Wednesday, October 29, 2008

California:Fontana man arrested after girlfriend is killed by pickup



Fontana man arrested after girlfriend is killed by pickup
By James Wagner Wed, 29 Oct 2008 9:43:58 AM
Police arrest Domingo Magdaleno after Rosa Torres is found behind her home with tire marks on her body.
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N.H. tornado victims still struggle

N.H. tornado victims still struggle (Boston Globe)
Displaced families fighting to rebuild
Associated Press / October 29, 2008

CONCORD, N.H. - Three months after a tornado ripped a 50-mile swath through central New Hampshire, some residents are still caught in a swirl of red tape as they fight to rebuild their damaged or destroyed homes and get on with their lives.

Arlene and Bill Moffitt are living in a trailer where their house once stood next to Northwood Lake.

Arlene, 71, and Bill, 64, say that since late July, they have done nothing but tangle with their insurance company, mortgage company, town officials, and the bank as they try to rebuild. They had to speak with 37 agents at the mortgage company, Bill Moffitt said, before checks were issued and ground was finally broken last week. They hope to be in the house by Christmas.

"The storm was one thing, and we coped," he told the Concord Monitor. "This stress we're going through now is worse than the storm itself."

There is no official tally of displaced families, but the Community Action Program of Belknap-Merrimack Counties has 24 cases open, said disaster assistance director Andy LaBrie. They include insured homeowners. Most are in Deerfield, Epsom, Northwood, and Barnstead.
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89 year old found dead of gun shot in burned out apartment after eviction notice


Man found in burned apartment building killed himself, Seattle police say
An 89-year-old man whose body was found in a Capitol Hill apartment building that caught fire Monday killed himself with a gunshot wound to the head, the King County Medical Examiner's Office said Tuesday.

By Noelene Clark and Sonia Krishnan

Seattle Times staff reporters


An 89-year-old man whose body was found in a Capitol Hill apartment building that caught fire Monday killed himself with a gunshot wound to the head, the King County Medical Examiner's Office said Tuesday.

Fire officials determined that the blaze at 1605 Bellevue Ave. was started deliberately and began in the man's first-floor unit. Seattle police are investigating the arson.

Edward Jackson, longtime building manager at the apartments, was supposed to move out that day because the building was going to be torn down to make way for condominiums.

Bethune Cookman University shuts down to go to vote

As we all know this election is one of the most important elections in history. On Monday October, 27 Bethune Cookman University,located in Daytona Beach, Fl, took a day off from classes and marched to the polls to vote early and get their voices heard.
go here for more and pictures
http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-126932

Obama wants all military votes to count, even though most will go to McCain

Obama has been part of all the changes for the better in the VA and sits on the Veterans Affairs Committee. He has a higher rating from the service organizations for supporting veterans spending bills and legislation. He wants the military honored for their service and used as if they were of value to this nation instead of simply expendable and he wants the veterans taken care of. Now this. Yet with all of this what does he receive in return? Too many in the military are still supporting McCain just because he says he support them and veterans but his record proves he does not when it comes to actually doing it. Compare his record to Obama and you'll know who really supports the military and the veterans.

Obama camp wants every military vote counted

By Rick Maze - Staff writ
Posted : Wednesday Oct 29, 2008 12:06:36 EDT

The Barack Obama campaign is urging state election officials to make an extra effort to count all military absentee votes, even though most of those votes might be expected to support the Republican presidential candidate John McCain.

In an Oct. 27 letter to the top election officials in the 50 states and the District of Columbia, Robert Bauer, general counsel for the Obama for America organization, asks states to make an extra effort to count absentee ballots cast by service members.

The letters come despite recognition by senior Obama campaign officials that many military voters —possibly a majority of military voters — are more likely to vote for Republican presidential candidate Arizona Sen. John McCain rather than Obama, the Democratic senator from Illinois.

“A military voter who is timely registered with the state and has submitted his or her federal write-in absentee ballot by the state’s deadline should be in no doubt that their vote will be counted,” Bauer says in the letters.

One state already has had a legal battle over military ballots. Virginia election officials initially balked at accepting federal write-in ballots because the federal form omits one piece of information required under state election laws — the address of the people witnessing the voter signing the ballot.
go here for more
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/10/military_obama_militaryvoters_102908w/

Fort Leonard Wood solider found dead


Leonard Wood soldier found dead
FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo
The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Oct 29, 2008 6:34:44 EDT

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — A Fort Leonard Wood soldier has died after being found unconscious in a St. Louis hotel, the Army says.

Pfc. Cori Feltner, 22, was assigned Fort Leonard Wood’s 14th Military Police Brigade. She was pronounced dead Saturday at St. Louis University Hospital.

Feltner had recently graduated from initial entry military police training.

Feltner, originally from Laxahatchez, Fla., was en route to her first assignment in Korea.

St. Louis police and the military are investigating her death.

