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A leading Senate Democrat said Monday his party is determined to push through a health care overhaul bill with or without Republican support. Congressional Democrats are trying to resolve differences within their rank and file over abortion, taxes and letting the government sell health insurance as a competitor with private insurers. The House passed its health care bill earlier this month but debates remain unresolved.
The king of pop Michael Jackson is still winning awards and setting records at the same time. On Sunday, Jackson won 4 awards at the 2009 American Music awards which makes 23 awards received total. Also at this event Taylor Swift was named the year’s favorite artist. The AMA’s, known for powerful performances, featured Lady Gaga, Whitney Houston, the Black eyed peas and Adam Lambert.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued a reminder that the number of "food insecure" people is rising, and North Carolina is among the fastest risers. USDA says that 13.7 percent of households in the state are food insecure, which is defined as not having all the food needed for a healthy, active lifestyle. Food boxes are scattered around 41 locations in the High Country where people can drop off non-perishable items to be used in the food pantry. The local food drive will continue into January.
Appalachian State University’s Institute for Health and Human Services and the Wellness Center hosted the Great American Smokeout Thursday in Plemmons Student Union. The event aimed to educate students about the dangers of smoking, as well as Appalachian’s smoking policy. Kim E. Carter of the Institute for Health and Human Services said Smoking among college age students often begins as a social activity but could lead to dangers. Information sessions were provided about smoking and health, violation of the smoking policy, and ways to stop.
For more information, contact Elise Shim
Students in the Skills USA program at Watauga High School are holding a fundraiser on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at Watauga High in which residents can get a haircut while having their car winterized. According to organizers, car services include changing the oil and oil filter, testing the antifreeze, topping off all fluids, and checking the tires. Having students get your vehicle ready for winter will cost $25.
Congresswoman Virginia Foxx spoke out yesterday against the suspected terrorist’s transfer. President Barack Obama’s administration plans to transfer a suspected terrorist believed to be involved in the September 11 attacks from the Guantanamo Bay prison to New York for a trial in civilian court. Foxx said, “Moving these terrorists to the U.S. provides these war criminals all the constitutional rights of American citizens. This is a bad precedent that risks allowing self-proclaimed terrorists to make a mockery of the constitutional rights they will be given.”
It was confirmed yesterday that the body of a child found near Fayetteville was indeed that of 5 year old Shaniya Davis who was reported missing a over a week ago. Shaniya's mother, Antoinette Nicole Davis, has been charged with human trafficking and other offenses. Police said additional charges are expected in connection with the case and any charges will be made public as soon as they are filed.
A woman accused of helping kidnap Utah teenager Elizabeth Smart from her bed in 2002 apologized to the young woman Tuesday as she pleaded guilty to federal charges. Barzee, 64, pleaded guilty in federal court to kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor, and she said she will plead guilty in state court to conspiracy to commit aggravated kidnapping. She also agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in the state and federal cases against her husband, Brian David Mitchell.
For more information, contact Fatima Meadows
The Appalachian State University Student Association of Social Work hosted a Health Care Forum last Tuesday.This forum focused mostly on heath care as it related to Boone. In Watauga county, obesity and the poverty rate were the main factors related to health care. Alice Salthouse, director of Community Outreach at Watauga Medical Center, stated that the three things contributing the most to the causes of preventative deaths in North Carolina are physical inactivity, poor nutrition and tobacco use.
The 11th annual Appalachian Leadership Forum took place last Saturday. David Caulkins, former Chief Financial Officer of The New York Times Co. and current CFO of Invista, a chemical plant in Wilmington, gave the opening speech at the event. There were plenty of leadership based sessions for students to attend and it was an opportunity to develop leadership skills and make connections.
On Saturday night, authorities reported that the mother of a missing child in North Carolina has been charged with human trafficking and other offenses. The whereabouts of her daughter, 5-year-old Shaniya Davis, remain unknown. Her mother told police Tuesday that she vanished from their mobile home in Fayetteville. Anyone that may have information on Shaniya's whereabouts can contact the Fayetteville Police at 910-433-1856.
A high school librarian in Phoenix says a former student at the school returned two overdue books checked out 51 years ago along with a $1,000 money order to cover the fines.
Camelback High School librarian Georgette Bordine says the two Audubon Society books checked out in 1959 and the money order were sent by someone who wanted to remain anonymous.
Bordine says the letter explained that the borrower's family moved to another state and the books were mistakenly packed.
The letter said the money order was to cover fines of 2 cents per day for each book. That would total about $745. The letter says the extra money was added in case the rates had changed.
Bordine says the money will buy more books, and the overdue books will be returned to the shelves.
U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to meet with the Shanghai mayor today and hold a town hall-style meeting with "future Chinese leaders" before heading to Beijing to meet his host, Chinese President Hu Jintao. President Obama arrived in China yesterday. China is now the dominant regional player in northeast Asia, recently hosting a summit in Beijing with the Japanese and South Korean leaders. The major discussion topics when the president visits will likely be trade issues.; the United States imports billions of dollors in Chinese products each year.
For more information, contact Stevie Duncan