WERS News

Interview With MA Congressman Barney Frank

2010-03-08T20:40:31Z

By Kassandra Sundt -- March 8, 2010

Congressman Barney Frank of Massachusetts is one of only a handful of publicly acknowledged gay politicians in the United Sates. Representative Frank has been a member of Congress for almost three decades and has proven to be a major player on Capitol Hill. His courageous decision to come out of the closet in 1987 could have cost him his seat, but his blunt manner and admirable work ethic have led to continuous electoral victories. You Are Here reporter Kassandra Sundt spoke to Congressman Frank about his life as a gay man and his rise to power.

This interview originally aired February 14, 2010, on WERS.

For full You Are Here coverage on Gender Roles, download our podcast here.

Photo Courtesy: AP Images

Despite threats, Iraqis make their way to the polls

2010-03-08T14:00:23Z

By Christopher Balchum -- March 8, 2010

Iraqi's headed to the polls yesterday amid rockets and other violence, though turnout still remained relatively high. U.S. and Iraqi officials are calling yesterday's vote a success, even though the New York Times reported more than 100 explosions went off before polls had opened.

The head of Iraq's election commission said turnout for Iraq's parliamentary election was between 55 percent and 60 percent, though exact figures will be released at a news conference later today.

That figure is below the last parliamentary election, which was held in December 2005, when roughly 76 percent of voters turned out. But the figure is higher than last year's provincial elections, which saw just more than half of voters show up.

"I have great respect for the millions of Iraqis who refused to be deterred by acts of violence, and who exercised their right to vote today," President Barack Obama said.

The election, which was supposed to be held last January, has long been seen as a landmark in the U.S. occupation of Iraq. The results of yesterday's vote - official tallies won't be available for a few days - and the country's stability whatever those results may be, directly relates to how long U.S. forces will stay in the country.

"We will continue with the responsible removal of the United States forces from Iraq," Obama said.

The Obama Administration used Iraq's voting milestone to reassure Americans that their job in Iraq was winding down.

"Indeed, for the first time in years, there are now fewer than 100,000 American troops serving in Iraq," Obama said.

At least 38 lives were claimed in election-day attacks, and several dozen more injured.

A string of firsts on Oscar night

2010-03-08T13:57:21Z

By Christopher Balchum -- March 8, 2010

First-time wins marked Los Angeles' 82^nd annual Academy Awards, as Kathryn Bigelow took home the Oscar for Best Director. It's the first time the Academy has ever honored a female in the directing category, one of the most prestigious of the glamorous event.

The acting categories welcomed new blood as well. Sandra Bullock, 45, won her first "Best Actress" Oscar for her role in "The Blind Side."

"Did I really earn this or did I just wear you all down?" joked Bullock, upon receiving her award. Bullock has long been known for her parts in romantic comedies, but not always for her more serious roles.

Jeff Bridges, who played an alcoholic country singer in "Crazy Heart," came in to last night's awards ceremony as a favorite and ended up with his first Oscar, taking home the Best Actor statuette.

The Motion Picture Academy allowed for 10 nominations in this year's Best Picture category, another Oscar first. "The Hurt Locker," which Bigelow directed, was a gritty film that followed three enlisted men in the Iraq war. It showed up "Avatar" and eight others to take the Best Picture award. "Avatar's" director, James Cameron, is Bigelow's ex-husband.

"The Hurt Locker" never captured the box office loot "Avatar" took in - "Avatar" set records with $720 million in U.S. ticket sales - or any of the other movies up for the award. Instead, "The Hurt Locker" becomes the lowest-grossing movie to ever take the top prize. Released last summer, "Hurt" earned just $15 million in domestic sales.

Mo'Nique won her first Oscar for her supporting role in "Precious." Austrian-born Christoph Waltz took Best Supporting Actor for his role in "Inglourious Basterds," Quentin Tarentino's World War II film.

Re-vamp Planned at 12 Boston Schools

2010-03-05T13:04:59Z

By Jesse Liebman -- March 5, 2010

Boston education officials announced Thursday that staff at six schools will have to reapply for their jobs and five principals will be replaced after the schools were identified along with three dozen statewide that will likely be declared "underperforming" and at risk to massive overhauls.

