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German education minister stripped of PhD for plagiarism

2013-02-06T03:31:59Z

Germany

Sources [edit]

Associated Press. "University strips German education minister of doctorate after plagiarism probe" — The Washington Post, February 5, 2013
"University strips German Education Minister of doctorate" — Deutsche Welle, February 5, 2013
"Uni Düsseldorf erkennt Schavan den Doktorgrad ab" — Die Zeit, February 5, 2013 (German)
"Germany minister Annette Schavan faces plagiarism inquiry" — BBC News Online, January 24, 2013
Armin Himmelrath. "Plagiarism charges hit German minister" — Deutsche Welle, January 23, 2013

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Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai discharged from hospital

2013-01-04T15:33:36Z

Friday, January 4, 2013

Pakistan

Sources [edit]

Haroon Siddique. "Pakistan schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai discharged from hospital" — The Guardian, January 4, 2013
Kim Hjelmgaard. "Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousufzai leaves hospital" — USA Today, January 4, 2013
Jon Boone. "Malala Yousafzai: Pakistan Taliban causes revulsion by shooting girl who spoke out" — The Guardian, October 9, 2012

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Dozens dead in Connecticut school shooting

2012-12-14T20:29:35Z

Note — December 15, 2012

During breaking updates after publication, the qualification of the death counts as "reported" was lost from the wording of this article. We go to great lengths to attribute claims, and apologize for the lost attribution in this case.

Friday, December 14, 2012

Crime and law

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More information at Wikipedia:

Before turning the gun on himself, a 20-year-old male opened fire at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut killing 28 people, 20 of them children ranging from five to ten years old. Approximately 600 students were inside the school.

The New York Post identifies the shooter as 20-year-old Adam Lanza. He was reported to be in possession of a .223-caliber assault rifle and two hand guns when he opened fire inside the school. His motives are not yet clear, but reports say his mother Nancy, who was also killed, may have been the target. She was a teacher of a kindergarten class at the school. Adam's brother Ryan, who was initially reported to be the shooter, is also in police custody.

United States president Barack Obama spoke in a televised address saying, "The majority of those who died today were children — beautiful little kids between the ages of 5 and 10 years old. They had their entire lives ahead of them — birthdays, graduations, weddings, kids of their own. Among the fallen were also teachers — men and women who devoted their lives to helping our children fulfill their dreams.

"So our hearts are broken today — for the parents and grandparents, sisters and brothers of these little children, and for the families of the adults who were lost. Our hearts are broken for the parents of the survivors as well, for as blessed as they are to have their children home tonight, they know that their children’s innocence has been torn away from them too early, and there are no words that will ease their pain."

A hospital near the school, in Danbury, Connecticut, is currently on lock down. According to The New York Times and Danbury Hospital's Facebook page, the hospital is treating three of the shooting victims.

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Sister links [edit]

Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting

Sources [edit]

Matt Quillen. "20 children, suspect's mother dead in CT elementary school shooting" — Fox News, December 14, 2012
"President Obama Speaks on the Shooting in Connecticut" — The White House, December 14, 2012
John Christoffersen and Pete Yost (Associated Press). "Shooting suspect is 20-year-old, son of teacher at school; older brother questioned" — Global News, December 14, 2012
Larry Celona, Josh Margolin, Dana Sauchelli, Natalie O'Neill & Dan MacLeod. "MASSACRE: Up to 27 people, including 20 children, shot dead at elementary school in Connecticut" — New York Post, December 14, 2012
Rachel Clark. "Children and adults gunned down in Connecticut school massacre" — CNN, December 14, 2012

Joseph Goldstein and William K. Bashbaum. "18 Children Killed in Grade School Shooting in Connecticut" — The New York Times, December 14, 2012

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Sandra Fluke gives keynote speech at Nebraska women's health event

2012-12-06T03:10:00Z

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Women's rights

Related stories

12 April 2013: Anonymous muscle in on Canadian teen rape case
4 January 2013: Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai discharged from hospital
6 December 2012: Sandra Fluke gives keynote speech at Nebraska women's health event
30 November 2012: Sandra Fluke nominated by Time magazine for Person of the Year
7 September 2012: Sandra Fluke featured speaker at Democratic National Convention

More information on Women's rights at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

Women's rights advocate and Georgetown University Law Center graduate Sandra Fluke was the keynote speaker at a women's health event Tuesday night in Nebraska.

