Lost Lake Tribune Feb 7th

WORLD NEWS Kyrgyzstan: Decision to Shut Key U.S. Base Is Final.- Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan — Kyrgyzstan will not reverse its decision to close a U.S. air base on its territory that is key to American and NATO operations in Afghanistan, a top Kyrgyz security official said Friday. The statement by Kyrgyzstan's National Security Council chief Adakhan Madumarov appeared to dash any U.S. hopes of securing a last-minute reprieve for the Manas air base, which is located just outside the capital of Bishkek. "The fate of the air base has been sealed; there is no doubt the bill to revoke the basing agreement will be ratified," Madumarov told a news conference. Parliament is due to consider a government-sponsored bill to close the base next week. Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev stunned Washington when he announced the closure of the base earlier this week after securing more than $2 billion in financial aid and credit from Russia. Losing Manas now would pose a serious challenge to President Barack Obama's plan to send up to 30,000 more U.S. forces to fight surging Taliban and Al Qaeda violence in Afghanistan. That threat comes as increasing attacks on transportation depots and truck convoys in Pakistan have raised doubts about its ability to protect vital supply routes. About 75 percent of U.S. supplies to Afghanistan currently travel through Pakistan. Kyrgyzstan is a small central Asian nation that is bordered on the north by Kazakhstan, on the east by China, on the west by Uzbekistan and the south by Tajikstan. The capital, Bishkek, which is the nearest city to the Manas base, is about 450 miles north of the Afghanistan border. Bishkek is a city of 590,000 people in a nation of 5.1 million, which is the same size as Nebraska. Three out of every four persons in Kyrgyzstan is a Muslim, twenty per cent of the people are Russian Orthodox. The president is Kurmanbek Bakiyev. Information gained from http://www.eurasianet.org/resource/kyrgyzstan/index.shtml and http://www.eurasianet.org/resource/kyrgyzstan/index.shtml USA NEWS The First Major Bill of 2009 is Closer to Being Passed by the Senate. - Senators have reached a tentative deal on a version of President Obama's economic stimulus plan, including about $811 billion in spending and tax cuts, that will win enough Republican votes to move forward. Senators Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania and Susan Collins of Maine appeared to be the critical Republicans to sign onto the bill, giving Democrats the 60 votes needed to advance to a final vote. Democrats also voiced confidence that Republican Senator Olympia Snow of Maine also would vote for the plan. It isn't certain when a vote will come, but sources indicate Sunday is a likely bet. As part of the deal, spending in the bill was reduced while tax cuts were increased, for a mix of 58 percent spending and 42 percent tax cuts. A senior Democratic leadership aide said the White House was on board. But Republican leaders still worry the bill contains too much spending on programs that won't stimulate the economy, with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell saying Friday night on the floor of the Senate arguing that "the big spending programs of the New Deal did not work." Obama is pushing for the massive spending plan to jump-start the economy, which otherwise, he says, could be headed for "catastrophe." Specter said Friday night that action was "very necessary," and this bill, though not perfect, is better than inaction. "I think no one could argue with the fact that the situation would be much worse without this bill," Specter said at a news conference. The president has taken an increasingly public approach to advocating the bill's passage, sitting for TV interviews early this week and planning trips to Indiana and Florida next week to promote the measure. Polls suggest taxpayers are skeptical about the effectiveness of the plan. The two cities Obama will visit next week have struggled amid the crumbling economy. Elkhart, IN, has seen its unemployment jump to 15.3 percent from 4.7 percent in the past year and unemployment in Fort Myers, FL, has climbed to 10 percent. The House passed a economic stimulus package (HR1) of a little more than $800 billion last month with Republicans unified against the measure. In Senate deliberations, the price tag had risen higher than $900 billion, prompting Senate Republicans to complain that it contained too much spending and not enough tax relief. Even Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California voiced opposition to the bill on Friday, saying it wouldn't do enough to stimulate the economy. But after news broke Friday night that a deal had been reached, Feinstein said, "This is as good a compromise as we are going to get." White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Friday's report showing the economy lost nearly 600,000 jobs