Archive - Dec 23, 2009

• Senate to vote on health care despite rush of Republican opposition
• Partisan politics changes in Washington over time
• Wall between Egypt and Gaza draws criticism from Palestinians
• Federal government urges use of coal byproducts in farming

• US libraries fight to maintain funding, stay open
• HUD announces homeless funding
• Appropriations difficulties means Gitmo could remain open until 2011
• Seattle could become the next venue for the gun control battle
• Follow-up: Colombian governor found murdered by suspected FARC guerillas
• Prominent Chinese dissident tried for subversion

The final vote on the Senate's health care bill is scheduled for Thursday morning. And with fewer than 24 hours to go, Republicans are fighting to the very end. Meanwhile, progressives are planning their next steps. FSRN's Karen Miller has more.

The process of moving health care legislation forward may pass a critical stage tomorrow, but the debate over the issue has been one of the most acrimonious in recent memory. Republicans spread rumors about "death panels" – to which Democrat Alan Grayson responded that Republicans want sick people to "die quickly."  Washington has long been known for partisan bickering, but there used to be more civility – and friendship – between Democratic and Republican lawmakers. FSRN’s Tanya Snyder explores why.

Despite a growing push for renewable energy sources, much of the nation’s electricity still comes from coal-fired plants. And these plants create a large amount of waste. One of the byproducts of coal fired plants is synthetic gypsum or FGD gypsum. It’s a calcium-rich material that some farmers have had success using on their fields. Finding “beneficial uses” for coal plant waste started under the Bush Administration and now, both the EPA and USDA are encouraging farmers to use the chalky waste.

In a statement provided to FSRN, the Environmental Protection Agency said that it "believes that the use of FGD gypsum in agriculture is safe in appropriate soil and hydrogeologic conditions." But the agency adds that it is important to first assess soil conditions to determine "compatibility and appropriate application rates." The news comes while the EPA also considers regulating coal waste for the first time.

Here to discuss the idea is Paula Dinerstein, an attorney with the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, a service organization for local state and federal resource and environmental professionals.

Earlier this week, we brought you a story from Egypt about the 100 foot deep steel wall that Egyptian authorities have begun constructing along the border with Gaza. Tunnels in the region have been used to smuggle weapons, but since the embargo enforced by Israel these tunnels are the main way that basic goods are transferred across the border. One smuggler told our reporter that he could get more money for diapers than guns.Today, we take a look at the wall from Gaza, where the construction has created widespread resentment among the Palestinian people. FSRN's Rami Almeghari has more.