Sandra Fluke (2012)
Image: nmogburn.

Fluke was the headliner in Lincoln, Nebraska at the Rococo Theatre for the annual fundraiser of Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, titled: "The Big Event: Courage — No Matter What". She currently resides in Los Angeles, California with her fiancé and "Mr. President", their pet dog. After graduating cum laude with her J.D. degree this past May, Fluke successfully took and passed the bar exam in July and is now an attorney.

	It’s uplifting and heartening to see how many people really care about the issues I’m talking about.
—Sandra Fluke

In an interview with the Lincoln Journal Star, Fluke reflected on her role as a public figure and her ability to contribute to the contribute to the discourse about women's rights, "It's uplifting and heartening to see how many people really care about the issues I’m talking about." Fluke observed, "I think it's also allowed me to give a voice and shine a light on the work that a lot of people are doing."

Fluke's speech centered on women's rights, women's healthcare, and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. She stressed the importance of women's issues in the recent election for U.S. President: "This year, something changed in our national conversation about women’s health.... Before my time, women's healthcare has never decided a presidential election. We really did make a difference this election." She spurred on attendees of the event to become more active in supporting women's rights: "It’s time for young women in this country to join the fight, because it’s our rights and our health that are at stake."

	She's a voice of reason. I think she has raised the bar for rational conversation about a serious issue.
—Tari Hendrickson

Planned Parenthood regional development and planned gifts director Tari Hendrickson told the Lincoln Journal Star Sandra Fluke was her top choice for keynote speaker at the event: "Sandra was No. 1 on my list; I never had a No. 2. She's a voice of reason. I think she has raised the bar for rational conversation about a serious issue."

	She is a wonderfully outspoken person on the affordable care act, women's health and women's rights.
—Susan Allen

Planned Parenthood of the Heartland Planned Nebraska communications manager Susan Allen told the Daily Nebraskan Sandra Fluke was the ideal person to serve as keynote speaker: "She is a wonderfully outspoken person on the affordable care act, women's health and women's rights. We decided she would be the perfect person to speak to Planned Parenthood supporters."

Planned Parenthood intern and University of Nebraska-Lincoln student Emily Schiltz commented on landing Fluke as the keynote speaker, "She is definitely the biggest person we've had in a long time."

"I feel like she walks the walk rather than talk the talk," said Planned Parenthood intern and journalism student Audrey Nance.

Fluke indicated her intention was to persevere in speaking about issues she thinks important: "I think my ultimate goal is giving a voice to people who don't always have one."

She has been named as a candidate by Time magazine in a November 26 announcement, for their Person of the Year. Time concluded Fluke helped give U.S. President Barack Obama an edge in his presidential re-election campaign.

Fluke was a featured speaker on September 5 at the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. Fluke spoke to attendees at the convention about the consequences for women of electing Republican candidate for U.S. President, Mitt Romney, over incumbent President Barack Obama. Fluke has campaigned with President Obama in his bid for re-election.

She was recognized April 22 with the Stand Up for Choice Award. Fluke was given the Stand Up for Choice Award at the "Third Annual Multi-Generational Brunch" of the organization NARAL Pro-Choice America which was held in New York City (NYC), New York in the United States.

Fluke received a nomination in March as a candidate for Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world. The list is released annually as a special edition of Time magazine, titled Time 100.

She gave testimony to the US Congress on February 23 before the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee at a hearing about women's health and contraception. She also worked for Sanctuary for Families in NYC which worked to crack down on human trafficking and domestic violence.

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Sister links [edit]

Author:Sandra Kay Fluke

Sandra Fluke

Sandra Fluke

Sources [edit]

Kelli Rollin. "Fluke: 'It’s time for young women in this country to join the fight'" — Daily Nebraskan, December 5, 2012
Christina Huffington. "Sandra Fluke 'TIME's' Person Of The Year? Six Reasons Why We Love Her" — The Huffington Post, December 4, 2012
Cindy Lange-Kubick. "Sandra Fluke coming to Lincoln" — Lincoln Journal Star, December 2, 2012

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Sandra Fluke nominated by Time magazine for Person of the Year

2012-11-30T15:19:30Z

Friday, November 30, 2012

Women's rights

Related stories

12 April 2013: Anonymous muscle in on Canadian teen rape case
4 January 2013: Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai discharged from hospital
6 December 2012: Sandra Fluke gives keynote speech at Nebraska women's health event
30 November 2012: Sandra Fluke nominated by Time magazine for Person of the Year
7 September 2012: Sandra Fluke featured speaker at Democratic National Convention

More information on Women's rights at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

Women's rights advocate and Georgetown University Law Center graduate Sandra Fluke has been named as a candidate by Time magazine for their Person of the Year.

