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Louisiana to borrow up to $400M in short-term bank loans
September 15, 2016 1:00 PMBATON ROUGE - Louisiana will borrow up to $400 million from two banks to help keep bill-paying on track at state agencies. The Bond Commission agreed without objection Thursday to the short-term loans, which will be drawn down as needed and must be repaid by August 2017. The state's financial... more »
Motorcyclist dies after crash on entrance ramp Hwy. 90
August 30, 2016 5:05 PMRACELAND – State Troopers began responded to a single-car crash involving a motorcycle on the entrance ramp to Highway 90 that took the life of a 72-year-old man. The initial investigation revealed that 72-year-old Vernon Fletcher of Gray, LA, was traveling on a 2007 Harley Davidson motorcycle. He entered a... more »
More abortion restrictions coming for La. women, doctors
June 28, 2016 3:56 PMBATON ROUGE - While Louisiana's law requiring abortion doctors to have hospital admitting privileges may be jeopardized by this week's U.S. Supreme Court ruling, more limitations on the procedure are planned in the state. Lawmakers enacted new abortion restrictions in the regular legislative session that ended earlier this month. They... more »
Audit: Privatization of state insurance program saved $10M
June 27, 2016 1:03 PMBATON ROUGE - A new audit says former Gov. Bobby Jindal's privatization of claims processing and loss prevention services for Louisiana's self-insurance program saved the state money, though less than projected. The Jindal administration privatized the Office of Risk Management work in June 2010, awarding the $75 million contract to... more »
McCain: Obama 'directly responsible' for Orlando shooting
June 16, 2016 7:01 PMWASHINGTON - Republican Sen. John McCain said Thursday that President Barack Obama is "directly responsible" for the mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, because of the rise of the Islamic State group on the president's watch. But he later issued a statement saying that he "misspoke." "I did not mean to... more »
Pay raises suspended for Louisiana's state workers next year
June 16, 2016 11:40 AMBATON ROUGE - Tens of thousands of Louisiana state workers won't be getting pay raises next year. The Civil Service Commission voted 4-1 Thursday to block annual "performance adjustments" for more than 38,000 government workers, called classified employees. The pay raise suspension covers the budget year that begins July 1.... more »
State budget concerns cause change of location for LSU nutrition building
May 26, 2016 12:18 AMBATON ROUGE - A new athletic nutrition center planned for LSU's campus won't be built where it was planned because of the state's uncertain budget situation. The $12 million facility was supposed to be built on Skip Bertman Drive, near the old LSU baseball stadium. Instead, it will be... more »
In budget crunch, state agencies leaving money unclaimed
May 3, 2016 12:29 AMBATON ROUGE - Money is tight in Louisiana, but there are millions of dollars just waiting to be cashed. State agencies are not staying on top of unclaimed property owed to them. Some seem to have forgotten its there. "We've returned $315 million, and we got a long... more »
LSU President warns current students they could lose TOPS under governor's proposed cuts Play Video
April 12, 2016 10:33 AMBATON ROUGE - Healthcare and TOPS took the brunt of the cuts in the governor's proposed budget cutbacks presented to the legislature Tuesday. Here's most the cuts that matter #lalege pic.twitter.com/EShyf63key — Mark Armstrong (@TV_MarkA) April 12, 2016 Governor John Bel Edwards and his budget advisers... more »
State demands answers from water company over unhealthy amount of chemicals Play Video
March 29, 2016 5:21 PMDONALDSONVILLE- State health leaders had strong words today for People's Water in Donaldsonville. "We don't have a trust at this point," Dr. Jimmy Guidry said. "In order to build that trust they have to do their job, and we have to check and make sure they're doing their job." The... more »
State tax filing extensions for storm affected parishes
March 23, 2016 1:51 PMBATON ROUGE – Taxpayers affected by recent storms or flooding will have some extra time to file some of their taxes. State officials said Wednesday that the Department of Revenue will waive late filing penalties, late payment fees and other interest that would normally apply. The extended deadline... more »
Special session deadline looms at the capitol Play Video
March 9, 2016 12:03 AMBATON ROUGE - A deadline looms at the state capitol. By the end of Wednesday, the special session called to deal with the state's budget woes will be over. It'll be a busy day. Lawmakers have to find another $200 million. Accomplishing that could be easier said than done; They've... more »
Standoff between state House, Senate impeding progress Play Video
March 2, 2016 1:22 AMBATON ROUGE - Tuesday at the capitol, discussions over raising sin taxes stalled again, but lawmakers did make a last minute decision to approve a one cent sales tax increase. For a 3rd consecutive day, Louisiana's House of Representatives refused to take an action on two tax increases - cigarettes... more »
State, defense rest at hearing for 'Serial' case
February 8, 2016 6:11 PMBALTIMORE - The state and the defense rested their cases after four days of testimony in a hearing for the man convicted of the killing at the center of the "Serial" podcast. Adnan Syed, now 35, was convicted of killing his high school girlfriend Hae Min Lee in 2000.... more »
Thousands of disabled children could lose health services Play Video
January 28, 2016 6:46 PMBATON ROUGE - Kodi Wilson has a special way of talking to her son Braden. She runs her fingers through his blonde curls while he hums back at her. Braden can't talk or sit up or even grasp his mother's hand. He has a rare disorder known as Leigh's Disease... more »
State announces plan to provide more funding for child care services Play Video
January 6, 2016 7:15 PMBATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Department of Education released information on Wednesday about a plan to provide more benefits to daycares that receive state funding and to low income families that use them. Some of the benefits include making more money available to increase the available care these families can... more »
Two WBRSO deputies suspended after work release investigation Play Video
December 22, 2015 12:10 PMPORT ALLEN - Two West Baton Rouge Parish sheriff's deputies were suspended without pay Tuesday after an internal investigation showed they did not follow protocol when three work release inmates escaped recently. The names of the deputies were not released. One deputy was suspended for one day, the other... more »
State sells 'Road Diet' for Government Street Play Video
December 17, 2015 8:09 PMBATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development made its "Road Diet" pitch to the public Thursday evening. The state hopes to sell the idea of a three-lane Government Street. It's an idea that will have two travel lanes - one in each direction - and a... more »
Search warrant issued to check state office in possible malfeasance investigation
December 10, 2015 10:57 PMBATON ROUGE – A state investigator searched the office of a former government official Thursday in relation to possible malfeasance in office. The WBRZ Investigative Unit obtained the search warrant signed by 19th JDC Judge Beau Higginbotham. The order g a ve a criminal investigator with the Louisiana Office... more »
