Newscast for Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Supreme Court weighs constitutionality of warrantless blood samples for DWIs

The state of Missouri argued before the US Supreme Court today that it shouldn’t have to get a warrant in order to take a blood sample from someone suspected of driving drunk. But some states and civil liberties groups disagree, saying a possible DUI conviction shouldn’t allow a violation of privacy rights. FSRN’s Alice Ollstein attended this morning’s hearing and files this report.

Texas schools RFID tracking suit sparks concerns about student privacy

In Texas, a public school district has been allowed to continue to require students to carry locator chips, according to a ruling by a federal judge Tuesday. US District Judge Orlando Garcia dismissed a request by a 15-year-old sophomore to block San Antonio’s Northside Independent School District from requiring her to carry a student badge. The student’s family had cited religious and privacy reasons. Officials at John Jay Science and Engineering Academy say the use of the electronic devices, called Radio Frequency Identification or RFID, is part of a pilot program to ensure safety and increase school attendance. Privacy advocates raise concern about the use of the technology and possible violations of civil liberties. For more we’re joined by Khaliah Barnes administrative law counsel at the Electronic Privacy Information Center.

Fleeing violence in Syria, refugees face more challenges in Kurdistan

Photos from Damascus today showed thick snow falling from the sky as local residents described dipping temperatures and aid organizations warned of difficulty reaching those in need. The World Food Programme said it’s having a hard time bringing aid to more than one million people displaced by the fighting in the country. As the civil war in Syria thunders on, refugees are fleeing the country on a daily basis. Many Syrian Kurds head for the autonomous Kurdistan Region of Northern Iraq just across the border and while many of them choose to stay in the United Nations camp of Domiz, others are coming to the cities in the hope of better living conditions and a chance to find work. But life for these urban refugees is an uphill battle, as FSRN’s Hermione Gee reports from the Kurdistan Region’s capital, Erbil.

Mexican farmers, environmentalists call on government to block large scale production of GMO corn

In Mexico, groups of small farmers and environmentalists are calling on the government to reject permit applications which would open up large swathes of productive agricultural land to commercial production of genetically modified corn. They cite cultural and scientific concerns. FSRN’s Shannon Young reports from Oaxaca.