Sandra Fluke (2012)
Image: nmogburn.

Sandra Fluke was the focus of media in February after attempting to testify before a Republican-controlled committee in the United States House of Representatives about contraception and women's health. Kate Pickert of Time wrote in her profile, "Fluke ... weathered the attention with poise and maturity and emerged as a political celebrity."

	Fluke ... weathered the attention with poise and maturity and emerged as a political celebrity.
—Time magazine

Time concluded Fluke helped give U.S. President Barack Obama an edge in his presidential re-election campaign: "Democrats gave her a national-convention speaking slot as part of their push to make reproductive rights a central issue in the 2012 presidential campaign — one that helped Barack Obama trounce Mitt Romney among single women on Election Day."

	Honored to be listed for Time's Person of Year.
—Sandra Fluke

Fluke responded to the nomination via Twitter, and stated she was "Honored to be listed for Time's Person of Year". In the same statement she also drew attention to the scarcity of women on the list of candidates.

An analysis of Fluke's candidacy by Peter Roff of U.S. News & World Report called attention to her role in the political phenomenon in the recent election cycle known as the "War on Women" which drew significant attention to issues of women's rights. Roff gave advice to the Republican party on the way it relates to women, "Once the Republicans become comfortable talking about all issues as though they were women's issues too — issues like unemployment, economic growth, job creation, education, and healthcare as well as the so-called social issues — they will be demonstrating that women have a home in the GOP. Until they do however it will be the Sandra Flukes of the world that continue to carry the day when it counts."

Journalist Leslie Marshall observed some conservative political commentators were critical of Time for its nomination of Fluke for Person of the Year.

	... she showed true strength over adversity. And she has since become a women's health activist. For these reasons alone, she belongs on this list.
—Leslie Marshall

Marshall argued Fluke belongs on the list: "She should be credited with reminding women on both the right and the left; that many of us agree on the issue of women's reproductive rights. Although some of us might be Democrats and some Republicans, our gender unites us. She brought more women to the polls, reminding us of the decades it took to be where we are and what was at stake for women if we did not re-elect President Obama. In speaking at the Democratic National Convention, she showed true strength over adversity. And she has since become a women's health activist. For these reasons alone, she belongs on this list."

However, Marshall stated she wouldn't be voting for Fluke's candidacy, but would instead cast her ballot for Malala Yousafzai, a 15-year-old female education activist who survived a Taliban assassination attempt.

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Sister links [edit]

Author:Sandra Kay Fluke

Sandra Fluke

Sandra Fluke

Sources [edit]

This article features first-hand journalism by Wikinews members. See the collaboration page for more details.

Peter Roff. "Until the GOP Changes, Attention on Sandra Won't Be a Fluke" — U.S. News & World Report, November 29, 2012
Leslie Marshall. "No Fluke That Sandra's On Time's List" — U.S. News & World Report, November 28, 2012
Sandra Fluke. "Honored 2 b listed" — Twitter, November 26, 2012
Kate Pickert. "Sandra Fluke - Who Should Be TIME's Person of the Year 2012? - The candidates" — Time (magazine), November 26, 2012

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Report says UK teachers 'boosted GCSE marks'

2012-11-03T14:45:48Z

Saturday, November 3, 2012

United Kingdom

Sources [edit]

"GCSEs" — nidirect, November 3, 2012 (Date of access)
"Under pressure teachers 'boosted GCSE marks'" — Channel 4 News, November 2, 2012
Katherine Sellgren. "GCSE English: Teachers angry over generous marking claim" — BBC News Online, November 2, 2012
Seonag MacKinnon. "Plan to tackle criticism of new Scots curriculum and exams" — BBC News Online, September 19, 2012
"Farewell GCSEs, welcome baccalaureates" — Channel 4 News, September 17, 2012
Jackie Long. "GCSE English and the great Welsh regrades" — Channel 4 News, September 11, 2012

