Ill. passes nation's toughest fracking regulations

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) ? Illinois came a giant step closer to approving the nation's strictest regulations for high-volume oil and gas drilling on Friday, as lawmakers approved a measure they hoped would create thousands of jobs in economically depressed areas of southern Illinois.

The Senate passed the legislation 52-3, one day after it was overwhelmingly approved in the other chamber. Gov. Pat Quinn promised to sign it, calling the legislation a "shot in the arm for many communities."

The legislation was crafted with the help of industry and some environmental groups ? an unusual collaboration that has been touted as a potential model for other states.

Legislation sponsor Mike Frerichs, a Champaign Democrat, said stakeholders "sat down for hundreds and thousands of hours" to hammer out the issue.

"These are tough regulations that are going to protect and preserve our most valuable resources in our state," he told floor members. "We are going to increase home produced energy in our state in one of the most environmentally friendly ways possible."

While proponents have said hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," would generate tens of thousands of jobs, opponents have been pushing for a two-year moratorium to allow more time to examine health and environmental impact. They are worried fracking could cause pollution and deplete water resources.

"This bill was written by industry and parties that have a vested interest," said Annette McMichael, a property owner in Johnson County who belongs to a coalition that opposes fracking. "We have no say in our own water. ... We are totally helpless."

Despite the numerous protests by her group, Southern Illinoisans Against Fracturing Our Environment, and others ? one woman was forcibly removed from the House chamber on Thursday after the vote ? there was little opposition to the measure on the floor. Senators on both sides of the aisle praised the compromise.

"This could be a bright economic future for many, many Illinoisans," said Sen. Kirk Dillard, a Hinsdale Republican.

Fracking uses high-pressure mixtures of water, sand or gravel and chemicals are used to crack rock formations deep underground and release oil and natural gas.

Among the provisions in the proposed legislation are requirements that drillers publicly disclose the chemicals they use and that they test water before and after fracking. Companies also would be liable for any water pollution.

Sen. Mattie Hunter, who was among the few who voted against the legislation, said in a statement that the state should "halt fracking practices and allow for a task force to complete concrete, comprehensive evaluation of this highly controversial industry moving further." The Chicago Democrat had introduced a measure that would put a temporary ban on the practice.

Sen. Sue Rezin, a Morris Republican described the legislation as having "the highest environmental regulations in the entire country."

Energy companies are eyeing the New Albany shale formation in southern Illinois, where they believe there are significant oil reserves 5,000 feet or more below the surface.

While the measure passed easily in both chambers, the road there wasn't easy. An amendment requiring energy companies to hire a state-licensed water well driller delayed the vote for more than a month before industry and unions reached a compromise that gives drillers a break on extraction taxes if at least half of their employees are from Illinois.

Two bills proposing a moratorium were offered, but neither gained traction.

Opponents say the regulatory legislation would leave Illinois communities with no control over the practice.

But others felt it was the best the state could do. State Sen. Don Harmon, an Oak Park Democrat said it was "about as good of a regulatory bill as we could offer."

"God willing," Harmon said, "it's good enough."

__

The bill is SB1715.

Online: http://www.ilga.gov

__

Associated Press writer Sophia Tareen contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ill-passes-nations-toughest-fracking-regulations-013716732.html

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White House Press Corps Website, Twitter Feed Appears To Have Been Hacked

The White House Press Corps homepage and Twitter feed appears to have been hacked early Friday.

Just before 2 a.m., tweets began flowing into @whpresscorps, complaining about bias in the media. The hackers' beef seemed to be with any news organization that met with Attorney General Eric Holder to discuss how the Justice Department will handle future instances of spying on journalists.

Numerous news outlets refused to attend the meeting with Holder because it was supposed to be "off the record." But five chose to go, and those were the ones lambasted by the unknown hacker(s):

The alleged hacker(s) also made it clear that meeting with Holder had tainted these news organizations' reputations.

The talks followed news of the Obama administration's surveillance of Fox News reporter James Rosen and The Associated Press as part of a government leaks investigation.

Free speech advocates and many in the media took umbrage with these actions, calling them a violation of the First Amendment.

The supposed hacker(s) also seemed to be upset with the administration's handling of last September's attack in Benghazi, Libya, and the IRS' investigation of Tea Party groups.

The White House Press Corps Website and Twitter feed describes the "daily adventures with the White House Press Corps in their own words." When contacted for comment, an autoreply message noted that the site is not associated with the White House Correspondents' Association or its members. "We are an independent source providing information, commentary and analysis on the relationship between the press and the White House."

Related on HuffPost:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/31/white-house-press-corps-hacked_n_3364164.html

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Rockets fired from Syria hit Lebanon

BEIRUT (AP) ? Lebanese security officials say 16 rockets fired from Syria have struck the eastern region of Baalbek.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief reporters, say the rockets caused a fire in fields without casualties.

The area that was struck is a stronghold of Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group that is fighting alongside Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces against rebels who are trying to remove him from power.

Rebels have fired dozens of rockets on Lebanon's northeastern region of Hermel over the past weeks but Saturday's attack was the first on Baalbek.

Syria's two-year civil war has spilled over to Lebanon where fighters who back and oppose Assad have clashed, leaving scores dead and wounded in recent months.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/rockets-fired-syria-hit-lebanon-083422875.html

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You Can Buy Your Very Own Used Morgue Fridge on Ebay Right Now

Need a new fridge? Has the State of New York Office of General Services ever got a great deal for you! How about a used but fully functional morgue cooler from the Manhattan Psychiatric Center? It's on Ebay right now, and only a few hundred bucks.

Read more...

