News Clips: January 21

WND - A Californian woman, Bertha Pinedo Bugarin, posing as an abortionist is facing 16 felony charges and may spend up to 9 years in prison for operating six abortion clinics without a proper medical license. Operation Rescue reports that her clinics targeted low-income Hispanic women by advertising on Spanish television. Several women have accused Bugarin of performing botched abortions, several resulting in premature births. One man working for Bugarin, Laurence Reich, lost his medical license but continued to perform abortions. Bugarin has pled guilty to nine felony counts and pled no contest to seven similar felony charges in a Los Angeles Superior Court.


WND - The full 47 minute video revealing Indianapolis Planned Parenthood staff covering up a reported statutory rape has been released. The video shows a staff member for Planned Parenthood counseling a 13-year-old to avoid mandatory statutory rape reporting laws. A smaller section of the tape, done by Live Action Films, had been released earlier, but the group has recently released the full length video, urging Planned Parenthood to show transparency on how often it provides birth control, pregnancy testing, STD testing and abortion services to minors under 14 and how often it has reported these cases to Child Protective Services. The "non-profit" group Planned Parenthood received a total of $300 million taxpayer funds, and netted over $100 million in profit last year.


Telegraph.co.uk - Radio host Jeremy Vine expressed concerns of religious suppression, saying he feels unable to talk about his faith on his show because of fear how people will react. It's "almost socially unacceptable to say you believe in God," said Vine, a practicing Anglican, "Just because something's true doesn't mean you can say it." In an interview with Reform, a magazine published by the United Reformed Church, Mr Vine says that he is forced to separate his personal beliefs from his role as a presenter.


Reuters.com - Despite the coldest winter in many years, climate change "experts" continue to predict global temperature increases this century. In Europe, temperatures have increased faster than climate models, and less fog is being blamed. Researchers at the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute found fog levels have decreased over the last 30 years, leading to more sunlight being absorbed by the ground, and an increase in temperatures. The implication that cleaner air is causing increased warming doesn't seem to realized by the researchers, who simply say that "climate is not simple and this is a new factor."


East Valley Tribune - A decrease in homicides in the Maricopa County, Arizona, has been attributed partially to illegal-immigration operations. Sheriff Joe Arpaio, in a Thursday press release, announced homicide in the Maricopa County has dropped by 28 percent. The homicide data comes from figures provided to the FBI.


Telegraph.co.uk - While China continues to implement it's one child per family policy, Russia is honoring large families with a silver start of the Order of Parental Glory. The award program was revived due to concerns over Russia's sharp fall in birthrates, the United Nations predicts the population could fall from 146 million to 80 million by 2050. Eight families were chosen for the award ceremony, some coming in traditional Siberian dress and others in military uniforms. Although one "art group" mocked the event, participants took it more seriously.


WND -- Oliver County, North Dakota, may be requiring cameras in bars soon. In a bit of reactionary legislating, the State's Attorney Mike Liffrig asked the city of Center to require audio capturing video cameras after a brawl earlier this month left a man with facial injuries. Bar owners and local patrons don't appreciate the invasion of privacy, and don't like the police keeping a record of what is said and done after a few beers. Even a local man, Dean Windhorst, who sported a pair of black eyes and a busted lip, opposes the cameras. Center is a town of about 700. Perry Wolf, owner of Lonewolf Saloon, explained that the fights were mainly caused by a couple laid-off construction workers, and that the problem has been settled without cameras.


Dayton Daily News - School officials in Mason, Florida, e-mailed parents that "inappropriate comments that may make other students, staff or families feel unwelcome or uncomfortable ... will not be tolerated" concerning the Obama inauguration. Warren County Commissioner Dave Young said he questions an "inappropriate comments" policy based on what makes someone feel "unwelcome or uncomfortable." Young, who has three children in the school district, is concerned about the precedent set by not tolerating comments against Obama.


[Compiled by Tobias Davis a Mechanical Engineer Major at UNL and the Editor for the Student Newspaper]