U.S. issues travel alert for Jamaica

The U.S. State Department says that there are criminal gang members forming in Kingston and the Jamaican Defense forces are starting to mobilize. Because of the violence, they issued an alert for travel to Jamaica. If the situation gets worse, the roads leading to the airport might be blocked off. The U.S. Embassy in Jamaica says that they are taking extra percautions until June 21st when the alert isn’t in affect anymore. U.S. citizens in Jamaica are advised to stay in doors in the Kingston area.

This alert is really disappointing because I went to Jamaica in March and it’s a really fun place to vacation at. I understand why there might be violence because when I was driving from the airport to my resort I saw that there were small shacks all over and people sitting on the side of the roads. There were wild animals eating garbage and even though the country had really cool scenary, I could still tell that it was very poor. When people don’t have food or money some might be willing to steal and be violent to feed their families. Or they might even take up selling drugs. When I was near the edge of the resort on a walk, a man and his small child came up to the fence and they wanted me to buy all kinds of drugs. I hope that the violence will stop soon because I would like to go back.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/05/22/jamaica.travel.alert/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29

"Calorie Commando" pleads not guilty to alleged murder plot

A man that used to be a the host of the show called Calorie Commando, named Juan-Carlos Cruz, was accused of trying to hire two homeless men to kill his wife. Juan-Carlos’ plan was given away when one of the homeless men told Santa Monica Police about it. The judge set a 2-million dollar bond for Cruz and the prosecuter thought that if he was convicted that he would face a sentence of life in prison. Santa Monica Police said that they were fortunate to have a relationship with these homeless men and that they were able to give the police information.

I think it’s really surprising that a man that hosted a show for the Food Network would do something so terrible when he had a well respected job. Hiring homeless men to kill your wife is probably one of the lowest things you could possibly do. If Cruz is proved guilty then I think he should have to sit in jail the rest of his life and never be able to see the sun again. Even though he didn’t succeed in killing his wife, he still made a plan and was willing to pay other people to kill her which is worth going to jail for if not the death sentence. I think if you kill somebody else or hire people to kill someone else then you shouldn’t be able to live either. It’s a life for a life.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/05/16/tv.chef.arrested/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29

More websites:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/05/15/2010-05-15_food_network_calorie_commando_chef_juancarlos_cruz_accused_of_recruiting_homeles.html

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/celebrity-chef-juan-carlos-cruz-charged-with-attempted-murder/story-e6frf7jx-1225868000072

7-year-old girl killed in Detroit police raid

A 7-year-old girl named Aiyana Jones was shot in the head and killed by police when they tried to search her home for a suspect in a murder. The police were trying to find the muderer of a 17-year-old boy that was suspected to be hiding out in Aiyana’s home. The police arrived at the home, announcing themselves and tossing in a flash bang to try and help secure the area. A woman in her forties approached an officer and physical contact was made. While being confronted, a round of the officer’s weapon went off, hitting Aiyana in the head and neck. The police agreed that the warrant was to be carried through as soon as possible, and the suspect was arrested at Aiyana’s home.

The death of Aiyana is tragic and hypocritical. The police were trying to find a murderer to prevent him from killing again, but instead ended up murdering an innocent little girl. What’s worse: A shooter on the streets that isn’t necessarily going to kill again, or police killing a 7-year-old girl in her own home? Now Aiyana’s parents and other loved ones have to suffer a terrible loss. There should be a warrant out for the man that lost control of his gun, just like there was a warrant out for the killer of that 17-year-old boy. The police did not handle the situation well. They should have found out who was living at the house and they should have gotten the innocent people out first. One arrest isn’t worth a little girls life.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/05/16/michigan.police.child/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29

