Headlines Package - Tuesday, December 30, 2008

• Blagojevich Names Senate Successor – Democratic Caucus Says It Won't Seat
• Bangladesh Poll Results
• ACLU Asks Court to Block Arkansas Gay Adoption Ban
• Businesses Push Secret Balloting on Unionization
• DHS Asks for Land Grab for Border Fence
• 747 Flies on Veggie Fuel

Blagojevich Names Senate Successor – Democratic Caucus Says It Won’t Seat
Even as a committee of the Illinois House of Representatives met today to consider impeaching Gov. Rod Blagojevich today, he called a press conference and named a replacement to the US Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama. Blagojevich tapped former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris. However, Senate majority leader Harry Reid issued a statement today saying the Democratic Caucus will not seat anyone named by the embattled Blagojevich and called the move unfair to both Mr. Burris and to the people of Illinois. The Illinois Governor was arrested on December 9th federal corruption charges regarding allegations that include attempting to auction off the U.S. Senate seat. When Roland Burris was elected as Illinois Comptroller, a post he held from 1983 – 1991, he became the first African American to win statewide office in Illinois. Burris’ became Illinois’ Attorney General in 1991 and served until 1995. He has unsuccessfully run for Governor and for the US Senate.

Bangladesh Poll Results
In Bangladesh, election results announced today confirm that the secular Awami League won by a landslide in yesterday’s poll. PC Dubey reports.

Reporter: Hasina is a former premier and the daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Rahman led Bangladesh in its liberation struggle against Pakistan in 1971 and was assassinated in a 1975 military coup. The army grabbed power two years ago after much electoral wrangling in the country. Monday's election formally ends the army rule and ushers in democracy. Hasina's party won 259 out of 299 seats in the country's parliament while her rival party led by another woman -- former premier, Khaleda Zia, took just 29. Political observers say the election has been largely absent of rigging because the UN monitored the election and succeeded in eliminating nearly 13 million fake voters during the past few months. Meanwhile, India has hailed the fair, peaceful and free conduct of the election describing it as a major landmark in South Asia's democratic politics. From Siliguri in India, close to Indo-Bangladesh border, I am PC Dubey.

ACLU Asks Court to Block Arkansas Gay Adoption Ban
The American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas has filed a lawsuit in attempt to block the Thursday implementation of a law that prevents unmarried couples from either fostering or adopting children. Last November the law was supported by more than 56 percent of the Arkansas electorate and proponents say it is intended to prevent gay and lesbian couples from becoming foster or adoptive parents. Arkansas was in the process of allowing unmarried cohabitating couples to foster and adopt when the law was passed in last month’s general election.  Department of Human Services officials have said they do not expect to uproot any  children from their homes.

Businesses Push Secret Balloting on Unionization
A coalition of business interests trying to defeat the labor law reform that unions are pushing launched state ballot initiative drives today. Doug Cunningham with the Workers Independent News files this report.

Reporter: A business-backed coalition called Save Our Secret Ballot is launching state constitutional amendment efforts in at least five states today that would require secret ballot elections in union organizing drives. Business wants to keep its right to force elections in union organizing campaigns because they can pressure and intimidate workers with strong anti-union campaigns when those elections are used. These proposed constitutional amendments are designed to thwart efforts by workers and their unions who want to pass the Employee Free Choice Act labor law reform. That measure   would allow workers to form unions when a majority of workers at a business sign union cards certified by the U.S. Labor Department. Backed by President-Elect Barack Obama and a majority in Congress – it would take employer intimidation out of union organizing. The Employee Free Choice Act gives workers the power to choose secret ballot elections but strips away employers' power to force those elections. The AFL-CIO says Save Our Secret Ballot is a shadow front group opposed to workers having a real free choice in union organizing.

DHS Asks for Land Grab for Border Fence
The Department of Homeland Security filed has asked a court to condemn a swath of South Texas land owned by The Nature Conservancy so it can build a border fence.
The strip land in question bisects the conservancy's Lennox Foundation Southmost Preserve.

747 Flies on Veggie Fuel
An Air New Zealand Boeing 747 partially fueled by veggie oil completed a two hour test flight today. One of the planes engines used a 50-50 blend of jatropha plant oil and A1 jet fuel. Such second-generation biofuels use a broad array of plants, have lower emissions and are less expensive than traditional biofuels like ethanol.

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