in January "is the equivalent of losing every job in the state of Maine," possibly a direct appeal by Gibbs to that state's two senators. And he noted: "In the past two months, the economy lost 1.2 million jobs. That's basically losing every job in Pittsburgh or in Cleveland," possibly appealing to Specter and his Ohio colleague. Information gained from http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/02/06/senators-reach-tentative-deal-b-economic-stimulus/ IOWA NEWS Faith's Women's Basketball Coach Conducts Himself in an Unseemly Manner- According to Crossroads guard Marcus Troy, Faith women's basketball coach Reuben Rosekopf was verbally harassing his team during the Crossroads 61-57 win at Faith on Tuesday night. When asked about his part of the account Marcus stated, "from what I seen, when [I] came out of the game late in the second half he was seen engaging in trash talking with guys on the end of our bench...it was unclear [what he said] then when he came to unlock [our] lockerroom he engaged in yet another fit of trash talking ... which included him making a movement towards our lockerroom and which point he said to someone 'You still Talking'" Marcus later stated that a paper cup was found in the exhaust pipe of the Crossroads team van. When asked what the chances were that Coach Rosekopf put the cup in the exhaust pipe he stated "some people believe and even a few faith students even say he would have the odasity to place a cup in our exhaust pipe" When probed further, Marcus informed the LLT that this cup "was a cup that was used on the benches for water for the teams...it was obvious where it came from" But according to the Knights guard "it was not very well done exhuast fumes were getting out the pipe but the van inside you could smell some of the fumes" Marcus did admit that "the cup was already there [when the van] was started and not thought [a]bout till we came out". He continued by stating "when we came out and the van was making a rattling type noise when we looked around we seen the cup in the pipe". He also stated that "Pastor Carson [father of Crossroads guard AJ Carson] had already said he was calling the President...on the fact that his son was being yelled at by a coach at faith...he was upset...that a person in the girls coach's position would act in such a manner." In Marcus' opinion "this [bitterness] goes back to two years ago [06-07] when Pillsbury made its run through the conference which included beating [F]aith [three] times. Coach Rosekopf's younger brother Luke, was a freshman on the Eagles team that year. Marcus also stated that two former Pillsbury students have gotten into altercation with current Faith students who were verbally harassing them about Pillsbury closing. In an another interview, David Craig, the Lost Lake Tribune's Iowa news contibutor, stated that President James Maxwell III of Faith had not yet heard of these occurrences in reference to coach Rosekopf's behavior and alleged vandalism. David Craig did give this statement about the basketball incidents "As a current Seminary studen[t] at Faith Theological Seminary I am deeply saddened by the conduct of both the girls head basketball coach during halftime and the second half as he made multiple taunting comments from the bleachers towards the Crossroads Knights. I am also saddened by the unsportsmanlike conduct of a fan afterwards by putting a cup in the tailpipe of the running Crossroads van. Both actions were not only un-Christian, but also a terrible representation of what Faith truly is. It's an institution focused on Christ with the chief goal to glorify Him in all the words and actions of the faculty, staff, and students. This type of behavior is unbecoming of the school and should and will be dealt with". This is an exclusive report from the Lost Lake Tribune and its editors. DeBerg, Poorman Lead Eagles to Victory Tuesday Ankeny, IA- The Faith women's basketball team came grabbed a close 59-53 victory over visiting Crossroads College this past Tuesday. Faith is now 4-4 in the second semester. Faith has shown much improvement over the last few games, with tonight's consistent play throughout the game being a great example. The first half was tight, and Faith found themselves down twoat half with score 27 to 25. Lindsie Poorman had 18 first half points to keep Faith in the game. Faith outscored Crossroads 34 to 26 in the second half. Rachel Johnson sealed the game for the Eagles when she hit a three point shot and was fouled with 3 minutes to go in the game. Meghan DeBerg led the second half charge, as she finished the game with 25 points and 23 rebounds. Poorman also had a double double with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Faith showed more consistency this game with inside outside play and looks to continue to build off of this performance. This article is from MINNESOTA NEWS North Central Creams Crossroads.