Parkview Baptist wins state title in Division II
December 4, 2015 9:08 PMNEW ORLEANS (AP) - Reggie Hayes' 37-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Ruffin with less than two minutes remaining proved to be the game winner as Parkview Baptist defeated St. Thomas More 24-21 in the Louisiana Division II state championship game Friday night. Hayes drove the Eagles... more »
$4 million of EKL medical equipment missing Play Video
November 30, 2015 6:54 PMBATON ROUGE - More than $4 million of medical equipment is missing from the old Earl K. Long hospital in North Baton Rouge, according to a state audit . EKL shut it's doors in 2013, and some of its equipment was sent to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in... more »
State gets involved in fight over historic slave cemetery Play Video
November 23, 2015 6:31 PMPLAQUEMINE - Tonight, the State is getting involved in a fight over a historic slave cemetery. The Attorney General's Office believes a church in town may have broken the law. It all centers around the Revilletown Cemetery. It was purchased in 1881 by a slave named Robert Taylor. Taylor's... more »
Democrats celebrate victory in Louisiana governor's race
November 22, 2015 12:08 PMNEW ORLEANS - Democrats in Louisiana rejoiced as they reclaimed the governor's mansion for the first time in eight years, while the state's GOP leader insisted "our Republican brand is strong" even amid the defeat of a one-time political powerhouse, Republican U.S. Sen. David Vitter. John Bel Edwards' victory in... more »
Louisiana Lottery's first quarter transfer to state up
October 28, 2015 11:40 AMBATON ROUGE - For the first quarter of fiscal year 2016, the Louisiana Lottery Corporation has transferred $38.9 million to the state's coffers, up 6 percent from 2015. Lottery President and CEO Rose Hudson, in a news release Tuesday, says scratch-off sales continue to be a player favorite with $3... more »
Civil service commissioner says state worker are "taken for granted" Play Video
October 5, 2015 7:51 PMBATON ROUGE- Civil Service Commissioner Pete Fremin said he's "very disappointed" that more than 35,000 rank-and-file state workers didn't get their yearly pay raise. "This is the fourth or fifth year it's happened," said Fremin. Every year Louisiana workers get graded on how hard they work. If they... more »
Plaquemine mayor's funeral service set for Wednesday
September 16, 2015 9:24 AMPLAQUEMINE - People are getting ready to pay their final respects to the late Plaquemine Mayor Tony Gulotta. His body arrived Tuesday afternoon to lie in state at city hall. Groups of mourners stopped by to pay their final respects to the longest-serving mayor in the city's history. Gulotta was... more »
State wrapping up investigation into mayor's spending Play Video
September 14, 2015 6:00 PMNEW ROADS- The State Inspector General's Office is wrapping up its investigation into questionable spending on city credit cards in New Roads. The results of the investigation will be turned over to prosecutors shortly. That's when they'll decide if there's enough evidence to press forward with a case against... more »
New Mexico State bus robbed during Florida game
September 6, 2015 1:42 PMGAINESVILLE, Fla. - University of Florida police say electronics, computers and other items were stolen from a New Mexico State team personnel bus during Saturday's game. Brad Barber of the university police department says the bus, which carried football staff members, was parked outside the stadium in a secure area.... more »
Ohio St. students may have defaced ancient rock
September 5, 2015 12:44 PMSALT LAKE CITY - Ohio State University is promising to take appropriate action if any students are found to be involved in the vandalism of ancient rock art in Utah. School officials said Friday they are looking into whether students on a geology field trip were responsible for scrawling signatures... more »
Cadets have first day of training in Baton Rouge
August 30, 2015 6:34 PMBATON ROUGE, La. - Dozens of cadets reported to their first official day of training at the Louisiana State Police Training Academy. "We want to make sure that the right people are here," Sgt. Nick Manale told News Two. "We want to make sure that these men and women are... more »
State unveils mobile pet shelter Play Video
August 27, 2015 7:42 PMGONZALES - The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry unveiled its new mobile pet shelter. It's a trailer that's designed to drive around picking up animals who need to evacuate in the event of a disaster. "We can go on-site where there is an emergency. And this is... more »
Roommate of man accused in trooper's murder found dead Play Video
August 23, 2015 6:02 PMBELL CITY, La. - The roommate of the man accused of shooting and killing Trooper Steven Vincent was found dead Monday morning and homicide is suspected, according to Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso Sheriff Mancuso said deputies found the body Monday morning after the man did not go to... more »
22-year-old water advisory upgraded to serious level
August 12, 2015 11:27 PMBATON ROUGE - State health officials said Wednesday, unhealthy levels of industrial compounds and mercury were found in fish from the Devil's Swamp and Bayou Baton Rouge area. Due to the contamination, the state issued a "no consumption" advisory for the waterways. People are told to avoid eating fish... more »
La. jockeys arrested in race-fixing investigation
July 23, 2015 11:56 AMOPELOUSAS – Louisiana State Police accused three Louisiana horse jockeys of being involved in a race-fixing scheme. Troopers arrested 46-year-old Joseph Patin, 51-year-old Billy Patin and 24-year-old LeSean Conyers on charges of Willful Pulling of the Reins and Cheating and Swindling. The Louisiana State Police Gaming Enforcement... more »
Troopers find $200,000 worth of cocaine in Tangipahoa
July 20, 2015 6:53 PMHAMMOND - It was a busy night with multiple cocaine arrests for Louisiana State Troopers in Tangipahoa Parish Sunday. State Troopers arrested four people and discovered over $200,000 worth of cocaine in two separate traffic stops Sunday. Troopers said they stopped an SUV for a traffic violation around... more »
Bossier community college, LSU sign engineering agreement
July 10, 2015 1:32 PMBOSSIER CITY - Officials with Bossier Parish Community College and LSU-Baton Rouge have signed an articulation agreement between the two schools The agreement says students who earn an Associate of Science degree in Engineering at BPCC will be able to transfer all credit hours to Louisiana State University-Baton Rouge.... more »
Kentucky clerk: Let people buy marriage licenses online
July 6, 2015 3:07 PMFRANKFORT - A Kentucky clerk of court wants the state to issue marriage licenses online so he doesn't have to. Casey County Clerk Casey Davis says same-sex marriage violates his religious beliefs. He stopped issuing marriage licenses following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that legalized gay marriage. On Monday, Davis... more »
Cigarette tax goes up 50 cents this week
June 28, 2015 10:59 PMBATON ROUGE- You can expect to pay more if you buy a pack of cigarettes in Louisiana starting Wednesday. On July 1st, a pack of cigarettes will cost you an additional 50 cents after state legislators voted to raise the cigarette tax. Currently, the state's cigarette tax is 36... more »
