Obama will announce his plan for Afghanistan tomorrow, a North Caronlina man robs a bank for health care, plaintiffs will pursue the Wal-Mart case, and we may need to take drastic efforts to keep our oceans alive. Meanwhile, Mitt Romney remains the GOP 2012 frontrunner, while Huntsman officially launches his campaign.
Caitlin, Katie, + Perry
CRUCIAL:
Obama to announce plan to pull 30,000 troops out of Afghanistan, http://bit.ly/msGyl0
President Obama will announce tomorrow how he plans to end the war in Afghanistan. Specifically, he will address his schedule to bring troops home and how Afghanistan government will take responsibility.
N.C. Man Allegedly Robs Bank of $1 to Get Health Care in Jail, http://abcn.ws/lzzB9y
A 59-year-old North Carolina man robbed a bank, demanding just one dollar. What he was really after, though, was the health care he would get in prison. After handing his robbery note to the teller, he told her he would be “sitting right over here, on the chair, waiting for the police.”
Despite Setback, Plaintiffs to Pursue Wal-Mart Cases, http://nyti.ms/jHS2xO
The Supreme Court ruled that the 1.5 million women who worked at Wal-Mart could not file a class-action lawsuit together. The court did not make a decision on the allegation of gender discrimination, but it is a major blow to plaintiffs regardless. In her dissent, Justice Ginsburg noted that while 70% of hourly employees are women, only a third of management employees are female.
24 killed in twin bombings in Iraq, http://wapo.st/mErDhn
Two car bombs in south-central Iraq detonated at a compound that includes both the governor’s home and the provincial government headquarters. Nobody died from the first detonation, but when police and emergency personnel arrived, the second car bomb exploded which killed at least 24 and injured at least 40.
State Of The Ocean: ‘Shocking’ Report Warns Of Mass Extinction From Current Rate Of Marine Distress, http://huff.to/iPe0H3
Scientists warn that a mass man-made extinction of marine life is on the way if drastic steps aren’t taken. All coral reefs could be gone by 2050, and oysters are already “functionally extinct” in the oceans.
Fresh Libya civilian deaths pile pressure on NATO, http://yhoo.it/jkn30j
The Libyan government reports that 19 civilians were killed in a NATO air strike on Monday. Khouildi Hamidi, a member of Libya’s 12-strong Revolutionary Command Council, remains alive but some of his family members have been killed. If the civilian death count is confirmed, the NATO-led military alliance could feel even more strain, as this operation is taking longer and costing more than planned.
Montana ranks fourth-best in access for young voters, http://bit.ly/lVXIQY
Rock the Vote’s Scorecard ranks Montana high in its treatment of young voters ages 18 to 29. “By providing Election Day registration, making the ballot box accessible and prioritizing teaching civics in high schools, Montana has addressed some of the key components of a modern and functioning elections system,” said Heather Smith, president of Rock the Vote.
(via POLITICO Breaking News) Jon Huntsman officially launched his campaign for the Republican nomination for president on Tuesday at Liberty State Park in New Jersey. “Today I’m a candidate for the office of president of the United States of America,” the former Utah governor and ambassador to China told a crowd of supporters.
CULTURAL:
Green Mile Actor, 51, Marries 16-Year-Old Aspiring Country Singer; Says “True Love Can Be Ageless,” http://eonli.ne/jTIuny
Q&A: Brian Grazer And Ron Howard On 25 Years Together As Imagine Partners, http://bit.ly/jYKwGP
Roger Ebert derided after tweet on Ryan Dunn’s death, http://bit.ly/kRi3vt
Amy Winehouse Cancels Entire Tour, http://bit.ly/jcXqis
Isner-Mahut II: What were the odds? http://bit.ly/lX0Hzs
