MB Civic

[This week’s categories: Eyebrow-Raising Stories, Environment, Health/Food/Safety, Economics, Politics/Elections/Voting, Legal/Law Enforcement, Privacy/Surveillance, War/Military, Hot-Button Issues, Miscellaneous, Foreign Affairs]

Eyebrow-Raising Stories of the Week:

Juror says Zimmerman “got away with murder”:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/26/us/juror-says-zimmerman-got-away-with-murder.html

“New normal” re high temperatures threatens U.S. food production:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/22/opinion/our-coming-food-crisis.html?pagewanted=all

Utilities see individual-generated solar power as “existential threat”:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/27/business/energy-environment/utilities-confront-fresh-threat-do-it-yourself-power.html?pagewanted=all

“The poor and powerless are at greater risk of early death”:

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/07/27/status-and-stress/

Obama, Holder make first move to protect minority voters after SCOTUS decision:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/26/us/holder-wants-texas-to-clear-voting-changes-with-the-us.html?pagewanted=all

In closing arguments in Manning case, prosecutor paints Manning as “egotist” and “anarchist”…:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/26/us/politics/closing-arguments-due-in-manning-leaks-case.html

…While defense casts him as “young, naive, but good-intentioned”:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/27/us/defense-calls-manning-naive-but-good-intentioned.html

New Internet “code” would require disclosure re collection of data:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/26/technology/under-code-apps-would-disclose-collection-of-data.html

Environment:

As Halliburton pleads guilty to destruction of evidence re Gulf oil spill…:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/26/business/halliburton-pleads-guilty-to-destroying-evidence-after-gulf-spill.html

…Louisiana files lawsuit against energy company re damage to wetlands:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/25/us/louisiana-agency-to-sue-energy-companies-for-wetland-damage.html

As Russian energy company benefits from thawing of polar ice cap…:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/25/business/energy-environment/polar-thaw-opens-shortcut-for-russian-natural-gas.html?pagewanted=all

…Rapid melting of glaciers causes concern in Alaska:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/23/us/alaska-looks-for-answers-in-glaciers-summer-flood-surges.html

As San Onofre nuclear plant closes, local community considers changes and options:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/26/us/californians-consider-a-future-without-a-nuclear-plant-for-a-neighbor.html?pagewanted=all

Health/Food/Safety:

Study links cancer with height in women:

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/07/25/cancer-risk-increases-with-height/

Are “black boxes” in cars worth the “safety vs. privacy” trade-off?:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/22/business/black-boxes-in-cars-a-question-of-privacy.html?pagewanted=all

Starbucks goes into the yogurt biz, hawking Dannon:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/24/business/starbucks-and-danone-joining-forces-to-sell-yogurt.html

Economics:

Obama says income gap is “fraying social fabric” of U.S.:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/28/us/politics/obama-says-income-gap-is-fraying-us-social-fabric.html?pagewanted=all

Older unemployed more likely to face jobless future:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/27/your-money/unemployed-and-older-and-facing-a-jobless-future.html?pagewanted=all

Two examples of “fighting back against wretched wages”:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/28/sunday-review/fighting-back-against-wretched-wages.html?pagewanted=all

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/07/25/fast-food-low-pay/

Federal judge halts legal challenges to Detroit bankruptcy:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/25/us/judge-clears-path-for-detroit-bankruptcy-case.html

Senate approves plan to tie college loan rates to financial markets:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/25/us/politics/senate-approves-college-student-loan-plan-tying-rates-to-markets.html

Politics/Elections/Voting:

As GOP finally realizes that Obamacare might actually work…:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/26/opinion/krugman-republican-health-care-panic.html

…House GOP is back to its old tricks as it seeks to undermine any and all Obama goals:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/24/us/politics/house-gop-sets-new-offensive-on-obama-goals.html?pagewanted=all

“Carving Up the Country”:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/27/opinion/blow-carving-up-the-country.html

Obama nominates Caroline Kennedy as ambassador to Japan:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/25/world/asia/caroline-kennedy-picked-to-be-ambassador-to-japan.html

As NYC mayoral race heats up (or, alternatively, fails to)…:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/28/magazine/smile-one-of-you-is-going-to-be-the-next-mayor-of-new-york.html?pagewanted=all

…Andrew Weiner quickly self-destructs:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/24/nyregion/allegations-surface-of-explicit-exchanges-by-weiner-after-his-resignation.html?pagewanted=all