Jindal vows to fight gay marriage
June 26, 2015 10:55 AMNEW ORLEANS- Gov. Bobby Jindal, Louisiana's Republican leader running for the White House as a conservative Christian, quickly blasted the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on Friday to uphold same-sex marriage across the nation. Calling gay marriage a "states' rights" issue, Jindal lambasted the Supreme Court for, in his words, "trampling"... more »
Cleco customers to expect a refund
June 25, 2015 10:47 PMBATON ROUGE - State utility regulators decided Cleco customers should get a refund. The Louisiana Public Service Commission voted Wednesday for a $1.64 million refund for customers. It will be a one-time payment around $3.50 on the September bill. The commission said the refund comes after they found... more »
State sales tax exemption on hurricane items begins Saturday Play Video
May 29, 2015 6:30 PMBATON ROUGE - It's a tax free weekend for Louisiana residents interested in purchasing hurricane supplies on Saturday and Sunday. The state sales tax holiday kicks off at 12:01 a.m. Saturday morning and comes to a close at 11:59 p.m. Sunday night. "This is a good opportunity for... more »
Milldale Road Bridge closure has some frustrated Play Video
May 14, 2015 5:54 PMZACHARY - The closure of the Milldale Road bridge has some residents boiling in frustration. "I've done had it," Andrew Theriot told News 2 Thursday, after he was asked about the bridge being closed for two years. A state inspection in 2013 revealed rotting pilings supporting the bridge,... more »
Welcome center may be sold to fill general fund budget gap Play Video
May 6, 2015 6:20 PMBATON ROUGE - The Center Park Welcome Center may be on the chopping block as state leaders look to ditch properties that aren't being used as much as they should be. "The welcome center is a great facility that just isn't being utilized enough to justify the expense for... more »
State to include sinkholes in disaster planning
April 15, 2015 10:19 AMTHIBODAUX - Sinkholes will be recognized as threats in the state's updated hazard mitigation plan. The Daily Comet reports the state is working on a five-year update to its hazard mitigation plan, which must be in place to receive federal money after natural and man-made disasters. For the first time,... more »
58 new Louisiana State Troopers graduate Play Video
April 10, 2015 6:32 PMBATON ROUGE - Louisiana now has 58 new state troopers ready to go to work. Cadets walked across the stage Friday morning at the BREC Independence Park Theater after making it through an intensive 19-week training session. Seven new troopers will be assigned in the Baton Rouge area.... more »
Dardenne not ready to reveal higher education plan Play Video
April 6, 2015 4:13 PMBATON ROUGE - Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne chose his former junior high school, Westdale Middle in Baton Rouge, as the place to launch a statewide announcement tour for his gubernatorial campaign. Dardenne is one of three Republicans in the race along with Sen. David Vitter and Scott Angelle. State... more »
House bill could pin higher taxes on smokers Play Video
April 2, 2015 6:03 PMBATON ROUGE - Smokers across the state could be taking a bigger hit to their wallet when they restock on their precious smokes in the future. To the chagrin of these nicotine enjoying taxpayers, the proposed House Bill No. 252, aims to increase cigarette taxes from $0.36 to $1.08... more »
State police travel expenses rise under Gov. Bobby Jindal
March 31, 2015 2:29 PMBATON ROUGE- Expenses for the governor's state police security detail have gone up under Gov. Bobby Jindal, as he travels across the country raising his profile for a possible presidential campaign. Col. Mike Edmonson, the head of the Louisiana State Police, says his agency spent $2.2 million on travel expenses... more »
Louisiana State Police redeploy troopers to New Orleans
March 12, 2015 3:19 AMBATON ROUGE - Additional state troopers will redeploy this week to the City of New Orleans to support the New Orleans Police Department's efforts to deter crime. Louisiana State Police Col. Mike Edmonson said Wednesday they've been planning the redeployment since the completion of this year's Mardi Gras detail. Edmonson... more »
State Dept. official charged with soliciting minor
February 25, 2015 1:49 AMFAIRFAX, VA - A U.S. State Department official has been jailed on charges of soliciting a minor. Fairfax County, Virginia, Police Department spokeswoman Lucy Caldwell says 44-year-old Daniel Rosen was arrested at his home in Washington, D.C., about noon Tuesday and was in custody at the D.C. jail Tuesday night.... more »
State offices set to close Tuesday due to winter weather
February 23, 2015 4:54 PMBATON ROUGE - State officials say some state government offices in 42 parishes will be closed on Tuesday due to forecasted severe winter weather. Commissioner Kristy Nichols announced the closures Monday afternoon due to the forecasted hazardous driving conditions and scattered power outages forecasted from the severe weather. ... more »
Residents want state to fix site of deadly crash Play Video
February 13, 2015 5:06 PMLIVINGSTON - Another fatal crash took place on Highway 63, south of Highway 449. According to the The Department of Transportation and Development, It's the second fatality to happen in that area within recent years. Louis Gurka III, 55, of Baton Rouge was traveling north on the highway... more »
Obama: Islamic State is going to lose
February 11, 2015 3:01 PMWASHINGTON- President Barack Obama says his new war-powers request to Congress won't become the authorization for another ground war like the U.S. fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. Obama spoke on Wednesday after submitting his request for a new authorization to use military force against the Islamic State group. Obama... more »
La. officials say they're prepared for measles Play Video
February 5, 2015 5:16 PMCENTRAL - With the recent measles outbreak hitting 14 states around the country, Louisiana has managed to escape being included in that number. However, officials from the Department of Health and Hospitals said they are prepared if cases do start showing up. "If we find a kid in... more »
Program offers free tax filing help to B.R. residents
February 2, 2015 11:03 AMBATON ROUGE - With tax season entering full swing, Mayor-President "Kip" Holden's Office of Social Services is offering free help from IRS-certified workers to assist Baton Rouge residents in filing their federal and state taxes. The service is offered through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, which offers free... more »
New library in the works for St. Helena Parish Play Video
January 28, 2015 5:07 PMST. HELENA - A new library is in the works for St. Helena Parish. After complaints the current library was too small to serve the entire parish, officials went to the state to ask for funds. "Through capital outlay and appropriations, they gave us enough funds to start... more »
More than 2 years after closing, Swamp Walk opens again
January 21, 2015 2:11 PMPONCHATOULA - A hidden, intimate and free pathway that provides nature lovers an up close and personal look at Louisiana's swampland has reopened, more than two years after it was closed. Located below the raised portion of I-55 south of Ponchatoula, the Joyce Wildlife Management Area Swamp Walk has... more »
