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Quote of the day. "For those of us who are battling the time crunch and those of us [for] whom access to fresh food is an issue in our neighborhoods, farmers' markets are a really important, valuable resource that we have to support." First lady Michelle Obama, opening a new farmer's market just across the street from the White House. (Washington Times)
FAITH IN THE NEWS
Ex-Offenders Need America's Promised Second Chance "'They are coming back from prison to nothing,' says Mildred Wiley, senior director of community services at Bethel New Life, a faith-based community development corporation in West Garfield Park. About 60 percent of people arriving at Bethel's employment center have been recently incarcerated. But jobs are scarce, and the first six months after release are crucial." (Michael Gerson, Washington Post op-ed)
Bishops talk health care, immigration with members of Congress "Though they believe the church is largely on the same page as Congress when it comes to other aspects of health care and immigration reform, a delegation of Hispanic bishops came away from meetings with several groups of House and Senate leaders Sept. 17 concerned that immigrants might be left out of health reform."
Groups Push to End Hiring Bias Legalized for Religious Charities "Nearly 60 groups concerned with civil rights, labor, health and education urged Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. on Thursday to renounce a Bush-era memo allowing religious charities that receive federal grant money to discriminate in hiring."
Most religiously conservative states have highest teen birth rates "Teenage birth rates tend to be higher in states that are more religiously conservative, possibly because communities in those places discourage contraception, according to a national study."
NEWS AT HOME
Health care. Major Health-Care Reform Challenge Is Affordability "Lawmakers in both parties raised concerns Thursday that the health-care reform bill offered by Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus a day earlier would impose too high a cost on middle-class Americans and said they will seek to change the legislation to ease that potential burden." New Tax in Senate Health Plan Draws Bipartisan Fire "Senators of both parties said Thursday that they would seek significant changes in a Democratic proposal to tax generous high-cost health insurance policies." Splitting healthcare tab is a balancing act "Think of our three friends as consumers, businesses and government, the three major groups that pay for healthcare in America. The check is the nation's healthcare tab, which now tops $2.5 trillion a year." Consensus on health care still elusive in Congress "The White House tried -- and failed -- Thursday to cool fierce Republican opposition to its health care overhaul by announcing a $25 million preliminary program aimed at eventually revamping the nation's controversial medical-malpractice legal system."
Lack of health care. Study finds lack of insurance can be lethal "As medical care has improved for people with health insurance, the consequences of being uninsured have worsened, according to a new study that says the lack of coverage translates into nearly 45,000 deaths each year among working-age Americans."
Immigration. Obama: Legalize illegals to get them health care "President Obama said this week that his health care plan won't cover illegal immigrants, but argued that's all the more reason to legalize them and ensure they eventually do get coverage."
Education. Coaxing dropouts back in "School officials in Boston have begun a concerted effort, which they hope will become a national model, to reach out to thousands of students who dropped out."
Youth income falls. Incomes of young in 8-year nose dive "The incomes of the young and middle-aged -- especially men -- have fallen off a cliff since 2000, leaving many age groups poorer than they were even in the 1970s, a USA TODAY analysis of new Census data found."
NEWS AROUND THE WORLD
Global working poor. U.N. Chief Says Working Poor Still Suffer "While economists in developed nations are cautiously pointing to the first signs of renewed economic growth, the global financial crisis is slamming some of the working poor around the world, Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations secretary general, said Thursday."
Missile defense. White House Scraps Bush's Approach to Missile Shield "President Obama scrapped his predecessor's proposed antiballistic missile shield in Eastern Europe on Thursday and ordered instead the development of a reconfigured system designed to shoot down short- and medium-range Iranian missiles." Obama overturns Bush-era plan for missile shield in Eastern Europe "President Obama scrapped his predecessor's plans for a European-based missile shield to defend against Iran, saying Thursday that new intelligence showed the Islamic Republic was proceeding more quickly to develop short- and medium-range missiles, requiring more 'cost-effective' sea-based interceptors instead." Move Signals Shift Toward Disarmament "The U.S. shift on missile defense is part of a broader White House strategy to signal its commitment to disarmament and moving toward eventually eliminating America's nuclear-weapons stockpile."
Mideast. Obama blow as US fails to secure Israel progress "Even a flurry of diplomatic shuttling by American officials could not wrest an agreement from Israeli and Palestinian leadership today, as the terms for a planned three-way summit remained unresolved." Mitchell wraps up Mideast tour "The deep gaps between the Israeli and Palestinian positions raised doubt about Obama's plans to revive Mideast peace efforts, including the possibility of holding a trilateral meeting next week in New York, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly." Mitchell ends Middle East peace bid "George Mitchell, the US envoy to the Middle East, has returned to Washington after failing to secure a compromise deal for renewed peace talks bewteen Israel and the Palestinians."
Somalia. Somalia militants hit African Union base; 9 dead "In swift retaliation for the U.S. killing this week of a suspected Al Qaeda fugitive in Somalia, insurgents attacked the main African Union peacekeeping base in Mogadishu with twin truck bombs Thursday, killing at least nine people, including four AU soldiers." UN chief condemns Somalia attacks "The UN chief has condemned the two suicide car bombings at the African Union's main base in Somalia, with the death toll rising to 21, including 17 peacekeepers." AU urges more weapons for Somalia "The African Union has called on the international community to send weapons to the UN-backed Somali government to help it fight Islamist militants."
Afghanistan. Generals warn over failure in Afghanistan "The Taleban have grown in strength and influence as the fortunes of the coalition forces have deteriorated in Afghanistan, the overall commander of US forces in the Middle East said last night." 'Time against' Afghanistan forces "UK and other Nato forces in southern Afghanistan do not have time on their side, the British general soon to take charge of troops in the area has said." Afghan Blast Raises New Doubts in Europe "A powerful suicide bomb that killed six Italian soldiers here on Thursday prompted Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy to declare that his nation had begun planning to 'bring our young men home as soon as possible.'" Italian PM calls for Afghan exit "The Italian prime minister has called for international forces to withdraw from Afghanistan, after a suicide attack in the capital Kabul killed six Italian soldiers."
Pakistan. Pakistan tests civilian militias to keep Taliban out of Swat Valley "The civilian fighting forces have cropped up across Pakistan's northwest before to try to keep the Taliban away, often with disappointing results, because they are weaker than the militants and lack backing from the military. Now, the Army is reviving the idea in Swat, and promising to provide the assistance needed."
Iran. Iran opposition in new show of strength "Iran's opposition Green movement put on a powerful show of strength today against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as the hardline president repeated his notorious claim that the Nazi Holocaust was a 'lie' designed to justify the existence of Israel." Clashes erupt at Iran mass rally "Thousands of opposition supporters have clashed with security forces during a government-sponsored rally in Tehran." Upcoming Talks Are 'Window of Opportunity,' Iran's Envoy Says "A top Iranian negotiator on nuclear matters has given a hopeful prognosis for upcoming talks with the United States and other world powers, calling the discussions a 'real, new window of opportunity' and suggesting that the Islamic republic is prepared to address U.S. concerns about its nuclear intentions."
OPINION
Baucus and the Threshold (Paul Krugman, New York Times) "
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