Daily News Digest

The latest news on Iowa floods, Testing drugs on vets, Same-sex marriage, Economic pinch, Afghanistan, Bush in UK-Iran, Zimbabwe, Global female leaders, Mideast, Climate change refugees, and Commentary.

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Iowa floods. Southeast Iowa shores up as floodwaters roll south "The news moves as fast as the floodwater across Iowa. Some is good, some is worse - from businesses reopening in Cedar Falls to tiny Oakville standing underwater." Sandbags, steely resolve downriver "Town by town, house by house and inch by inch, residents along the mighty Mississippi fought to contain swelling currents that were expected to reach all-time highs and test the mettle of people long entwined with the fortunes of the river." Feds: 27 levees could overflow if sandbags fail "The federal government predicts that 27 levees could potentially overflow along the river if the weather forecast is on the mark and a massive sandbagging effort fails to raise the level of the levees,"

Testing drugs on vets. VA testing drugs on war veterans "The government is testing drugs with severe side effects like psychosis and suicidal behavior on hundreds of military veterans, using small cash payments to attract patients into medical experiments that often target distressed soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan,"

Same-sex marriage. With ban lifted, gay marriage rush is on in California "At the stroke of 5 Monday afternoon, couples began flocking to government offices as California became the second state in the nation where same-sex marriage is legal. Hundreds more are expected today." Same-Sex Marriages Begin in California"With a series of simple "I dos," gay couples across California inaugurated the state's court-approved and potentially short-lived legalization of same-sex marriage on Monday," Gay couples are emphasizing low-key weddings "Flamboyant images from same-sex ceremonies, activists say, could be used by opponents to convince California votes that gays and lesbians shouldn't have the right to marry."

Economic pinch. Poor and wealthy alike feeling economic pinch "A new report released yesterday about income trends in Ohio communities indicates that the state's sputtering economy is devastating poor communities and wealthy ones alike."

Afghanistan. Taliban Seizes Seven Afghan Villages "Hundreds of Taliban fighters took control of seven villages in southern Afghanistan on Monday in what appeared to be a major offensive near the country's second-largest city, according to Afghan officials." Mugabe threat to hold opposition leaders "Robert Mugabe has threatened to arrest opposition leaders he accused of supporting mounting election violence, Zimbabwean state radio reported."

Global female leaders. Women Forging New Bonds to Break Old Chains "an emerging network of female leaders who started programs in their own communities, branched out to the national level and later forged bonds with global organizations to provide protection through education, legal counseling and grants."

Mideast. Israel and Hamas 'agree truce' "Israel and militant group Hamas have agreed on a truce starting on Thursday, Palestinian and Israeli officials have told the BBC." Israel Seems to Make Progress in Talks "Israel appeared to be making diplomatic progress Monday on three fronts: a possible prisoner exchange with Hezbollah; a second round of indirect talks with Syrian representatives in Turkey; and a possible truce with Hamas in Gaza." Syrians say they dream of peace with Israel "The long-abandoned border between Israel and Syria will be bustling with travelers and traders. Damascus hotels will be crammed with Israeli businessmen taking advantage of investment opportunities. Syrian tourists will flock to Jerusalem, making the 135-mile drive to visit the holy sites there."

Climate change refugees. Climate change fuelling new refugee crisis, UN warns "Climate change is today one of the main drivers of forced displacement, both directly through impact on environment - not allowing people to live any more in the areas where they were traditionally living - and as a trigger of extreme poverty and conflict."

Commentary.

After 75 Years, the Working Poor Still Struggle for a Fair Wage(Adam Cohen, New York Times) "In this year's "change" election, more attention should be paid to the working poor, who were hit especially hard by the economic policies of the last eight years. There should be talk of tax credits and health care - and the minimum wage."

The Web makes us antsy readers, not deep thinkers (Leonard Pitts, Chicago Tribune) "You're talking to a fellow whose idea of fun has always been to retire to a quiet corner with a thick newspaper or a thicker book and disappear inside. But that has become progressively harder to do in recent years. More and more, I have to do my reading in short bursts; anything longer and I start drowsing over the page even though I'm not sleepy, or fidgeting about checking e-mail, visiting that favorite Web site, even though I checked the one and visited the other just minutes ago."