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Sandra Fluke featured speaker at Democratic National Convention

2012-09-07T05:49:22Z

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Friday, September 7, 2012

Women's rights

Related stories

12 April 2013: Anonymous muscle in on Canadian teen rape case
4 January 2013: Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai discharged from hospital
6 December 2012: Sandra Fluke gives keynote speech at Nebraska women's health event
30 November 2012: Sandra Fluke nominated by Time magazine for Person of the Year
7 September 2012: Sandra Fluke featured speaker at Democratic National Convention

More information on Women's rights at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

Women's rights advocate and Georgetown University Law Center graduate Sandra Fluke was a featured speaker Wednesday at the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Sandra Fluke (2012)
Image: nmogburn.

Fluke spoke to attendees at the convention about the consequences for women of electing Republican candidate for U.S. President, Mitt Romney, over incumbent President Barack Obama. Fluke has campaigned with President Obama in his bid for re-election.

	I'm here because I spoke out, and this November, each of us must speak out.
—Sandra Fluke

She encouraged listeners to her speech to use their vote for the next U.S. President as a voice, stating, "I'm here because I spoke out, and this November, each of us must speak out."

Fluke contrasted possible scenarios which could result from a Republican-controlled White House with that of President Obama's administration's support of women's issues, and commented, "During this campaign, we've heard about the two profoundly different futures that could await women -- and how one of those futures looks like an offensive, obsolete relic of our past."

	During this campaign, we've heard about the two profoundly different futures that could await women -- and how one of those futures looks like an offensive, obsolete relic of our past.
—Sandra Fluke

She concluded her remarks by asserting that Mitt Romney would not place emphasis on women's rights, observing, "And six months from now, we'll all be living in one, or the other. But only one. A country where our president either has our back or turns his back."

Fluke's speech was well received throughout by the audience, and garnered her a standing ovation from the crowd. After her speech, Fluke took to Twitter to thank convention participants for the positive reaction she received, tweeting, "#DNC2012, THANK YOU for such a warm welcome! But thank you more for standing for #women!"

She gave testimony to the US Congress on February 23 before the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee on a hearing about women's health and contraception. She also worked for Sanctuary for Families in NYC which worked to crackdown on human trafficking and domestic violence.

Have an opinion on this story? Post it!

Sister links [edit]

Author:Sandra Kay Fluke

Sandra Fluke

Sandra Fluke

Sources [edit]

This article features first-hand journalism by Wikinews members. See the collaboration page for more details.

"US women's advocate slams 'obsolete' Republicans" — Agence France-Presse, September 5, 2012
"For health activist Fluke, an emphatic endorsement of Obama" — Reuters, September 5, 2012
"Women's rights leader sends alarm on health" — Associated Press, September 5, 2012

External links [edit]

Speech transcript

Sandra Fluke. "Sandra Fluke: A choice between two futures" — MSNBC, September 6, 2012

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UK education secretary Michael Gove to drop GCSEs in favour of new O-level-style exams

2012-06-22T19:04:26Z

Friday, June 22, 2012

Michael Gove, the UK's education secretary.
Image: Paul Clarke.

According to documents leaked to the press, Conservative education secretary Michael Gove intends to drop GCSE exams as part of a sweeping reform of the school exam system in England and replace them with exams based on the traditional "O-level" system that GCSEs replaced in the 1980s.

As leaked, Gove plans to phase out the current General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) exams, with students taking exams in the replacement courses in the summer of 2016. Combined science courses would be split out into separate qualifications in physics, biology, and chemistry. Gove has said reforms to the examination system are needed to fight against what he perceives to be a "dumbing down" of academic standards.

The top 'A' grade in mathematics would require advanced topics such as Calculus, and English literature exams would no longer allow access to the set text.

	I can hardly think of a worse education reform than 'bringing back the CSE' - dead-end exams for children treated as second rate.
—Andrew Adonis, Labour Peer

The leaked document also notes the government intends to scrap the National Curriculum at the secondary school level "and not replace it". Instead, school headteachers would be able to decide what to teach in order to prepare pupils for the examination.

Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister, said the plans were "self-evidently not policy that has been discussed or agreed within the coalition".

