The latest news on the Climate Change Bill, Health Care Reform, Immigration Reform, Hard Times, Children of Soldiers, South Carolina Governor, Global Economic Crisis, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Senate Chaplain.

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Quote of the day. "We are flexible. But we don't trust the government. It has shown it's ready to settle disputes by force and not through dialogue. And we have shown we will stand up for our rights." Peruvian tribal leader Luis Pizango in opposition to plans to open the Amazon to development. (Los Angeles Times)

Climate change bill. Climate bill will pass House on Friday, lawmaker predicts "A Democrat who helped draft the sweeping climate bill that limits greenhouse gases and improves the nation's energy efficiency predicted Wednesday that the legislation would be approved by the House on Friday." Majority of Poll Respondents Say U.S. Should Limit Greenhouse Gases "Three-quarters of Americans think the federal government should regulate the release into the atmosphere of greenhouse gases from power plants, cars and factories to reduce global warming, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll." Obama promotes climate-change bill in face of conflicting figures "President Obama on Wednesday defended his assertion that a climate-change measure making its way through Congress would greatly reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil, even as government figures raised questions about whether he was overstating its effect."

Health care reform. States Assert Place in Health-Care Debate: Governors Fear Shifting of Costs "A bipartisan group of governors told President Obama yesterday that they share his urgent desire to restructure the nation's health-care system but warned that any changes should not place more burdens on strained state budgets or eliminate innovative programs they already have in place." Senators Worry That Health Overhaul Could Erode Employer Insurance Plans "Senators struggled Wednesday with the possibility that in offering subsidized health insurance to millions of individuals and families, they could inadvertently speed the erosion of employer-provided coverage, which they want to preserve."

Immigration reform. Senate Democrats Share Plans for Immigration Reform "Senate Democrats outlined plans yesterday to overhaul the nation's immigration laws, including a requirement that all U.S. workers verify their identity through fingerprints or an eye scan." Obama Set for First Step on Immigration Reform "President Obama is expected to meet with Congressional leaders of both parties on Thursday to begin laying the political groundwork for sweeping immigration legislation, even though its passage this year is considered very unlikely."

Hard times. A room to call home "Robert Cutler, Tanya Labitue, and their daughter, Ashleigh, have been living in a Saugus motel for months. A record number of families in Mass. are living in motels at the state's expense." Bracing for Budget Triage "Hospitals throughout the region are experiencing soaring demand from uninsured patients who cannot pay for their care and plummeting revenue from reductions in investment income, charitable giving and elective surgery."

Children of soldiers. Troops' kids feel war toll "After seven years of war, most children of combat troops are showing more fear, anxiety and behavioral problems, according to the Pentagon's most sweeping survey of the effects of war on military children."

South Carolina governor. Gov. Sanford disclosure deepens Republican turmoil "Mark Sanford's extramarital excursion to Latin America is just the latest -- albeit the most lurid -- in a series of setbacks that have plagued Republicans as they struggle to recast the party and promote a new generation of national leaders." Social conservatives fall from moral high ground "Social conservatives, the once-powerful force that focused the Republican agenda on moral virtue and family values, have suffered a diminished brand on the national political landscape as a steady stream of their icons have fallen prey to the vices they once preached against."

Global economic crisis. Economic crisis 'could last years' "Ban Ki-moon, the U.N. secretary-general, has warned that the impact of the global economic crisis could last for years, with millions more people likely to be pushed into poverty."

Iran. Iran's Mousavi defies crackdown "Iran protest leader Mir Hossein Mousavi says he holds those behind alleged 'rigged' elections responsible for bloodshed during recent protests." Iran Stepping Up Effort to Quell Election Protest "Iranian officials stepped up efforts to crush the remaining resistance to a disputed presidential election on Wednesday, as security forces overwhelmed a small group of protesters with brutal beatings, tear gas and gunshots in the air." Iran opposition leader blasts rulers; 70 professors arrested "Iran's leading opposition figurehead, Mir-Hossein Mousavi, launched a lengthy broadside against the Iranian leadership and state-owned media in comments published today on his website as authorities arrested 70 university professors who had met with him." Iranian women take key role in protests "Iranian women have been on the front lines of anti-government protests challenging the official results of the June 12 election, in which President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared the victor. The face of a woman has become the symbol of the opposition."

Iraq. Iraq rocked by more bomb attacks "At least six people have been killed and about 40 injured in a series of bomb attacks in Iraq, officials say." Fears for U.S. pullout as Iraq bomb kills 60 "A bomb blast ripped through a crowded market in Baghdad last night, killing more than 60 people amid growing fears that sectarian violence may once more engulf Iraq as U.S. forces prepare to withdraw."

Afghanistan. 'Shift needed' in Afghan combat "The new commander of U.S. and NATO-led troops in Afghanistan has said troops must shift from conventional warfare to protecting Afghan civilians." Afghan Leader Outmaneuvers Election Rivals "With a nationwide election only weeks away, the paradox of President Hamid Karzai has never seemed more apparent: he is at once deeply unpopular and likely to win."

Zimbabwe. Bumper crop, but Zimbabwe hungry "Some three million people face hunger in Zimbabwe, despite a significant rise in food production, the U.N. says."

Tanzania. Fragile Tanzanian Orphans Get Help After Mothers Die "Africa is full of at least 50 million orphans, the legacy of AIDS and other diseases, war and high rates of death in pregnancy and childbirth. With the numbers increasing every day, Africans are struggling to care for them, often in ways that differ strikingly from the traditional concept of an orphanage in the developed world."

Feature-Senate chaplain. Chaplain from 'hood' to Hill "It was six years ago this week that the Rev. Barry Black was appointed the 62nd chaplain to the U.S. Senate, bringing with him a trifecta of firsts - first black chaplain, first Seventh-day Adventist and first military chaplain to ascend to the post." Chaplain to the Senate Excerpts from an interview with the Rev. Barry Black.