Headlines for Friday, May 21, 2010

Texas Board set to approve conservative curriculum changes
The Texas State Board of Education appeared poised this afternoon to approve changes to its social studies curriculum to lessen references to the roles of minorities in history and treat US movements like McCarthyism in a kinder light.  Critics, particularly African American and Latino groups, charge the Republican-heavy board seeks to let politics overwrite history.  Reporting from Houston, FSRN’s Rachel Clarke has more.

Controversy began in March when the Texas State Board of Education appointed six experts to review the current standards.  In its list of recommendations, the experts said references to labor leader Cesar Chavez and Brown v.  Board of Education attorney Thurgood Marshall should removed for not being “historically significant.”

Testimony was heard on Wednesday, with more than 200 people weighing in.  Among them was Bush Education Secretary Rod Paige.  In his testimony, Paige pleaded with the Board not to let personal opinions drive –quote-  "what is taught to our children.”  Texas is the second largest purchaser of textbooks in the nation, behind California, and consequently textbook publishers could begin pushing the Texas version of history on other states.  Rachel Clarke, FSRN, Houston.

Obama announces move towards new truck fuel efficiency standard
President Barack Obama issued memorandum today directing his administration to devise a new national fuel efficiency standard for medium and heavy duty trucks beginning with model year 2014.  He says this is the first time the US will have such a standard.

“This is going to bring down the cost for transportating… transporting goods serving business and consumers alike.  It will reduce pollution, given that freight vehicles produce roughly 1/5 of the greenhouse gas emissions related to transportation.”

Last year, Obama announced a similar standard for cars and light trucks, which was finalized last month.  The President said he wants the new standards in place by the end of the year.

Another Massey Energy miner dies
Another miner employed by Massey Energy in West Virginia is dead, just a day after Massey’s CEO testified before a Senate committee about the high safety standards of the company.  James Erwin, a 35-year coalmine veteran, was struck by a mining car on May 10th.  He died early this morning due to complications from his injuries, according to a report issued by Federal Mine Safety authorities.  FSRN’s Brad Kutner has more about Massey’s safety record.

Massey Energy’s CEO sat before a Senate hearing Wednesday to defend his company’s safety record in the wake of the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster, which left 29 miners dead.

"Let me state for the record - Massey does not place profits over safety, We never have and we never will.  Period.  When I became head of Massey 20 years ago, I have made safety the number one priority.  Our records as been dramatically better than the industry average in the 17 of the last 19 years."

But a report by the Mine Health and Safety Administration acquired by FSRN shows Massey has received over 37 thousand safety violation in the last 5 years.  That’s 10 thousand more than the next company on the list.

The death of James Erwin today brings total mine-related deaths under Massey Energy’s watch to 53 in the past 10 years.  Brad Kutner, FSRN.

Scientists create first synthetic living cell, ethics questioned
In a major scientific advance, researchers in Maryland have created what they are calling the first synthetic cell.  Scientists first described the new synthetic species of bacterium in the journal Science, yesterday.  Kellia Ramares has more:

Researchers at the J. Craig Venter Institute designed and created an artificial strand of bacterial DNA inside a yeast chromosome and then transplanted it into a different, though related, species of bacterium.  Scientists then used a patented process to “boot it up,” or make it come alive.

The result is not “life from scratch,” but it is a step toward being able to reprogram bacteria to produce things such as new fuels, or better ways to clean polluted water.  But synthetic biology could also be used to produce dangerous microbes.  Jesse Reynolds is a policy analyst for the Center for Genetics and Society in Berkeley, California.

“There are concerns about environmental release, about health and human safety.  These have not been adequately addressed from a regulatory perspective.  They're certainly promising a lot of very positive potential developments from this: A green technology and the production of medicines and so forth.  But I think it's important to keep in mind that these researchers are also there to make a dollar”

President Barack Obama has requested that the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues immediately undertake a study of the potential benefits and risks of synthetic biology in medical, environmental, security and other areas.  The commission's report is due in 6 months.  Kellia Ramares.  FSRN, Oakland.