Headlines for Thursday, July 8, 2010

FL Governor calls special session to ban oil drilling off coast
The last several weeks of the BP oil spill have seen the pristine white sand beaches of the Florida Panhandle turn to a major tar clean-up operation.  Today the state’s Governor took a step that could reduce the risk in the future.  From WMNF Community Radio in Tampa, Sean Kinane reports.

Florida Governor Charlie Crist announced that he is calling the state Legislature back into a special session later this month.  At a press conference, Crist said he hopes they will draft a state Constitutional amendment that, if passed by voters in November, would ban fossil fuel drilling in Florida waters.

“This is an issue that is so important to the future of our state, to the economy of Florida.  Our economy and our environment are inextricably linked in my view.”

State waters range from three to ten miles offshore.  The ban would not affect deep water drilling in federal waters of the Gulf.  The state Legislature strongly leans Republican, but public outrage is currently high enough that the ban could go through.  Sean Kinane, FSRN, Tampa.

Report: Less than half eligible immigrants would gain permanent residency through DREAM Act
A new report released today by the Migration Policy Institute says that approximately 2.1 million youth and young adults in the US are currently eligible for DREAM Act benefits, were the law to pass.  The DREAM act would allow many of those brought to the US illegally before the age of 16 to obtain conditional permanent resident status, attend college or enter the military and eventually be given permanent residency.  Report author Jeanne Batalova says some immigrants are less likely than others to reap the benefits of the legislation.  Immigrants who currently don’t have high school degrees are in the worst situation.

“They face a double disadvantage.  They would need to obtain a high school diploma.  And the fact that so few of them are limited English proficient will make it really difficult to qualify for conditional status.”

Batalova says that only 4% of the 470,000 in this group would actually go on to obtain permanent status.  Of the estimated 2.1 million eligible immigrants, the Migration Policy Institute estimates that only 825,000 would actually complete the requirements to become permanent residents.

Immigration activists protest MLB’s plan to hold All Star Game in Arizona
Major League Baseball plans to host next year's All-Star Game in Arizona - but opponents of the state's new immigration law want the game moved.  They protested today outside of the league's headquarters in Manhattan.  FSRN's Renee Feltz was there.

Take the game out of Phoenix, move the All-Star Game Now - Hundreds of immigrant supporters sang their own version of Take Me Out to the Ball Game during today's protest.  They want Major League Baseball to take a stance against Arizona's new immigration law.  One speaker pointed out that a quarter of the league's players are Latino or were born abroad.

"They look like we do.  And if they were walking in the streets of Arizona they could be detained and they could be deported."

Today's protest was one of many held around the country as part of a nationwide call to boycott Arizona, including games played by the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Many baseball players have denounced Arizona's law, but commissioner Bud Selig has resisted calls to move the All Star Game.  For now, it remains scheduled for next year in Phoenix.  Renee Feltz, FSRN, Manhattan.

UK throws out “Stop and Search” policy
Great Britain’s Home Secretary today threw out the police’s controversial “Stop and Search” counter-terrorism policy.  Under the rule, police could stop and frisk anyone without probable cause.  The European Court of Human Rights ruled the policy unlawful earlier this year.  Activists have been complaining for the last decade that “stop and search” violates civil rights.

Somali World Cup fans attacked for defying game-watching ban
As the final game of the World Cup approaches, Islamist militants in Somalia continue to prohibit residents from watching the game on television.  During yesterday’s semi-final match between Spain and Germany, unknown militiamen attacked a house on the edge of the capital where fans were watching the game.  For FSRN Abdulkarim Jimale has the story.

Two football fans were killed and three others injured in bomb attack at a house in Elasha Biyaha District, near the capital Mogadishu.  The area is home tens of thousands of internally displaced people.

Al-Shabab and Hizbul Islam have banned civilians from watching and playing football games in the areas under their control in southern Somalia, which includes large parts of Mogadishu.  The extremist groups threaten football fans with public flogging or worse if they are caught watching a match.

A large number of football fans have abandoned rebel areas and are looking for safe places controlled by Somali government to watch the World Cup final.  Many Somali football fans are angry about the ban, but say they don’t have a choice but to accept the order.  Abdulkarim Jimale, FSRN.

Cuba to free 52 political prisoners
The Cuban Catholic Church has negotiated the release of 52 political prisoners jailed by Cuban authorities since 2003.  The prisoners were arrested in a government crackdown on pro-democracy activists.  The church indicated the prisoners would be released over the next few months.  According to Cuban Commission for Human Rights figures, this release would bring the total number of political prisoners in the country to approximately 115 – that’s down from 201 at the end of 2009.