Archive - Nov 14, 2007

The House of Representatives is debating a 50 billion dollar
war-funding bill that includes troop withdrawal language. And in a
change, some of the most progressive members of the House, who have
never supported an Iraq war-funding bill, plan to support this one.

FSRN's Leigh Ann Caldwell reports.

Just two business days after the final public hearing held by the Federal Communications Commission, Chairman Kevin Martin released a proposal that would change media ownership rules in the United States. But not without widespread criticism from media watchdog groups and Congress.

To get some perspective on how the proposed changes will play out,
FSRN Anchor Jes Burns spoke with Hannah Sassman of the Low Power FM
advocacy organization Prometheus Radio Project.

On the steps of the capitol today, New York Governor Elliot Spitzer
said he is abandoning plans to allow undocumented workers to receive
driver licenses. Spitzer cites opposition from the public and
failures in the federal government for the plan not getting off the
ground. But others say it's partisan politics and the governor's
declining popularity that's the real issue.

Karen Miller has more from Washington, DC.

The United States Sentencing Commission is discussing the possibility
of making new drug sentencing guidelines retroactive. This could
ultimately mean the early release of thousands of drug offenders.

Naji Mujahid has more from Washington.

Last month, a study published in the Proceedings of the National
Academy of Science, found that genetically modified B-t corn has the
potential to harm aquatic ecosystems in the Midwestern United States.
They found that bits of the corn plants are running-off into
waterways, being eaten by aquatic insects, and causing reduced growth
and increased mortality rates. These insects are the base of riparian
food chains.

Despite this and other issues, the US Department of Agriculture
reports that 35 percent of the corn planted in the country is
genetically modified.