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Answer to Crime? Keep People Off the Streets With Curfews?

CitizenSugar — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 08:00:30 -0700

It's just like being a teenager, except your parents are the police! And instead of grounding, they can put you in jail! Curfews are popping up in tons of places, aimed at controlling crime. With goals similar to the police checkpoints in Washington DC, the newest towns getting an early bedtime: Helena, Arkansas and Hartford, Connecticut.

Sparked by violence, Helena, AR has implemented a 24-hour curfew in a troubled neighborhood, questioning all passers by. The city council voted unanimously to allow police to expand the program to any area of the city, despite ACLU claims that the police action is unconstitutional. The patrols have resulted in 32 arrests since they locked down the 10-block radius. The council acknowledges the hardship of the curfew but says those living in the city want the random and drug-fueled shootings to stop, regardless of what it takes.

To see what's happening in Hartford, and whether it actually works,

Arkansas Democratic Party Chairman Bill Gwatney Killed In Shooting

CitizenSugar — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 14:25:26 -0700

Arkansas Democratic Party Chairman Gwatney Killed In Shooting A man barged into the Arkansas Democratic headquarters and opened fire Wednesday, fatally shooting the state party chairman before speeding off in his pickup. Police later shot and killed the suspect after a 30-mile chase. Police said they don't know the motive for the 51-year-old suspect, whose name has not been released. They said Chairman Bill Gwatney, 49, died four hours later at University Hospital in Little Rock after the midday shooting near the state Capitol.

Front Page: Tornadoes, American Airlines, Petraeus Day Two, Nepal

CitizenSugar — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 06:57:46 -0700

Several tornadoes ripped through West Texas and Oklahoma last night. Winds of up to 70 mph and heavy rains left one dead, at least five houses destroyed, and 3,500 without power. Flooding caused the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to close five highways in the state, while Arkansas also saw flash flooding.
American Airlines has canceled 900 additional flights today as it continues to perform safety inspections on certain jets. It's the third consecutive day of cancellations for American Airlines, who also canceled 1,094 flights on Wednesday and 460 flights the day before.

General Petraeus, the top American commander in Iraq, remained consistent in his second day of testimony before Congress with his recommendation to suspend troop reductions in Iraq. The recommendation shows that Iraqi forces remain unprepared to take over the mission of securing their own nation. Some questioning Petraeus became frustrated as he steadfastly declined to specify what conditions would need to be present on the ground before he would endorse withdrawals to take the number of American troops far below the 140,000 set to remain there after July. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid expressed his frustration saying, “based on everything we have heard, we can reach only one conclusion: With 160,000 courageous American troops serving in Iraq, President Bush has an exit strategy for just one man — himself — on Jan. 20, 2009.”
Voters in Nepal have cast ballots in historic elections, the first since 1999. At question is an assembly that is expected to rewrite Nepal's constitution and abolish its monarchy. Polling was mostly peaceful, although one person was killed in election-related violence. Results are expected over the next 10 days.

Front Page: Tornado, Prince Philip in Hospital, MLK Jr. Remembered, Zimbabwe Raids

CitizenSugar — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 07:01:15 -0700

A tornado ripped through the Little Rock, AR, area last night. The National Weather Service is reporting an unknown number of injuries. A spokesman for the local sheriff's department says, "there's some structural damage in the city of Little Rock and several areas north of North Little Rock. A lot of trees and power lines are down." The storm decimated a mobile home park leaving 50 trailers on fire. This Winter's weather hasn't been kind to Arkansas. In the last two months, Arkansas has seen a tornado during a storm outbreak that killed 13, a foot of snow, more than a foot of rain, and near-record flooding.

Britain's Prince Philip, husband to Queen Elizabeth, has been hospitalized. The 86-year-old is being treated for a chest infection. Reports say he's stable, and a spokeswoman says "His Royal Highness's program of engagements for the weekend have been canceled."
This day marks the 40th anniversary of the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. King was shot and killed on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, TN, while helping organize a strike by sanitation workers, then some of the poorest of the city's working poor. Dr. King will be remembered today nationwide and with a march through Memphis and the laying of wreaths at the site of King's assassination.
Zimbabwe's government staged separate police raids on the main opposition party and foreign journalists. Four journalists, including one from the New York Times, have been taken into custody for violating the country's media laws. Zimbabwe only has one, government-controlled newspaper.

Obesity Report Cards in Schools: A Good Idea?

FitSugar — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 08:45:00 -0800

Arkansas is the first state to send home obesity report cards to warn parents of overweight kids' health risks, but the state may ditch the plan or weaken it with the help of the new governor. Arkansas' program began in 2004 after the Legislature directed public schools to weigh and measure children, calculating their body-mass index. Since then California, Florida and Pennsylvania have launched similar efforts.Critics are saying that sending home an overweight report card to parents may weaken a child's self esteem, which could be detrimental as overweight children already have self-esteem problems.Supporters say that parents can help since some of the children who got the obesity report card from school have started attending fitness clinics. Furthermore, that some parents don't really know their child is overweight until they get the letter.So what do you guys think about obesity report cards in schools?

Obesity Report Cards in Schools: A Good Idea?

Horrible idea -- Parents know when their kid is overweight; a report card will only make the kid feel bad.

Great idea -- Parents need to open their eyes and take control of the situation if their child is overweight.

Other. Tell us below!