Archive - Feb 9, 2009

• Senate cuts $100-billion from stimulus
• Civil rights advocates argue US torture survivors deserve day in court
• A new program for returning vets caught up in the criminal justice system
• Kenya's media campaign to stop hunger
• Former Salvadoran president could be called to testify on killings
• Commentary by Mumia Abu-Jamal

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In Sri Lankan, military officials say a suicide bomb attack has killed 28 people, mostly soldiers, and wounded 90 others. The attack came hours after the air force bombed a suspected jungle hide out where rebels had a fleet of boats. FSRN's Ponniah Manikavasagam has the story

The Senate is gearing up for the final critical hours of debate on the economic stimulus package, hoping to pass the massive bill that was re-worked and altered over the weekend to cut more than $100 billion. Meanwhile, President Obama traveled to a town in Indiana to garner public support for the stimulus – some 8,000 workers lost their jobs in Elkhart, Indiana, and the unemployment there has tripled in just one year. Obama pointed out some of the stories behind those statistics, and outlined his plan to help communities across the country recover. As Obama prepares to address the nation during prime time this evening, FSRN's Leigh Ann Caldwell reports that tax cuts are now nearly half of the Senate stimulus.

In San Francisco today, civil rights advocates are hoping that survivors of US torture might finally get their day in court. Lawyers for the ACLU were in federal court, arguing that a lawsuit against a Boeing subsidiary involved in the CIA's extraordinary rendition program should move forward. The Bush administration used the "state secrets" privilege numerous times in cases with detainees, and succeeded in getting this suit thrown out in February 2008. But the ACLU appealed. Attorney Ben Wizner argued the case today in San Francisco.

As thousands of combat veterans attempt to adjust to civilian life after returning home from fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, some of them commit petty crimes. WMNF's Seán Kinane reports on a new type of court assisting veterans who have become entangled in the criminal justice system.

A handful of Kenya's leading radio stations launched one of their most ambitious operations to date this weekend: 24 hours to feed the country, raising enough money to buy some 37 tons of food. President Mwai Kibaki declared the country was facing a national disaster last month and asked international donors to contribute $ 400 million toward emergency food. At a time when 10 out of 35 million Kenyans are facing starvation, NGOs, civil society and the media and entertainment industry have decided to take the situation into their own hands. Can a radio station feed a nation? FSRN's Arusha Topazzini set out to find out.

Spain's national court has started an investigation into the murder of Spanish Jesuit priests who lived and worked in Latin America until they were killed by El Salvador's military officers in 1989. Former president Alfredo Cristiani could be called to testify on the civilian deaths. Ricardo Martinez reports from El Salvador.