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Obama Calls For More Alaskan Oil Drilling

May 14, 2011 by Michael McIntee Alaska, DC, Environment Comments Off


In his weekly address, President Obama lays out his strategy to continue to expand responsible and safe domestic oil production, leveraging existing authorities as part of his long-term plan to reduce our reliance on foreign oil.

President Obama is directing the Department of the Interior to conduct annual lease sales in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve – while respecting sensitive areas, to speed up the evaluation of oil and gas resources in the mid and south Atlantic, and to create new incentives for industry to develop their unused leases both on and offshore. Also, to give companies more time to meet higher safety standard for exploration and drilling, the administration is extending drilling leases in areas of the Gulf of Mexico that were impacted by the temporary moratorium, as well as certain leases off the coast of Alaska. And, he is establishing a new interagency working group to ensure that Arctic development projects meet health, safety and environmental standards.

The past few months, rising gas prices have put an added strain on American families. While there are no quick fixes to the problem, these are steps, along with eliminating taxpayer subsidies for oil companies and rooting out fraud and manipulation in the markets, that are worth taking.

Read a transcript of President Obama’s weekly address here. … Continue Reading

7-Year-Old Honored For Bravery In Rescue

December 11, 2010 by Michael McIntee Alaska Comments Off

Wyatt Lotzer, 7, is presented an award for bravery by the crew of the MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter who evacuated him and his mother from their grounded skiff in Ugak Bay, Alaska Nov. 21. Wyatt was calm and helpful during the nighttime rescue. He received the award during a school assembly at East Elementary on Kodiak Island, Alaska,

Petty Officer 3rd Class Chris Moore, an aviation survival technician at Air Station Kodiak,was lowered from the helicopter to the water, discussed the hoist procedure with the Lotzers and placed mother and son in the rescue basket for return to Kodiak Island.

Campaign Cash: Biggest Loser Corporate Edition—Spending $2 Million on a Losing Race in Iowa

November 1, 2010 by admin Alaska, Campaign Finance, Iowa, Political Races Comments Off
Campaign Cash

Campaign Cash Watch

by Zach Carter, Media Consortium

Corporate America is on the attack in every state. As Joshua Holland explains for AlterNet, outside groups have spent somewhere between $750,000 and more than $2 million in an attempt to unseat Rep. Bruce Braley (D-IA) in a state where ad buys come cheap. But Braley is almost certain to win anyway, even if his lead isn’t quite as comfortable as it was in 2008, when he took 64 percent of the vote. This is what corporations and wealthy elites are willing to pony up in races they’re sure to lose.

Most of that money comes from two groups: the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a front-group for some of the nation’s largest corporations, and America’s Future Fund, a right-wing front-group founded by GOP lobbyist and ethanol executive Nick Ryan. Public News Service‘s Eric Mack highlights the races in Hawkeye state that are unusually flush with cash.

Thanks to the Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission earlier this year, corporations and wealthy elites now have license to spend unlimited sums to promote candidates they like (or attack ones they don’t). Things are already getting out of hand. Outside groups are dumping millions of dollars into obscure races this year—even in places where they appear to have almost no chance of victory.

Republican candidates are raking it in

Thanks to Citizens United, much of the spending in midterm elections is secret. We’ll never know who is spending millions of dollars on anonymous attack ads. But a tiny fraction of the electoral purchases by outside groups have been disclosed, and if those are any guide, the Republican Party is reaping the vast majority of the rewards. As Jesse Zwick details for The Washington Independent, of the roughly $12 million in public corporate expenditures, they’re spending more than $9.7 million on behalf of Republican candidates.

The Chamber of Commerce’s long history in elections … Continue Reading

Blowing Up A Cold War Era Radio Tower

August 14, 2010 by admin Alaska Comments Off

Budget cuts and better technology sealed the fate of a radio tower that’s been providing navigation signals near the Russia/Alaska border since 1960. Congress voted to cut the Long Range Aids To Navigation (LORAN-C) project in the 2010 budget after it was determined it wasn’t needed as a back up to Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) technology.

