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Japan plugs radioactive water leak at damaged plant
Japanese workers have stopped the leak of radioactive water from the earthquake-damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant, but the situation is still far from under control, according to a confidential US Nuclear Regulatory report obtained by the New York Times. The report identifies a wide array of problems including build-ups of hydrogen gas that could cause explosions similar to those that crippled the plant soon after the earthquake. Workers have begun injecting nitrogen into a reactor to try to stabilize the hydrogen. Plant owners are also facing the problem of how to dispose of millions of gallons of radioactive wastewater – they’ve been dumping it into the ocean for several days now. Voice of America reports the dumping will continue until at least Friday.
Wisconsin Supreme Court election likely headed to recount
The outcome of Wisconsin’s closely-watched Supreme Court election is still too close to call. Candidates were in a virtual tie as final precincts reported their vote counts this morning. WORT’s Molly Stentz reports for FSRN from Madison.
Wisconsinites voted in record numbers Tuesday. Voter turnout was 33% statewide and more than 50% in the capital. Driving voters was the race for Supreme Court Justice, where little-known Madison lawyer JoAnne Kloppenburg challenged a sitting judge with over a decade on the Court. Hanging in the balance of this race is Governor Walker’s legislation gutting collective bargaining rights for public workers. The Supreme Court is expected to have the final say on whether his law will be enacted.
The larger than expected turnout caused delays in election returns last night. Final precincts reported early this morning that Kloppenburg held a razor thin edge over incumbent Judge David Prosser.
“It’s not over yet. We’re still hopeful.”
Kloppenburg has an edge of only a few hundred votes out of the one and a half million cast statewide. A recount is widely expected.
In another race, Democrat Chris Abele handily beat out a Republican to take Governor Scott Walker’s previous position as county Executive in Milwaukee. The Democrat’s 20-point win is being touted by state media as a referendum on the Governor. Molly Stentz. FSRN. Madison.
Government shutdown budget deadline approaches
Today, a meeting between President Obama and Congressional leaders aimed at working towards a budget compromise was cancelled. Congress is currently at a stalemate over the budget, and is facing a weekend deadline to extend funding, or face a government shutdown. GOP Representatives have been told to stay in Washington this weekend, possibly signaling intentions to continue work on the issue.
President Obama addressed the budget during a Town Hall in Pennsylvania this afternoon.
“So we’ve agreed to a compromise, but somehow we still don’t have a deal. Because some folks are trying to inject politics into what should be a simple debate about how to pay our bills. They’re stuffing all kinds of issues into there: abortion and the environment, healthcare…”
Obama said a government shutdown could hurt the recent economic momentum the country is building.
The American Federation of Government Employees has sued the Obama Administration for not adequately informing the Union how a government shutdown would affect federal workers. Among the Union’s concerns is that the government will force certain so-called “essential” employees to work, without guaranteeing that those employees will be paid.
US Ambassador expelled from Ecuador
Ecuador has expelled the US Envoy after a diplomatic cable leaked by WikiLeaks showed US distrust in the country’s police. In the 2009 the cable, US Ambassador Heather Hodges accused a former top police official of corruption. Ecuador’s foreign minister says the country is not breaking diplomatic ties with the US, but that Ambassador Hodges is unwelcome.
Largest protests yet expected criticizing Mexican government response to drug violence
Demonstrations against Drug War violence and policies are scheduled this afternoon in cities across Mexico. FSRN’s Shannon Young has more from Oaxaca, where one of the protests is planned.
Thirty-two cities in Mexico and more than 10 abroad will hold demonstrations to condemn the violence that has claimed the lives of some 36,000 people. Many predict today's marches will be the largest organized public outcry to date against the militarized Drug War President Felipe Calderon launched in late 2006.
The marches come at the behest of well-known writer, Javier Sicilia, whose son and close friends were found dead last week. In a press conference in the city of Cuernavaca, Sicilia slammed the government for its Drug War polices and criticized the drug cartels for abandoning the codes that, in the past, made civilians off-limits to attacks. Sicilia called on people to come out in large numbers to overcome the fear and create a safe space for dissent against the Drug War. Marches will take place in some of the hardest-hit cities in the north - including Ciudad Juarez, Reynosa, Saltillo and Monterrey. Shannon Young, FSRN, Oaxaca.
Tennessee sewage holding wall collapses, killing two
In Tennessee, it’s estimated that nearly a million gallons of untreated sewage has spilled into the Little Pigeon River near the eastern city of Gatlinburg. Two employees of Veolia Water North America died yesterday when a retaining wall collapsed on top of them. A Gatlinburg city official told WBIR news…
“At this point it’s unknown what has caused this to happen.”
The wastewater plant is not currently functioning, and state officials are advising residents not to come in contact with river water.