Justice minister Ken Clarke suggested on BBC programme Question Time the leak originated within the Department of Education rather than from Gove personally: "If the secretary of state for education leaked it I would feel very strongly about it, but I don't think he did".

Conservative MP Graham Stuart has questioned the timing of the plans given reforms to GCSEs last year. "This has come out of the blue", he said to BBC Radio 4. "Just last year, the government was ramping up its new GCSE target and now a year on we are having to change back to the future, and back to O-Levels."

Kevin Brennan, Labour's shadow schools minister, said Gove's proposals were a move "back to the 1950s".

	the current system needs improving ... some GCSEs really don't stretch the very brightest
—Dr Wendy Piatt

Andrew Adonis, a Labour Peer, criticised the plans on Twitter: "I can hardly think of a worse education reform than 'bringing back the CSE' - dead-end exams for children treated as second rate." Nick Clegg mirrored this complaint, saying he would oppose any plan "that would lead to a two-tier system where children at quite a young age are somehow cast on a scrap heap".

Dr Wendy Piatt from the Russell Group, which represents a number of top-end British universities, agreed with Michael Gove that there is a problem: "the current system needs improving", she told ITV's Daybreak, because "some GCSEs really don't stretch the very brightest". Piatt warned "there is a real danger here... there is a worry that at a very early age you will be pigeonholed and then put on a course that is not really suitable for you and then you won't be able to change to the more academic course".

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Dr Kevin Stannard from the Girls Day School Trust challenged the plans, suggesting since "able pupils" are already going to continue studying some subjects, "why not require them to take exams at 16 only in the core subjects that they propose to drop? That would encourage breadth in learning to 16, while also giving students the space for deeper learning."

Leighton Andrews, the Education Minister in Wales, said Wales "certainly won't be bringing back O-levels" and leaking the plans to the newspapers was a "bonkers way of proceeding". Instead, he vowed the Welsh would make decisions as to curriculum and exam reform "in our own time on the basis of evidence supplied to us".

Have an opinion on this story? Post it!

Sources [edit]

"David Cameron 'not aware' of Gove GCSE plan, says Clegg" — BBC News Online, June 22, 2012
"Pupils 'could suffer under new proposals to scrap GCSE exams'" — ITV News, June 22, 2012
"Conservative MP 'sceptical' about Gove's O-Level plan" — ITV News, June 22, 2012
Angela Harrison. "Plans for O-level-style exams to replace GCSEs" — BBC News Online, June 21, 2012
Andrew Adonis. "I can hardly think of a worse education reform than 'bringing back the CSE' - dead-end exams for children treated as second rate." — Twitter, June 21, 2012
"Nick Clegg blasts Michael Gove over scrap GCSE plan" — BBC News Online, June 21, 2012
"O-levels: No return in Wales, says Leighton Andrews" — BBC News Online, June 21, 2012
"Letters: Gove's back to the 50s revolution" — The Guardian, June 21, 2012
Tim Shipman. "Return of the O-Level: Gove announces radical plan to scrap GCSEs 'to ensure UK has a world-class education system' but lack of consultation angers Lib Dems" — Daily Mail, June 21, 2012
Nicholas Watt. "Return of O-levels: Michael Gove to get rid of GCSEs in exams shakeup" — The Guardian, June 20, 2012

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Science Fiction author Ray Bradbury dies

2012-06-06T20:57:51Z

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Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Science fiction writer Ray Bradbury transformed his inner child in to notable works of science fiction that have been recognized with awards and citations for lifetime achievement.
Image: Alan Light.

Austrian actor Oskar Werner portrayed the fireman Guy Montag in the 1966 Truffaut film adaptation of Bradbury's novel Fahrenheit 451.
Image: Geoffrey Chandler.

U.S. science fiction writer Ray Bradbury, who was 91, died in Los Angeles on Tuesday, according to his daughter.

Bradbury's most famous novels are The Martian Chronicles (1950) and Fahrenheit 451 (1953), and a collection of short stories The Illustrated Man (1951), but he was also known for helping write the script for John Huston's film adaptation of Moby Dick (1956), his works for the televised anthologies The Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock Presents and hosting a similar TV show later, The Ray Bradbury Theater, which included episodes based on his work.

In an interview, Bradbury said that he was "that special freak, the man with the child inside who remembers all."

