MB Civic

AP investigation shows drinking water for 41 million Americans contains 57 different pharmaceuticals and other contaminants:

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-03-10-drugs-tap-water_N.htm

Obama and Rouhani engage in first direct communication between U.S. and Iran since 1979:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/28/world/obama-says-he-spoke-to-irans-president-by-phone.html?src=me

Global warming?  No need to tell melting Alaska town:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/27/opinion/sutter-shishmaref-climate-ipcc/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

Finally!  The NYT picks up on (but sadly downplays) the environmental damage from Colorado floods vis-a-vis oil drilling:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/27/us/after-the-floods-a-deluge-of-worry-about-oil.html

Could we get all the energy we ever need from all the nuclear waste we’ve already produced?:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/25/business/energy-environment/atomic-goal-800-years-of-power-from-waste.html?pagewanted=all

Not just phones, NSA has been examining “social connections” of U.S. citizens:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/29/us/nsa-examines-social-networks-of-us-citizens.html?pagewanted=all

Are we moving inexorably toward school staff having guns?:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/28/us/guns-at-school-if-theres-a-will-there-are-ways.html?pagewanted=all

Here we go again: Texas schoolbook panel creationists will have say on biology books:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/29/education/creationists-on-texas-panel-for-biology-textbooks.html?pagewanted=all

Does Bob Dylan deserve a Nobel Prize?:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/29/opinion/sunday/knock-knock-knockin-on-nobels-door.html?pagewanted=all

Freakish Louisiana sinkhole continues to grow, “eating” everything in its path:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/26/us/ground-gives-way-and-a-louisiana-town-struggles-to-find-its-footing.html?pagewanted=all

Environment:

IPCC sets upper limit target on greenhouse gases:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/28/science/global-climate-change-report.html?pagewanted=all

Study warns of increase in storms and severe weather:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/24/us/study-sees-a-higher-risk-of-storms-on-the-horizon.html

New EPA emissions regs could lead to regional cap-and-trade systems:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/24/business/energy-environment/epa-rules-on-emissions-at-existing-coal-plants-might-give-states-leeway.html

What does “pause” in global warming trend mean?:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/26/opinion/a-pause-not-an-end-to-warming.html

Remote corner of Idaho, and the Native Americans who live there, becomes “new front” in environmental activism:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/26/us/fight-over-energy-finds-a-new-front-in-a-corner-of-idaho.html?pagewanted=all

In Florida, toxic legacy from long-closed incinerator continues:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/23/us/old-smokey-is-long-gone-from-miami-but-its-toxic-legacy-lingers.html

As feds release $500 million plan to clean NYC’s Gowanus Canal, it continues to be industry dumping ground:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/27/nyregion/as-cleanup-plan-is-set-for-gowanus-canal-violations-continue.html

Study shows NYC air is cleanest it has been in 50 years:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/27/nyregion/new-yorks-air-is-cleanest-in-50-years-survey-finds.html

In NYC, a new set of parameters for energy use in residential buildings reveals some surprising results:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/28/nyregion/a-fresh-set-of-grades-measures-energy-use-in-residential-buildings.html

Health/Food/Safety:

Report shows Americans are cutting down on fats and sweets – but not nearly enough:

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/09/23/dietary-report-card-disappoints/

With Americans eating healthier, McDonald’s adapts its menu…:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/27/business/mcdonalds-moves-toward-a-healthier-menu.html

…and Burger King introduces a lower-fat french fry:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/24/business/burger-king-introducing-a-lower-fat-french-fry.html

Economics:

Paul Krugman on “Plutocrats Feeling Persecuted” and “Free to be Hungry”:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/27/opinion/krugman-plutocrats-feeling-persecuted.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/23/opinion/krugman-free-to-be-hungry.html

Will GOP play the “Keystone” card to avoid gov’t shutdown?:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/25/us/republicans-see-keystone-pipeline-as-a-card-to-play-in-last-minute-fiscal-talks.html?pagewanted=all

Are judges finally fed up with banks?:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/29/business/why-judges-are-scowling-at-banks.html?pagewanted=all

In NYC, income/wealth disparity, yes – but millionaires are helping drive growth:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/28/nyregion/data-supports-bloomberg-on-disparity-with-income.html

Politics/Elections/Voting:

Polls show Obama at near low re foreign policy…:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/25/world/middleeast/49-in-poll-fault-obama-on-policies-outside-us.html

