Sunday, April 28, 2013
Students and administrators have sometimes clashed over what is and is not appropriate attire for a high school dance.
Are high school dance dress codes out of control? In New Jersey strapless dresses were banned by the principal because he said they were "distracting" to boys, the Chicago Tribune reported. Earlier this year, 40 girls said they were subjected to "invasive" wardrobe inspections in California, Mission Viejo Patch reported. "They were so thorough," Lindsay Kamikawa wrote in the high school newspaper. "Girls were asked to lift their arms in the air, turn their backs to the administrators—some of [whom] were male—and walk back and forth. I saw at least three [girls] that were crying. They [school officials] took it to such bizarre extremes. The administrator looked at them from head to toe and pretty much at all angles." Local high schools have…
Sunday, April 21, 2013
A measure that would have required background checks of firearm sales at gun shows and over the Internet was defeated this week.
A measure that would have expanded background checks to gun show and sales over the Internet was defeated in the Senate this week, Fox News reported. The proposal was considered a compromise and had been proposed by Democrat Joe Manchin and Republican Pat Toomey. The amendment needed 60 votes to overcome a Republican filibuster and fell short by six. The measure would have exempted personal transactions. "The gun lobby and its allies willfully lied about the bill," President Obama said in reaction to the vote. Video of the president's comments are attached to this post. Proponents argue that laws meant to prevent felons or people who are mentally ill from purchasing guns are undermined by sales that are not federally mandated to have a …
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Samoa Air to be the first airline to charge strictly based on weight.
Samoa Air introduced a pricing system based on passengers' weight and their bags this week. CBS News reported that, depending on the flight, each kilogram would cost 93 cents to $1.06. A man weighing 195 pounds with a 35-pound bag would be charged about $97, CBS reported. Seth Miller at Fodor's Travel blog noted that although some might argue that charging by weight is unfair, it's "the closest thing the airlines have to charging relative to their actual costs of running flights." Miller wrote that he doubted the practice would spread through the industry anytime soon. Norwegian Economist Bharat Bhatta also has proposed a "pay as you weigh" pricing system. Reuters reported that Bhatta believed it would bring health, financial and …
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Who is to blame for the automatic budget cuts that are called "sequester"?
Automatic budget cuts went into effect this week, threatening to adversely impact the economy in a number of ways. The cuts were part of the debt ceiling deal President Obama struck with Republicans in 2011. The cuts were thought to be such bad policy that politicians would eventually come up with something else. They didn't. The Huffington Post reported that the cuts amount to $1.2 trillion over the next 10 years and $85 billion for the remainder of fiscal year 2013. A dramatic reduction in spending is likely to hinder an economic recovery just taking hold. "The inopportune moment of sequestration — hitting just as the economy shows bright spots — will create a drag on the economy in a slow-motion manner. First, the furlough notices will …
Sunday, February 10, 2013
An Arlington Heights church this week called on the Boy Scouts of America to lift the organizations ban on gay members.
An Arlington Heights church called on the Boy Scouts of America to lift its ban against homosexual participants. The United Church of Christ handed out fliers Sunday, Feb. 3 asking its congregation to write letters opposing the anti-gay policy, the Chicago Tribune reported. "Our position is that LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) folks, whether they're minors or whether they're adults, have a role to play in our society and our culture," Rev. Rex Piercy told the Tribune. "This (Scouting) organization, which seeks the support of churches like ours, ... stands against the very kind of welcome that we extend to those folks." The youth organization is considering lifting its ban against gay members and leaders, NBC News reported. …
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Immigration
Earlier this week a bipartisan group of Senators and President Obama each unveiled immigration reform plans. Each plan contains a path to citizenship for the estimated 11 million undocumented workers living in the U.S. Both plans are attached to this post. The Senate plan, whose supporters include Illinois Democrat Dick Durbin and Florida Republican Marco Rubio, states that reform should include tougher border security, while also providing an opportunity for citizenship to those already living in the U.S. The plan states that undocumented workers would be "required to go to the back of the line of prospective immigrants, pass an additional background check, pay taxes, learn English and civics, demonstrate a history of work in the United …
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Many organizations solicit for donations at intersections throughout the Chicago area.
It's a common sight throughout the Chicago suburbs – organizations soliciting donations at high traffic intersections. Occassionally the practice garners the attention of local municipal governments. In 2010, Homewood voted to ban the practice, despite the fact that the fire department's "fill the boot" fundraiser brought in $25,000 over six years for the Muscular Dystrophy Assoociation, the Chicago Tribune reported. In banning the practice, village officials in Homewood cited safety concerns and said that roadways were never designed for soliciting, the Tribune reported. However, charities view the practice as a valuable way to raise funds. In February of this year Mount Prospect also addressed the issued. Trustees voted to limit …
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Mitt Romney announced Saturday that his choice for vice president is Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan.
Mitt Romney announced Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Janesville) as his vice presidential running mate Saturday morning. Ryan, 42, has served in the House of Representatives for 14 years, currently chairing the House Budget Committee and serving on the House Ways and Means Committee. In January 2010, Ryan gained attention nationwide after unveiling his "Roadmap for America’s Future." The New Yorker called the choice of Ryan the "most daring choice of Romney's political career." The magazine noted that the selection of Ryan was a deliberate change in direction for Romney and a move meant to make the campaign into more of an ideological debate. Romney has been trailing Obama in key states and nationally in recent polls. The polling average at Real Clear…
Sunday, July 15, 2012
President Obama has said he will veto legislation that extends the tax cuts for those with incomes over $250,000.
President Obama said he would veto legislation that would extend all of the Bush-era tax cuts, Fox news reported. Obama has proposed extending the tax cuts for families earning less than $250,000 for another year, the Chicago Tribune reported. Obama said it would be imprudent to extend all of tax cuts – including those for upper income earners – because they were a major driver of the budget deficit (Note: Obama's complete remarks are attached to this story). "By the way, these tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans are also the tax cuts that are least likely to promote growth," Obama said. "So we can't afford to keep that up, not right now. So I'm not proposing anything radical here. I just believe that anybody making over $250,000 a year …
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule on challenges to the Affordable Care Act this week.
June 28 UPDATE: The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the Affordable Care Act by a vote of 5-4. Original June 24 Post: The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act this week. The central issue being considered by the court is whether Congress' power to regulate commerce means that it can mandate people to buy health insurance, The Atlantic reported. The court could rule the mandate unconstitutional and throw out part or all of the Affordable Care Act, or uphold the act in its entirety, the New York Times reported. The Weekly Standard reported that the individual mandate goes beyond regulating commerce, and instead compels commerce by forcing individuals to purchase something. The idea behind …
Sully
5:31 pm on Monday, April 29, 2013
More likely crumpled on the floor in the girl's bedroom closet! more ›