Newscast for Monday, February 8, 2010

Shelter critical in Haiti as residents and relief organizations eye rainy season
The rainy season is looming in the earthquake-torn country of Haiti. A light shower fell throughout Port-au-Prince last night. For thousands that were left homeless and living in makeshift tents across the country, the need for adequate shelter is urgent. FSRN's Dolores M. Bernal has more.

In Washington: jobs bill, blocked nominations and a call for dialogue on healthcare reform
Washington is attempting to dig out from the storm that dumped more than two feet of snow over the weekend. The snow has closed the Federal and local governments today as streets are still covered in snow and public transportation is limited. The Senate was supposed to begin debating legislation to create more jobs today, but now the Senate isn't expected to meet until tomorrow afternoon. Joining us to talk about the upcoming week in Washington is FSRN’s DC Editor Leigh Ann Caldwell.

Groups in Central California question relicensing process in nuclear power plant
The Obama Administration has signaled interest in nuclear power as part of a solution to the nation’s energy needs.  But groups say that the plant relicensing process is in need of attention. They say that public safety and fiscal responsibility could be getting overlooked. James Aramayo reports from Central California where the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is scheduled to host public meetings on the relicensing of two reactors at Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant.

Iraq war veteran faces extradition and trial after song against “stop-loss” policy
Supporters of a 34-year-old Iraq war veteran say the US military will be extraditing him to Iraq to face a military trial for a song he wrote called “Stop Loss.” Marc Hall spent 14 months in Iraq and was due to end his military contract at the end of this month, February. Instead, like thousands of other soldiers, he received a stop-loss order that would continue his active duty and send him back to Iraq. So Hall recorded and released this song as a form of protest, he says, and mailed it to the Pentagon.

That song has now landed him in jail where he faces charges in violations of the Uniform Code of Military Conduct.  Hall could be extradited, according to his supporters, as soon as this week.

To discuss this case we're joined by attorney David Gespass, president of the National Lawyers Guild and founding member of the Military Law Task Force.

Farmers and environmentalists in India protest plan to introduce genetically modified crop
Farmers and environmentalists in India are protesting the government’s plans to introduce genetically modified food in the country. The groups have stepped up their campaign after a government committee recently recommended a transgenic version of the popular Indian vegetable Eggplant for commercial release, declaring it safe for human consumption. The government is holding public meetings to decide whether or not to allow the country’s first genetically modified food crop for cultivation. From New Delhi FSRN'S Bismillah Geelani has the story.