Voter Registration Purging Taking Place in Some States

Voter advocacy groups are increasing their watch over state election officials.  Reports of voter registration purging have already surfaced in Kansas, Michigan and Mississippi.  Edward Hailles Jr. Senior Attorney with the Advancement Project is watching the states closely for voter purging, which tends to impact African Americans and Latinos more often. Hailes first speaks about what voter purging is.

PART 2

Click here for newscast for Wednesday, August 6th, 2008

• ICE Urging the Undocumented to Self-Deport
• The Christian Right and Anti-Immigrant Politics
• Gaza NGOs shut down by Hamas
• Bush's Visit to South Korea Marked by Protests
• Street Beat: Hard Times at the Unemployment Line

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• Gitmo Military Commission Hands Down Guilty Verdict in Hamdan Case
• Court Orders Unsealing of FBI Anthrax Papers
• White House Denies Forgery Allegations
• Military Coup in Mauritania
• Protests Across Bolivia Ahead of Recall Referendum
• Strikes in South Africa Against Rising Cost of Living

The United States hit the highest unemployment rate in more than four years this July, reaching 5.7 percent.  Since the beginning of the year, there have been more than 400,000 job losses. These figures translate to nearly 9 million unemployed people. And even these numbers could rise as automakers, banks, airlines, and state and local governments pursue layoffs and cut back on hiring. Also on the chopping block: jobs for youth. For our new regular segment Street Beat, FSRN reporter Emily Reddy gathered the stories of Florida  residents Reginald Wesley, Cheryl O'Connell, Jamarquis Smith; Shawn Williams, Tanya Hill; Jazz Travis; and Carlos Perez – all seeking job assistance at Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance.

Israeli officials released five Lebanese teenaged-prisoners today, as part of a prisoner swap that began last month with Hezbollah. The youth were allegedly detained for throwing stones and other objects. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert agreed to release some 150 more Palestinian prisoners later this month, after meeting today with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Israeli human rights groups estimate that Israel holds some 8,500 Palestinians in jail in Israel, including an estimated 300 minors. Abbas and Palestinian negotiators are requesting the release of Marwan Barghouti, who Israel sentenced to jail for life, and for the release of Ahmed Saadat, a leader of the group Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

The Department of Homeland Security has kicked off a test program offering some undocumented immigrants an opportunity to turn themselves in to be deported.  Immigration advocates question the purpose of the program. Washington Editor Leigh Ann Caldwell reports.

A new report released by Political Research Associates analyzes the conditions that have given rise to a battle that is pitting the Christian Right against undocumented immigrants. Basing their crusade on the principle that the United States was founded as a Christian country, the new breed of Christian Right voters maintain that those who stand in contrast to so-called established "American" beliefs pose a threat to Christian ideology, and that the deportation of undocumented immigrants is consistent with Christian doctrine. Tarso Luis Ramos is the Research Director for Political Research Associates, the Boston-based progressive think tank that released the report. Ramos says that the Christian Right has only recently begun demonizing undocumented immigrants.