US News - News February 15, 2011

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Public Transportation Key to Transforming Communities (usnews)
The combination of suburban sprawl, growing populations, and an ever-increasing reliance on automobiles has made for nightmarish commutes in many U.S. cities. To combat the gridlock, some cities are investing in new ways to move residents from point A to point B. Since taking office in 2008, Salt Lake City's Democratic Mayor Ralph Becker has helped push for greater transit options in his city.

NY lawmaker touched by gun violence presses on (KSL-TV)
Out of nowhere, a deranged gunman shoots into a crowd of innocent victims, firing until bystanders tackle him as he tries to load a new clip of ammo.

Will Palin's unconventional style bring success? (The Topeka Capital-Journal)
She says what she wants, does what she wants and makes no apologies. And love her or hate her, you can't really argue with this: Politics as usual has never been Sarah Palin's style.

House extends key provisions of Patriot Act (Alabama Live)
The House on Monday agreed to a 10-month extension of three key law enforcement powers in the fight against terrorism that some privacy advocates from both the right and left regard as infringements on civil liberties.

Clinton: Nations Suppress Internet at Own Risk (Fox News)
Restricting the Internet will not hold back surging popular demand for democratic reforms in the Middle East or elsewhere and the Obama administration is ready to help dissidents evade cyber curbs to promote human rights and democracy in repressive states, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says in a major policy address.

NASA chief: Giffords welcome at husband's launch (Athens Banner-Herald)
In this Jan. 5, 2011 file photo, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., takes part in a reenactment of her swearing-in, on Capitol Hill in Washington.

Round 1 Jeopardy results in Man vs. Machine: IBM's Watson tied with Rutter (examiner)
Man vs. Machine didn't fare so well in an earlier practice round, but on Monday, Feb. 14, 2011, Jeopardy welcomed IBM's Watson, and Man fought Machine to a draw.

Republicans Gut EPA Climate Rules, Slash Deeply Into Climate Research, Aid and Technology Programs (nytimes)
House Republicans introduced spending legislation Friday that would strip U.S. EPA of its ability to regulate carbon dioxide emissions, gut the State Department's climate aid programs and slash funding for energy and climate research across the federal government.

Crews removing cracked pipe suspected in deadly Allentown gas explosion (pennlive)
Workers began removing the section of 12-inch cast-iron pipe on Monday, UGI spokesman Joe Swope said.A section of natural gas pipe suspected of causing a massive explosion and fire that killed five people will be removed and transported to an engineering firm for analysis, a utility company official said Monday.

Men Accused of Plot to Sell Drugs to Arm Taliban (nytimes)
A group of men agreed to assist the Taliban in a conspiracy to ship narcotics through West Africa to the United States and with the proceeds buy weapons for use against American forces in Afghanistan, federal prosecutors in Manhattan announced on Monday.

Arizona vigilante: Arizona vigilante leader Shawna Forde guilty of murder (latimes)
The leader of an anti-illegal-immigrant group was convicted Monday in a home invasion robbery that left a 9-year-old girl and her father dead in what prosecutors said was an attempt to steal drug money to fund the group's operations.

House Votes to Extend Patriot Act (nytimes)
The House on Monday voted to reauthorize and extend through Dec. 8 three ways in which Congress expanded the Federal Bureau of Investigation 's counterterrorism powers after the terrorist attacks of Sept.

Egypt echoes across region: Iran, Bahrain, Yemen (Action 3 News)
The possible heirs of Egypt's uprising took to the streets Monday in different corners of the Middle East: Iran's beleaguered opposition stormed back to central Tehran and came under a tear gas attack by police.

Apple's 2011 Supplier Responsibility Report focuses partly on Foxconn suicides (examiner)
Apple has released its annual "Supplier Responsibility at Apple" report. The report, released on Monday, Feb. 14, 2011, covers the company's suppliers as reported for the year 2010, with notes that Apple discovered violations such as underage workers, bribery, worker endangerment, and "involuntary labor." In addition Apple had a special section in the report focused on the highly publicized Foxconn suicides.

Shirley Sherrod sues Andrew Breitbart over video he posted that led USDA to fire her (KSWB-TV San Diego)
Shirley Sherrod has filed a defamation suit against Andrew Breitbart, the conservative gadfly she alleges triggered her firing by the Obama administration and ignited a national debate on race and reverse discrimination.

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