The Obama administration has all but abandoned plans to allow Guantanamo Bay detainees who have been cleared for release to live in the United States, administration officials said yesterday, a decision that reflects bipartisan congressional opposition to admitting such prisoners but complicates efforts to persuade European allies to accept them. Four Uighur detainees, Chinese Muslims who were incarcerated at the U.S. military prison in Cuba for more than seven years, arrived early yesterday in Bermuda, where they will become foreign guest workers. An administration official said the United States is engaged in negotiations with other countries, including Palau, an island nation in the western Pacific, to find places for the remaining 13 Uighurs held at Guantanamo.
The Uighurs, who were ordered released by a federal judge last year, never counted America as an enemy, according to the men's lawyers and human rights groups, giving the administration grounds to argue that they should live in the United States. Picked up in Pakistan and Afghanistan in 2002, the Uighurs were later cleared of the "enemy combatant" label but remained in minimum-security confinement at Guantanamo.
Attempting to settle non-Uighur detainees in the United States would generate even greater congressional opposition, and the administration has decided not to pursue it broadly, an administration official said yesterday, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. But he said there may yet be "a few" candidates for settlement in the United States among the dozens of Guantanamo detainees who have been cleared for release....
By Peter Finn and Sandhya Somashekhar. Read more
The Washington Post and Los Angeles Times lead with word that the White House is pretty much giving up on its efforts to resettle some Guantanamo detainees in the United States. Although the Post does hear from a source that there might still be a chance that "a few" of the more than 50 detainees who have been cleared for release could settle in the United States, the Obama administration is recognizing the overwhelming congressional opposition to the plan and has decided not to push the issue for now. Word of the change in direction came on the same day that six detainees were transferred from the prison. USA Today leads with a look at the problems confronting workers. While much time is devoted to talking about the unemployed, the truth is that even those who still have jobs "are faring worse than at any time since the Great Depression." The employed are working a record-low number of hours, which, combined with cuts in wages, means they have less to spend.
PRINTDISCUSSE-MAILRSSRECOMMEND...SINGLE PAGEslate:{$rootpath}id/2220388/ FacebookMySpace Mixx Digg Reddit del.icio.us Furl Ma.gnolia SphereStumbleUponCLOSEThe New York Times leads with, and the LAT and WP front, news that the Senate approved legislation that will give vast new powers to the federal government to regulate tobacco products. The legislation was approved 79 to 17 and is expected to easily make it through the House. It would enable the Food and Drug Administration to impose new controls on how cigarettes, along with other tobacco products, are made and marketed. The Wall Street Journal leads its world-wide newsbox with today's presidential election in Iran, which culminates a campaign that has been more heated than most analysts expected. A record turnout is expected, and some suspect there will be a runoff.
The administration at first hoped to transfer at least some of the Chinese Muslims, known as Uighurs, who are being held in Guantanamo to the United States. Even the Bush administration had said they're not enemy combatants, so it seemed like a safe option, particularly as the United States would have to show goodwill in accepting some prisoners if it expects allies to take on others themselves. But lawmakers were having none of it and raised their swift and unbending opposition to letting any of the Guantanamo detainees walk free on American soil. The administration now seems to have decided that the issue is not worth the uphill battle with Congress. Now the problem is that it seems unlikely European allies will be willing to take on any more prisoners themselves.
By Daniel Politi. Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Conservation and animal protection groups filed a federal lawsuit Thursday to halt the ongoing construction of a Greenbrier County wind farm, saying the project will kill the endangered Indiana bat.
The Animal Welfare Project and Mountain Communities for Responsible Energy believe they are the first organizations in the nation to challenge a wind energy project on environmental grounds in federal court.
The lawsuit, brought under the Endangered Species Act, and filed in U.S. District Court in Maryland, alleges the 124-turbine project will injure and kill scores of Indiana bats that live in caves near the wind farm.
"Wind power may be part of the solution for climate change, but locations such as the Beech Ridge project site are entirely inappropriate for industrial wind facilities," said D.J. Schubert, wildlife biologist with the Washington-based Animal Welfare Institute. "We cannot allow a new ecological crisis to be created in the name of solving an existing one."
