On the heels of Hurricane Gustav, Hurricanes Ike and Hanna have walloped the Bahamas, Haiti, Turks and Caicos, and Cuba. For the Turks and Caicos, 80 percent of the homes on Grand Turk Island have been damaged. The devastating storm has ripped roofs and left residents cowering in closets, "just holding on for life. They got hit really, really bad."
Hurricane Ike headed toward Haiti en route to the Bahamas and Cuba. The "extremely dangerous" storm is crushing relief efforts to help the hundreds of thousands hit by last week's storms, bringing a foot of rain threatening flash flooding and mudslides.
Hanna lashed the Eastern seaboard over the weekend and her tail end is set to hit as far away as the UK on Thursday, with 100 flood warnings already in place.
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The war on terror might be about to get much, much hotter. Dwindling resources and diminishing weaponry are causing Muslim extremists to call upon their numbers to start a “forest jihad” in Australia. According to one website extremists have to “start forest fires," claiming “scholars have justified chopping down and burning infidels’ forests when they do the same to our lands.” The website continues, "Imagine if, after all the losses caused by such an event, a jihadist organization were to claim responsibility for the forest fires. You can hardly begin to imagine the level of fear that would take hold of people in the United States, in Europe, in Russia and in Australia."
Anyone who has been watching the news this summer or lives in California understands the potential damage these fires can cause untold economic and ecological damage. This summer nearly 1,300 homes were destroyed and almost 500,000 acres burned. Australia, which is heading into their fire season, is on alert.
To see what they're doing, read more
Auto Industry To Push Congress For $50B In Loans Auto industry allies hope to secure up to $50 billion in government loans this month that would pay to modernize plants and help struggling car makers build more fuel-efficient vehicles. With Congress returning this coming week from its summer break, the industry plans an aggressive lobbying campaign for the low-interest loans. The situation is growing dire after months of tumbling sales, high gasoline prices and consumers' abandoning profitable trucks and sport utility vehicles.
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The price of graffiti in Las Vegas is not only the eyesore but, according to the City Council member, a $30 million dollar bill on top of the tags. It's money that according to one councilman says could be “used for things like education. We can educated young people on how to do positive things.” The solution to stop the amateur Banksy-esque hooligans? Stiffer penalties.
The City Council of Las Vegas has just approved higher fines as well as community service to clean up the graffiti. If you are younger than 18, your parents will foot the bill — but if you’re older? That can of spray paint could make you find yourself doing hard time waiting for the bus. Taggers stand to lose their drivers licenses for up to two years. The tougher penalties aren’t just for the sake of punishment, but rather an easily legible plea to gangs who regularly mark their territory, to stop.
Is taking the keys to the car a fair penalty for marking up the streets?
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Clinton Limits Palin Criticism While Campaigning Sen. Hillary Clinton marched for labor and stumped with Democrats on Saturday, but sidestepped questions about the woman who has taken her place as the nation's most-talked-about female leader. Clinton brushed aside questions about Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin saying, "This election is about issues, and that's what's going to matter to people at the end of the day," she told reporters who asked her about the Alaska governor.
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Who's the Political Mama? All of the political chatter has got me thinking about the governing mamas in power. Take my quiz to see how well you know your elected mothers!
Curious if you know what happened in the news this week?
Take the quiz to find out!
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