Thursday, January 10, 2013
Hilda Solis Resigns: Labor Secretary Announces She'll Depart Obama Cabinet   SHARE She was Obama's one good appointment. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis is leaving her position in President Barack Obama's cabinet, the Associated Press reports. The White House confirmed the development in a statement:Over her long career in public service - as an advocate for environmental justice in California, state legislator, member of Congress and Secretary of Labor - Hilda Solis has been a tireless champion for working families. In a message to colleagues, Solis said she made the decision to leave after discussing it with her family and close friends. One of the highest-ranking Hispanics in Obama's administration, Solis has won praise from labor unions for aggressive enforcement of wage and hour laws and job safety regulations. But business groups have criticized her as not taking a more cooperative approach.

       Sunday, January 6, 2013
Wikileaks: Julian Assange arrest rumors 'false'   SHARE Rumors that Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has been arrested in London are "false," the whistleblower website said on Saturday. Indymedia UK had reported that Assange, the 41-year-old Australian who sparked a diplomatic row when he was granted asylum by Ecuador, was arrested while secretly visiting a medical clinic five minutes from the Ecuadorean Embassy in London. But Wikileaks vehemently denied the story, tweeting that "Reports of Julian #Assange arrest are false and derive from a fabricated story." "Such media smears are common,"Wikileaks tweeted. "Reader beware." Indymedia UK has ince 'hidden' the spurious article about Assange's arrest, citing a breach of editorial guidelines. Assange has been hailed as a champion of free speech and transparency by progressives around the world, and by congressman Ron Paul. Wikileaks has nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.

       Friday, January 4, 2013
As Chavez Recovers From Fourth Cancer Surgery, Opposition Forces Get Busy   SHARE TALK ABOUT PRESSURE ON SOMEONE RECOVERING FROM SURGERY. Just days away from his Presidential inauguration, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is feared by many to be at death's door.But Vice President Nicholas Maduro, angered by the rumors, publicly denounced them after returning from a visit with Chavez where he said he spoke twice with him. Maduro asserts that Chavez is "completely conscious of the complexity of his post-operative state."Meanwhile, the opposition movement in Venezuela has called for a new election within 30 days if Chavez is too ill to attend his inauguration on the 10th. Chavez's supporters in Latin America, which include a number of other Presidents, have expressed their solidarity: Bolivia's Evo Morales sent him a public message of strength toward "a quick recovery."

(1 comments)        Friday, January 4, 2013
Venezuelan VP: Ailing Hugo Chavez could be sworn in later before Supreme Court   SHARE CARACAS, Venezuela -- Venezuela's vice president said Friday that President Hugo Chavez could be sworn in by the Supreme Court later on if he's not able to take the oath of office next week before lawmakers because of his struggle with cancer. Vice President Nicolas Maduro made the comment in a televised interview on Friday night, dismissing the argument by some opposition leaders that new elections must be called if Chavez doesn't take office as scheduled on Thursday. His stance appeared likely to generate friction between the government and opposition over the legality of putting off the swearing-in, which the constitution says should occur on Thursday before the National Assembly.As for the opposition, Maduro said, "they should respect our constitution." The vice president held up a small copy of the constitution and read aloud passages relating to such procedures.

       Saturday, December 22, 2012
Bosses Can Fire Hot Workers For Being 'Irresistible': All-Male Court   SHARE Women have uphill battle fighting sexual discrimination. It seems that women can never get an even break. IOWA CITY, Iowa------ The court ruled 7-0 that bosses can fire employees they see as an "irresistible attraction," even if the employees have not engaged in flirtatious behavior or otherwise done anything wrong. Such firings may be unfair, but they are not unlawful discrimination under the Iowa Civil Rights Act because they are motivated by feelings and emotions, not gender, Justice Edward Mansfield wrote.

(1 comments)        Saturday, December 22, 2012
Calif. judge reprimanded for telling rape victim her body would have 'shut down' if she didn't want to have sex   SHARE Orange County, California, is considered the toughest county in America for female crime victims to get justice. SANTA ANA, Calif. -- A Southern California judge is being publicly admonished for saying a rape victim "didn't put up a fight" during her assault and that if someone doesn't want sexual intercourse, the body "will not permit that to happen." The California Commission on Judicial Performance voted 10-0 to impose a public admonishment Thursday, saying Superior Court Judge Derek Johnson's comments were inappropriate and a breach of judicial ethics. "In the commission's view, the judge's remarks reflected outdated, biased and insensitive views about sexual assault victims who do not 'put up a fight.' Such comments cannot help but diminish confidence and trust in the impartiality of the judiciary,"wrote Lawrence J. Simi, the commission's chairman.