Secretary of State warns of furloughs next week
January 14, 2015 4:26 PMBATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Secretary of State's office said Wednesday that a proposed $3.8 million mid-year budget cut from the Jindal administration could force them to furlough employees starting as early as next week. Secretary of State Tom Schedler said he's been given until Friday to figure out... more »
Pedestrian struck, killed Sunday night
December 29, 2014 8:04 AMYOUNGSVILLE - State police say a Youngsville man was attempting to walk across U.S. Highway 90 in St. Martin Parish when he was hit by a small SUV. Master Trooper Brooks David says 48-year-old Brian Bearden was taken to a nearby hospital and pronounced death Sunday night. David said the... more »
Daily rate paid to state lawmakers dropped slightly
December 12, 2014 3:05 AMBATON ROUGE - Compensation for Louisiana's lawmakers has fallen slightly. The payment legislators get for each day they are in session, attending interim committee meetings or participating in other meetings related to their position has dropped from $153 to $150. Under state law, that "per diem" payment is tied to... more »
Tony the tiger legal battles not over yet
November 16, 2014 6:28 PMGROSSE TETE - The battle to keep Tony the Tiger in his cage, in front of Tiger Truck Stop, is not over. The Animal Legal Defense Fund, an animal rights group based out of California, is suing the tiger's owner, Michael Sandlin as well as the state. According... more »
State leaders are trying to put a price on death row
November 6, 2014 6:56 PMBATON ROUGE - State legislators are trying to figure out just how much it cost the state to execute an inmate on death row. Each inmate sitting on death row costs tax payers a lot of money but the question on the minds of man is exactly how much... more »
State leaders are trying to put a price on death row
November 6, 2014 6:55 PMBATON ROUGE - State legislators are trying to figure out just how much it cost the state to execute an inmate on death row. Each inmate sitting on death row costs tax payers a lot of money but the question on the minds of man is exactly how much... more »
DHH monitors travelers
November 3, 2014 6:53 PMBATON ROUGE - The state is monitoring 7 people in 5 homes on the chance who recently traveled to ebola-infected countries. It's part of new recommendations made by the Centers for Disease Control. The Department of Health and Hospitals says it is monitoring the people who recently traveled to... more »
Woman seeing yellow after restriping incident Play Video
October 30, 2014 9:51 PMST. FRANCISVILLE - A woman says a state vehicle restriping the highway painted her car yellow and she's getting the run-around to fix it. Around 11:30 a.m. Monday, Danielle Landry was driving along Highway 10 in St. Francisville when a Department of Transportation and Development truck was heading toward... more »
People gearing up for hunting season by getting certified Play Video
October 11, 2014 5:05 PMWALKER - Some people aren't wasting time when it comes to getting their hunting license. Classes are being held all over the state for people trying to prepare for hunting season. Saturday, dozens of people went to the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Shooting Range to complete the second stage... more »
National guard hosts mock terrorist attack Play Video
September 25, 2014 4:22 PMPLAQUEMINE - The Louisiana National Guard conducted an anti-terrorism exercise Thursday morning. Several local, state, and federal agencies took part in the exercise along with the National Guard. Officials say the exercise happened so that they could see how well everyone worked together in the event an emergency... more »
State returns $84K in unclaimed property
August 25, 2014 5:02 PMBATON ROUGE - The state has returned $84,400 in unclaimed money to hundreds of Lafayette-area residents during an Unclaimed Property Awareness Day weekend event. The Louisiana Department of the Treasury, in a news release Monday, said the average claim is usually around $900, but several claims filed at the Acadiana... more »
State Police looking for vehicle involved in hit and run
August 25, 2014 2:13 PMSt. Amant - State Troopers are asking for your help in finding a vehicle that was involved in a hit and run crash in St. Amant last week. It happened on August 17 on LA Hwy 429 east of LA Hwy 431. Troopers say an unknown silver vehicle... more »
State investment helps bolster paper mill Play Video
August 5, 2014 5:22 PMST. FRANCISVILLE - The KPAQ paper mill is back in business in a big way, boasting more than $38 million in investments since it came back online in 2010. The mill got incentives from the state that helped investors pump enough money into the facility to get things back... more »
Local parishioners weigh in on illegal immigrant issues Play Video
August 3, 2014 6:28 PMBATON ROUGE - In light of the recent influx of illegal immigrant children into the state, more and more people are joining the conversation on what to do about it. Governor Jindal has sent a letter to the White House blasting President Obama on claims that the government failed... more »
State audit finds major issues with LSU Scholarships Play Video
June 2, 2014 5:07 PMBATON ROUGE- The State Legislative Auditor is raising serious questions tonight about scholarships awarded by the LSU Board of Supervisors. At issue is the way the scholarships were awarded and who was keeping those records. "They didn't log in the applicants when an application was received," Ernest Summerville... more »
House lawmakers reject ethics exemption for BESE
May 29, 2014 6:34 PMBATON ROUGE - Lawmakers in the House refused to carve out an ethics exemption for members of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education that would have let them enter into contracts with state government. The proposal got tacked onto a separate Senate bill by a House committee. But the... more »
Smoking ban at state office buildings wins passage
May 22, 2014 3:05 AMBATON ROUGE - After years of trying, a West Monroe lawmaker has successfully persuaded the full Legislature to ban smoking within 25 feet of a public entrance to a state-owned office building. The Senate gave final passage to Republican Rep. Frank Hoffmann's bill with a 31-6 vote Wednesday. Hoffmann has... more »
State tax deadline is on May 15th
May 13, 2014 11:05 AMBATON ROUGE - The deadline for filing Louisiana state tax returns and extension requests is Thursday, May 15. The Louisiana Department of Revenue said that electronic filing is the fastest way to submit returns and get refunds processed. The state offers a free tax filing web application to... more »


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Cosmos Hotel, Moscow
- Free buffet breakfast and WiFi
Main amenities
- 1777 smoke-free guestrooms
- 3 restaurants
- Full-service spa
- Indoor pool
- Nightclub
- Fitness center
- Self parking
- Conference center
- Airport shuttle
- 24-hour front desk
- Coffee/tea in a common area
- Air conditioning
For families
- Cribs/infant beds available
- Refrigerator
- Private bathroom
- Daily housekeeping
- Laundry facilities
- Blackout drapes/curtains
What's around
- In Alexeevsky
- Monument to the Conquerors of Space (0.2 mi / 0.3 km)
