Possible delay for elections in Iraq

KMC723@CABRINI EDU & JGM726@CABRINI EDU

The Sunni Arab and Kurdish political groups in Baghdad, Iraq, are making attempts to delay the elections taking place in January 2005 for new Iraqi leaders. The Sunni Arabs believe that the environment is too unstable and violent for people to make safe and rational voting decisions. However, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the Shiite cleric, insists on keeping the Jan. 30 date. He and others believe it is best to hold the elections as soon as possible. The Americans are trying to keep Ayatollah Sistani's interests in mind while trying to gratify the majority of the Shiites, according to the newyorktimes.com.

Weatherconditions terrible forholiday travelers pain.

A California-based federal appeals court agreed that Congress lacked the authority to subject the women to federal drug laws, because their activity did not involve interstate commerce.

But Justices Antonin Scalia and Anthony Kennedy, who have supported the court’s previous efforts to limit federal power, suggested through their questions that Congress could regulate such drug use, just as it could pass laws banning other types of drug possession.

“Why is this not an economic activity?” Scalia asked lawyer Randy Barnett, who represents the patients and caregivers.

But Barnett asserted that the drug is grown solely for the use of the patient. It is not sold and does not leave the state of California, he said, so it does not concern interstate commerce and is not within Congress’power to regulate.

“There is literally no connection between this and the inter- state market,” Barnett said.

But Justice Department lawyer Paul Clement argued that even marijuana grown solely for personal medical use could affect commerce.

“What you’re talking about here is possession, manufacture, distribution of a valuable commodity to which there’s a ready market,” he said.

Clement also argued that smoked marijuana had no future as medicine. “Smoking is harmful. That’s true of tobacco, and it’s also true of marijuana,” Clement said.

He also noted that researchers are trying to duplicate a substance in marijuana that can be taken in pill form.

Also on Monday, the court declined to take up a challenge to a decision by the Massachusetts Supreme Court that legalized marriage for gay and lesbian couples. Without comment, the court let stand the lower court decision, which was grounded in state law.

Snow, wind and rain made conditions much harder for Thanksgiving tavelers in Northeastern America. Asnowstorm hit Nevada's mountains, while plane delays slowed down people trying to get to Boston, New York and Philadelphia. The Colorado Rockies experienced at least a foot of snow, and Detroit, Mich., is anticipating a mix of rain and snow, according to cnn.com.

Segregation still an issue forAlabama

Citizens of Alabama refused to approve a constitutional amendment to erase segregation-era wording requiring separate schools for "white and colored children" and to eliminate references to the poll taxes once imposed to disenfranchise blacks. The vote's results were so close that a recount will take place to determine the final verdict, according to washingtonpost.com.

Steelers hope forStaley's quick recovery

The Pittsburgh Steelers' running back, Duce Staley, unexpectedly missed a fourth consecutive game because of a sore hamstring. By going to all of the practices, he was expected to get back in the game on Sunday, Nov. 28. However, he sat out the game against Washington, including games against the Eagles, Browns and Bengals. Jerome Bettis got the start in each of the three games Staley missed, according to cnn.com.

Mining disasters in China

Agas explosion early Sunday morning entrapped more than 160 Chinese miners thousands of feet underground. The third mining disaster in two months, the Chinese leaders are attempting to avoid criticism and concentrate on a solution to this reoccurring problem. The state-run Xinhua agency reports about 4,153 deaths in China's coal mines during the first nine months of this year, according to csmonitor.com.

Ridge resigns from homeland security post

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge turned in his letter of resignation to President Bush on Tuesday, Nov. 30. Ridge cited family and personal reasons for leaving the position he has held for the past two years. Ridge was gracious and thanked the many employees that work for the department, “who go to work every day dedicated to making our country better and more secure.” He will remain in the position until Feb. 1 unless his successor is named and approved by Congress earlier. There are speculations as to who will take over, but no one is exactly sure, according to MSNBC.

New York schools need more money

Apanel recently found he New York City public schools must have $5.6 million in order to give their school children a decent education that is guaranteed by the constitution. Nine million more dollars is needed to make the facilities, such as libraries and laboratories, adequate. There is no decision as to where the money will come from, the city or the federal government. The panel also suggested that the plan get started in the next 90 days and that within the next four years, according the New York Times.