He started as a short story writer for pulp magazines like many science fiction and fantasy writers in this period, and eventually compiled his first book: Dark Carnival (1947), a short story collection. He wrote his two most famous novels at the beginning of the 1950s. A book editor suggested he use his stories about Martians to create a unified work in book form, and Bradbury turned the idea into his Martian Chronicles. He said he churned out Fahrenheit 451 on a typewriter that he rented at the library for a dime every half hour at a total cost of US $9.80, which meant that it would have taken him exactly 49 hours to write the classic.

His book Fahrenheit 451 cut to the heart of book banning and burning in the twentieth century as it imagined a future in which books were outlawed and minds were controlled by the state through a TV-and-Internet-like technology. French director François Truffaut adapted Fahrenheit 451 into a 1966 New Wave film of the same name and in English, which starred Austrian actor Oskar Werner as the fireman Guy Montag and British actress Julie Christie as Clarisse. The BBC dramatized the same book in 1982. Fahrenheit 451 was even adapted to an off-Broadway play. Bradbury said he did not like the similarity of Michael Moore's title for the documentary Fahrenheit 9/11, a film critical of the George W. Bush administration, to his novel about book burning.

The Martian Chronicles, Fahrenheit 451 and The Illustrated Man have been a staple of reading in U.S. education. In an interview with Fox News in 2004, Bradbury talked about changes in reading that occurred in education since his generation of science fiction started their careers: "When I started writing that book [The Martian Chronicles] 53 years ago, science fiction was not being taught in the schools. Now every school in the country has a course in science fiction. So we have more power, more influence, more imagination than ever before. Millions of students now, in all the schools of America, are reading science fiction and especially, thank God, The Martian Chronicles."

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The name of his play Dandelion Wine was used as an honor when it was used to name a crater on the moon. An asteroid, known as 9766 Bradbury, was named after him. At the turn of the century, his body of work was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Book Award committee in 2000, U.S. National Medal of Arts in 2004, and later a Pulitzer Prize citation in 2007.

The author's grandson Danny Karapetian said, "His legacy lives on in his monumental body of books, film, television and theatre, but more importantly, in the minds and hearts of anyone who read him, because to read him was to know him. He was the biggest kid I know."

Sources [edit]

Becky Krystal. "Ray Bradbury dies: Science fiction author of ‘Fahrenheit 451’ and ‘Martian Chronicles,’ was 91" — The Washington Post, June 6, 2012
Associated Press. "‘Farenheit 451′ Author Ray Bradbury Dies at 91" — Time (magazine), June 6, 2012
"Ray Bradbury dies aged 91" — The Daily Telegraph, June 6, 2012
"An Interview With Sci-Fi Legend Ray Bradbury" — FoxNews.com, November 23, 2004
"Fahrenheit 451 (1966)" — Internet Movie Database, June 6, 2012 (date of access)

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Obama responds to criticism over medical marijuana raids

2012-05-03T03:08:51Z

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Official portrait of U.S. President Obama.
Image: Pete Souza, The Obama-Biden Transition Project.

States that have been raided by federal authorities. Source: Americans for Safe Access
Image: Patmhickey.

In a Rolling Stone magazine interview on Wednesday, United States President Barack Obama responded to recent backlash over his alleged policy shift on medical marijuana.

In January 2004, then-Illinois Senator Obama said, "The war on drugs has been an utter failure. We need to rethink and decriminalize our nation's marijuana laws." Since he took office as president, over 170 raids have been conducted on medical marijuana facilities across the U.S.

In the U.S. certain states have voted to allow for the use of marijuana for medical purposes, although it is still illegal to possess and consume under federal law. This has led to the recent raids and seizures on dispensaries by authorities with the federal government.

"What I specifically said was that we were not going to prioritize prosecutions of persons who are using medical marijuana," President Obama said. "I never made a commitment that somehow we were going to give carte blanche to large-scale producers and operators of marijuana – and the reason is, because it's against federal law. I can't nullify congressional law."

On April 2, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) raided Oaksterdam University in Oakland, California. Oaksterdam provides courses in which students can learn about the horticulture and business aspects of the medical marijuana industry, but does not distribute marijuana. Authorities confiscated marijuana plants, records, computers and seized bank accounts held by that department of the university.

