Top Stories
Is Washington Using the Ukraine Crisis to Push Natural Gas Exports to Asia?
To export natural gas, companies first have to convert it into a liquid to facilitate transporting it. Once it becomes Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), it can be loaded onto special tankers and shipped across the Atlantic (or the Pacific.
But once it gets delivered to some far-flung port, LNG has to be reconverted into a gas to make it usable. That means the country receiving American LNG exports has to have a regasification plant.
Ukraine currently has zero regasification terminals. read more
E-Cigarette Makers Lure Young People by Using other Names for their Products
Many teens aren’t aware that hookah pens and e-cigarettes are often the same thing. Both devices use a fluid that contains flavor. With devices marketed as e-cigarettes, the fluid also contains nicotine. But the fluid used in hookah pens and vape pipes, which comes in flavors such as bubble gum and chocolate, often contains nicotine as well. read more
Baby Born with AIDS Virus is now HIV-Negative
Scientists say they have found a way to cure newborn babies infected with HIV.
In March 2013, doctors reported that a child was cured of HIV following an aggressive drug treatment implemented just 30 hours after birth.
Some experts were skeptical, waiting to see if the experiment could be successfully repeated elsewhere.
It was, this time in Long Beach, California
Dr. Anthony Fauci said the two cases “could lead to major changes” in the treatment of children born with HIV.
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First Medical Marijuana Ad Appears on Mainstream TV
The first-ever commercial promoting medicinal marijuana will soon air in New Jersey, Chicago and Massachusetts on Fox, Comedy Central, CNN, ESPN, AMC, Discovery and the Food Channel.
In the ad, a suspicious-looking guy works back alleys to sell sushi. At one point he thrusts opens his trenchcoat to reveal select cuts of sashimi for sale.
“You wouldn’t buy your sushi from this guy,” the voiceover says. “So why would you buy your marijuana from him?”
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Doctors are Primary Source of Narcotic Painkillers for Chronic Drug Abusers in U.S.
A new study shows doctors are the No. 1 source for painkillers used by chronic abusers. The CDC found in 27% of cases, physicians were the most common source.
The second most common source of painkillers for abusers was family members and friends, responsible in 26% of cases.
The crisis of narcotic painkiller addiction was declared an epidemic by the CDC in 2011. Nationally, OxyContin and Vicodin have led the way among prescription-related overdoses averaging more than 16,000 a year.
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Will Global Warming Unleash Deadly, Buried Viruses?
Yet another potential impact of a warmer planet has been discovered: ancient viruses being brought back to life as a result of melting ice.
This possible risk was discovered in Siberia, where scientists found a 30,000-year-old virus that became exposed in the melting permafrost.
The contagion is a “giant” virus—the largest ever found. Researchers say it may be just the first of other long-gone viruses to return to life, including those that can impact human health. read more
As Arctic Ice Melts, U.S. Navy Expands its Presence
“The Arctic is all about operating forward and being ready. We don’t think we’re going to have to do war-fighting up there, but we have to be ready,” said Rear Admiral Jonathan White, director of the Navy’s climate change task force.
Naval readiness means doing more research on climate change impacts in the Arctic, and figuring out how and where to base and operate ships and planes for missions in this region.
The Navy is also planning submarine exercises for the Arctic read more
Leftovers from Afghanistan and Iraq Wars: 1,558 Amputations; 7,224 Severe Brain Injuries; 118,829 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders
A total of 1,558 soldiers endured major limb amputations as a result of battlefield injuries. Major limb amputations include the loss of one or more limbs, the loss of one or more partial limbs, or the loss of one or more full or partial hand or foot, according to the CRS.
Considerably more military personnel suffered “severe or penetrating brain injuries”— 7,224. Another 23,319 men and women were diagnosed with “moderate” brain injuries.
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USDA Adds Fresh Produce, Yogurt and Tofu to Food Voucher for Poor Program in First Change in 34 Years
Fresh, frozen and canned vegetables, yogurt, whole grains and even tofu have been added to the list of foods allowed to be purchased under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), according to a Reuters report. WIC serves 53% of infants born in the United States.
Some of the changes had been made on an interim basis by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2007. read more
Private Webcam Images of Nearly 2 Million Global Yahoo Users Intercepted by British Spy Agency with NSA Help
Many of the images contained nudity (somewhere between 3% and 11%), which not only proved irrelevant to GCHQ’s mission, but also distracting as far as keeping employees focused on more serious work.
“Unfortunately…it would appear that a surprising number of people use webcam conversations to show intimate parts of their body to the other person,” one document states. read more
FDA Proposes First Major Food Labeling Changes in 22 Years
The Obama administration wants to significantly change the rules governing food labels to better inform Americans about the calories and ingredients they’re consuming.
The changes are the most significant regarding nutrition labeling in more than two decades, and are likely to spark considerable debate.
First Lady Michelle Obama, who has campaigned vigorously on health issues, said the added sugars line on labels would inform consumers whether the sweetness is natural or manufactured. read more
Supreme Court Gives Police More Leeway to Search Homes without a Warrant
The U.S. Supreme Court has decided that law enforcement can search a person’s home even if they: (1) don’t have warrant, (2) if an occupant objects, and (3) the situation does not warrant an emergency.
That’s the new legal standard established by the nation’s highest court.
Justice Samuel Alito wrote that home searches are legal and do not violate the Fourth Amendment’s right against unreasonable searches as long as one occupant agrees, even if another does not. read more
Judge Throws Out Lawsuit against NYPD for Spying on Muslims, Faults the Press for Reporting It
A New Jersey federal judge who’s been kicked off cases and criticized by federal prosecutors has thrown out a lawsuit against the New York City Police Department for spying on Muslims.
The decision of Judge William J. Martini also garnered attention because he criticized the Associated Press for exposing the illegal and unconstitutional actions of the NYPD.
In Martini's opinion, the only one at fault was the AP for doing its job.
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Arizona Legislature Passes Bill Allowing Businesses to Discriminate against Gays
Having embraced proposals that targeted illegal immigrants, Arizona lawmakers last week approved legislation that would allow business owners to use their religious beliefs to justify the denial of services to same-sex couples.
Christian religious groups praised the move, while civil libertarians were outraged.
“The Arizona Senate bill is blatantly unconstitutional [and] violates the requirement of equal protection of the laws," said Shannon Minter. read more
Colorado High on Marijuana Revenue—Billion-Dollar Industry to Bring State More Than $100 Million in Annual Taxes
The legal sale of marijuana in Colorado is bringing a new kind of high to state officials.
It is anticipated the state will collect about $134 million in taxes, with much of the money expected to go toward substance abuse and public health programs.
The state of Washington expects a similar windfall. That state’s officials are planning to collect about $190 million in taxes in the four years beginning in mid-2015.
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New Public Data Collection Technology Increases Security and Efficiency, Reduces Privacy
Improved surveillance is making it more difficult to balance privacy rights with the desires of law enforcement agencies.
“If you turn your country into a totalitarian surveillance state, there’s always some wrongdoing you can prevent,” said ACLU's Jay Stanley. “The balance struck in our Constitution tilts toward liberty, and I think we should keep that value.” read more