Oct. 29, 2005

HOUSTON — Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Sugar Land) turned himself in to the Harris County sheriff’s department here Oct. 20 to face money laundering and conspiracy charges. The charges stem from allegations that he illegally used corporate funds in the 2002 state elections.

HOUSTON — In a dramatic protest here against the discriminatory Texas Marriage Amendment on the ballot Nov. 8, 100 activists donned “tragedy masks” and black clothing, and carried signs spotlighting some of the many federal protections afforded to married couples that are denied to same-sex and common-law couples and their families.

The Israeli occupation of Gaza Strip didn’t end — it merely changed its form.

With the completion of the Israeli army withdrawal from Gaza Strip and the eviction of the settlers, the occupation has seemingly ended. And indeed, if by “occupation” we mean a direct military presence, then sure enough, Gaza Strip is no longer occupied by Israel. But is this truly the situation?

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Canada is deporting persons to countries where they risk being cruelly treated and tortured, Amnesty International (AI) said in a report released Oct. 13.

Sen. Brian Dorgan (R-N.D.) had high hopes for the passage of his amendment to an appropriations bill that would have cut funding for the Treasury Department’s enforcement of the Cuba travel ban. Supporters of the democratic right of U.S. citizens to travel to the island were also optimistic about the amendment’s chances.

Angola: Refugees return home; China: Retirement rules called unfair to women; Britain: Mothers to camp out at Blair’s place; Pakistan: 1 million jobs lost in quake; Haiti: UN official calls rights ‘catastrophic’

Philly transit sets strike; EFCA gains support; Low jobless benefits in Gulf; Wal-Mart week of action; Calif. firefighters burning up; NEA on student loan cuts; GM runs over autoworker health care

DEARBORN, Mich. — Several hundred Detroit area residents gathered here Oct. 17 to speak out on the health care crisis in the U.S. and to demand a national solution.

On Nov. 8 organized labor and its allies in San Diego will face their first significant political challenge since the landmark AFL-CIO convention last summer. What’s at stake is the future of a labor-community coalition that has navigated one of America’s largest municipalities out of the “conservative” doldrums, and a strategy for defeating the ultra-right in the coming year.

On Sept. 21 a daylong conference on Capitol Hill discussed the crisis in skyrocketing medical school tuition, high medical student debt and the implications for our nation’s health care.