- Museum of Cosmonautics (0.5 mi / 0.8 km)
- All-Russian Exhibition Centre (0.5 mi / 0.8 km)
- Worker and Kolkhoz Woman (0.6 mi / 0.9 km)
- Ostankino Palace (1.3 mi / 2.1 km)
Cosmos Hotel, Moscow
Hotel Info: 866-539-8117from $41
- Apartment, 1 Bedroom (free access to fitness facilities)
- Suite (free access to fitness facilities)
- Standard Double or Twin Room
- Double Room (Romantic Offer)
- Superior Room
- Junior Suite (free access to fitness facilities)
- Grand Suite, 1 Double Bed (free access to fitness facilities)
More great choices
At a glance
Key facts
Hotel size
- This hotel has 1,777 rooms
- This hotel is arranged over 25 floors
- Check-in time starts at 2 PM
- Check-out time is noon
Required at check in
- Credit card or cash deposit required
- Government-issued photo ID required
- If you require a visa to enter the country, your hotel may be able to help with the supporting documents needed to obtain one *
Travelling with others
- Pets not allowed
- Free WiFi in public areas
- Free WiFi in rooms
- Airport shuttle (available on request) *
- Train station pickup *
- Self parking *
Other information
- Smoke-free property
Nearby Three Star Moscow hotels
In the hotel
- Free buffet breakfast daily
- 3 restaurants
- Bar/lounge
- Coffee shop/café
- Coffee/tea in a common area
- Indoor pool
- Fitness facilities
- Full-service spa
- Steam room
- Nightclub
- Sauna
- Number of meeting rooms - 7
- Conference space
- Meeting rooms
- Conference center
- 24-hour front desk
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Limo or Town Car service available
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Laundry facilities
- Hair salon
- Luggage storage
- Year Built 1979
- Elevator/lift
- ATM/banking
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Television in common areas
In the room
- Air conditioning
- Iron/ironing board (on request)
- Blackout drapes/curtains
- Private bathroom
- Hair dryer (on request)
- Satellite TV channels
- Desk
- Free WiFi
- Refrigerator
- Daily housekeeping
Top Moscow hotels
Recently reviewed hotels in Moscow
- Assambleya Nikitskaya HotelFrom
"Everything was really good about the hotel. Small but really nice. "Sep 24, 2016
- Marriott Moscow Royal Aurora HotelFrom
"Great hotel, well situated within walking distance from Bolshoi theatre and main attractions. Staff very helpful! "Sep 21, 2016
- Aquamarine HotelFrom
"Warm reception staff and helpful. Rooms quiet and clean. Modern and pleasant decor. "Sep 19, 2016
- Hotel Baltschug Kempinski MoscowFrom
"Just over the river to Red Square---rooms are spacious, room service and restaurants wonderful, and pool is flawless."Sep 19, 2016
Also popular with travelers from the USA
Special features
Guests can indulge in a pampering treatment at the hotel's full-service spa. Services include massages and body treatments. The spa is equipped with a sauna, a spa tub, a steam room, and Turkish bath/hammam. A variety of treatment therapies are provided, including aromatherapy.
DiningKalinka - Onsite buffet restaurant.
Terrace - This tapas bar serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Guests can enjoy drinks at the bar. Open 24 hours.
Il Gusto - This fine-dining restaurant serves lunch and dinner.
Empress Hall - This theme restaurant serves lunch and dinner.
Piccolo Diablo - This café serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Open 24 hours.
Cosmos Hotel, Moscow's small print
Also known as
- Cosmos Hotel
- Cosmos Hotel Moscow
- Cosmos Moscow
- Hotel Cosmos
Early check-in before 9 AM is charged at 50% of room rate. Early check-in from 9 AM to 2 PM is free of charge upon room availability. Late check-out from 2 PM to midnight is charged at 50% of room rate. Late check-out after midnight is charged at 100% of room rate.
If you require a visa to enter the country, your hotel may be able to help with the supporting documents needed to obtain one. To learn more, you can reach out to the hotel via the contact details included on your booking confirmation. The hotel may charge for this assistance, even if you end up cancelling your reservation. All arrangements are solely between the hotel and yourself.
For transfers, guests must contact the property before arrival at the number on the booking confirmation.
Optional extras
Early check-in can be arranged for an extra charge
Late check-out can be arranged for an extra charge
Self parking costs RUB 800 per night
Airport shuttle service is offered for an extra charge of RUB 3300 per vehicle (one way)
Train station pick-up service is offered for an extra charge
We have included all charges provided to us by this hotel. However, charges can vary, for example, based on length of stay or the room you book.
Recent reviews
Good 3.4 /5 from 295 reviews
I had wanted to stay at this hotel for many years as it was highly rated. The staff at check-in were absolutely the best and the young lady who assisted me spoke remarkably good English...and also Chinese !(Not that I needed that.) Everything at the hotel was first rate except the mattresses which were very hard so that a blanket had to be laid on them under the sheet for more comfort. Beside that, I was very pleased with every aspect of the service and location. The breakfast buffet was not to be imagined for variety and everything was delicious! The price of the hotel was very reasonable and I would stay at this hotel again, but opt fore as premium room where I would guess the beds would be more comfortable.
The hotel is huge. Looks fancy from outside but very outdated inside. I came here on busy day during national holidays. Everything was a total mess. People going back and forth in the lobby. Front desk takes HOURS to check in. No appology. Every other visitor had a problem with a bill which they did not want to fix. All stuff is extremely rude, do not speak any English. Stay away!!!
hotel was in convenient location, the buffet breakfast was great , security at hotel was very good. rooms need to be updated. there was no air conditioning in the room, this needs to be corrected with summer coming, room very stuffy. staff were friendly and helpfull.
The staff were amazing. The room was super comfortable and clean. Service was amazing. I recommend
nice hotel close to the subway
Is the description of this hotel not correct? Tell us

subset: commoncrawl


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Advanced Privacy Protector allows the user to customize the cleaning of the sensitive information from User Track History. The disk space can be saved and the important private details can be eliminated by Application Logs.
Advanced Privacy Protector cleans all the unwanted files. This saves lot of precious disk space,
Systweak BoostXP v2.0 offers you a substantial improvement in Windows performance. BoostXP has several optimizing functions. To name only a few, there is the Registry Cleaner, the Memory Optimizer, the Uninstaller and the Start-Up Manager. The embedded utilities of this unique software package allow you to customize your windows interface.
Systweak Disk Speedup is a program that allows you to clean junk files, remove fragments from disk drives and improve your system performance. The program improves data access response time, identifies and safely removes duplicate files, reduces computer's boot-up time, and more.
Systweak Photo Album is fast, easy-to-use yet powerful enough to satisfy all your needs in managing digital photo albums.