For more information on this story go to:
http://www.necn.com/05/16/10/Aiyana-Jones-father-Yall-ruined-my-life/landing.html?blockID=235766&feedID=4215

http://www.freep.com/article/20100516/NEWS01/100516014/1319/

Schools chief: We're unfairly blamed in bullying-related suicide

A 15 year old girl hanged herself in South Hadley, Massachusetts because she was bullied a lot at school. Phoebe was a very private person and she did not tell anybody her problems before she commited suicide. People are blaming the school for her death because they did not do enough to punish the kids that were bullying her. The school said that they took appropriate action against the students and that those that were guilty of bullying Phoebe were expelled. The school also says that this is a terrible punishment because it changes the students’ whole lives and they have to figure out a new way to finish their education.
I do not believe that it was the school’s fault that Phoebe committed suicide. At every school there is bullying and it is not right but the school expelled the students responsible and that is about all the school could do. Phoebe did not talk to anyone which the school cannot be blamed for. Maybe the parents should have better communicated with their daughter and this could have been prevented. There are many factors that cause someone to hang themselves and it isn’t just because they were bullied at school. Some parents say that they don’t want their child’s life runned by the school but when their child ends their own life then it is the school’s fault for not being involved enough. It can’t work both ways and it wasn’t just the school that was responsible for Phoebe’s death.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/04/01/massachusetts.bullying.suicide/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29

Obama seeks to reassure small business on health care

President Obama wanted to assure small businesses that they can benefit from the new health care law. The country is divided on this issue. The conservatives say that it will not stop the rise of prices and they think that it will burden businesses because of new taxes and regulations. Because of the new health care law, small businesses with 25 or less workers are eligible for a tax credit covering 35% of the premiums paid to help cover their workers. Many people believed that the new health care law would be the end of freedom as we know it, but Obama says that he still hasn’t seen an asteroid headed our way and that the people should give the health care plan a chance before judging the outcome.
I do not believe that this health care law is going to ruin the country but I do believe that it shouldn’t have been passed. Obama had to use short cut ways to get the bill passed and America shouldn’t work that way. This issue should have been voted in the same way as every other bill that was passed. Obama didn’t do it the right way because he knew that it would never be passed that way. I’m glad that small businesses will benefit but I also think that this new law is slightly unfair. I believe that it is unfair for those that work hard and earn a living to have to pay higher taxes to provide for people that may not be working hard to try and provide for themselves.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/04/01/obama.health.care/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29

Justices dismiss Gitmo Uyghurs' appeal

Chinese Muslims (Uyghurs) asked to be released into the U.S. from American Military custody at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba but their request was dismissed by the U.S. Supreme Court. These men were accused of recieving weapons and military training in Afghanistan. The U.S. does not want to send them back to their homeland because they are afraid that they would be tortured even though China says that they would not be mistreated. The Uyghurs were eventually ruled that they were not enemies anymore but they were still imprisoned. Eventually when they were released they were not allowed to live in the U.S. but they could create new homes somewhere else.
I think that the U.S. had the right to hold the Uyghurs in custody. I would rather the 5 possible terrorists be held in jail than to have another 9/11. It is better to be safe than sorry. If they were trained in Afghanistan and they had weapons than we shouldn't have let them out at all. Nothing good can come of weapons and training by terrorists. The U.S. should have released them back into their home country. China probably would have punished them which is exactly what they deserved. Why should we look out for the Uyghurs well being when they were against us and were for the terrorists that want to hurt America.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/03/01/uyghur.appeal/index.html?iref=allsearch

Time for democrats to take a risk

After the republicans and democrats met at the White House summit on health care, it was clear that they were not any closer to a deal. The White House did make a decision though that they would move forward on the health care issue without Republican support. The democrats are now debating on whether or not to use reconciliation to pass health care. Reconciliation was originally created to make passing budget laws easier by only needing 51 votes instead of 60 to pass a bill. If the democrats decide to use reconciliation then they have to convince enough members of their own party that it won't cause them to lose votes.
I don't think that the democrats should use reconciliation to pass health care. Reconciliation was made to make passing bills that have to do with taxes and budget easier. It was not made to make passing bills on major legislation easier. Health care is a big issue and if the only way that it can passed is if the democrats use an easier way than it shouldn't be passed at all. If the democrats use this way to pass health care, i think that it will cause them to lose a lot of votes when election time comes around because they aren't compromising on the program, they are just forcing it through even though not all people want it.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/03/01/zelizer.health.reconciliation/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29