- Thursday Minneapolis- The North Central Rams had five players in double figure scoring as they beat Crossroads by 43 points, 100-57. Ryan Leak led the way with 23 points and Jordan Fleig hit four of five three-pointers as he scored 18. Crossroads was led by Brent Courtney who scored 15, Sasha Garachenko scored 12 points on 6 of 13 shooting from the field. The game had just 64 total missed shots between the two teams. Plymouth woman sentenced in infant drowning Thursday- A former Brooklyn Center woman now living in Plymouth was sentenced to six months of electronic home monitoring in the drowning death of her infant son, according to the Hennepin County Attorney's Office.Jessica Anita Khermraj-Perkins, 25, pleaded guilty Dec. 12 to second-degree manslaughter in the case.According to the Brooklyn Center Police Department, officers responded to a call at 11:17 p.m. April 25 at an apartment on the 6400 block of Camden Avenue North on the report of a drowning. The child, who was just over a year old, was unresponsive and resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful.The department said over the course of the investigation it was determined the child had drowned in a bathtub and was unsupervised.According to the criminal complaint, Khemraj-Perkins had put the child in the tub and ran the water without putting a plug in the drain.She called a friend on the phone and left the child alone in the bathroom while she walked about the apartment. According to the complaint, phone records revealed that Khemraj-Perkins was on the phone for 39 minutes.She said she could no longer hear the water running and went into the bathroom and discovered a toy had plugged the drain and that the child was floating in the water.The medical examiner ruled the cause of death as drowning. Hennepin County child protection investigated and made a finding of neglect. WISCONSIN NEWS Wisconsin Governor Gives His Seventh State of the State Address. MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Wednesday- Governor Jim Doyle didn't sugar-coat things. In his State of the State address Wednesday night, he told lawmakers tough times, sacrifices and challenges lie ahead as the state deals with a record deficit and growing unemployment. He called on Republicans and Democrats to work together to help solve the state's projected $5.4 billion budget shortfall. Doyle is hoping the state won't have to solve it alone. He's counting on Wisconsin getting at least $2 billion in help from the federal government's stimulus plan now pending in Congress. Doyle says he's optimistic the federal plan will put people to work, but that alone won't be the answer to Wisconsin's budget problem. Information from http://www.wsaw.com/politics/headlines/38562477.html PRO SPORTS NEWS Sports Illustrated report: Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids in 2003 NEW YORK (AP) -- Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids in his MVP season of 2003, according to a report by Sports Illustrated. The New York Yankees star tested positive for two anabolic steroids, four sources told Sports Illustrated in a story posted Saturday on its Web site. His name appears on a list of 104 players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in a 2003 baseball survey, the magazine said. He reportedly tested positive for Primobolan and testosterone while playing for the Texas Rangers. Rodriguez declined to discuss the tests to SI on Thursday at a gym in Miami, where he lives in the offseason. "You'll have to talk to the union," he told a reporter. Calls from SI to union head Donald Fehr were not returned. An e-mail from The AP to Rodriguez's agent, Scott Boras, was not immediately returned. The Yankees had no comment. In a December 2007 interview with "60 Minutes," three days after George Mitchell's report on drugs in the sport was released, Rodriguez denied using peformance-enhancing drugs. "I've never felt overmatched on the baseball field . . . I felt that if I did my, my work as I've done since I was, you know, a rookie back in Seattle, I didn't have a problem competing at any level," he said. Rodriguez played for the Rangers in 2003, when he won the AL home run title and MVP award. He was traded to the Yankees in 2004. He is drawing a $27 million salary after signing a record $275 million, 10-year contract in 2007. The revelations come at a time when baseball's focus on drugs has concerned Barry Bonds and the legal maneuvering leading to the start of his trial March 2. The government is trying to prove the home run king lied when he told a grand jury he never knowingly took performance-enhancing drugs. Baseball's drug policy prohibited the use of steroids without a valid prescription since 1991, but there were no penalties for a positive test in 2003. As part of an agreement with the players' union, the testing in 2003 was conducted to determine if it was necessary to impose mandatory random drug testing across the major leagues in 2004. The results of the testing of 1,200 