Anaheim police officer shoots innocent newlywed in his yard


Cops kill innocent newlywed in his yard
Chasing burglary suspects, cops encounter man who thought he heard intruders.
The officer had been chasing four burglary suspects when he encountered and shot the victim, who was holding something in his hand to defend himself from possible intruders.
By Paloma Esquivel and Tony Barboza
October 29, 2008
An Anaheim police officer chasing burglary suspects shot and killed an innocent 20-year-old man who heard a commotion and emerged from his house early Tuesday holding what authorities said was either a broomstick or a shower rod.

The officer encountered Julian Alexander on his front lawn and shot him twice in the chest about 1:30 a.m.

Alexander was married last week, and his wife, Renee, 19, is expecting a baby girl in December, his family said.
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VoteVets calls attention to other elections

From VoteVets
I wanted to take this opportunity to write to you about the state of the race, and urge you for some last second help.
In 2006, with your help, VoteVets.org was able to help elect four of America’s newest veterans to Congress. Since coming to Washington, Reps. Patrick Murphy, Joe Sestak, Tim Walz, and Chris Carney have made a name for themselves, and helped shape the national debate for the better with their authority and credibility.
Now imagine what things will be like if we can send them a number of reinforcements. It’s a tough week ahead to get there, but we can, and we will, with your help. From coast-to-coast, VoteVets.org’s endorsed candidates are looking incredibly strong. But they still need some last minute help.
Today, I’d like to make a last-minute pitch for you to help one of those veterans – Gary Peters, who is running in Michigan’s Ninth District. At the same time, I’d also like to make a special request to send some help to a great Marine and fellow Vietnam Veteran, Jack Murtha, in his re-election.
CLICK HERE TO HELP GARY PETERS MAKE IT TO WASHINGTON, AND KEEP JACK MURTHA THERE!
Gary Peters served as a Lieutenant Commander and a Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist in the United States Navy Reserve. His reserve duty included time in the Persian Gulf supporting Operation Southern Watch, and he served overseas during increased military activity following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. During his service he received numerous awards and citations, including the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.
Various media outlets have praised Peters. He has been called a "lone ranger" in the fight against special interests. The Oakland Press called Peters "one of the 'doers' in the Senate"….and noted that he is "bright, energetic and sensible." The Detroit News described him as "an All-American guy" who is "…intelligent, articulate and genuine, and in politics for what he can give, not what he can get". With your help, he will also be praised as one of America’s finest Members of Congress.
And, we all know the kind of grit that Jack Murtha has shown in Congress, for years. Because Jack is one tough customer, the other side has decided to do what they do best – smear him. This strategy started years ago, on the floor of the House, when one of his colleagues from the other side of the aisle went down to the floor and called Jack - a Marine and Vietnam Veteran - a “coward” who wanted to “cut and run.” And, that strategy of slime continues today with even more ferocity. Jack is in a tough race this year because of it, and he needs our help.
CLICK HERE TO HELP PETERS AND MURTHA!
We have under one week, now. Under one week to change the face of Congress, and send even more of America’s veterans to Congress. Let’s make it happen.
Sincerely,
Bob KerreyFormer U.S. Senator, NebraskaVietnam VeteranBoard of Advisors, VoteVets.org

Veterans For Common Sense Receives Eagle Award from DRA

Congratulations to Paul Sullivan and Veterans For Common Sense for all the work you've done for veterans!



Oct 28, VCS Receives Eagle Award from DRA




Paul Sullivan, Executive Director, VCS
Oct 28, 2008

On October 16, 2008, Veterans for Common Sense was awarded the prestigious Eagle Award for our lawsuit against the Department of Veterans Affairs. The award was presented by Sid Wolinsky, the Litigation Director of Disability Rights Advocates (DRA), to Paul Sullivan, the Executive Director of Veterans for Common Sense. VCS thanks DRA for serving as co-counsel in our lawsuit and for standing up for all our veterans, especially those suffering from the hidden wounds of war such as post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.
go here for Paul's speech
http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/articleid/11507

UK:Ex-soldier thankful after overdose drama

Scott Vaughan

Ex-soldier thankful after overdose drama
29 October 2008 12:35

A FORMER soldier from Ipswich today thanked a civil servant for helping to save his life after a drug overdose.

Scott Vaughan, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, tried to kill himself earlier this month by taking the anxiety drug Diazepam.

But he also made a call to the Department for Work and Pensions in an effort to sort out his incapacity benefits and quick-thinking Suffolk call-taker, Annette Moorhouse, dialled for an ambulance once she realised what was wrong.

Mr Vaughan, 35, of Schreiber Road, said: “If it wasn't for her I would have completed my mission to kill myself.

“I wasn't with it on the phone and she asked what the matter was. I apologised to her and said I couldn't go on any more.

“I didn't think it would be worth me filling in the form because hopefully I wouldn't be waking up very soon.

“She must have called an ambulance and by the time it got here I was on the verge of collapse.”

Mr Vaughan was taken to Ipswich Hospital and the next thing he remembers is waking up in the town's St Clement's Hospital.

He said he was now determined to turn his life around with the help of medical professionals and the support of his loving fiancée, Angela Carey.
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