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Quote of the Day. "It was kind of an epiphany. We were giving them nice land to live on when what they were doing -- and what they needed -- was an underground railway." Alan Rabinowitz, zoologist, and president of Panthera, an organization that studies and promotes conservation of large cats, on the development of corridors to serve as migration routes between wildlife sanctuaries. (New York Times)
RELIGION IN THE NEWS
Bart Stupak: Hatred Not Worst Part of Health Care Drama "Michigan congressman Bart Stupak, who played a pivotal role in the passage of the health care bill, said there is something worse than the hatred -- including death threats and angry calls to his house -- he experienced because of his support for the legislation."
South African 'green bishop' wants rich to repay ecological debt "'We now know that we can have clean energy, and companies that have contributed to the climate change must pay,' Anglican Bishop Geoffrey Davies told Ecumenical News International during a 5-6 May meeting in Johannesburg to discuss how churches might influence future United Nations discussions on climate change."
Catholic archbishop condemns human trafficking "On the eve of the World Cup on Saturday about 1,000 people gathered in Pretoria to pray for an end to human trafficking. The Catholic Archbishop of Johannesburg said trafficking was a "degrading form of modern slavery" which Christians should oppose."
NEWS AT HOME
Oil Spill Hearings. Finger-pointing all around at Senate hearings on oil spill "As thousands of gallons of oil continued to spew daily from a damaged well in the Gulf of Mexico, grim-faced industry executives came under attack Tuesday on Capitol Hill from senators who accused them of trying to shift blame to one another and of making pre-drilling safety assurances that proved disastrously off-base." Louisiana lawmakers: BP can't handle Gulf oil spill cleanup anymore "Several state lawmakers in Louisiana are ramping up their calls for the state and the federal government to relieve British Petroleum of its authority in the Gulf oil spill cleanup."
Oil Industry Regulation. U.S. to Split Up Agency Policing the Oil Industry "The Obama administration on Tuesday proposed breaking up the agency responsible for both policing the oil industry and acting as its partner in drilling activities, seeking to end a decades-old relationship between industry and government that has proved highly profitable -- and some say too cozy -- for both." Offshore drilling agency to undergo radical overhaul, Salazar announces "The Obama administration announced Tuesday that it would radically overhaul the obscure government agency that oversees offshore drilling operations, under scrutiny since the oil rig explosion in the gulf."
Climate Energy Bill. Senate's delayed climate change-energy bill set for unveiling -- and uncertainty "After months of negotiations and weeks of delay, Sens. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) will unveil their plan to limit greenhouse gas emissions and spur clean energy growth Wednesday -- and the biggest challenge will be selling the notion that the bill has any chance of passage."
Finance Reform. Financial overhaul pits military against car dealers "In the battle to overhaul the nation's financial regulations, a lobbying effort by the world's most powerful military force may have met its match in the local car dealer." Senate approves GAO audit of Fed's bailout record "The Senate voted 96-0 Tuesday to authorize a congressional audit of the secretive Federal Reserve Board's emergency aid program and full disclosure of who got the money, a plan that could reveal more details about government help for embattled investment firm Goldman Sachs."
Supreme Court Nominee. Court Nominee Figures in Midterm Campaigns "The Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Solicitor General Elena Kagan are weeks away, but her nomination is already becoming a flash point in midterm Congressional campaigns as candidates in both parties try to exploit the coming court fight."
Immigration. Patrick blasts immigration crackdowns "[Massachusetts] Governor Deval Patrick yesterday blasted Arizona's new immigration law, accused his gubernatorial opponents of grandstanding on the issue, and said supporters of such crackdowns were 'trying to invent a villain for political purposes.'" Arizona bill targeting ethnic studies signed into law "A bill that aims to ban ethnic studies in Arizona schools was signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Jan Brewer, cheering critics who called such classes divisive and alarming others who said it's yet another law targeting Latinos in the state." Side by Side, but Divided Over Immigration "As the Arizona Legislature steamed ahead with the most stringent immigration enforcement bill in the country this year, [New Mexico's] House of Representatives was unanimously passing a resolution recognizing the economic benefits of illegal immigrants."
Health Care. Health-care overhaul is up against long campaign across U.S. "Efforts to block a key provision of the new health-care overhaul law are underway in 33 states, as a growing roster of mostly Republican officials have mounted legal and legislative challenges to an eventual requirement that virtually all Americans buy health insurance or pay a penalty tax."
NEWS AROUND THE WORLD
New U.K. Prime Minister. UK PM Cameron hails 'new era' "New UK Prime Minister David Cameron has said the UK's first coalition in decades could mark an 'historic and seismic shift' in British politics." Nick Clegg and David Cameron get to work at No 10 "An historic handshake marked the start of a new era in British politics today as the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg got down to work at 10 Downing Street with his new Conservative boss, David Cameron." The youngest PM for 200 years
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