By Greg Pollowitz. Read more
This meeting had a couple of topics of particular interest, the use of eminent domain, and TIF policy.
The first file of interest involved the possibility of the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee utilizing eminent domain to acquire two properties and convey them to Pete’s Marketplace, Inc. which would expand its facilities and add between 30 and 40 new employees. Alderman Murphy expressed his concern over the City of Milwaukee taking such an action saying “I’m very reluctant to support the use of eminent domain.” Despite offers of $275,000 for the vacant lots, at 1443 and 1445-47 S. Muskego Ave., the properties were recently appraised at approximately $15,000, because the owners, the Cetina family, had over the time they’d owned the property been required to demolish the existing buildings on the site due to their conditions. The Cetina family had attempted to construct a new building for the purpose of opening a restaurant or nightclub, but neighborhood opposition stopped them from obtaining a liquor license. This file was approved and will now go before the full Common Council.
There was also a communications file reporting about activities related to the City of Milwaukee’s Tax Incremental Financing Districts. The report predicted that in 2010 the city could close three more districts, unless they are extended, including district 56 which is notably “extremely lucrative,” and five districts appear they could be closed in 2011. It also showed that districts 20 and 21 are currently under-performing and will need to receive donations. Finally, it also pointed out that in 2008 there was $1.2 billion in increment which represents 3.7% city’s total equalized value of $32.3 billion." ...
By Dave Reid. Read more
"A federal appeals court in Washington today dismissed a challenge brought against the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) by a consortium of local governments, including Westport, over an airspace redesign project.
Opponents said the project would route more large planes over southwestern Connecticut while the FAA said changes in flight paths and flight procedure would reduce delays at airports in the northeast.
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal announced that he will immediately seek a rehearing.
“This decision is dead wrong—disregarding essential legal issues, and the impact of increased noise and pollution on millions of residents and state parks,” said Blumenthal, who had argued the case before the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals last month.
“I am determined to continue this battle, helping to lead a solid coalition, and will immediately seek a rehearing before the full court, asking it to reverse the three-judge panel.”
The critics of the FAA proposal alleged the redesign violated the National Environmental Policy Act, the Department of Transportation Act and the Clean Air Act." ...
By Westportnow. Read more
"PLANS to extend a house of multiple occupancy in County Road have been thrown out by Swindon Council’s planning committee after concerns over anti-social behaviour.
Two applications were put forward at Tuesday night’s planning meeting – firstly to extend a house of multiple occupancy at 151 and 153 County Road from 10 to 14 bedrooms.
A separate application sought to link these properties to number 149, where another six bedrooms would be provided, including accommodation for a manager.
Residents and councillors strongly objected to the applications, put forward by Martin Wilson, on the grounds that too many houses in the Broadgreen area have already been converted to HMOs, and fears that the property could eventually become a bail hostel.
They also raised concerns over increased anti-social behaviour, crime, litter and traffic." ...
By James Wallin. Read more
"Although it was a controversial call, with dozens of residents passionately in opposition, the Layton City Council was correct in approving a zone change that may bring a 303 unit-dwelling development to the city.
The bottom line for the council's decision is that all proper procedures are being followed. Adams Property LLC owns the property at 1450 E. Antelope Drive. The company requested a rezone from 60 acres of farmland and 10 acres of single-family development to 70 acres R-1-10 PRUD development. According to Layton Long Range Planner Peter Matson, Adams Property's project meets guidelines that are in line with Layton city's general plans.
It's not as if Adams Property is going to start building these homes immediately. There are safeguards in the project. There will be a lot-by-lot evaluation before construction is allowed. If a lot area is deemed unable to support a home, there will be no construction. There are 157 townhouses and 146 single-family units that will need to be assessed before construction.
Dozens of residents wanted the Layton council to reject the rezone. Their reasons included a "sensitive" land area that might in the future cause instability to buildings, increased traffic in the area, and the potential of home depreciation. "You will not be able to out-engineer Mother Nature," resident spokesman David Paulson told the council.
However, it's not the Layton council's job to stifle economic development from a private company because a perceived quality of life may not be realized by residents displeased by change that occurs in a community. Adams Property has demonstrated a long history of working in good faith with city officials." ...
By StandartNet. Read more
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