…And domestic policy:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/26/us/politics/obamas-approval-rating-matches-two-year-low-poll-shows.html?pagewanted=all

Annoying even many in his own party, Cruz’s 21-hour filibuster is ultimately ignored:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/26/us/politics/senate-budget-battle.html?pagewanted=all

Hispanics growing increasingly “cool” to GOP:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/28/us/politics/poll-shows-hispanic-shift-away-from-the-gop.html

Texas filibuster “sweetheart” will run for governor:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/27/us/politics/wendy-davis-is-expected-to-run-for-texas-governor.html

Lhota & Co. try to use DeBlasio’s past as Sandanista supporter as fodder for their cannon (which is backfiring):

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/24/nyregion/rivals-attack-de-blasio-on-past-support-for-sandinistas.html

Legal/Law Enforcement:

Fed judge says OWS participants cannot sue owners of Zuccotti Park:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/28/nyregion/court-backs-owner-of-site-occupied-by-protesters.html

NYS AG takes aim at phony online reviews:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/23/technology/give-yourself-4-stars-online-it-might-cost-you.html?pagewanted=all

Privacy/Surveillance:

Senate committee pushes to “change but preserve” NSA phone surveillance:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/27/us/politics/senators-push-to-preserve-nsa-phone-surveillance.html

New device removes Internet ads (and the article includes a few free services as well):

http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/28/tech/ad-trap-internet-ad-blocker/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

War/Military:

Agreement on Syria by five permanent members of U.N. Security Council is “milestone”:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/27/world/middleeast/security-council-agrees-on-resolution-to-rid-syria-of-chemical-arms.html?pagewanted=all

Military says hunger strike at Guantanamo is over:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/24/us/guantanamo-hunger-strike-largely-over-us-says.html

Hot-Button Issues:

“Children and Guns: The Hidden Toll”:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/29/us/children-and-guns-the-hidden-toll.html?pagewanted=all

Judge orders NJ to okay gay marriage…

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/28/nyregion/new-jersey-judge-rules-state-must-allow-gay-marriage.html

…While a CA mayor is in hot water for okaying gay pride month:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/27/us/unlikely-debate-on-gay-rights-in-california-town.html?pagewanted=all

In reversal, ExxonMobil will extend health benefits to married same-sex couples:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/28/business/exxon-to-extend-health-care-to-married-same-sex-couples.html

Minister who quit church (and faith) to join “humanist” group “fabricated” some credentials:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/27/us/minister-admits-overstating-her-credentials.html

Miscellaneous:

FAA looks to ease restrictions on electronic devices:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/23/technology/faa-nears-new-rules-on-devices.html?pagewanted=all

Mariano Rivera – almost unarguably baseball’s greatest-ever closing pitcher – pitches his last game:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/29/sports/baseball/mariano-rivera-a-zen-master-with-a-mean-cutter.html

Foreign Affairs:

Islamist party in Tunisia to step down:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/29/world/africa/islamist-party-in-tunisia-to-step-down.html

Merkel’s unexpectedly strong victory seen as support for austerity:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/24/world/europe/vote-for-merkel-seen-as-victory-for-austerity.html?pagewanted=all

As Russia opens piracy investigation against Greenpeace ship and crew…:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/25/world/europe/greenpeace-activists-face-possible-piracy-charges-in-russia.html?pagewanted=all

…Putin defends seizure of ship, but not piracy charges:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/26/world/europe/seizure-of-a-greenpeace-vessel-by-russia.html

Rouhani finds himself in “tangle” over comment denouncing Holocaust…:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/26/world/middleeast/for-irans-leader-time-is-not-yet-right-for-meeting-obama.html?pagewanted=all

…And many Iranians welcome him home with protest over phone call with Obama:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/29/world/middleeast/clashes-as-iranian-president-returns-to-tehran.html

As Egyptian court “dissolves” Muslim Brotherhood and seizes its assets…:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/24/world/middleeast/egyptian-court-bans-muslim-brotherhood.html

…Greece goes after far-right party, making arrests:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/29/world/europe/greece-cracks-down-on-golden-dawn-with-arrests.html?hp

What might the Middle East look like after the wars?:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/29/opinion/sunday/imagining-a-remapped-middle-east.html?pagewanted=all

Int’l appeals panel upholds 50-year sentence for Liberia’s Taylor:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/29/opinion/sunday/imagining-a-remapped-middle-east.html?pagewanted=all