The StopSign Popup Blocker stops Internet advertising that is always popping up, cluttering your computer screen. Based on your individual settings, the StopSign Popup Blocker is able to detect if a popup is good or bad. You decide which popups to view.
You can utilize this tool to create multiple photo albums, write it on a recordable CD disk, search for any particular album within the list, print pictures, share it via email or publish your album on the internet. You can extract pictures from camera, scanner, hard disk, clipboard, and screenshots.
Apply impressive effects, group to your requirements, supports batch conversion, acquire images from a TWAIN device, adjust levels, gamma, RGB curves, hue/saturation, brightness/contrast and much more.
By almost every standard, AdsGone has established itself as the leading popup and banner elimination software available. With this program, you can finally maximize your enjoyment of the Internet without ever having to worry about those mindless, irritating and potentially damaging popup advertisements.
RegClean Pro has been designed to keep your Windows Registry always clean and free from unnecessary, obsolete, broken, or invalid entries. Everyone who knows how important the Registry is on a Windows operating system will understand how essential it is to have a tool like RegClean Pro to keep an eye on all those useless entries left behind by uninstalled programs and other software tools.
USB Safely Remove can avoid the inconvenience of using Windows built-in USB removal tool. In this regard, this small utility can help you manage devices connected to your computer via USB. Thus, you can evade the confusion that arises when Windows identifies all devices with the same name. In addition, you can easily hide the devices you don't want to be stopped from the application's menu.
Systweak Support Dock is a phone support dock for your Windows PC. It includes several tweaking tools, making it easier for you to perform PC maintenance tasks, fix PC errors, and get one - click tech support. It is an easy-to-use, multi-functional program that provides you with quick solutions and phone support.
System Mechanic is a utility that can fix and speed up your PC automatically. The program can improve the speed of your PC by performing optimizations such as deleting unwanted files and registry keys, blocking malicious programs, and more. Also, the CRUDD Remover feature locates and removes the unused extra programs installed in your computer.
Ad Muncher is the ultimate ad blocker. Blocks ads in all browsers, including Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera, Google Chrome, Safari, Flock, Netscape, Maxthon and Avant Browser. Kills unwanted popups in all browsers. Removes advertising in programs like Pando, SopCast, ICQ, Morpheus, Kazaa, PalTalk, iMesh, Bearshare, LimeWire, Yahoo! Music Jukebox, TVAnts and mor
AdFender gives you a faster, less cluttered and more private web surfing experience. The program blocks banner ads, flash ads, multimedia ads and other types of annoying ads, saves bandwidth and improves your surfing speed. It works with all leading web browsers, instant messengers and P2P apps
System Ninja is a program that lets you scan the system and find obsolete or simply junk files, as well as elements of other programs that can be erased without harm to anything. It can also control system processes. You are able to optimize your system by redirecting processed, turning some of them of and on, delete the core system apps you think you don't need.
"Should I Remove It" will help you find out which applications can be safely uninstalled from your system This simple program comes with a minimalistic, intuitive and straightforward interface. There are no intricate settings – just a list with the installed applications.
Advanced System Optimizer can improve the performance of your computer by removing unwanted files and registry keys, defragmenting the hard disks, and by helping you remove unnecessary startup entries. It also has other features such as duplicate file remover, secure deletion of files, and an anti-spyware.
Remove Empty Directories it is a fast and easy to use program which enables you to batch delete empty directories recursively from your hard drive. It analyzes the selected folder of your hard drive and scans it for empty directories and then displays all the empty directories in tree format.


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Skip to comments.Best Gadget of the 00's?
Posted on 12/15/2009 8:12:44 AM PST by MNDude
What does everyone think was the best new gadget to come out in the past decade?
Prepackaged single-serving waterboarding kits.
How about iPod or perhaps iPhone? Not sure if they are the "best" but definately dominant in their respective markets.
Boob belts.
No Peaces Required Nobel Peace Prizes. I'm buying 1 for my Dad!
The Kindle (and all similar devices).
Hunters Specialties "Butt-Out" and "Butt-OutII", without a doubt!
I don't claim that it's necessarily the best, but I'd add to the list "Cheap, giant, external USB hard drives."
The Home or Personal Router/Switch
None of our gadgets that connect to the interweb would be worth beans if those little boxes didnt exist, and at an affordable price.
Not sure exactly when they became a common consumer item, but I'd say the GPS.
I own a Garmin, and I just love it. I don't know what I'd do without one.
The Haliburton Hurricane Machine!
Credit card light bulb.Small lightbulb folds flat for storing your wallet.
You now can get the Peace Prize with a Happy Meal at McD's
Hope N'Change
The snuggie.
GPS gets my vote too. Honorable mention to the all-in-one printer/scanner/faxer/copier.
Easy! The Taurus Judge. :)
Wide-mouth beercans.
USB Flash Drive would get my vote with the iPhone coming in a close second.
"Available on the market" and "widely adopted" are usually not synonymous so I'll go with "widely adopted."
Flash drives
Consumer level GPS with road maps, 3D view and turn by turn directions. Yes, I know that GPS has been around much longer, but tended to be either fairly simple devices that just gave coordinates, or expensive devices intended for marine use or aviation.
True, many people have become overdependent on them, following their directions blindly, but they can be a real godsend when trying to find someplace that you've never been before, without having to keep a stack of maps on hand.
the Bump-It... it gives hair lift and volume... or how about the Buxton Travel Purse... hahaha!
Marshall Mini Guitar Amp
You get all the Marshall perks you're used to including, classic Marshall grille cloth, crunchy distortion, and plenty of volume for good clean fun. Tailor the sound with controls for overdrive, tone, and volume. Powered by one 9V battery.
DVR not sure if you would consider that a gadget or not. Other choices, Ipod/Iphone, GPS.
Not a device per se, but the advent of cheap mass storage.
At the start of 2000, hard drives in computers were still measured in megabytes. Only high end computers had more than a 1 gig drive.
Today we talk in terabytes when we talk drive space.
Add to that the advent of large electronic storage devices like SD cards that can hold 8, 16, 32, 64 gb+ in a device the size of your fingernail.
Ipods, GPSs, smartphones, mobile computing, digital photography/film are only possible at today's level because mass storage has become so cheap.
I dunno, but whatever it is, Algore invented it, Bill Clinton tried to have sex with it, and Obama now controls the company that makes it.
You now can get the Peace Prize with a Happy Meal at McDs
Western Digital Media Player (WD TV).
It has USB external hard drive connections and plays several video formats (WMV, AVI/DivX, MPG) on a regular digital TV.
Amen. I have a USB flash drive that has 1 million times the memory capacity of my first PC. It weighs less than an ounce and my Zenith Z-100 weighed 20 lbs.
