USA
Two-thirds of parents expressed deep concern about sex and violence in the media and voiced broad support for new federal limits to such material on television, according to a report released Tuesday by the Kaiser Family Foundation. About three-fourths rated exposure to inappropriate material as one of their top parental concerns.
New York City residents involved in an experimental antipoverty program will receive financial incentives to "make decisions that will improve their prospects for the future," said the Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The program, known as conditional cash transfers, will offer participants monetary compensation for engaging in activities such as attending parent-teacher conferences, graduating from high school, and visiting the dentist. Bloomberg and private donors are bankrolling the $53 million program.
Two advocacy organizations for American black and Hispanic citizens protested in Washington on Tuesday the Senate bill that would grant many illegal immigrants legal status in the US. Leaders of You Don't Speak for Me and Choose Black America argued that the provision, which they call "amnesty," would further harm wages and education opportunities for minority citizens.
Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico accused fellow presidential candidates of supporting legislation for a withdrawal of US troops from Iraq that leaves "deliberate loopholes," allowing President Bush and his successor "to leave an undetermined number of troops in Iraq indefinitely." Richardson has begun to differentiate himself from opponents by campaigning to leave "zero troops" in Iraq. Above, Richardson speaks at the "Take Back America" conference in Washington on Tuesday.
Seventy percent of Americans believe the economy is gettingworse, while just one-third believe that current economic conditions are excellent or good, according to a recent Gallup poll. This brings the measure to its lowest level since early September 2001. Although the short-term trend on Americans' opinions of the job market is pointing downward, the historical record shows that since 2001, yearly average job ratings have improved.
