Palestinians threaten to declare independence (AP)
AP – The Palestinians say they are so fed up with the lack of progress in peace efforts that they are preparing to declare independence unilaterally.
Altercations leave adults asking: What’s wrong with today’s youth?
A fight this week on the Lufkin High School campus and a separate altercation at a local church’s youth outreach ministry leads some to wonder what’s wrong with today’s youth. The Lufkin church, which preferred not to be mentioned by name, said because of the incident on campus it will re-evaluate how the outreach program is done. “We see violence on our campus sometimes, but it doesn’t originate on our campus. It’s usually people who are already at odds with one another,” a youth pastor said
Hawaii’s famed white sandy beaches are shrinking
“It really used to be a beautiful beach,” said the 35-year-old mother of two. “And now when you look at it, it’s gone.” Geologists say more than 70 percent of Kauai’s beaches are eroding while Oahu has lost a quarter of its sandy shoreline.
Solar power outshining Colorado’s gas industry (AP)
AP – The sun had just crested the distant ridge of the Rocky Mountains, but already it was producing enough power for the electric meter on the side of the Smiley Building to spin backward.
Afghan official: foreigners bolstering Taliban (AP)
AP – Thousands of foreign fighters have poured into Afghanistan to bolster the Taliban insurgency, the country’s defense minister said Saturday as he called for more international troops.
Study shows Mediterranean diet cuts depression risk
LONDON (Reuters) – People who follow a Mediterranean-style diet rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains and fish are less likely to become depressed, scientists said on Monday, but the reasons are unclear.
GOP leaders to Steele: Back off (Politico)
Politico – GOP leaders, in a private meeting last month, delivered a blunt and at times heated message to RNC Chairman Michael Steele: quit meddling in policy.
Government report questions rescue claims (AP)
The credibility of the government’s $700 billion financial rescue program was damaged by claims a year ago that all of the initial banks receiving support were healthy, a new report contends.
Did David Letterman ruin his image? Experts weigh in
The jury is still out on whether David Letterman’s career will be damaged by his admission last week that he has had sex with …
Waves of new fund cuts imperil US nursing homes (AP)
AP – The nation’s nursing homes are perilously close to laying off workers, cutting services — possibly even closing — because of a perfect storm wallop from the recession and deep federal and state government spending cuts, industry experts say.