Actually, wait a little longer. These things are plummeting in price.
Henry J. makes me bang my head against the keyboard like this:
Gibson is a guitar company! Not a tech company!
And don't ever buy one of these "Robot" guitars used! For proprietary reasons, Gibson will only sell replacement parts to the original owner.
Wi-Fi Detector Shirt
The glowing bars on the front of the shirt dynamically change as the surrounding wi-fi signal strength fluctuates.
Product Features:
Glowing animated shirt dynamically displays the current wi-fi signal strength.
Shows signal strength for 802.11b or 802.11g
Battery Pack is Concealed in a Small Pocket Sewn Inside the Shirt
Runs for hours off three AAA Batteries (not included)
None of our gadgets that connect to the interweb would be worth beans if those little boxes didnt exist, and at an affordable price.
I bought my first one in 99, prior to that I had a red hat linux box doing NAT and routing. Wireless itself however was not widely available until at least a year or so later and it really didn't take off until 03 or so.
Robot Guitar technology redefined the power and possibilities of a guitar to capture a players imagination. Now you can experience the energy and potential of this revolutionary concept in the Robot SG Special from Gibson USA
I have one. A Les Paul Model. LOVE IT!
iPod. Hands down, in my opinion. Not because there weren't digital music players before that, there were. It just opened up the ability to listen to my music again by making it so easy, and to also enable audiobooks that were easy to listen to (not a series of 15 CD's...)
Heh, I HAVE one of those...:)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.


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Park your SUV in a bunch of difficult spots! Put your driving skills to the ultimate test in 10 challenging levels. You must drive through traffic and avoid crashing during each mission. As you advance, you will unlock a modified Jeep and custom cruiser!
SUV Parking is one of our selected Parking Games. Also very popular on this website right now are Airport Bus Parking 2, Car Carrier Trailer 2, Busman Parking 3D 2 and Park My Car 2.
Report game as broken
Cancel report of broken game


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|Reviews for To Dream
| lady white roses chapter 1 . 5/29/2015
This is one of my favorites
I do so wish there was more
| Nao K. Kawasaki chapter 1 . 7/14/2012
Awesome concept. Planning a sequel? I think it'd be interesting...
| dragongirl2101 chapter 1 . 6/24/2012
it was perfect! detailed without being overly so.
| Valkyrie Wilde chapter 1 . 11/29/2010
I really liked it! Maybe because it's a fantasy within a fantasy. Go Hermione for doing something for herself! Excellent writing!
| KatsOnTheAirplane chapter 1 . 3/16/2010
Eh, it was alrught
| fallen faery chapter 1 . 3/12/2010
A sequel would be nice! Very cute story!
| OoverO chapter 1 . 9/24/2008
this is good!
really good!
the chapters are kindof long though
and like people get bored reading so much at once
like your eyes need a break
but thats it
theres nothing wrong with the story!
i love it! ;)
| Rutheart chapter 1 . 8/21/2008
I would love to see more chapters to this story...maybe Fred had placed a charm on that shelf, so that when she grabbed a daydream charm, it would be one that he had specifically changed for her. Maybe instead of a simple daydream charm, it caused her to move to the location in the "daydream", summoning Fred as well, and he decided to play the scene by ear, never guessing how far she would take it. She doesn't suspect that it was anything more than a daydream until she starts getting sick and reports to the infirmary. They finally figure out that she's pregnant, but she can't imagine how. She later discusses it with Ginny, saying how she can't possibly be pregnant because she's never "done anything more than just daydream about having sex". At that moment, her eyes narrow, having figured out what happened. A very angry Hermione hunts down Fred Weasley, intent on punishing him for misleading her.
I'm not so good at fleshing out plot ideas, so I would love to see you continue this story.
| CocoaCollidoscope chapter 1 . 1/7/2008
Oh damn, I want a Patented Daydream Charm.
| remuslives chapter 1 . 12/25/2007
wowza! that was something. whew! it's hot in here.
| Little Miss Bovver chapter 1 . 11/8/2007
Loved it :D
| GreenGreenDress13 chapter 1 . 9/14/2007
Ohh I loved it. If you could find any inspiration and maybe make this one shot not so one shoty any more would be very amazing. No pressure though I deff will put you on author alert becasue your writing is very good. Great Job
| Chrystal Slara chapter 1 . 9/3/2007
very good, a little short but other wise good, well written, not confusing, no spelling or gramer mistakes that take away from the story, i enjoyed it
| aLiarSays chapter 1 . 8/17/2007
wow...just wow! that was amazkink! shame its just a oneshot *hint-hint*
great mini-fic!
| Chocolate Wolf chapter 1 . 8/13/2007
I really want to know what happens next. I love it.


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Pioneer Leatherette Postbound Album Love/Laugh/Love Black
Product Actions
BUY ONLINE PICK-UP IN-STORE now available in a store near you.
Pick-up in one of our locations near you.
Additional Information
Store your happy memories in the Pioneer Leatherette Postbound Album. Featuring a stitched design on the front cover, this album offers lovely visual appeal. The front cover also has a photo window, that you can personalize. With screw post binding, this embroidered album is easy to stack and comes with 10 sheet protectors and 10 heavy white paper inserts. Acid-and Lignin-free, this album will last a long time. Imported.
- Brand: Pioneer
- Theme: Live/Laugh/Love
- Includes ten sheet protectors with ten heavy white paper inserts and screw post binding
- Dimensions: 12 x 12 inches (W x H)
- Acid and lignin free
- Made in China
- Handling Code:
Items shipping from our warehouse ship within 3 business days (Mon-Fri) for standard shipping. If an order is placed on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, it will ship out within 3 business days the following week. Items shipping direct from the manufacturer will take additional processing time and ship separate from the remainder of your order. See our Full Shipping Policy >
|In-Home Arrival Estimate
|6-9 Business Days
|3 Business Days
|Express Plus
|2 Business Days
For pricing information, please see our shipping table, shipping prices are based on order total.
If you aren't 100% satisfied with your order, you can return it to us for a refund within 90 days of delivery. To make returning an item easy, we offer a return shipping label with most shipping packages or you may ship the package back on your own. If you use our shipping label, you will receive a refund back to your original payment method, minus a $5 shipping fee. See Full Return Policy >
Personalized products can not be returned. Every order is custom printed for the person who ordered it and therefore can not be resold. If you received product that was flawed or damaged, we will be happy to work with you on a case by case basis. Please call 888.739.4120, Mon.-Sat. 9am-7pm EST, to determine return eligibility & process.