In announcing the shake-up, Superintendent Carol R. Johnson said the schools require top-notch staffs to successfully turn them around. She emphasized that staff members are not being fired and that employees not rehired would be allowed to seek work at other district schools.

"We feel it's important for teachers to recommit themselves to the tough work ahead,'' Johnson said at a press conference at the Holland Elementary School in Dorchester, which was on the state's list.

Johnson's move irritated the teachers union, which accused her of trying to "evict'' hard-working teachers and said it is exploring possible legal action.

With almost 17,000 students at risk in the 35 targeted schools, state education officials said yesterday that radical change is crucial and needs to come promptly. The students are tremendously poor and of disadvantaged ethnic and racial groups.

The state could receive an infusion of $250 million from the federal government to help these schools and others. The U.S. Department of Education announced Thursday that Massachusetts is among more than a dozen states that will advance to the final round of President Obama's Race to the Top competition, which will reward states that aggressively fix failing schools and expand independently run charter schools.

The schools are considered to be the worst of the worst, generated from a group of roughly 370 schools, the bottom 20 percent of the state's 1,846 schools, based on steadily low test scores. In developing the preliminary list, state education officials also weighed other factors, such as a school's inability to meet federal education standards under the No Child Left Behind law.

Many superintendents in the affected districts welcomed the designations, even though it could bring negative attention to the schools. That is because it comes with a trade-off: a possible $500,000 federal grant, independent of the Race to the Top money, to fund each school's improvement plan.

Pentagon Gunman Dead

2010-03-05T12:16:26Z

By Jesse Liebman -- March 5, 2010

The D.C. Medical Examiner's Office says the supposed shooter at the Pentagon has died.

Beverly Fields, chief of staff of the D.C. medical examiner's office, said the body of 36-year-old John Patrick Bedell arrived at the medical examiner's office shortly after midnight.

Bedell was shot by two Pentagon police officers after authorities say he drew a weapon from his pocket and opened fire at a security checkpoint into a Pentagon subway entrance.

Police Chief Richard Keevil said Bedell was carrying two 9 millimeter semiautomatic weapons and several magazines of ammunition. The exchange of fire lasted less than a minute, Keevil said, adding that Bedell had no connection to terrorism.

"There is no indication at this point that there are any domestic or international terrorist connections at all," Keevil said.

The two police officers received bullet wounds but were not seriously hurt. They have both been released from a local hospital.

Delahunt to Not Seek Re-election

2010-03-05T12:10:03Z

By Jesse Liebman -- March 5, 2010

U.S. Rep. William D. Delahunt is expected to announce Friday that he will not be seeking re-election to Congress, ending a 40-year career in elected office, and giving Republicans hope of capturing the 10th district.

"The decision had nothing to do with politics," the seven-term Democrat said in a statement Thursday night. "I've been wrestling with this decision for a while."

Delahunt, 68, was favored to win re-election in a district that includes Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. Instead, his retirement will be the 17th among House Democrats this year.

Prior to his election to his House seat, Delahunt was a county district attorney in Massachusetts. He faced questions recently about his tenure in that post because of the office's handling of the 1986 shooting death of the brother of Amy Bishop, the University of Alabama college professor accused of killing three colleagues last month.

Bishop killed her brother in a shooting that was ruled accidental.

But the case has nothing to do with his choice to retire, Delahunt said. Several friends and associates confirmed that Delahunt had been considering his departure for years.

Many Democrats - including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House majority leader Steny Hoyer - begged Delahunt to stay another term, worried that the unpredictable campaign situation could give the GOP a possibility at the seat. Joseph P. Kennedy III's decision earlier this week not to seek the seat makes Democrats even more nervous. But the congressman said he is "confident it will stay Democratic.''

Although known as one of the House's most passionate and dependable liberals, Delahunt has developed several close relationships with Republicans; a 2009 survey of House members listed Delahunt as among the top 10 most bipartisan Democrats in the chamber.

