Jessica Chasmar
Articles by Jessica Chasmar
Calif. lawmaker: No buying sugary drinks with food stamps
California lawmakers might put an end to food stamp recipients buying sugary drinks and soda with CalFresh, the state's benefits program. Published February 6, 2013
Report: Baltimore faces financial ruin within a decade
Even if the economy grows at a reasonable rate, the city of Baltimore is on a path to financial ruin, according to a report presented to the city council by the Philadelphia-based Public Financial Management Inc. Published February 6, 2013
Memphis city council renames parks to erase Confederate past
Three parks in the Memphis area with names connected to the Confederacy were given temporary generic names Tuesday until the city council figures out a solution. Published February 6, 2013
8 Dem governors refuse ‘Ronald Reagan Day’ on Gipper’s birthday
Eight Democratic governors have refused to recognize the Gipper's birthday after a record 40 states joined the chorus to declare the Feb. 6 "Ronald Reagan Day." Published February 6, 2013
Syrian rebels to open offices in Washington, New York
United Nations diplomats said Tuesday that the Syrian National Coalition is set to open offices in Washington, D.C., and New York City, as it prepares for meetings of Syrian opposition leaders with U.S. and U.N. officials. Published February 6, 2013
Climate change researchers find new foe: Earthworms
While global leaders fret about carbon taxes and redistribution of wealth to developing countries, a new study suggests that not just humans, but earthworms contribute to global warming in a significant way, with populations set to boom in the next couple of decades. Published February 6, 2013
Calif. Dems push liability insurance for gun owners
Democratic lawmakers in California introduced a bill Tuesday that would require gun owners to purchase liability insurance to cover costs in case their weapons ever caused death or injury. Published February 6, 2013
Senior citizen sharpshooter: Vegas burglar killed by elderly gun owner
A 72-year-old man, who was the victim of a recent burglary, immediately went for his handgun when he heard a commotion in his Las Vegas home early Monday morning. Three intruders fled, and police later found one of them dead from an apparent gunshot wound. Published February 5, 2013
Occupy’s 99 percent get children’s book: ‘A is for Activist’
Forget "Green Eggs and Ham" or "Curious George," Innosanto Nagara has written a book for your preschooler to become a union activist. "A is for Activist," is directed toward toddlers "of the 99 percent," he said in an interview with YES! Magazine. Published February 5, 2013
Feds propose ban on chips, candy from schools
The U.S. Department of Agriculture submitted a proposal, congruent with Michelle Obama's campaign to combat childhood obesity, that will essentially ban unhealthy foods from schools nationwide. Published February 5, 2013
Va. court: Sex-change surgery a constitutional right for convicts
A Virginia appellate court ruled last week that a prison trampled on an inmate's constitutional rights by refusing to pay for the felon's sexual-reassignment surgery — a procedure costing about $20,000. Published February 5, 2013
Sotomayor says she’s no Democrat, eager to show her independence on court
Sonia Sotomayor appeared on "The Colbert Report" Monday night to talk about her new memoir, "My Beloved World," but she stumbled upon an interesting confession in the process: She claims to be an independent. Published February 5, 2013
Liberal think tank’s solution for global warming: Work less
A study, conducted by the liberal think tank Center for Economic Policy and Research, claims Americans can curb global warming by adopting a more Western European model in the workplace. By working less hours per week and taking longer vacations people could reduce its carbon footprint. Published February 5, 2013
Study: Google searches reveal racial bias
Google has been accused of racism since a study revealed the search engine's 25-percent likelihood that names associated with black people will bring up advertisements related to criminality. Published February 5, 2013
7-year-old boy suspended for throwing imaginary grenade
A second-grade boy has been suspended from a Colorado elementary school for throwing an imaginary grenade during a game of make-believe with his classmates Friday. Published February 5, 2013
Ala. coach suspended after Michelle Obama, gay rant
An Alabama high school coach and teacher has been suspended from coaching football for 10 days and from teaching his psychology class for the rest of the year, because he was recorded by a student ranting against the first lady and homosexuals. Published February 5, 2013
Gun crime on the rise in Mass. since 1998 firearms law
Murders, aggravated assaults, and robberies involving guns have risen dramatically in Massachusetts since the state passed a comprehensive package of gun laws in 1998, the Boston Globe reports. Published February 5, 2013
Study: Watching porn boosts support for gay marriage
A new study suggests that the more exposure heterosexual men have to pornography, the more likely they are to support same-sex marriage. Published February 4, 2013
Authorities: Ala. kidnapper dead, boy OK after standoff
The 5-year-old boy held hostage in an underground bunker in Alabama for nearly a week has been released, a law enforcement source said. Published February 4, 2013
Book: Polar bear population on the rise
Global hysteria ensued after former Vice President Al Gore posed a theory in his film, "An Inconvenient Truth," that polar bears were on the edge of extinction. Soon after, reports of fish shortages, cross-breeding between species and even polar bear cannibalism added to the global-warming debate. Published February 4, 2013