"In many respects [the raids in California] are not a surprise considering that these dispensaries and cultivation centers are in violation of federal law, and always have been." said Allen St. Pierre, executive director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). Along with the advocates at NORML, multiple lawmakers have written letters to President Obama criticizing his alleged shift on policy. The lawmakers have also called for the federal government to allow states to regulate themselves.

While medical marijuana is legal in California, as well as sixteen other states including Washington D.C., the Controlled Substances Act classifies marijuana as an illegal substance. California state law requires dispensaries to run as non-profit, and those who do make a profit are subject to getting raided by federal and local authorities. "If you grow a small amount at home or buy some off the street then he doesn't care, that's what they've said," St. Pierre said.

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Sources [edit]

This article features first-hand journalism by Wikinews members. See the collaboration page for more details.

Jann S. Wenner. "Ready for the Fight: Rolling Stone Interview with Barack Obama" — Rolling Stone, April 25, 2012
Robbie Gennet. "On Role Models and their Bongs" — Huffington Post, February 5, 2009
N/a. "Obama Explains Increasing Medical Marijuana Crackdowns, Raids In 'Rolling Stone' Interview" — Huffington Post, April 25, 2012
Chris Morris. "Even in pot-friendly states, selling is risky business" — CNBC, April 24, 2012

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Sandra Fluke receives Stand Up for Choice Award

2012-04-25T03:06:37Z

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Women's rights

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6 December 2012: Sandra Fluke gives keynote speech at Nebraska women's health event
30 November 2012: Sandra Fluke nominated by Time magazine for Person of the Year
7 September 2012: Sandra Fluke featured speaker at Democratic National Convention

More information on Women's rights at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

Women's rights advocate and Georgetown University law student Sandra Fluke was recognized Sunday, April 22 with the Stand Up for Choice Award. Fluke was given the Stand Up for Choice Award at the "Third Annual Multi-Generational Brunch" of the organization NARAL Pro-Choice America which was held in New York City (NYC), New York in the United States.

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Sandra Fluke reading her prepared testimony
Video: Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Democratic Party (2012).

	Sandra is a remarkable leader and a true hero in the reproductive-rights community.
—Nancy Keenan, NARAL President

The organization's president, Nancy Keenan, attended the event and had previously spoken in favor of Fluke in a press release announcing the award. "Sandra is a remarkable leader and a true hero in the reproductive-rights community. This event brings together women and men from many generations, and the one thing that unites us all is the personal stories that are the reason for our joining this cause. Without a doubt, many people have witnessed Sandra's strength over these last few weeks and have been inspired to join her in standing up for women's freedom and privacy."

Chair of the NARAL Pro-Choice America’s Future Direction Committee Amanda Hirsh released a statement in support of Fluke saying, "we are thrilled to honor Sandra Fluke with the Stand Up For Choice Award at this year's multi-generational brunch. Attempts to silence voices like Sandra's have failed. Young leaders across the country are looking to Sandra as an inspiration."

	I was honored to receive it! Thank you! I'm very humbled by the inspiring stories women told of their own lives.
—Sandra Fluke

Fluke responded to a post on Twitter from NARAL congratulating her on receiving the award, stating, "I was honored to receive it! Thank you! I'm very humbled by the inspiring stories women told of their own lives."

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Sister links [edit]

Author:Sandra Kay Fluke

Sandra Fluke

Sandra Fluke

Sources [edit]

This article features first-hand journalism by Wikinews members. See the collaboration page for more details.

Sandra Fluke. "@NARAL I was honored to receive it!" — Twitter, April 22, 2012
"Third Annual Multi-Generational Brunch" — NARAL, April 22, 2012
"NARAL Pro-Choice America to Honor Sandra Fluke at Third Annual Multi-Generational Brunch" — NARAL, March 22, 2012

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Texas 'roadeo' lets school bus drivers show their mettle

2012-04-23T03:10:30Z

Texas

Sources [edit]

This article features first-hand journalism by Wikinews members. See the collaboration page for more details.

