Judge refuses to stop Arizona from denying driver's licenses to immigrants

PHOENIX (Reuters) - A U.S. federal judge refused on Thursday to block Arizona's Republican governor, who has long clashed with Washington over immigration reform, from denying driver's licenses to young immigrants granted temporary legal status by the federal government.

Civil rights groups had filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Phoenix in November against Governor Jan Brewer and two state transportation department officials on behalf of five Mexican immigrants who qualify for deferred deportation status under a program pushed by President Barack Obama.

The suit challenged the legality of an order issued by Brewer in August that denied the young migrants licenses, arguing that the federal deferred action program did not give them lawful status or entitle them to public benefits.

Judge David Campbell ruled that while the young immigrants appeared likely to prevail in their argument on constitutional equal-protection grounds, they had not proved they would suffer irreparable injury as the case proceeds.

"The court concludes that plaintiffs have not shown a likelihood of success on the merits of their Supremacy Clause claim," Campbell noted in a written ruling denying the motion for a preliminary injunction.

"Plaintiffs have shown a likelihood of success on the merits of their equal-protection claim, but the Court finds that they have not shown a likelihood of irreparable injury and have not otherwise met the high burden for a mandatory injunction," he added.

The ruling came as a bipartisan group of lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives declared on Thursday they had reached a tentative deal for passage of a major bill to revamp the nation's immigration policy.

The final sticking point in Washington, according to congressional sources, was over whether illegal immigrants now in the United States who gain legal status under the bill could participate in the new healthcare law known as "Obamacare," which Republicans want to repeal.

STATE'S RIGHTS

While the judge in the Arizona driver's license case said the immigrants' equal-protection claim was likely to succeed, he also tossed a separate argument that the Arizona policy was pre-empted by federal law in a move Brewer described as a victory.

"This portion of the ruling is not only a victory for the State of Arizona, it is a victory for states' rights, the rule of law and the bedrock principles that guide our nation's legislative process and the division of power between the federal government and states," Brewer said in a statement.

An attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union had argued for the plaintiffs at a hearing before Campbell in March. A call to the ACLU seeking comment was not immediately returned on Thursday.

Under Obama's program, immigrants who came to the United States as children and meet certain other criteria can apply for a work permit for a renewable period of two years. They also can obtain Social Security numbers.

An estimated 1.7 million youths are potentially eligible for the program, of whom about 80,000 live in Arizona. As of mid-February, about 200,000 applicants nationwide had been granted deferred action, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Those immigrants are considered to be lawfully present in the United States during that period.

About 40 U.S. states and the District of Columbia have confirmed they were granting driver's licenses - or planned to do so - for youths who received a short-term deportation reprieve under the program in June.

While Republicans in some states have opposed drivers licenses for illegal immigrants, only Arizona and Nebraska said outright that young immigrants were not eligible.

Brewer maintains that the policy did not "confer upon them any lawful or authorized status and does not entitle them to any additional public benefits."

(Reporting by Tim Gaynor; Editing by Cynthia Johnston and Philip Barbara)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/judge-refuses-stop-arizona-denying-drivers-licenses-immigrants-010756730.html

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NYPD Will Test Gas Attack In The Subway - Business Insider

The New York Police Department, in concert with the Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Lab, will release colorless, odorless, benign gas throughout the New York City subway system this July to test how a chemical or biological weapons attack would spread, according to a release. ?

About 200 sampling devices will be deployed to examine how low concentrations of harmless gases known as perfluorocarbons get dispersed in the country's busiest public transport system.

Here's the description of the gas:

Perfluorocarbon tracer gases (PFTs) present no health or environmental hazard. They are non-toxic, inert, odorless, and invisible, and have been used in airflow studies since the 1980s, including a 2005 Urban Dispersion Program (UDP) conducted in Manhattan. PFTs also are used in medical applications including eye surgeries and artificial breathing systems.