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/26/nyregion/weiner-admits-more-online-exchanges-with-women-after-quitting-house.html

Legal/Law Enforcement:

With little fanfare, U.S. prison population decreases for third year in a row:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/26/us/us-prison-populations-decline-reflecting-new-approach-to-crime.html?pagewanted=all

As Justice Dept. takes more active interest in local policing, some police chiefs are not happy:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/28/us/some-chiefs-chafing-as-justice-department-keeps-closer-eye-on-policing.html?pagewanted=all

As expected, Bloomberg vetoes two controversial NYPD-related bills:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/24/nyregion/bloomberg-vetoes-measures-for-police-monitor-and-lawsuits.html

As crime in NYC remains low, NYPD begins focusing on family violence to avert even more crime and death:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/25/nyregion/police-take-on-family-violence-to-avert-deaths.html?pagewanted=all

Credit card theft ring stole as many as 160 million c/c numbers from more than a dozen companies:

http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/07/25/arrests-planned-in-hacking-of-financial-companies/

Privacy/Surveillance:

How Chief Justice Roberts is reshaping FISA court…:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/26/us/politics/robertss-picks-reshaping-secret-surveillance-court.html?pagewanted=all

…And how FISA court could be made more accountable:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/23/opinion/a-better-secret-court.html

Although spy agencies are under heavy scrutiny and skepticism by general public…:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/26/us/politics/challenges-to-us-intelligence-agencies-recall-senate-inquiry-of-70s.html?pagewanted=all

…First House attempt to rein in NSA narrowly fails:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/25/us/politics/house-defeats-effort-to-rein-in-nsa-data-gathering.html

“A Terrible Precedent for Press Freedom”:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/23/opinion/a-terrible-precedent-for-press-freedom.html

Report says Harvard found no evidence of emails actually read:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/23/education/no-evidence-harvard-officials-read-faculty-e-mails-report-says.html

War/Military:

“Guantanamo Rulings Change Little”:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/23/opinion/nocera-guantanamo-rulings-change-little.html

Hot-Button Issues:

As GOP pushes for new, stricter abortion bill…:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/28/us/politics/gop-senators-see-an-upside-in-a-problematic-issue-abortion.html

…A federal judge strikes down North Dakota abortion law as “invalid and unconstitutional”:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/23/us/judge-blocks-north-dakota-abortion-restrictions.html

Miscellaneous:

In science, looking at the possibility of “warp drive”:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/23/science/faster-than-the-speed-of-light.html?pagewanted=all

In religion, Scripture goes digital:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/27/technology/the-faithful-embrace-youversion-a-bible-app.html?pagewanted=all

Foreign Affairs:

In Egypt, things just keep getting worse:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/28/world/middleeast/egypt.html?pagewanted=all

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/24/world/middleeast/egypt.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/27/world/middleeast/egypt.html?emc=rss&partner=rss

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/25/world/middleeast/egypt.html

In Tunisia, another liberal opposition leader is gunned down:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/26/world/middleeast/second-opposition-leader-killed-in-tunisia.html?pagewanted=all

New Iranian president-elect is seen as “moderate”:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/27/world/middleeast/president-elect-stirs-optimism-in-iran-and-west.html?pagewanted=all

Bulgaria becomes newest European country to have protests:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/25/world/europe/bulgarian-police-break-up-protesters-blockade-of-parliament.html

In Gaza, Egyptian crackdown is harming economy:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/25/world/middleeast/gazas-economy-suffers-from-egyptian-crackdown.html

In Japan, premier’s party wins big:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/22/world/asia/governing-party-appears-headed-to-lead-japanese-parliament.html?pagewanted=all

In Brazil, protests continue over economic outrages:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/23/world/americas/prices-fuel-outrage-in-brazil-home-of-the-30-cheese-pizza.html?pagewanted=all

In Australia, Assange is running for Senate:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/26/world/asia/wikileaks-founder-assange-to-run-for-australian-senate.html

In Japan, delay in disclosure of Fukushima leaks is criticized:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/27/world/asia/operator-of-fukushima-plant-criticized-for-delaying-disclosures-on-leaks.html

In Romania, woman denies burning stolen masterpiece paintings, but evidence points to the worst:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/23/world/europe/romanian-says-her-tale-of-burning-art-treasures-was-a-lie.html