Newscast for Friday, February 8, 2013

Indigenous communities vulnerable to climate change, says EPA adaptation plan

The EPA released a plan today on how to respond to climate change, saying that rising sea levels and changes in temperatures and rainfall threaten the country’s air, water and human health. The draft is now open for public comment. It identifies groups that are especially vulnerable to climate change, including the elderly, the poor and indigenous communities. But as Secretary of State John Kerry meets today with Canadian officials to discuss issues including the Keystone XL pipeline some indigenous leaders say the US government needs to better regulate the oil, natural gas and coal companies that threaten their land. In Washington, D.C., FSRN’s Alice Ollstein has more.

Thousands fill Tunis streets for funeral of slain opposition leader Chokri Belaid

Police fired tear gas on crowds near a cemetery in Tunisia, where tens of thousands of mourners attended the funeral for opposition leader Chokri Belaid, who was shot and killed earlier this week. Video posted online by AFP shows dense crowds lining the street as Belaid’s coffin, draped in the bold red color of the nation’s flag, moved slowly through. Belaid’s killing has sparked protests throughout Tunisia and the ruling Ennadha Party a is divided on how to respond. This week marked some of the largest protests since the ouster of long-time leader Zine Abidine Ben Ali two years ago, which fueled similar upheavals across north Africa and the Arab world. For more, we’re joined by Bernard Yaros, editor with the news site Tunisia Live. He’s been following events today and joins us from Tunis.

Restaurant workers push for guaranteed wages, security in workplace

A food server at an Applebee's restaurant in Missouri was fired last week for posting a copy of a receipt on-line. A customer who had been charged an automatic 18 percent gratuity as part of a large party had written on it, "I give God 10 percent, why do you get 18?" The incident went viral and brought to the fore not only the lack of any job protection for almost all restaurant workers, but the role of tips in their survival. FSRN’s Melinda Tuhus reports.

Civil rights groups threaten California with lawsuit for failure to provide English instruction to students

Two prominent legal groups are threatening to sue California if it doesn't begin offering more English language instruction to non-English speaking students. The governor is urging action. But it’s unclear whether his proposal will fix the problem fast enough -- or if the legislature will pass the measure. FSRN’s Larry Buhl has more from Los Angeles.