players were meant to be anonymous under the agreement between the commissioner's office and the union. SI reported that Rodriguez's testing information was found after federal agents, with search warrants, seized the 2003 results from Comprehensive Drug Testing, Inc., in Long Beach, CA. That was one of two labs used by baseball in connection with the testing. The seizure in April 2004 was part of the government's investigation into 10 baseball players linked to the BALCO scandal, SI reported. Rodriguez has not been connected to BALCO. Primobolan, also known as methenolone, is an injected or orally administered drug. It improves strength and maintains lean muscle with minimal bulk development and few side effects. Bonds tested positive three times for methenolone, according to court documents. Primobolan is not an approved in the United States. Testosterone can be taken legally with a prescription. EDITORIAL Freedom is the topic of this week's editorial. Freedom is about as scarce in the United States as married heterosexual couples who stay together for life. To take away freedom is one the goals of most elected officials. These men and women want power and control of Americans' lives. But my words are not the best, here is another's view of the facts and the horrible economic stimulus (spendulus) bill. This is Michael Steele, Chairman of the Republican National Committee. Democrats have controlled both branches of government for less than a month. And you have to wonder if all that power has gone to their heads. For the last two weeks, they've been trying to force a massive spending bill through Congress under the guise of economic relief. All of us -- Republicans and Democrats -- agree the government must act to kick-start the American economy. American families are doing their best to balance their own budgets and pay their mortgages. "The fastest way to help those families is by letting them keep more of the money they earn. Individual empowerment: that's how you stimulate the economy. "But the Democrats have a different philosophy. Instead of leaving money in the family checkbook, they want to send it to Washington, run it through a slow and inefficient government, and hope that does some good. "When families keep the money, they spend it, save it, or invest it. And the private sector economy benefits when families and businesses buy consumer goods or invest it for the future. But when Washington spends the money, some of it may flow into the economy, but all too often, much gets wasted. "Democrats in Congress want a one-trillion dollar spending bill. You've heard about the pork-barrel programs they want to fund... 45 million dollars for ATV trails and removal of fish passage barriers is one that caught my eye. Exactly what is a fish passage barrier and why does it cost 45 million dollars to stimulate the economy with it? "That's why Republicans in the House voted against uncontrolled spending. This is not a bragging point, but rather a statement that at least Republicans would stand with the American taxpayer. But voting 'no' is not enough... and Republicans have offered innovative ideas to help struggling families and small businesses. We've offered plans to spark job creation and investment through lower taxes, to stop the taxation of unemployment benefits, and to help Americans keep their jobs and their homes. "The comprehensive Republican plan would lower taxes for all working American families. If you're married, the first $16,750 you make this year will be taxed at ten percent. Why don't we cut that rate in half to give instant buying power to every working American family? "Good ideas... lots of them... all left out of this plan by the Democrats in Congress. "Republicans stand ready to work with reasonable Democrats to do what is right for America. But it will take more than bipartisan words from the President. It will require fair-minded action from Democrats in Congress." Thanks Chairman Steele, I wholeheatedly agree. Every major recession has been solved by CUTTING TAXES and cutting government spending at serious amounts. If the current House, Senate and President passed a bill that cut ALL tax rates for ALL tax-paying Americans and cut government spending by 50% or MORE, then the economy would have THE FREEDOM to rebound. Us Americans should keep 80 to 90 % of OUR own hard earned money and not have to give it to the government to dole it out however our leaders want. By the way, the same goes for Major League Baseball and ARod. ARod is a great player whether he took steroids or not. It is interesting to note that ARod played WORSE in 2003 (47 HRs, 118 RBI) than 2002 (57 HR, 142 RBI). He even had a similar batting avg (2002: .300, 2003: .298). http://www.baseball-reference.com/r/rodrial01.shtml If an athlete wants to use steroids, then let them HAVE the freedom. If Americans want to use their own hard earned money, then LET THEM. This is the opinion of editor, Benjamin Fugate