Among Republicans, state Representative Jeffrey D. Perry of Sandwich has said he intends to run for the seat, and former state treasurer Joseph D. Malone and state Senator Robert Hedlund of Weymouth are said to be mulling a run. On the Democratic side, Norfolk District Attorney William R. Keating, state Senator Robert O'Leary of Barnstable, and former insurance company executive Philip J. Edmundson are considering campaigns.

Controller Suspended After Kids Radio Pilots

2010-03-04T12:53:23Z

By Jesse Liebman -- March 4, 2010

An air traffic controller and his supervisor are under investigation after the controller allegedly brought his son and another child into the control tower and allowed them to speak with pilots on an air traffic control frequency.

The incidents occurred on succeeding days last month at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday.

Authorities have suspended the controller and a supervisor Wednesday after a recording of the radio calls was posted on the Internet and reported by a Boston television station.

On the recording, which lasts about a minute, the elementary-school-age boy appears to repeat instructions fed to him by his father. At no time does the child tell aircraft how to maneuver in flight.

"This lapse in judgment not only violated FAA's own policies, but common-sense standards for professional conduct. These kinds of distractions are totally unacceptable," FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt said in a statement. "This kind of behavior does not reflect the true caliber of our work force."

The FAA offered few details on its investigation and would not reveal the name of the controller or supervisor. Control towers are highly secure areas; the agency does sometimes give employees permission to bring their children for tours.

Radio transmissions between air traffic controllers and pilots are routinely streamed live on the Internet. A user of one popular Web site devoted to controller talk, LiveATC.net, posted a recording of the child's radio calls not long after they happened on Feb. 16 -- a date when many New York schoolchildren were on a midwinter break.

LiveATC founder Dave Pascoe, a pilot and radio enthusiast, said he was sickened at the thought that the controller could be disciplined.

"I absolutely believe that this is being blown out of proportion," he said. "This is just a completely controlled situation. A child was being told exactly what to say."

Clinton's Talks With Brazil Met With Resistance

2010-03-04T12:23:51Z

By Jesse Liebman -- March 4, 2010

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednesday in Brazil she has doubts Iran will negotiate seriously about its nuclear program unless the U.N. Security Council approves new sanctions against it. Clinton held talks in Brasilia with Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Clinton made her appeal even though Silva pre-empted her comments by stating his opposition to early sanctions before meeting the Secretary, saying the world community should not push Iran "against a wall."

"The door is open for negotiations. We never slammed it shut," Clinton said. "But we don't see anybody, even in the far-off distance, walking toward it."

Silva reiterated his nation's position that Brazil believes it is better to negotiate with Iran because sanctions could anger Iranian officials.

Silva also says he wants Iran to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes -- as Brazil says it does.

Brazil's foreign minister Celso Amorim said during the news conference that he wanted to see further negotiations before the nation would support sanctions.

"We will not simply bow down to an evolving consensus if we do not agree," Amorim said. "We have to think by ourselves and with our values and principles."

Silva said he did not want Iran to develop nuclear weapons and would raise the issue in a visit to Tehran in May.

The U.S. state department has said if Brazil uses its relationship with Iran to press the country to fulfill its international obligations then that would be an important step, but if it did not do that, Washington would be "disappointed".

NY's Paterson Faces Ethics Charges in Yankees Ticket Scandal

2010-03-04T12:20:48Z

By Jesse Liebman -- March 4, 2010

New York Gov. David Paterson, already dealing with scandal, was accused Wednesday of violating state ethics laws when he sought and obtained free tickets to the 2009 World Series and then may have lied about his plan to pay for them, according to a state report.

Paterson could face a penalty of $80,000 for violating the state gift ban for elected officials. The inquiry also charged that Paterson violated a stipulation barring the governor from using his official position to secure unwarranted privileges. That could cost another $10,000. The case is under potential criminal investigation into whether Paterson or anyone else gave false answers to questions by the Public Integrity Commission or backdated a check to pay for the tickets.

The accusation isn't related to the scandal currently plaguing Paterson over contact he and others within his administration had with a woman who accused a top Paterson aide of domestic violence. But the panel said the aide in question, David Johnson, was one of Paterson's four guests, along with Paterson's son and a son's friend, getting tickets for the Oct. 28 World Series game provided by the Yankees.