Shutting down LORAN-C will save $36 million in fiscal 2010 and $190 million over five years, according to the Office of Management and Budget.

In this video you see the Coast Guard demolishing the 625-foot Long Range Aids to Navigation tower in Attu home of the westernmost Coast Guard unit in Alaska. Due to the deteriorating condition and with no funding for repairs, the stations 625-foot LORAN tower was becoming an ever-increasing risk of uncontrolled collapse. Video from the US Coast Guard.

DC Latest

DC

Obama announces Housing Settlement with banks

Obama on Landmark Housing Settlement with Banks

The federal government and 49 state attorneys general have reached a landmark $25 billion agreement with the nation’s five largest mortgage servicers to address mortgage loan servicing and foreclosure abuses.

President Obama announces exemptions from "No Child Left Behind" law

States Get Exemptions To “No Child Left Behind” Law

President Obama announces ten states have agreed to implement bold reforms around standards and accountability will receive flexibility from the most burdensome mandates of the federal education law known as No Child Left Behind.

Obama helps with marshmallow launch at White House Science Fair

Marshmallow Launch at the White House Science Fair

The President meets an 8th grader named Joey from Phoenix, AZ at the White House Science Fair and the two launch a marshmallow across the state dining room with Joey’s science project – an air cannon.

President Obama delivers his weekly address

Obama’s Fair Fix For Responsible Homeowners

The housing crisis has been the single largest drag on America’s economic recovery. President Obama wants to fix that fairly for homeowners who have been responsible, but not the ones who took out huge mortgages or bought multiple homes.

Netflix General Counsel David Hyman testifies to a US Senate committee

Netflix Facebook App Would Be Legal In US

Netflix’s top lawyer tries to convince a US Senate committee that laws need to be changed so it can offer a video sharing app on Facebook. A University of Minnesota Law Professor says that’s not so.

Senator Al Franken

Who Should Know Which Videos You Watch?

A bill recently passed in the US House could make it easier for video companies to disclose viewer information. Who should know what you’re watching? Senator Al Franken leads a hearing.

President Obama blasts Utah Senator Mike Lee in his weekly address

Obama Blasts Utah Senator For Causing Gridlock

“One senator gumming up the works for the whole country is certainly not what our founding fathers envisioned.”— President Obama about Utah Senator Mike Lee in his weekly address

President Obama Speaks at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Replay-Obama’s Blueprint For Keeping College Affordable

President Obama unveils his proposal to keep college costs lower and provide students with enough financial aid so they can attend. He speaks at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

President Obama on his State of the union tour

Obama’s State Of The Union Tour Hits Five States

President Obama is on a five state tour promoting the economic proposals he made in his State of The Union address. He started in Cedar Rapids, Iowa at Conveyer Engineering and then into Arizona to an Intel plant. Thursday he want to Las Vegas and Denver.

Click on photo to hear President Obama's speech in Arizona

Obama Praises Gabby Giffords In Arizona

Representative Giffords recently resigned from congress to focus on her recovery from an assassination attempt last year.

Latest MN

MN

Vote No against Voter Photo ID

No To Voter ID With Silence and Cheers

More than 300 Minnesotans gathered at the State Capitol and at Wells Fargo Place in downtown Saint Paul to raise their voices in opposition to the proposed photo ID amendment.

2012  MN Legislative Session

MN Legislative Leaders React To Dayton Veto

Governor Dayton announced he is vetoing a set of Republican authored bills aimed at making it harder to sue in court. Legislative leaders react to the Governor’s veto.

Joe Webb says budget cuts are preventing his mentally ill son from moving closer to home

Mental Health Budget Cuts Costing MN More (CC)

Joe Webb wants his mentally ill son to live closer to home. But cuts made last year in Minnesota’s mental health budget are preventing that.

Senator Barb Goodwin objects to gun bill

Objections To MN Gun Bill Fail

Senator Barb Goodwin raises objections to H.F. 1467 Defense of Dwelling and Person Act.
She says it should have another hearing since a New York Times article showed that Minnesota has problems with felons easily getting back their firearms once they are released from prison.

