Archive - Aug 13, 2009

• Clinton wraps up Africa trip as critics accuse her of maintaining status quo
• Minnesota activists take over homes to fight foreclosures
• Mobile medical unit delivers free healthcare in Los Angeles
• More clashes between Zelaya supporters and security forces in Honduras

• Gaza-based members of Hamas resign over lack of election participation
  
• Large Seattle homeless camp allowed to stay on Port property – for now
  
• Mountain top removal policy changes put on hold
  
• ND Abortion decision: clinic doesn’t have to require women to hear fetus heartbeat
  
• NC law allows death row inmates to appeal racially motivated sentences

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is wrapping up her 11 day trip to Africa.  She´s visited  Kenya, South Africa, Angola, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo.  Today she made a brief stop in Liberia before heading to the island nation of Cape Verde.  The trip so far has been a mixture of promising economic and military aid, backing leaders who support the US and according to some critics, keeping the status quo. FSRN's Karen Miller has more.

For the past seven days, dozens of people in Minneapolis have been occupying the house of Rosemary Williams. After a foreclosure, local Sheriffs Deputies evicted Williams from her home on August 7th.  But with the help of her neighbors and local activists, Williams broke the new locks and moved back in.  As FSRN's Andrew Stelzer reports, this is one of several actions in the Twin Cities to stop the foreclosure stampede.

While lawmakers discuss healthcare reform with voters across the country, doctors are volunteering to help people who fall through the gaps in the system.    In Los Angeles, the Remote Area Medical Volunteer Corps is conducting an eight-day no-cost healthcare drive for people who need treatments they cannot afford. FSRN's Dan Fritz reports.

Manuel Zelaya is intensifying his efforts to return to power in Honduras. Yesterday the deposed President visited Brazilian President Lula da Silva and called on the United States to impose trade sanctions on the de-facto government.

Meanwhile in Honduras, Zelaya supporters clashed with local security forces for the second day.  Demonstrators threw rocks at Honduran police who blocked them from reaching the Honduran Congress. Police dispersed them with tear gas and batons detaining at least 40 protesters. Reporter Tim Russo is in Tegucigalpa, where he has been closely following the action.  FSRN spoke with Russo Thursday.