And here's NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly's statement on the event:

The NYPD works for the best but plans for the worst when it comes to potentially catastrophic attacks such as ones employing radiological contaminants or weaponized anthrax," said Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly, adding that, "This field study with [DOE'S Brookhaven Laboratory]'s outstanding expertise will help prepare and safeguard the city's population in the event of an actual attack."

The release wil occur on three non-consecutive days. The final dates have not been determined.

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/nypd-will-test-gas-attack-in-the-subway-2013-5

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5 Types of Fungus in Capri Sun ? But Are They Harmful?

Five types of fungus have been identified in the popular kids' juice drink Capri Sun, researchers say.

The study was spurred by reports of consumers finding mold ? mats of fungus consisting of millions of cells ? in the drink.

While the findings have an "ick" factor, the fungi probably aren't harmful to most people, said study researcher Kathleen Dannelly, associate professor microbiology at Indiana State University. Fungi are all around us ? in the soil, air, and even on our skin and inside our digestive tract ? but they are generally kept in check by our immune systems.

"Probably, those of us with healthy immune systems, we could even eat that, and that wouldn?t be a problem," Dannelly said, referring to the fungal mats in Capri Sun.

However, for people with compromised immune systems, such as those with AIDS, leukemia or cystic fibrosis, fungus exposure may be a health concern, Dannelly said.

For instance, the fungus Aspergillus is found in air, and most people breathe it in without problems. But for those with compromised immune systems, the fungus can cause lung and other infections.

Kraft, which manufactures Capri Sun, acknowledges that mold can grow in the drink, but says such reports are not common.

"Since there are no preservatives in our drinks, mold can grow, especially in a leaking pouch," Kraft says on its Capri Sun frequently asked questions website.

During the manufacturing process, the drinks are heated to temperatures that exceed those used for pasteurization. But punctures in the products' package ? even microscopic ones ? can allow air inside the package, and mold to grow, Kraft says. Fungi need oxygen to grow, Dannelly said.

Capri Sun packages have a shelf life of about a year. The company urges consumers to discard leaking or damaged packages.

In the new study, the researchers filtered Capri Sun through filter paper, and then checked whether any microorganisms were left behind on the paper. The juice contained just a few fungal cells, which grew in laboratory dishes.

Dannelly said if this experiment was done on any juice after it was opened and left in the refrigerator, she would expect both fungus and bacteria to grow.

In a second experiment, the researchers, including Leah Horn, an undergraduate biology major, punctured Capri Sun packages with a sterile needle to mimic damage to the product. When left in a sterile environment for three weeks, fungal mats grew in the juice.

A problem with Capri Sun is that the packages are not see-through, so unlike mold on bread or cheese, consumers can't tell when Capri Sun goes bad.

Kraft said it tried creating clear packages for Capri Sun, but stopped making the packages after it created manufacturing problems.

The company said it will not add preservatives to the product because their customers don't want this. Preservatives give food a longer shelf life, but some, such as the preservative nitrite, have been linked to an increased risk of certain cancers.

Dannelly said there are some natural preservatives, such as citric acid, which are not harmful and could be added to the product (although it would make the product more acidic).

"If you're going to have a package you can't see through, I think you need to do something," Dannelly said.

The study has not yet been published in a peer reviewed journal, but the researchers plan to submit the work for publication.

Pass it on: Five types of fungus have been found in Capri Sun, but they are likely not harmful.

Follow Rachael Rettner @RachaelRettner. Follow MyHealthNewsDaily @MyHealth_MHND, Facebook & Google+. Originally published on MyHealthNewsDaily.