Senator Julianne Ortman

Unsure, MN GOP Senator Votes To Limit Your Right To Sue

Senator Julianne Ortman’s bill to shorten Minnesota’s statute of limitations passes despite her saying some of the issues in it could go back to the Judiciary committee

DFL SD 42 Caucus Goer

DFL Caucus Goers Want Jobs and Personal Freedom

Hear what DFL caucus goers are concerned and optimistic about.

Larry Pogemiller answers questions during confirmation hearing

Vouchers For College? MN Education Head Says Maybe

Vouchers for college? Minnesota’s Higher Education Director Larry Pogemiller says he’s open to the idea.

TakeAction Minnesota's Dan McGrath Diagrams how bank money goes to Republican legislators

Banks Backing GOP Attempt To Suppress MN Votes

TakeAction Minnesota releases a report outlining Minnesota-based financial interests behind efforts to secure a photo ID amendment on the state’s November 2012 ballot.

Pastor Grant Stevens

Religious Leaders Jam Senator’s Office On MN Voter Photo ID

It’s not often that a half dozen religious leaders come calling with a cadre of television cameras in tow to Senate Majority Leader David Senjem’s office.

Religious Leaders Opposing MN Voter Photo ID

Religious Leaders Oppose MN Voter Photo ID

Religious leaders of various faiths hold a press conference at the Minnesota State Capitol voicing their opposition to the proposed constitutional amendment requiring a photo ID for the purpose of voting.

Sustaining Solutions

Sustaining Solutions

Click on Photo to View Video of Northside Economic Opportunity Network

Northside Economic Opportunity Network Boosts Business in North Minneapolis

The Northside Economic Opportunity Network works with small businesses and micro-businesses in North Minneapolis to help them achieve success.

Workers' Rights Supporter In Madison Wisconsin

2011 UpTake Stories With The Most Impact

If we didn’t cover these stories, who would have?

City Pages Cover-The Forgotten Neighborhood

The Forgotten Neighborhood

As we’ve been reporting for the past six months, many tornado victims who need help still haven’t gotten it.

Click on Photo to View Video of Occupy MN in Monique White's Home

Occupy MN Moves into Foreclosed Home in North Minneapolis

Occupy MN is occupying Monique White’s house at 3310 N. 6th St. in the city’s downtrodden North Minneapolis neighborhood. In doing so, Occupy MN instantly made itself more diverse, and more relevant.

Click on Photo to Watch Video About Campaign to Save North High School

Saving North High School, Preserving a Community Stalwart

When administrators revealed a plan last spring to shut down North High School — one of only two public schools on Minneapolis’ embattled north side — MN Neighborhoods Organizing for Change and other activists answered the call.

Click on Photo to View Kindred Kitchen Video

Kindred Kitchen Empowers North Minneapolis Through Food

North Minneapolis food entrepreneurs use Kindred Kitchen to learn about starting their own business, making their food safely and legally in a commercial kitchen, and marketing it within the community.

Citizen participates in Draw The Line Minnesota session

Citizens, Not Politicians Drawing Redistricting Lines

Voters should pick their politicians, not the other way around. That’s the thought behind Draw The Line Minnesota, a citizen group that is working to draw the maps for congressional and legislative districts.

FLOW: Northside Arts Crawl

FLOW Shows Bright Future For Tornado-damaged Northside

This year’s FLOW art crawl was all about recognizing thousands of volunteers that helped with the clean-up and recovery efforts after the May 22nd tornado. Leaders hope the positive can-do attitude of the cleanup can power a rebirth of the Northside.

Click to watch Stories of Need: Dennis

“We’re Treated like Bums” Despite Holding Jobs, Paying Taxes

After their home in North Minneapolis was destroyed by the May 22 tornado, Dennis and Deborah were forced to seek refuge in the local Armory and at the North Commons Recreation Center. For weeks, they and their five children slept on cots on the floor of a gymnasium.

Click on Picture to View Video of Joyce Chineth

“I’m sure I need it worse than you, because I have nothing.”

Her home destroyed and now condemned, north Minneapolis tornado victim Joyce Chineth feels abandoned by the system.

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