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/dQtOSKbg4CI/you-can-buy-your-very-own-used-morgue-fridge-on-ebay-ri-510834886

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Online Marketing Strategies For Your E-commerce Business | Bowie ...

If your desire is to start making money online, run a google search for ?Cole Cash Code?.

You will find out for yourself why Cole Cash? Code is different and innovative, this is genuine stuff you could easily learn how it works, not like all of the scamming products and services on the market. Run a google search for ?Cole Cash Code?.

Source: http://bowiebiz.com/online-marketing-strategies-for-your-e-commerce-business

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A bad biology grade sticks around

May 31, 2013 ? Don't let low grades haunt your students. A new study in the Journal of Animal Science shows that performance in foundational biology courses is a strong predictor of performance in high-level animal science courses.

In a study of 1,516 students over 7 years, researchers from Kansas State University found that students who did well in biology also performed well in a rigorous genetics course. This result was not surprising, but the researchers were struck by the importance of timing. Undergraduate students did best when they waited at least a year to take the genetics course.

"Genetics is a very hard class," said Dr. Jennifer Minick Bormann, co-author of the study and associate professor in the Department of Animal Sciences and Industry at Kansas State University. "That is not a good place for a brand-new freshman."

At Kansas State University, biology is a pre-requisite for genetics. Many students try to fulfill that pre-requisite by earning college credits for biology courses during high school. The data show that students who take biology at Kansas State do better in genetics than students that bring that course in from other sources.

Minick Bormann said this study could help advisors and their students plan more realistic class schedules. By taking genetics as sophomores and juniors, students can perform well and prepare themselves for advanced courses in subjects like animal breeding.

"We need to sit down as advisors and talk about it," said Minick Bormann. "I would expect our students to be similar to students at other large land grant universities."

The researchers also found that students did not forget what they learned in biology, even if they waited several years to take genetics. That is good news for animal science students and advisors.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/TPIMZoZB0Rg/130531132737.htm

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'Truly Boston Strong' at show for marathon victims

BOSTON (AP) ? The song "Come Together" their rallying cry, performers at a benefit concert for victims of the deadly Boston Marathon bombing had thousands of people cheering Thursday for a city that has pulled together to overcome adversity.

Veteran rockers Aerosmith helped close the 5 ? hour Boston Strong Concert. After an energetic run through hits, such as "Walk This Way" and "Sweet Emotion," they were joined on stage by 1990s boy band New Kids on the Block and other performers for the Beatles classic.

The Boston Strong Concert had residents jamming to songs from the Dropkick Murphys, Boston and other musical acts and even laughing at a joke about the capture of a bombing suspect.

The concert kicked off with the rock band Boston playing songs including its 1970s hit "More Than a Feeling."

"Tonight, we are all Boston," lead singer Tommy DeCarlo declared to a crowd of thousands of people, including victims and first responders, at the TD Garden.

"Boston got its heart broken ... but if they think they can keep us down, they can 'Dream On,' said frontman Steven Tyler before Aerosmith played their hit by that name.

The Dropkick Murphys, whose rousing rendition of "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" was a crowd favorite, were introduced by former New England Patriots player Joe Andruzzi, who was watching the April 15 marathon when the bombs went off and helped victims at the scene.

"When I looked around that day, the image that's in my mind is seeing more people run to the site than run away," Andruzzi said. "That is truly Boston Strong."

Concertgoer Harry Donovan said Boston residents weren't going to let "any violence, any hatred bring this town down."

"This city took a hit, there's no doubt, but Boston, like a lot of other cities, is resilient," said Donovan, of nearby Wellesley.

Bombing victim Jeff Bauman, who lost his legs in one of the blasts and was led from the scene in a wheelchair, also attended and smiled on a massive television screen.

As the members of NKOTB took the stage to perform, member Joey McIntyre, who had finished running in the marathon 10 minutes before the bombs went off, choked up.

"I happened to be on a bench in Copley Plaza, Copley Square," McIntyre said, "but I don't care where you were that day, because this happened to all of us."

Surprise guests Boyz II Men joined NKOTB on stage for "One Sweet Day" in tribute to those who lost their lives in the attack.

Other acts taking part in the benefit show included country singer Jason Aldean and comedian Steven Wright. James Taylor performed "Sweet Baby James" with Carole King on piano.

More than once, the words "Boston Strong" were met with cheers and fist pumps from the energetic crowd.

"I love that phrase," enthused Boston comic Lenny Clarke, whose cathartic set featured a foul-mouthed, one-man reenactment of the capture of bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. "You know what I don't love? 'Shelter in place.'"

Boston area residents were locked down, told to shelter in place, a few days after the bombing while authorities searched for Tsarnaev, who was found hiding in a boat in a backyard in suburban Watertown. Tsarnaev's older brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, had died after a shootout with police.

The suspects, ethnic Chechens from Russia, are accused of setting off two pressure cooker bombs packed with shrapnel near the marathon's finish line, killing three people and injuring more than 260 others. Their mother has insisted they are innocent.

Concert proceeds will go to One Fund Boston, the compensation fund established by Gov. Deval Patrick and Mayor Thomas Menino to help bombing victims.

The amount of money raised by the concert won't be available until next week, a spokesman for the event's producer said. Ticket prices for the sold-out show ranged from $35 to close to $300.

It was a night of joy, tears, laughter and standing ovations, but co-organizer and NKOTB member Donnie Wahlberg said the artists on stage were not the true stars.

"You deserve the credit," the Dorchester native told the crowd. "I think we've shown the world in the last few months what many in Boston have already known, that we are not just one of the greatest cities in the world, we are one of the greatest families in the world."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/truly-boston-strong-show-marathon-victims-021600710.html

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