Posted 1:34 pm Wednesday, January 02, 2013
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MIDDAY UPDATE: This year's 'breakout vegetable;' fiscal cliff deal; NCAA lawsuit; gun permits online
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NEW YEAR'S RECIPE IDEAS
If one of your New Year's resolutions is to cook more or to try some new things, you might want to read the TylerPaper.com Food section article which lists the Top Twelve Recipes from 2012's columns.
And looking toward the future, we have the answer to that question everyone's been asking – What will be 2013's Breakout Vegetable?
Our Food Editor, Christine Gardner, reveals that it's cauliflower – and gives a suggested recipe on TylerPaper.com today.
And looking toward the future, we have the answer to that question everyone's been asking – What will be 2013's Breakout Vegetable?
Our Food Editor, Christine Gardner, reveals that it's cauliflower – and gives a suggested recipe on TylerPaper.com today.
FISCAL CLIFF
Some gloomy news about that fiscal cliff deal reached yesterday:
While the tax package that Congress passed New Year's Day will protect ninety-nine percent of Americans from an income tax increase, most of us will still end up paying more federal taxes in 2013.
That's because the legislation did nothing to prevent a temporary reduction in the Social Security payroll tax from expiring.
In 2012, that 2-percentage-point cut in the payroll tax was worth about one thousand dollars to a worker making fifty thousand dollars a year.
High-income families will feel the biggest tax increases, but many middle- and low-income families will pay higher taxes too, since the increase in payroll taxes will hit nearly every wage earner.
While the tax package that Congress passed New Year's Day will protect ninety-nine percent of Americans from an income tax increase, most of us will still end up paying more federal taxes in 2013.
That's because the legislation did nothing to prevent a temporary reduction in the Social Security payroll tax from expiring.
In 2012, that 2-percentage-point cut in the payroll tax was worth about one thousand dollars to a worker making fifty thousand dollars a year.
High-income families will feel the biggest tax increases, but many middle- and low-income families will pay higher taxes too, since the increase in payroll taxes will hit nearly every wage earner.
INDIAN SEX SCANDALS
Indian lawmakers facing sexual assault charges against women could be suspended from office if the country's top court rules in favor of a petition submitted following a gang-rape and murder that shocked the country.
The December 16th rape triggered outrage across the country and sparked demands for stronger laws, tougher police action against those accused of sexual assault and a sustained campaign to change society's views on women.
A retired government administrator has now asked the Supreme Court to force the national government to fast-track thousands of rape cases that have languished in India's notoriously sluggish court system for years.
In the past five years, political parties across India nominated two hundred sixty candidates awaiting trial on charges of crimes against women.
Parties ran six candidates for the national parliamentary elections facing such charges.
The December 16th rape triggered outrage across the country and sparked demands for stronger laws, tougher police action against those accused of sexual assault and a sustained campaign to change society's views on women.
A retired government administrator has now asked the Supreme Court to force the national government to fast-track thousands of rape cases that have languished in India's notoriously sluggish court system for years.
In the past five years, political parties across India nominated two hundred sixty candidates awaiting trial on charges of crimes against women.
Parties ran six candidates for the national parliamentary elections facing such charges.
DNA DATABASE HELPS SOLVE CRIMES
Experts say technology and an expanding DNA database have helped solve more crimes in Texas.
Six hundred forty-three homicides are among the Texas cases solved with assistance from the Combined DNA Index System, or CODIS.
Registered sex offenders, convicted felons and youths in the Texas juvenile justice system must provide samples.
Texas averaged about two hundred matches annually during the first five years after the national database was created in 1996.
Records show that number rose to an average one thousand hits annually for the following ten years.
Six hundred forty-three homicides are among the Texas cases solved with assistance from the Combined DNA Index System, or CODIS.
Registered sex offenders, convicted felons and youths in the Texas juvenile justice system must provide samples.
Texas averaged about two hundred matches annually during the first five years after the national database was created in 1996.
Records show that number rose to an average one thousand hits annually for the following ten years.
ISRAELI MILITARY EXERCISES
The Israeli military on Wednesday ordered dozens of Palestinian Bedouins to leave their communities so it could conduct military exercises in a remote area of the West Bank.
The military said the order was temporary, and that the Palestinians were living illegally in closed military zones.
The Bedouins say they have lived in the area for decades.
While the army has issued temporary evacuation orders in the past, Bedouins say they have increased in frequency, and they charge the practice is meant to pressure them to leave their homes.
The area, mostly desert, is home to sixty thousand Palestinians, the United Nations estimates.
Some eight thousand are Bedouins, a culturally distinct community who tend to live on the poor margins of Palestinian society.
The military said the order was temporary, and that the Palestinians were living illegally in closed military zones.
The Bedouins say they have lived in the area for decades.
While the army has issued temporary evacuation orders in the past, Bedouins say they have increased in frequency, and they charge the practice is meant to pressure them to leave their homes.
The area, mostly desert, is home to sixty thousand Palestinians, the United Nations estimates.
Some eight thousand are Bedouins, a culturally distinct community who tend to live on the poor margins of Palestinian society.
PENN GOV FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST NCAA
Pennsylvania's governor says he intends to file a federal antitrust lawsuit against the NCAA in an effort to overturn what he said were "harsh penalties" against Penn State because of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.
He says the NCAA punished students, the community and businesses around the university,
not the former assistant football coach who molested children.
The sanctions imposed in July included a sixty million dollar fine for child abuse prevention grants, a four-year bowl game ban for the university's marquee football program and the forfeiture of one hundred twelve wins.
He says the NCAA punished students, the community and businesses around the university,
not the former assistant football coach who molested children.
The sanctions imposed in July included a sixty million dollar fine for child abuse prevention grants, a four-year bowl game ban for the university's marquee football program and the forfeiture of one hundred twelve wins.
N.Y. COUNTY REFUSES TO RELEASE GUN-OWNER DATA
Officials in Putnam County, New York, say they'll refuse a newspaper's request to release the names and addresses of residents with pistol permits.
However, Robert Freeman, of the state's Committee on Open Government, says the county outside New York City would be violating state law if it withholds public data.
The Journal News says Putnam County officials have scheduled a news conference Thursday to announce their decision to deny the request.
In December, the Journal News published online maps that allow viewers to see the names and addresses of pistol and revolver permit holders in Westchester and Rockland counties.
Critics have called that an invasion of privacy.
Some say it could endanger permit holders.
The newspaper stands by the project, though they have since reportedly hired armed guards for their facility.
However, Robert Freeman, of the state's Committee on Open Government, says the county outside New York City would be violating state law if it withholds public data.
The Journal News says Putnam County officials have scheduled a news conference Thursday to announce their decision to deny the request.
In December, the Journal News published online maps that allow viewers to see the names and addresses of pistol and revolver permit holders in Westchester and Rockland counties.
Critics have called that an invasion of privacy.
Some say it could endanger permit holders.
The newspaper stands by the project, though they have since reportedly hired armed guards for their facility.
