Hate crime bill waiting for President's signature

The Senate passed legislation today that would make it a crime to assault an individual based on their sexual orientation or gender identity according to CNN.com.

The bill will be sent to President Obama for his approval. Obama has said that he plans to sign the legislation.

Matthew Shepard, a gay teenager from Wyoming, was the reason the bill got put into motion in the first place. Shepard died in October of 1998 after being severely beaten for being gay. The bill is also named for James Byrd Jr., an African-American man from Texas who was dragged to death that same year.

This piece of legislation, if passed, will give law enforcement officers the ability to punish these criminal acts of violence.

CNN.com reports that Attorney General Eric Holder told the Senate Judiciary Committee that there has been "nearly one hate crime for every hour of every day over the span of a decade." 

My Take:  I chose this story because it is a story I have been interested in and have followed for a while now.  It makes me sick to think that these innocent men lost their lives just because of their sexual orientation or their race. And I find it hard to believe that the cruel and brutal ways in which they were murdered were not an act of fiction. 

Syracuse men arrested in drug bust

Four men from Syracuse have been arrested following a nation wide crackdown on a drug cartel. The Mexico-based cartel has led to 1,200 arrests and a seizure of about 12 tons of drugs.

According to Syracuse.com the men that have been arrested are charged with intent to distribute Crack Cocaine.  And each man could be looking at a prison sentence of up to 60 years and could be fined close to $4 million dollars.

U.S. Marshals are still looking for another Syracuse man, who if found could face a charge of conspiracy to distribute illegal drugs.

My Take: I think this is a very serious issue. Within the past couple years the drug problem has exploded onto the scene and has made Mexico the epicenter of the explosion. I feel like its important for young people to see and understand the consequences of using narcotics. Being in position of an illegal drug can cause potentially lead to jail time. 

Polar bears now have land all their own

The Obama administration is has proposed setting aside 200,000 square miles of land off Alaska and along its shorelines as a habitat for the polar bears that live there.

According to MSNBC.com The area set aside will become a “critical habitat” for polar bears, which will hopefully stop off shore drilling in that area of Alaska.

With global warming causing a real problem for polar bears, environmentalists are worried that these animals could become and endangered species as they try to battle extinction. 

My Take: I don’t think that polar bears should have to share their habitat with oil riggers or anything else for that matter. Its important to understand the greater effect our actions has on the environment and the species that habitat that environment. We need to stop being so selfish and start looking at the bigger picture in order to save one of the most iconic animals. If polar bears went extinct Coca-Cola would have to find a new mascot.