Four days later, Johnson's then-girlfriend, a woman named Sherruna Booker, told police she was roughed up by Johnson, but she later decided not to press charges. The office of state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is investigating whether Paterson or anyone from his staff or security detail influenced Booker's decision.

The ticket scandal may eventually be more harmful to the governor, considering the timing.

"I, at all times, upheld the oath of my office and never at any point attempted to influence or coerce anyone to do anything they didn't want to do," Paterson told reporters Wednesday, saying he intends to fight the ethical charge.

The governor and his aides, including Johnson, obtained free tickets from the Yankees as part of his job and submitted a letter from Paterson lawyer Peter Kiernan saying compensation for the tickets was not required. But the report states Paterson never performed in an official capacity at the game.

Paterson told investigators that he always intended to pay the $850 for tickets for his son and the son's friend. They were paid for with a post-dated check. The five tickets, three of which were complimentary, were valued at $2,125. The governor paid for them only when confronted by a reporter for the New York Post, the report said.

In the meantime, the governor's Chief of Staff said Paterson was meeting with legislative leaders and staff Wednesday and that the fiscal crisis is Paterson's top priority.

Hunger Hits Hard in Latino Community

2010-03-03T22:34:09Z

By Anaridis Rodriguez -- March 3, 2010

The number of Massachusetts residents who use food stamps is increasing, but one ethnic group is still going hungry.

Over half a million Bay State residents are on food stamps and Latinos make up twenty five percent of that number.

But community leaders like Jenny Cintron, executive director of the Boston Hispanic Center, fear there are many more Latinos going hungry. She says Latino immigrants think they don't qualify for food assistance unless they are sworn citizens, a misconception she wants to eradicate.

"As you know the immigrant community has been growing tremendously," she said. "A good portion of these communities are low income and are eligible for food stamps. However they do not apply. Basically is because of fear. Fear of deportation, perhaps in the future I want to apply become a citizen is that going to affect me," Cintron said in a WERS interview.

There are approximately half a million Latinos living in Massachusetts, a figure that is not counting illegal immigrants.

Cintron said illegal immigrants are often eligible for assistance, but along with fear there is a lack of information within the community.

"In a lot of cases we have immigrant families who the parents are undocumented, but they do have dependent children who are citizens. They are unaware that they can apply, those independent children are entitled to receive food stamps and that's not going to jeopardize that family's immigration status," Cintron said.

As far as legal residents, Cintron said the state of Massachusetts requires all residents to live in the state for five years before receiving aid.

The Boston Hispanic Center will be taking on new workshops to educate Latinos in the area.

"Our role is not only to do the online application for aid. Our role is to bring this education to the community," she said.

According to the UMass Mauricio Gaston Institute, 24.9% of Latino families are living in poverty.

Mass. Gov. Dropping RMV Fee

2010-03-02T22:03:09Z

By Sarah Mupo -- March 2, 2010

Photo by AP

Gov. Deval Patrick announced today that he will rescind a new fee imposed by the state Registry of Motor Vehicles that charged customers who opted to interact with a real person instead of mail, online or through an automated telephone system.

He will also refund those who have already paid the $5 fee.
The fee was mostly levied on people who went to a branch to take care of a routine transaction or chose to speak with a Registry employee over the telephone.

Patrick said that the RMV will drop the fee as soon as possible.

"We're certainly not trying to jam people up," Patrick said. "We're just dealing with the other thing that people say and are concerned about, which are long wait times at the Registry."

Patrick's action comes a day after the Boston Herald reported the existence of the fee, quietly enacted by the governor's administration.

"I appreciate what the registrar and secretary are trying to do, but we're going to have to look for another way to do this because the push back has been actually quite understandable," Patrick said. "We want to make the government as responsive as possible but I think this is one we need to think about it in a different way."

Legislative leaders have criticized the fee as punitive and said it could hurt poor or elderly customers who lack technological skill or access to the Internet.

"The governor heard the outcry obviously from both parties in Legislature and did the right thing," state Sen. Steven A. Baddour (D-Methuen), chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, said. "The writing was on the wall. If he did not do what he did today we were going to do it for him."

