Newscast for Monday, June 1, 2009

Abortion debate reignited by Doctor George Tiller´s murder
The murder of Dr. George Tiller during a church service in Kansas has renewed debate on abortion. The doctor was one of the few in the country that provided late term abortions and the murder has sparked outrage from women’s rights groups. It has also prompted the Attorney General to deploy additional security for other doctors.  FSRN’s Leigh Ann Caldwell reports.

Forty six states agree to joint education guidelines
Educators around the country have been clamoring for uniform standards for teaching. And they’re about to get their wish. Forty-six states and the District of Columbia have agreed to craft joint guidelines for education. Tanya Snyder reports.

Texas legislature fails to pass key bills
The Texas legislative session ends today, even as lawmakers have failed to pass critical legislation with bi-partisan support.

The 81st legislative session was marred by an intensely polarizing voter identification bill that stalled in the House chamber for five days. Now Governor Rick Perry could call the legislature back for a special session

Bhopal survivors tour America in search of justice
Survivors of the 1984 chemical disaster in Bhopal India are wrapping up a tour of the US and Canada. They´re trying to hold chemical corporation, Union Carbide, responsible for the ongoing medical costs and clean-up.

December will mark the 25th anniversary of the massive toxic gas release,  which is widely considered to be one of the worst industrial disasters in history.

The Indian government paid millions for the disaster, but residents of Bhopal say they still suffer health problems. FSRN´s Africa Jones spoke with survivors who visited the Bay Area.

Indigenous groups conclude continental summit in Peru
Five thousand Indigenous peoples from across the Americas gathered in the South American Andes this past week to articulate their positions and consolidate political strategies.

The “Fourth Continental Summit of Indigenous Peoples”,  focused on providing alternatives to what some call the capitalist crisis sweeping western civilization.

Marc Becker is in Puno, Peru, where the Indigenous summit has just ended.

Obituary:  a tribute to activist lawyer Susan Jordan
FSRN remembers Susan Jordan, a prominent civil litigator and criminal justice lawyer who died Friday in a plane crash in Utah.  She was 67 years old.

Jordan represented several prominent political activists throughout her career as a criminal defense lawyer. Her clients included members of the Symbionese Liberation Army, and Earth First activist Judi Bari.

Christina Aanestad files this report, from partner station KZYX&Z