Juveniles as Adults in DC?
How the Poor Fare in Connecticut
Mad Cow Criticism from Meat Inspectors
Today's Headlines
Moseley-Braun Drops Out
Today, the only woman in the race for President of the United
States dropped out. Carol Moseley-Braun, one of two African-Americans
running announced that she would throw her support behind
the current Democratic frontrunner Howard Dean. Moseley-Braun
is the first black woman to be elected to the U.S. Senate
and then became ambassador to New Zealand. Her endorsement
may mean little for Dean in Iowa’s Monday night contest
where she has little support. However, Dean’s mostly
young, college educated, and white supporters are expected
to get a diversity boost if Moseley-Braun can move her followers
into Dean’s camp.
Lost Radioactive Material Found
Nigerian authorities are investigating how high risk radioactive
materials brought into the country by the U.S. company Halliburton
were stolen and exported to Germany. Sam Olukoya reports from
Lagos.
EU Asks WTO to Fine US
The European Union is calling the Bush administration’s
free trade rhetoric to task by asking the World Trade organization
to fine the United States for illegal subsidies. Naomi Fowler
reports from London.
World Social Forum Opens Tomorrow
Democratic globalization activists are meeting in India for
the World Social Forum – a four-day event that aims
to establish an agenda to change the world. Binu Alex reports
from Mumbai.
Rising Complaints Against NYC Police
Citizen complaints against New York City’s finest in
blue are on the rise. From WBAI, Ian Forrest reports.
More US Soldiers Commit Suicide in Iraq
Pentagon officials are acknowledging that one out of seven
so-called non- hostile deaths in Iraq are suicides. At least
21 U.S. soldiers have committed suicide in Iraq since last
March. There is no indication yet from the Defense Department
if they are going to change their current order to deny leaves
to soldiers who have completed their tours or are scheduled
for visits home. A total of 496 soldiers have died since the
beginning of the U.S. led invasion, 153 in non-combat related
incidents.
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Tax Evading Ashcroft? (3:07)
The U.S. Senate Finance Committee has ordered the IRS to
hand over tax and financial forms filed by 27 Muslim charity
groups to investigate whether the groups have been funding
such organizations that the State Department has branded as
terrorist organizations. Some of the charity groups under
investigation include the Muslim Student Association and the
Islamic Society, the latter being an umbrella group for several
hundred Islamic organizations. The Council for American Islamic
Relations accused the Senate Committee of engaging in a McCarthyite
witch hunt. Meanwhile, government watchdog groups are calling
for an investigation into Attorney General John Ashcroft for
his lack of reporting to the IRS. The groups accuse Ashcroft
in his 2000 bid for Senate of tax evasion and violating campaign
finance laws. FSRN’s Mitch Jeserich reports from DC.
[top]
Wealth Gap Race Divide Shatters MLK’s Dream
(3:55)
Today would have been the 75th birthday of the late Dr Martin
Luther King Jnr., and as people across the country and around
the world remember the life of the great civil rights leader,
many African Americans say the situation today is far from
fulfilling the dreams of Dr King. A new report released today
agrees. From United for a Fair Economy, the report entitled
“The State of the Dream: Enduring Disparities in Black
and White” charges that racial inequities in unemployment,
family income, imprisonment, average wealth and infant mortality
are actually worse than when Dr. King was killed. Attieno
Davis is one of the reports authors, she speaks with Host
Deepa Fernandes.
[top]
Try Juveniles as Adults in DC? (3:52)
The city of Washington, DC is embroiled in a fight that
will affect how young people and their families will be treated
in the juvenile system as well as their access to under funded
social services. Selina Musuta reports from Washington, DC.
[top]
How the Poor Fare in Connecticut (3:51)
Connecticut’s once highly popular third-term governor
and friend of President Bush, Republican John Rowland is fighting
to keep his job amidst a growing corruption scandal. Several
of his top officials have been convicted of misdeeds. His
administration is being investigated by the U.S. attorney’s
office, the state Ethics Commission, and the Internal Revenue
Service. Rowland himself has admitted accepting gifts from
companies that have then been awarded no-bid contracts, and
lying about it. His poll numbers are plummeting as is his
support among most of the state’s top Republican politicians.
Unlike former President Bill Clinton, who continued to govern
during his impeachment imbroglio, if Rowland is impeached
by the Connecticut House of Representatives, he must step
aside until the issue is resolved. Melinda Tuhus reports from
New Haven on the impact of nine years of Rowland’s policies
and priorities on the poor and working people of the richest
state in the nation.
[top]
Mad Cow Criticism from Meat Inspectors (3:38)
A Wall Street Journal / Harris survey reports that 21% of
adult Americans say they will eat less or no beef because
of mad cow disease. This comes as today there was stinging
criticism of government action over the Mad Cow discovery
in Washington State. After the disease was discovered, the
U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it would take a number
of steps, including creating a system to track cows from birth
to slaughterhouse and test more cows for the disease. However,
as Tom Gomez reports, Meat Inspectors today said these measures
are weakened by giving too much discretion to the beef industry.
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