Some have also said that is part of a Patrick administration model of getting more money from state residents who have already paid increased taxes on sales, liquor and other Registry services.

More Students Staying in School, Study Finds

2010-03-02T21:34:40Z

By Anthony Howard -- March 2, 2010

Massachusetts students are more likely to stay in school this year. A new report released by the state department of education today shows the high school dropout rate dipped to 2.9 percent, the lowest it has been in a decade.

"The heightened awareness of it over the past year at the state level has played an important factor," says J.C Considine, spokesman for the Massachusetts Department of Education.

Considine credits the improved dropout rate to many factors. One of those factors, called an "Early Warning Indicator Index" works to target students at risk of dropping out as early as middle school. "We want to make sure that we are not just reactive to this issue. We want to be able to work with schools and districts so they have the tools to be able to identify students earlier than high school, in the middle school grades that are at risk of dropping out, so that they can intervene and provide them with the kind of support they need to stay in school."

The Department of Education highlighted the improvement urban school districts made in keeping kids in the classroom. 179 fewer Fall River students dropped out, Lawrence saw 80 fewer dropouts compared to last year.

Curbing the dropout rate has been a top priority for Boston Mayor Tom Menino and the city's superintendent Carol R Johnson. The city saw its dropout numbers decline to 6.4 percent, from 7.2 percent last year.

Superintendent Johnson said in a statement "this data shows movement in the right direction, but we will not begin to be satisfied until we have reached the target presented in our Acceleration Agenda: a dropout rate of 3 percent or lower by 2014".

The dropout rate of minority students is still disproportionately higher than their white counterparts, but Latino students saw the biggest improvements this year out of the states five major racial or ethnic groups. The Latino dropout rate fell to 7.5 percent from 8.3 percent a year ago.

U.S. Postal Service to Cut Costs

2010-03-02T21:09:37Z

By Sarah Mupo -- March 2, 2010

Photo by AP

To combat a projected $7 billion loss this year because of a reduced number of customers and increased shortfalls, the U.S. Postal Service is looking to regenerate a plan to eliminate Saturday delivery.

This measure is part of a comprehensive turnaround plan announced today that includes a proposed rate hike in 2011, a reduction in the workforce by 30,000 positions and an additional wave of branch closures.

Some elements of the U.S.P.S. plan will need congressional approval.

Postmaster General John Potter said that without serious steps, the agency could suffer a cumulative loss of $238 billion over 10 years.

"The projections going forward are not bright," Potter said in a reporter's briefing. But, he said, "all is not lost...we can right this ship."

Potter suggested a series of cost-cutting measures, such as restructuring retiree health benefits, altering delivery schedules and broaden efforts to sell stamps and provide other postal services at retailers and online.

"If given the flexibility to respond to an evolving marketplace, the postal service will continue to be an integral part of the fabric of American life," Potter said.

"In an ideal world," Potter said, Americans would be able to gain access to U.S.P.S. services online.

Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del), Chairman of the Senate subcommittee with oversight authority over the postal service, has asked Congress to be flexible in its future dealings with the struggling U.S.P.S.

"In light of the serious financial challenges facing the Postal Service, postal management must be allowed to make the business decisions they need to stay competitive and viable in the years to come. As we have seen, it is not productive for Congress to act like a 535-member board of directors and constantly second-guess these necessary changes," Carper said in a statement.

The postal service is considering collaboration with the private sector to place more post office locations in businesses like grocery stores and pharmacies.

This measure would give customers access to postal services at places with longer hours and more convenient locations as well as "improve customer service," U.S.P.S. Chief Financial Officer Joseph Corbett said in an interview.

This would equal a reduction in existing post office locations, but it is unclear how many branches will be closed.

Branch closures will be based on a combination of factors, like delivery volumes per location and proximity to other post offices.

The number of items handled by the U.S.P.S. declined from 213 billion in 2006 to 177 in 2009. This number is projected to fall to 150 billion by 2020. This shift is attributed to the move from paper to electronic communications.

