Top News Stories - May 2009:
NOAA Prediction: Next Solar Cycle Lowest Since 1928
Solar Cycle 24 will be the lowest of any cycle since 1928, according to a panel of experts from NOAA and sponsored by NASA. -- NOAA, NASA prediction
News Media Barred from ACORN Meeting
The controversial organization ACORN blocked access to the Washington Examiner and Fox News from a briefing and discussion meeting Tuesday. ACORN is under investigation for voter fraud related activities. -- ACORN controversy
North Korea Threatens to Strike United States and South Korean Ships
After thumbing their noses at Barack Obama on the United States Memorial Day holiday, North Korea has threatened to strike U.S. and South Korean warships. North Korea also test fired more missiles this week. -- North Korea's week of defiance
Barack Obama's Energy Adviser: All the Worlds Roofs Should be Painted White to Slow Global Warming
Barack Obama's Energy Secretary Steven Chu believes painting the world's roofs white can offset the carbon offset the global warming effects of all cars in the world for 11 years as well as save a lot of money on energy. It is unclear what effect this would have during the winter months, especially in cold weather regions where such a policy could be devastating to those trying to heat their homes and lucrative to the oil companies. -- Obama's Energy Advisor's ideas
Barack Obama Supreme Court Pick Rejected Racial Discrimination Case
Barack Obama's controversial Supreme Court pick Sonia Sotomayor voted against the racial discrimination case brought on by 20 firefighters, who's 2 promotion tests were thrown out because there were no black applicants who had passed the tests. -- Sonia Sotomayor's controversial judgment
Iran Test-Fires Missile Capable of Hitting Israel, Europe and U.S. Bases
Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad continues to press his luck, test-firing a missile that can threaten Israel and the region. Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said: "They can either continue on this path of continued destabilization in the region or they can decide that they want to pursue relationships with the counties in the region and the United States that are more normalized. Our concerns are obviously based on nuclear ambitions and the implications that long and medium-range missiles have with respect to that." -- Iran update
76 of 100 Senators Warn Barack Obama on Risks to Israel in Peace Agreement
76 of the 100 senators wrote Obama in a letter saying: "As we work closely with our democratic ally, Israel, we must take into account the risks it will face in any peace agreement." -- Senators warning to Obama
Amnesty International: Barack Obama Breaks Major Campaign Promise
Barack Obama's reviving military tribunals for Guantanamo detainees is a major policy shift and campaign promise breaker. -- military tribunal shift
Michael Savage Asks Hillary Clinton to Call on British Government to Remove His Ban
Michael Savage's lawyers have sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, asking her to help get the British government to remove the talk show host from the list of banned visitors. -- Michael Savage's appeal to Hillary Clinton
Pakistan Military Leaders: 200 Taliban Militants Killed During a One Day Period
200 Taliban militants were killed by the Pakistan military in a one day period, according to a statement by military leaders. "Indiscriminate mortar firing and planting of IEDs in the streets and roads by the miscreants (Taliban) in the populated areas of Thana, Malakand and Mingora, resulted into civilian casualties," according to the military statement. -- Pakistan/Taliban story
CIA Documents: Nancy Pelosi was Aware of Harsh Interrogation Methods
Calls have begun for a congressional inquiry into a growing controversy involving Nancy Pelosi's contradictory statements and CIA documents on her knowledge of torture. -- Nancy Pelosi controversy
CIA Report: Iran Has Expanded Nuclear Infrastructure and Uranium Enrichment
Iran has dramatically increased the amount of low-enriched uranium production, according to a CIA report to Congress. Low-enriched uranium can be further enriched to produce fuel for nuclear weapons. Iran also continued development of Shahab-3 medium-range missiles with assistance from China, North Korea and Russia. Iran is attempting to purchase advanced S-300 air defense missiles from Russia with a likely deployment location for the system including its nuclear facilities.
China is also criticized in the CIA report for its continued proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. "Chinese entities continue to supply a variety of missile-related items to multiple customers." -- more on the CIA report
U.S. Male Unemployment Rates At Post WWII High
The U.S. unemployment rate has risen to 8.9%, with male unemployment hitting post WWII highs. -- U.S. unemployment news
Michael Savage Banned from UK for His Opinions
In what is considered by many to be an attack on free speech, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith included American talk radio announcer Michael Savage on a list of 16 people who are banned from entering the UK. Savage, the leader of the Savage Nation radio show fired back: "For this lunatic Jacqui Smith... to link me up with skinheads who are killing people in Russia, to put me in league with mass murderers who kill Jews on buses, is defamation. As a result of this, I am going to sue her." -- more on Jacqui Smith's UK visitor ban
Israeli President Shimon Peres: We Don't Have to Cross Out Any Other Options
"Engagement is an attempt to achieve a goal. If this attempt will succeed, OK, but we don't have to cross out any other options," Israeli President Shimon Peres told Jewish leaders and diplomats in New York, while discussing the threat of a nuclear Iran. -- Israel weighs Iran threat options
ACORN, Two Employees Charged with 29 Felonies in Nevada
Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto has filed charges of 26 counts of voter fraud and 13 counts of compensating those registering voters. The charges allege ACORN had policies requiring employees to sign up 20 new voters a day or be fired. This goes against state law, according to Masto and Nevada Secretary of State Ross Miller.
ACORN timesheets indicated corporate officials of ACORN were aware of an illegal bonus program called 'Blackjack' and failed to take proper action to stop it. Allegations of multiple voter registrations and fraudulent voter information led to the investigations. "Nevada will not tolerate violations of the law by individuals nor will it allow corporations to hide behind or place blame on their employees when training manuals clearly detail, condone and, indeed, require illegal acts in performing the job for the corporation," Attorney General Masto said. -- ACORN voter fraud story
Catholics Angered by Inacurrate Dan Brown/Ron Howard Angels & Demons Movie
Another historically inaccurate movie written by Dan Brown and directed by Ron Howard is drawing widespread criticism. The Angels & Demons movie, which includes Tom Hanks, depicts a brutal massacre centuries ago by Catholics, of which there is no reason to believe ever happened. -- Angels and Demons controversy
Tom Lauria: One of My Clients was Directly Threatened by the White House
Tom Lauria, bankruptcy attorney at White & Case, made some shocking revelations while speaking to radio host Frank Beckmann. Lauria, who represents a group of lenders who object to the Chrysler sale said: "One of my clients was directly threatened by the White House and, in essence, compelled to withdraw its opposition to the deal under threat that the full force of the White House Press Corps would destroy its reputation if it continued to fight."
The leading bankruptcy attorney went on to say that untrue statements had been made about his clients not being willing to make concessions. He revealed they had agreed to compromise 50% of what they are owed to support the rehabilitation of Chrysler, despite the fact they are under no obligation to do so. Lauria also added: "If the President will attack that contractual right, what right will it not attack?" -- Tom Lauria/Frank Beckmann radio interview