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A high court judge has ruled in favour of Littlewoods in a long-running tax dispute with HMRC dating back more than 30 years.
The home-shopping business, owned by Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay, won its £1.2bn claim over receiving compound interest on improperly collected VAT.
Following the ruling [Littlewoods Retail v HMRC], Littlewoods said: "The judgment provides a clear and robust resolution to complex issues raised by English and European law."
It also means HMRC could be...


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Now that Obama has finally made his so-called fact-finding trip to Iraq, we find that it was too audacious to expect the antiwar champion of the liberal/progressive left to keep an open mind.
Obama's closed-minded opposition to the surge and support for a firm an arbitrary time table for the withdrawal of troops hasn't changed. When asked if knowing what he knows now, he would support the surge, Obama said no.
On ABC's World News, Obama told Terry Moran that, despite the progress that has occurred in Iraq, he would not have supported the surge:
Moran: "'[T]he surge of U.S. troops, combined with ordinary Iraqis' rejection of both al Qaeda and Shiite extremists have transformed the country. Attacks are down more than 80% nationwide. U.S. combat casualties have plummeted, five this month so far, compared with 78 last July, and Baghdad has a pulse again.' If you had to do it over again, knowing what you know now, would you -- would you support the surge?"
Obama: "No, because -- keep in mind that -"
Moran: "You wouldn't?"
Obama: "Well, no, keep -- these kinds of hypotheticals are very difficult . Hindsight is 20/20. I think what I am absolutely convinced of is that at that time, we had to change the political debate, because the view of the Bush administration at that time was one that I just disagreed with." Moran: "And so, when pressed, Barack Obama says he still would have opposed the surge."
We were warned. Obama made it clear, before he left on his fact-finding trip, that as far as he was concerned the facts were already found.
The Washington Post blasted Obama's "Iron Timetable":
Early last year, when the war was at its peak, the Democratic candidate proposed a timetable for withdrawing all U.S. combat forces in slightly more than a year. Yesterday, with bloodshed at its lowest level since the war began, Mr. Obama endorsed the same plan. After hinting earlier this month that he might "refine" his Iraq strategy after visiting the country and listening to commanders, Mr. Obama appears to have decided that sticking to his arbitrary, 16-month timetable is more important than adjusting to the dramatic changes in Iraq.
[. . .]
Mr. Obama reiterated yesterday that he would consult with U.S. commanders and the Iraqi government and "make tactical adjustments as we implement this strategy." However, as Mr. McCain quickly pointed out, he delivered his speech before traveling to Iraq -- before his meetings with Gen. David H. Petraeus and the Iraqi leadership. American commanders will probably tell Mr. Obama that from a logistical standpoint, a 16-month withdrawal timetable will be difficult, if not impossible, to fulfill. Iraqis will say that a pullout that is not negotiated with the government and disregards the readiness of Iraqi troops will be a gift to al-Qaeda and other enemies. If Mr. Obama really intends to listen to such advisers, why would he lock in his position in advance?
The Wall Street Journal didn't think much of Obama's rigid timetable for withdrawal either:
"Mr. Obama does promise to 'consult with commanders on the ground and the Iraqi government' in implementing his plans. But he would have shown more sincerity on this score had he postponed Tuesday's address until after he visited Iraq and had a chance to speak with those generals and Iraqis."
[. . .]
"To say you're going to get out on a certain schedule - regardless of what the Iraqis do, regardless of what our enemies do, regardless of what is happening on the ground - is the height of absurdity."
Now, with his campaign website cleanly scrubbed of Obama's incorrect judgment about the surge, Obama would have us believe he knew the surge would work:
Obama spokesmen now say everyone knew that President Bush's troop surge would create more security. This is blatantly false: Obama said in early 2007 that nothing in the surge plan would "make a significant dent in the sectarian violence," and the new strategy would "not prove to be one that changes the dynamics significantly." He referred to the surge derisively as "baby-sit[ting] a civil war."
And even though Obama claimed he would listen to the commanders in the field, Obama does not, or does not want to, hear when General Petraeus, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mullen and even former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Myers say withdrawal of U.S. forces must be based upon conditions on the ground, not some arbitrary and politically expedient time table.


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How teachers are key in helping us understand bullying.
Daniel Favre is a teacher, teacher trainer and professor in both neuroscience and education. His work studies the process of youth violence. It also shows how supporting teachers in cultivating empathy can break the cycle of youth violence and improve maths results. His 50-hour programme trains educators to minimise students' fear of learning and dogmatic perceptions. Regardless of their subject, teachers learn six different skills: to clearly distinguish error and fault when giving feedback to students, encourage emotional literacy, facilitate team work, emphasize our common humanity, establish a non-violent mode of authority, and strong personal listening skills and empathy.
"Empathy", says Favre, "is central to the whole programme, and our research shows that through training, most teachers' behaviour changes, and young people copy this change. Over a period of two years their empathy increases and their results in maths too."
By Vinciane Rycroft


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Brooklyn has a new "gayest" neighborhood, and it ain't Park Slope.
Just-released Census Bureau numbers show that the Columbia Street Waterfront District, the quiet enclave west of Cobble Hill and the Brooklyn–Queens Expressway, has more same-sex households per capita than any other patch of the borough.
Such "alternative" households comprise 11 percent of the neighborhood, making it more of a gay family hub than Park Slope, Williamsburg or even Chelsea, a widely recognized "gay" neighborhood that has only nine percent of its households listed as same-sex.
Gays and lesbians say that Columbia Street offers the best of both worlds: it has a small-town feeling without the "small-town mentality."
"There's a sense of rugged individualism and diversity," said Brian McCormick, who has lived with his partner, Scott, in the area for seven years. "In a monolithic neighborhood, all of a sudden I'm aware that I'm gay — but people here don't segregate themselves socially."
Indeed, there's not a single "gay bar" in the sleepy neighborhood, where a smattering of restaurants faces a waterfront bike lane — and new condos have sprouted alongside affordable-housing complexes.
About 1,500 people live within the two-by-10-square block census tract, which is as socio-economically diverse as it is socially insular.
It makes sense that the place has become a nesting ground for gay couples, said Matt McMorrow of Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn. "There are great schools and plenty of artists. … Who knows what motivates [gay] couples, but it's clearly a place they feel comfortable."
It's the first time that the Census Bureau has tracked "same sex couple" households, so other neighborhoods are also emerging as unexpected gay Meccas.
Prospect Heights, for example, was the second-gayest neighborhood in the borough — with same-sex couples making up nine percent of the households. Tracts in Park Slope and Williamsburg maxed out at five percent.
©2011 Community News Group
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