Ian Smith. "School bus drivers show off their skills in a parking lot" — KLTV, April 21, 2012
Alexander Eichler. "Texas Public Schools Selling Ad Space To Deal With Budget Crisis" — The Huffington Post, April 2, 2012

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Texas college student found dead on campus

2012-04-18T19:00:55Z

Texas

Sources [edit]

Hannah DeClerk. "TSTC student found dead in dorm room, no evidence of crime" — The Marshall News Messenger, April 18, 2012
"Press release" — Texas State Technical College, April 17, 2012
"Student dies at Texas State Technical College in Marshall" — KTBS-TV, April 17, 2012
"TSTC steps up security" — The Marshall News Messenger, May 26, 2010

External Links [edit]

http://www.marshall.tstc.edu/

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Former teacher makes FBI's top 10 most wanted list

2012-04-11T19:00:41Z

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Eric Justin Toth added to FBI's Top Ten Most Wanted List
Image: FBI.

Ex-Washington, D.C. third grade teacher Eric Justin Toth, who worked at the National Cathedral's Beauvoir school, was officially added to the top of the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitive List yesterday, replacing Osama bin Laden, who was killed by US Navy Seals last May. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) began investigating Toth in 2008 when a school camera allegedly used by Toth contained child pornography.

The FBI also believes Toth was responsible for installing a camera in the student's bathroom near Toth's classroom.

When Toth became aware of the investigation he became a fugitive. Toth, who also goes by the name David Bussone, has warrants for his arrest in Maryland and the District of Columbia.

The FBI is currently offering a reward for up to $100,000 leading to Toth's arrest.

Toth is the 495th person to be placed on the Ten Most Wanted List.

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Sources [edit]

"New Top Ten Fugitive Child Pornographer Added to the List" — FBI, April 10, 2012
Carol Cratty. "Former teacher wanted for child porn makes FBI list" — CNN, April 10, 2012
Jeff Black. "FBI 'Most Wanted' list: Child porn suspect replaces Osama bin Laden" — msnbc.com, April 10, 2012

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Sandra Fluke named candidate for Time's 100 most influential people

2012-03-30T19:43:19Z

Friday, March 30, 2012

Women's rights

Related stories

12 April 2013: Anonymous muscle in on Canadian teen rape case
4 January 2013: Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai discharged from hospital
6 December 2012: Sandra Fluke gives keynote speech at Nebraska women's health event
30 November 2012: Sandra Fluke nominated by Time magazine for Person of the Year
7 September 2012: Sandra Fluke featured speaker at Democratic National Convention

More information on Women's rights at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

Women's rights advocate and Georgetown University law student Sandra Fluke has been named as a candidate for Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world. The list is released annually as a special edition of Time magazine, titled Time 100.

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Sandra Fluke reading her prepared testimony
Video: Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Democratic Party (2012).

Time announced the candidates as part of a ballot process which began Thursday, and solicited votes from the public via the Internet. Visitors to its website were requested to select "the leaders, artists, innovators, icons and heroes that they think are the most influential people in the world." The winner of the poll as selected by visitors to the Time website will be featured in the Time 100 issue, and the magazine's editors pick those individuals showcased on the actual complete list of 100.

	I would do this again, because these issues are that important to me.
—Sandra Fluke

In its entry for Fluke, Time characterized her as a "law student and political activist". She gave testimony to the US Congress on February 23 before the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee on a hearing about women's health and contraception.

When contacted by Time, Fluke commented that though she has faced attacks in the media, she did not regret her actions: "I would do this again, because these issues are that important to me."

In addition to Sandra Fluke, other influential women named as candidates for the Time 100 list include Queen Elizabeth II; comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres; musicians Lady Gaga, Adele, Jessica Simpson and Lana Del Rey; Portlandia creator and star Carrie Brownstein; and actresses Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy of the film Bridesmaids.

Online voting for the poll winner closes April 6; Time will release the full list of Time 100 on April 17.

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Sister links [edit]

Author:Sandra Kay Fluke

Sandra Fluke

Sandra Fluke

Sources [edit]

Dylan Stableford. "Time 100 Most Influential People ballot includes Limbaugh, Fluke, Lin, Tebow" — Yahoo! News, March 29, 2012
"Molly Katchpole, Who Battled Bank Of America, Is In The Running For Time's 'Top 100'" — The Huffington Post, March 29, 2012
TIME Staff. "Sandra Fluke - The 2012 TIME 100 Poll" — Time (magazine), March 29, 2012

External links [edit]

"The 2012 TIME 100 Poll" — Time (magazine), March 29, 2012

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	"Children have been let down. That won't do".
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