The U.S.P.S. delivers nearly half of the world's mail, and faces tough competition from other delivery services, such as FedEx and United Parcel Service. The postal service has reported net losses since 2007.

A $297 million loss was reported by the U.S.P.S. for the first quarter of its fiscal year.

Bunning's Objection Troublesome for Benefit Extension

2010-03-02T20:00:53Z

By Sarah Mupo -- March 2, 2010

Photos by AP

After Sen. Jim Bunning's (R-Ky.) objection to a 30-day extension of jobless benefits and other expired programs last week, the GOP is worried that the party will be viewed in an obstructionist light.

Congressional Republicans are nervous that voters affected heavily by the recession will turn against the party.

"I have had numerous conversations with my Republican colleagues who are concerned about the expiration of these laws," said Republican Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), after a failed attempt to convince Bunning to relent on his objection.

Bunning also defended his position in a debate with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), and dared him to conduct a vote that would halt debate on the measure.

"You have made your point...[but] the majority of the Senate disagrees with you," Reid said to Bunning.

Through his objection, Bunning was exercising his senatorial right to oppose a unanimous consent request to pass the extensions already supported by the House.

Democrats have now framed Bunning's actions as one of many Republican tactics that thwart Congressional action.

"Today we have a clear-cut example to show the American people what's wrong with Washington," Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) said.

However, Bunning said Tuesday that he is participating in talks in an effort to break the stalemate over benefit extension.

"We're trying," Bunning said in reference to whether senators will soon approach an agreement.

The senator proposed an end to his objection Monday if an agreement could be reached that would apply unspent stimulus money to the cost of unemployment aid.

Although Bunning was the only Senator to object to the Democratic request for a one-month legislative extension, his Monday proposal garnered some backing from fellow Republicans.

"Why pile on the deifict if we have this store of money available?" Senator Jon Kyl (D-Ariz.) said.

After Bunning's blocked the measure last week, which included unemployment benefits and health coverage for the jobless, the Senate adjourned last week without approving any extensions.

Bunning, who is retiring at the end of this year, said that Congress should first figure out a way to pay for the measure.

"If we can't find $10 billion to pay for it, we're not going to pay for anything," Bunning said Monday on the Senate floor.

Because of the Senate's failure to act, starting Monday, many jobless Americans could not apply for federal unemployment benefits or the COBRA health insurance subsidy.

Narcotics Officer Pushes for the Legalization of Marijuana

2010-03-01T22:44:51Z

By Anaridis Rodriguez -- March 1, 2010

Beacon Hill lawmakers will be battling it out over marijuana.

The Massachusetts legislature is considering a bill that would regulate and tax cannabis. This comes after Bay State residents voted to decriminalize possession of the drug.

Jack Cole is the executive director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), a fifteen thousand member organization representing judges, lawyers and police officers advocating for the legalization of marijuana.

Cole is a retired New Jersey undercover narcotics agent. He said the regulation of the drug will not only inject 37 billion dollars into the U.S economy but will also aid officers in policing the streets for more serious offenses.

"Our police are spending so much time and energy chasing around these non-violent drug offenders," he said. "They no longer have time to protect our citizens from violent criminals, child molesters, things that really count," Cole said in a WERS interview.

Cole said in recent years the war against marijuana has shifted the focus of police departments across the nation.

"Police still fail to solve 40 percent of all the murders, 60 percent of the rapes and arsons and seventy five percent of the robberies," said Cole.

The Massachusetts Joint Committee on the Judiciary will be holding a public hearing this Tuesday. A hearing where Cole will be testifying on behalf of LEAP, he said the main purpose of his testimony is to make legislators understand the importance of taking the drug out of the black market.

He claims regulating cannabis will drastically affect the profit made by Mexican drug cartels and decrease the number of under age children using the drug.

"When you legalize the drug you take it out of the underground market where it is controlled and regulated by criminals. They [criminal drug dealers] can decide to sell it to thirteen year-old kids on our playgrounds," he said.

Under the U.S Controlled Substances Act, marijuana is a schedule one drug. All schedule one drugs are considered to have a high potential for abuse.

The Drug Enforcement Administration estimates there are over 97 million marijuana users in the United States.