Category Archives: In the news

Prison suicides and mental illness

Posted on December 12, 2007 by Kay Olson

Piggybacking on Amp’s report of recent NYT statistics on prisons and prisoners in the U.S. is the news that prisoner suicides in Massachusetts state prisons are nearly triple the rate in other states. From the first part of a three-part … Continue reading →

Posted in Disabled Rights & Issues, In the news | 2 Comments

Statistics About Prison and Prisoners In The USA

Posted on December 12, 2007 by Ampersand

Some statistics swiped from the NY Times, which in turn based its article on a Department of Justice report released last week: * At the end of last year, 1 of every 31 adults in the United States was in … Continue reading →

Posted in In the news, Prisoner rape, Race, racism and related issues, Rape, intimate violence, & related issues | 3 Comments

Two Cases; Two Fatal Shootings What do you think?

Posted on December 3, 2007 by Rachel S.

Case #1 Renato Hughes A few weeks ago I heard about a case in California where a man was being charged with murder, after he and two accomplices broke into the home of a man, who subsequently shot and killed … Continue reading →

Posted in In the news, Race, racism and related issues | 32 Comments

Four Points About The "Leveling" Of Obesity

Posted on November 29, 2007 by Ampersand

From The New York Times: Obesity rates in women have leveled off and stayed steady since 1999, long enough for researchers to say the plateau appears to be real. And, they say, there are hints that the rates may be … Continue reading →

Posted in Fat, fat and more fat, In the news | 17 Comments

Daily Show Writers on Writers Strike

Posted on November 20, 2007 by Mandolin

From A Tiny Revolution, the Daily Show writers explain the premises of the writer’s strike with their usual flair and humor.

Posted in Class, poverty, labor, & related issues, Economics and the like, In the news | 5 Comments

Europeans Try to Kidnap Chadian Children From Their Families

Posted on November 2, 2007 by Rachel S.

I first heard about this case when I was listening to BBC radio on Tuesday. I tuned in during the middle of of this story, and it seemed so bizarre that I couldn’t figure out what was going on. Well, … Continue reading →

Posted in Families structures, divorce, etc, In the news, International issues, Race, racism and related issues | 5 Comments

Good news: Tancredo to Retire from Congress

Posted on October 30, 2007 by Ampersand

From Three Wise Men: Crazy, racist, hate mongering Congressman Tom Tancredo has announced he will not seek re-election, regardless of the outcome of the race for the Republican presidential nomination. I pretty much can’t think of anyone in the House … Continue reading →

Posted in Elections and politics, Immigration, Migrant Rights, etc, In the news, Race, racism and related issues | 1 Comment

Argentina Elects First Female President

Posted on October 29, 2007 by Ampersand

From Para Justicia y Libertad!: Congratulations to Cristina Fernández de Kirchner who has become the first woman to be elected president in Argentina’s history. Kirchner, 54, is the wife of current President of Argentina, Néstor Kirchner and a former senator … Continue reading →

Posted in Elections and politics, Feminism, sexism, etc, In the news, International issues | 5 Comments

Genarlow Wilson Is Freed By Georgia Supreme Court

Posted on October 29, 2007 by Ampersand

Justice delayed is better than none at all, I guess. From Feminist Law Professors: Today the Georgia Supreme Court ordered the release of Genarlow Wilson.  Wilson was sentenced to 11 years in prison (with a mandatory 10-year sentence) for receiving, … Continue reading →

Posted in In the news, Race, racism and related issues | 26 Comments

Life sentences for children: The U.S. "for," the rest of the world "against"

Posted on October 23, 2007 by Ampersand

Via The Bias Committee: In December, the United Nations took up a resolution calling for the abolition of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for children and young teenagers. The vote was 185 to 1, with the United States … Continue reading →

Posted in In the news | 7 Comments