Monday, June 2, 2008

• With the Final Round of States Voting Tomorrow, the End of the Democratic Primary is Near. Maybe.
• Carbon Reduction Bill Faces Debate in US Senate
• Pakistani Remains One of the Most Dangerous Spots in the World For Journalists
• Community Groups in El Salvador Call For Investigation Into the Murder of One of the Suchitoto 14
• Great Lakes Compact slowly Garners Support From US States

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With the Final Round of States Voting Tomorrow, the End of the Democratic Primary is Near. Maybe.

The final days of the Democratic primary race have been just as eventful as the first ones. The Democratic rules committee reinstated half of Michigan and Florida's delegates and Senator Hillary Clinton continues to have a strong showing in some states and territories. She received an easy win in Puerto Rico Sunday. Senator Barack Obama continues to shore up support from super delegates, inching him closer to securing the nomination. And although signs show that Senator Clinton is winding down her campaign, she continues to publicly vie for the nomination. As FSRN's Leigh Ann Caldwell reports, Senator Clinton's focus continues to be on the popular vote, which is where she claims to have a majority -- an argument adopted by many of her loyal supporters. But it's an assertion most accounts dispute.

Carbon Reduction Bill Faces Debate in US Senate

Today the US Senate began debating a bill to reduce carbon emissions in the U.S. It is the most significant attempt by Congress to address global warming in a decade, but many lawmakers are skeptical - and so are some environmentalists. FSRN Correspondent Matt Laslo reports from Washington.

Pakistani Remains One of the Most Dangerous Spots in the World For Journalists

Being a journalist in Pakistan's tribal areas can be a difficult task. Reporters face threats on a regular basis from terrorist groups, as well as surveillance and obstruction by the military. In these tribal areas reporters are not just victims of random violence, but are sometimes targeted outright. Until Mid-may, twenty-one journalists had been killed in Pakistan since 1999. The most recent victim of anti-journalist violence is Mohammad Ibrahim, who was shot dead in the Bajaur region in late May. His death raised the number of dead to twenty-two. FSRN correspondent Rahmanullah has more.

• Community Groups in El Salvador Call For Investigation Into the Murder of One of the Suchitoto 14

In El Salvador, the May 2nd assassination of Hector Antonio Ventura, one of the "Suchitoto 14," is still fresh in the minds of citizens. The "Suchitoto 14" were taken as political prisoners in July 2007 and cleared of all charges last February. Ventura was stabbed to death while sleeping in a community outside Suchitoto. Now, legal and community organizations are demanding the Salvadoran Attorney General's office and the National Civilian Police immediately investigate the political connections in Ventrua's death. Meredith Defrancesco has more from San Salvador.

Great Lakes Compact slowly Garners Support From US States

Early last week, Wisconsin became the fifth US state to ratify the Great Lakes Compact, a proposed international agreement between eight states and two Canadian provinces that would protect North America's most important fresh water supply. Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan still have to approve the Compact before it goes to the US congress for ratification. The most recent roadblock is Ohio. Political infighting in the state's Legislature is blocking the natural resource protection deal from passing. WORT's Chris Evans and Molly Stentz have more about the Compact.