Sen. Schumer Calls for Blackout Hearings
US Sen. Charles Schumer (D-New York) has called for Congressional hearings into the massive power outage that struck much of the Northeast, Ontario, and the Midwest last week leaving as many as 50 million people in the dark. U.S. Navy Deploys Dolphins Against Terror
In an effort to thwart terrorist attacks like those on the USS Cole, the U.S. Navy has deployed a new animal-ally in the war on terrorism -- the MK 6 anti-swimmer dolphins. Go East, Young Man!
Could be the weather, or the prospect of having Arnold Schwarzenegger as the state's "Governator," but for some reason, the once booming state of California is losing many of its residents to nearby Nevada and Arizona. Big Brother - Thinner Brother
Obesity... overweight... fat. No questions, it's one of this nation's worst and most costly health problems. But, can government, in its finest "we know what's best for you" tradition, use laws to bring about the thinning of America? Women of Color Making Gains in US Workforce
Women of color now comprise 14.5 percent of the American workforce, according to a new study from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). What's Under Your Sink Could Kill You
A handy new online database from the National Institutes of Health provides useful, possibly even life-saving information on the potential health effects of more than 2,000 ingredients contained in more than 4,000 common household products. So, Who's NOT in Jail?
The U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) reports that 1 out of every 143 Americans is now in jail, with another 700 new inmates joining them weekly. Replacement Congress?
What if, on Sept. 11, 2001, United flight 93 had crashed into its probable target, the U.S. Capitol Building, killing or disabling hundreds of Senators and Representatives? How quickly could Congress have recovered, if at all? Inadequate 2004 Funding Could Derail Amtrak
The House Appropriations Committee approved $900 million to fund Amtrak's FY04 operations. Not enough. Not by a boxcar, according to a very unhappy Amtrak President David Gunn, who accused Congress of "playing Russian roulette" by keeping passenger rail service in "constant state of crisis."[ Funds for Veterans to Top $90 Billion in '04
Federal funding for veterans' benefits will top $90 billion in 2004, an increase of over $3 billion from 2003 and $600 million more than requested by President Bush. 'Spoofing' and 'Phishing' and Stealing Identities
The FBI, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Earthlink have jointly issued a warning on how the growing ranks of Internet crooks are using new tricks called "phishing" and "spoofing" to steal your identity. U.S. Taxpayers Helping Public TV Go Digital
After requiring public television stations to convert to digital broadcasting, the federal government must now use taxpayer dollars to help them comply. Americans Continue to Support the Arts
Despite the human trauma and travel restrictions resulting from the 9-11 attacks, Americans continued regular attendance at arts events during 2002, according to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). U.S. Highway Death Toll Hits 10-Year High
Deaths on America's highways in 2002 reached the highest level since 1990, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Crash-related injuries, however, hit an all-time low. Amtrak Announces Half Price Fares for Students
Amtrak has announced it will offer 50-percent discount fares to high school juniors and seniors traveling to prospective college campuses this fall. Postal Service Pushes the Envelope
Anytime after August 10, it might just happen, as the U.S. Postal Service launches a new customized mailing service allowing advertisers to send mail in just about any novel and eye-catching shape. Congressional Protection from Celestial Armageddon?
In a letter to Congress, a group of space-savvy Americans have urged the U.S. government to begin immediate preparations to deal with the threat of near Earth-approaching objects, also called NEOs. Battle of Education Winners and Whiners
Secretary of Education Rod Paige has angrily accused the National Education Association (NEA)of creating a "coalition of the whining" in response to the Association's recent proposal to block the No Child Left Behind Act in court. Iraqi Archers Coming to US for Competition
Trying its best to avoid comparisons of bows and arrows to weapons of mass destruction, the State Department has announced it will help bring the Iraqi national archery team to the U.S. for an upcoming world-class competition. Cable TV Costs Jumped 8.2 Percent Last Year
The national average monthly cost of cable TV service and equipment increased by 8.2 percent, from $37.06 to $40.11, over the 12-month period ending July 1, 2002, according to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). 'Mexican ID' Card Could Cloak Terrorists
The Mexican government calls it the "Matricula Consular" identification card and they distribute it widely. Too widely, warns U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo, who says the card could be used by terrorists to establish fictitious identities in the United States. Is a 'Fair' Tax in America's Future?
The proposed FairTax bill would abolish all federal income taxes, death taxes, capital gains taxes, and payroll taxes and replace them with a national retail sales tax. China Backsliding on Human Rights, US Says
Citing a recent "deterioration in human rights" in China, U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher expressed disappointment with the Chinese government's failure to follow through on promises of human rights reform. CDC Updates Health Information for International Travelers
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has just released a new edition of it popular "Yellow Book" of health tips targeted at international travelers. Political Parties to Get $14.6 Million Each for Conventions
The Republican and Democratic political parties will receive $14,592,000 each from the U.S. Treasury for planning and conducting their respective 2004 presidential nominating conventions, according to the Federal Election Commission. | 