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21 Aug 2011 11:07

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U.S.: Iran hikers’ families: Jail sentencing has been extremely difficult on us

  • Of the 751 days of Shane and Josh’s imprisonment, yesterday and today have been the most difficult for our families. Shane and Josh are innocent and have never posed any threat to the Islamic Republic of Iran, its government or its people.
  • A statement from the families of Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal • Expressing disappointment over the eight-year sentence imposed on the two men by Iran. The men received the jail sentence for spying and entering the country, but the hikers emphasize that they merely walked into Iran by accident. Meanwhile, the lawyer for the men, Masoud Shafiee, plans to appeal the tough sentence. “I still hope for my clients to benefit from Islamic kindness and compassion in this holy month (of Ramadan),” he said. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

19 Aug 2011 17:06

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U.S., World: Dominique Strauss-Kahn case might be decided by money, not courts

  • the Strauss-Kahn accuser might drop the case for money. However, the woman’s lawyer is denying these claims that follow a report from the Wall Street Journal that sites anonymous sources. However, it wouldn’t be surprising if they were trying to make a deal — anything close to a conviction in this case would be political suicide for prominent French politician Strauss-Kahn, if his career isn’t over already. It’s evident that he and his team want this case out of the way as soon as possible, and from what’s being said, the woman might just take money instead of going through with the trial. We’ll see. source
Posted by Justin Jones • 0 Comments • Permalink

19 Aug 2011 16:53

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U.S.: West Memphis Three aren’t so happy about having to admit guilt

  • Although I am innocent, this plea is in my best interest.
  • Jessie Miskelley Jr., one of the West Memphis Three • Explaining why he essentially pleaded guilty to get out of jail. It’s believed that the prosecution would’ve had enough evidence to convict them, so the plea deal was in their best interest — but none of the three seem to be happy about having to plead guilty to be free. As a condition of the plea deal, the trial will remain on probation for ten years, and if they re-offend they’ll have to go to prison for another ten years. So what do you think — was justice served? source
Posted by Justin Jones • 0 Comments • Permalink

19 Aug 2011 14:17

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U.S.: Obama administration eases up on deportation case prosecution

  • what The Obama administration has chosen to prioritize its deportation cases — focusing mostly on those accused or convicted of criminal activity rather than immigrants who may not have come to the country on their own accord as children.
  • why Obama faced criticism, particularly from Hispanics, that the administration was being too tough on immigration issues by focusing on deportation cases of those that been productive members of society. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

19 Aug 2011 10:32

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U.S.: Michael Bloomberg: Don’t put politics into Ground Zero ceremony

  • We’re trying to keep focus on families, and that’s where it belongs. This day is not above any of us, it’s about the families of 3,000-odd people who lost their lives 10 years ago.
  • NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg • Reacting to reports that nearby governors Chris Christie and Andrew Cuomo were angling for bigger roles in the Ground Zero ceremony next month. Bloomberg just ain’t having it. And we support this line of reasoning entirely — leave the memorial for the people who felt it most directly. The governors can have their speeches later. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

19 Aug 2011 01:47

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U.S.: West Memphis Three might get out of jail with legal maneuver

  • When these guys went to jail, “the Black Album” was still on the Billboard charts and Henry Rollins was a constant fixture on MTV. Since then, the plight of Jessie Misskelley Jr., Damien Echols and Jason Baldwin — three teens convicted in the murders of three eight-year-old boys — has transfixed many, to the point that both Metallica (who lent a song to a documentary about their plight) and Henry Rollins (who made a tribute album to them) have come to their defense. They call them the West Memphis Three, and the evidence that sent them to jail is apparently shaky enough that they might see release on Friday, seventeen years later. Some highlights of the case:
  • The situation Three young boys —Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers — went missing and were later found murdered in a small Arkansas town. The suspects were arrested and tried on evidence many analysts consider weak, including a recanted confession by Misskelley. Echols received the death penalty; the others got life sentences.
  • The doubters Over the years, allegations of police mismanagement of the case, as well as evidence of other suspects whose stories were investigated poorly by police have led to doubters amongst legal experts, amongst family members of victims, and amongst celebrities like Rollins. For years, many local residents still remained convinced.
  • The unraveling After new DNA evidence came out in 2007, more family members of victims expressed their doubts. On Thursday, things finally came to a head. The three men may see release through a legal maneuver called the Alford plea, in which they claim innocence but admit that the state had enough evidence to convict them. source
  • » Too little, too late? Some remain unconvinced that the state is acting in a way that respects the wishes of either the victims or the three men still sitting in jail this evening. “There’s certainly no justice for the three men that’s been in prison or my son and his two friends,” said John Mark Byers, the adoptive father of one of the victims. “To me, this is just a cop-out from the state for not wanting to admit that they made a mistake.”
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

18 Aug 2011 10:49

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U.S., World: Delayed reaction of the day: U.S. wants Bashar al-Assad to step down

  • For the sake of the Syrian people, the time has come for President Assad to step aside.
  • A statement from president Barack Obama • Revealing that the U.S. wants Bashar al-Assad out as Syrian leader. It’s clear that Assad has been a leader unworthy of U.S. support for a while. Why did it take so long for the Obama administration to flat-out say it? That’s the real question, and one that could’ve crystalized diplomatic opposition against the Syrian leader much sooner. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

17 Aug 2011 21:21

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U.S.: “Project First Day” sews girls from Joplin a little emotional pick-me-up

  • I wanted to make a lot of little girls feel like princesses on that first day of school.
  • Susan Stewart, a teacher in Joplin, Missouri • Discussing her efforts to give young students an emotional boost. Students are back in school after Joplin was hit with devastating tornadoes and storms back in May. Stewart created “Project First Day,” which helped create over 1,400 new dresses for girls on their first day of school. Members of the project sewed from across the country to help out a devastated town.  source
Posted by samimain • 0 Comments • Permalink

17 Aug 2011 10:36

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U.S.: Wisconsin Democrats survive recalls unscathed; GOP still has majority

  • Maybe it shows that voters indicated they deserved more time to let their voice be heard on such an important piece of legislation.
  • Wisconsin State Sen. Jim Holperin • Discussing the reasons he felt he and fellow State Sen. Robert Wirch got to keep their seats last night after facing a recall over the controversial anti-union legislation that led to an earlier set of recalls that cost two Republicans their seats. The final tally? Republicans now have a 17-16 majority in the state senate — less than what Democrats wanted, but enough to make Republicans take notice. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

17 Aug 2011 09:50

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U.S.: First, there was the Obamamobile. Now there’s the Obamabus

This bus, which cost $1.1 million to produce, has similarities to the Obamamobile, but has some security features the Secret Service won’t talk about. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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