Copyright 2013 MyHealthNewsDaily, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/5-types-fungus-capri-sun-harmful-211027583.html

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WWE Main Event results: Championship history lesson

Kofi Kingston vs. Antonio Cesaro - United States Championship Match: WWE Main Event, May 1, 2013Antonio Cesaro attacks Kofi Kingston: WWE Main Event, May 1, 2013Justin Gabriel vs. Heath Slater: WWE Main Event, May 1, 2013Kofi Kingston vs. Dolph Ziggler: Raw, April 29, 2013Kofi Kingston vs. Dolph Ziggler: WWE App Exclusive, April 29, 2013Kofi Kingston grants a wish: WWE App Exclusive, April 29, 2013

DETROIT ? On WWE Main Event, Antonio Cesaro battled Kofi Kingston in a rematch for the highflier?s? U.S. Championship. Also, former WWE Tag Team Champions Justin Gabriel and Heath Slater squared off in a battle in the evening?s second contest.

United States Champion Kofi Kingston def. Antonio Cesaro

Just two nights after being defeated by World Heavyweight Champion Dolph Ziggler on Raw, new father and United States Champion Kofi Kingston faced the challenge of former U.S. Title holder Antonio Cesaro, who was eager to reclaim his championship. Luck has not been on The Swiss Superman?s side in recent weeks, but he strived to refocus on WWE Main Event ? the show that highlighted his dominance during his title reign.

WWE MAIN EVENT PHOTOS?| WATCH CESARO'S SECOND CHANCE

The Swiss-born Superstar was certainly determined ? he was not yodeling and was sporting a Swiss Army beret and aviator sunglasses. His strategy for reclaiming the U.S. Title was certainly wise ? using his raw strength to keep the high-flying Kingston grounded. Cesaro displayed an excellent variety of technical maneuvers, specifically targeting the U.S. Champion?s legs ? no doubt in an effort to neutralize Kingston?s signature Trouble in Paradise. Alas, motivated by his loss to the World Heavyweight Champion and riding high on emotions after the birth of his son, Kingston persevered. Kingston regained control of the match and Cesaro was defeated with the very move he was trying to prevent ? Trouble in Paradise.

Following the contest, Matt Striker interviewed the victorious U.S. Champion who was ecstatic to go home to his new son as a champion. After the bout, however, Cesaro attacked the U.S. Champion and savagely pulled out one of ?The Wildcat?s? dreadlocks, exacting revenge for the loss of the U.S. Title.

WATCH: CESARO ATTACKS KINGSTON

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Source: http://www.wwe.com/shows/wwemainevent/2013-05-01/results

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New Italian gov't confirmed by Senate

ROME (AP) ? Italian Premier Enrico Letta's cross-party government won a final vote of confidence vote in Parliament on Tuesday, giving life to a grand coalition that aims to put aside decades of animosity to return the eurozone's third-largest economy to growth.

Letta's first order of business is a trip to Berlin, where he is expected to press German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the necessity of easing austerity politics that have put pressure on ordinary Italians in favor of growth policies.

Letta will take the message to Paris, where he meets Wednesday with President Francois Hollande, and then to Brussels. The European tour aims also to demonstrate that this government wants to remain at the heart of the decision-making in Europe.

The new government was confirmed Tuesday by the Senate by a vote of 233 in favor, 59 against and 18 abstentions, a day after it easily won confirmation by the lower house.

The government brings together in an uneasy coalition the center-left Democratic Party, which won the lower house in February elections ? but not the Senate ? along with its long-time political opponents, the center-right under Silvio Berlusconi's People of Freedom party.

Letta outlined to the two houses an ambitious program to get young Italians into work , reform the electoral law, reduce the cost of maintaining Italy's political class, reform the judicial system and make it easier for the children of immigrants born in Italy to become citizens. He said the government would step down if he hasn't accomplished his goals within 18 months.

Letta already has made one big concession to Berlusconi's backers: a pledge to put on hold an unpopular tax on first residences until it can be reviewed. Berlusconi on Tuesday said he will only support the government if the tax is repealed.

The tax on first homes, which was reintroduced by the technical government of Mario Monti, generates 4 billion euros ($5.2 billion) a year, and the decision to suspend June payments will cost the state 2 billion euros, at a time when the government needs to come up urgently with additional funds to pay for a fund for workers on temporary layoffs.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/italian-govt-confirmed-senate-131911237.html

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