November 29, 2010

Local

Carjack Victim Dragged with Vehicle, Nutley Police Say

The Record

On Saturday, in Nutley, a 49-year old man was carjacked and dragged about 20 feet at the Getty Station at the corner of Kingsland Street and Washington Avenue. The victim had stopped to check his tier pressure. While out of his 2003 four-door BMW wagon, the suspect jumped into the victims car. The car has been added to the state's stolen car vehicle. No surveillance of the incident was found.

National

Obama Freezes Pay For Federal Workers for Two Years

CNN

On Monday, President Obama announced a pay freeze for civilian federal workers. The freeze is planned to last two years in order to appeal to Republican leaders and to address the high deficit spending. Obama explains that fixing the deficit will "require some broad sacrifice." This proposal comes the day before Obama hosts Congressional leaders of both parties at the whitehouse.

World

Six NATO Troops Killed by Afgahn Police Officers

The New York Times

On Monday, November 29, six NATO service members were killed. While training the Afghan border police, an office shot them. This occurred in the Pachir-Wa-Agam district of Nangahar. This was not the first occurrence of such an event, but at least the fifth time in 13 months that Afghan soldiers and policemen turned their weapons on NATO members.

Current Events November 22,2010

World

13 year old American boy arrested in China for protesting

Indie Pro Pub

On Monday November 22^nd, a 13 year old from Mississippi was arrested in China for protesting in front of Tiananmen square. The boy was campaigning to turn the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea into a peace park. Minutes after the boy unveiled his pro peace banner undercover cops swarmed around him and told him he had to stop protesting. The boy and his family returned back to the United States the following day.

National

Midwest hit hard by extreme winds, flash floods

Cnn

On November 22 2010, the states of Illinois and Wisconsin were hit by severe tornadoes. Coupled with severe winds, the storm destroyed many buildings and flipped over a school bus that carried three children. The storm also took out power lines that left many people helpless.

Local

N.J. city nets $800K in 3 months from red light cameras

Bergen Record

On Tuesday November 22^nd, it was reported that the implementation of traffic cameras that would detect if someone ran a red light has netted Linden over 800 thousand dollars generated through 20,000 issued tickets. The cameras were installed over three months ago and they have not only made money through the action but also has improved highway safety.

Court Cases

Joseph Burstyn, Inc v. Wilson

This case was based on the constitutionality of the New York Education Law which allowed a censor to forbid the commercial showing of any non-licensed motion picture film, or revoke or deny the license of a film deemed to be sacrilegious. The Supreme court ruled that the law was unconstitutional based on the fact that it violated the first amendment as it was a “restraint of freedom of speech.”

Cohen v. California

This case was based on the ruling by the California state courts that a a nineteen eyar old boy was disturbing the peace by wearing a jacket that said “ Fuck the draft.” The supreme court declared that the boy did nothing wrong and that he was just exercising his first amendment right.

November 15, 2010

Local

Laundromat Robbed in Paterson

The Record

In Paterson NJ, a man rob bed a Paterson Avenue Laundromat. Police are searching for the robber who entered the Laundromat as it was closing, with a handgun. At the time, three people were using the Laundromat and two employee's were working. No one was injured.

US

Arizona Voters Approve Medical Marijuana Measure

CNN

On sunday, voters in Arizona approved a ballot measure, that will legalize medicinal marijuan. The vote won by a narrow margin of around 4,300 votes. It will allow approximately 120 clinics, regulated by the state, to distribute the marijuana.

World

Voter registration begins for key Sudan decision

CNN

Today, November 15, voter registration opens in Sudan. It is opened for a January referendum that would allow the southern region to secede from the north. This is important as the south holds the majority of the country's oil. A panel from the United Nations is monitoring a 17-day registration in East Africa.

Guest Speaker

I enjoyed his excitement and knowledge of journalism. His eclectic collection of newspapers were very interesting. It was surprising to see the lack of headlines on the older newspapers. I specifically found the JFK assassination paper fascinating as it had a picture of the Kennedy family laughing because the paper did not have time to change it when they got word of his death.

Journalist Plagiarism Scandals

Steven Helmer

Helmer was a reporter for Bloomsburg. Helmer told others that he had fabricated some of his stories, and the Editor confirmed that their was evidence to support this. Helmer was fired.

Partricia Smith

Patricia Smith was a writer for the Boston globe and since then has written poetry, plays and taught writing. Smith created people and quotes for a story as well as made up large portions of four other columns. Smith resigned from the Boston Globe in 1998.

Martin Renzhofer

Is a journalist for the Salt Lake Tribune. Renzhofer confessed to plagiarizing an article about an HBO documentary, in which he directly copied an 180-word quote from a website. After the unsighted, plagiarized article was reported by a reader advocate, Renzhofer received a demotion.

source: Freedom Forum

November 8, 2010 Current Events

Local

Victim airlifted to hospital after Route 287 accident

The Record

On Monday November 8, in Riverdale, a serious accident involving two cars on Route 28 caused a woman to be airlifted to a hospital. The other driver was unharmed. Neither car had any passengers. The accident caused all northbound lanes to be cloased at exit 52. Cars were rerouted to Rout 23.

National

High Court Decline to get involved now in health care overhaul fight

CNN

On November 8, 2010, The Supreme Court turned down the first challenge to President Obama's health care reconstruction. They rejected it because a federal appeals court had not yet considered the case, and the court very rarely reviews cases on an issue that has not been reviewed in the lower courts.

World

Rescuers Save Family Adrift at Sea for 6 days

CNN

Saturday, November 6, A family of four was rescued after being lost at sea for six days. They were brought to shore in the Pacific Island nation of Kirbati. The family had gone missing on October 31, after they set sail from Kiribati to Maritime New Zealand in a four meter aluminum boat.

November 1, 2010

Local

Passaic man charged with robbery, impersonating a cop

The Record

On monday in Passaic, a 33-year-old man was charged with robbery, the impersonation of a police officer, and aggravated assault with a weapon. The incident occured at 2 a.m. outside of a 7-11 in wallington. Authorities reported that the man stole a Droid cell phone and $60 from a 23 -year-old man after saying he was a police officer and showing the victim his gun

National

Theodore C. Sorensen, Kennedy Counsler Dies

The New York Times

On Sunday, October 31, Theodore C. Sorensen died at the age of 82. Sorenson was a writer and counsler to John F. Kennedy. He died of complications from a stroke he suffered weeks ago. He is known for writing the famous quote "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."

World

Guantanamo detainee Khadr to Serve 8 more years in prison

CNN

On Sunday, October 31, Guantanomo detainee Omar Khadr was sentenced to 40 more years in prison, but will now only serve 8, after pleading guilty to murdering an American soldier. The eight years are part of Khadar's pleed agreement. At the age of 24, Khadr is the youngest Guantoanmo detaniee.