THE DAILY REVEILLE
Nation & World
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2009
INTERNATIONAL
NATIONAL
Suicide bomber disguised as woman hits Somali graduation, 22 dead
Senate votes to keep Medicare cuts in health bill
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — A suicide bomber disguised as a woman attacked a graduation ceremony in Somalia on Thursday, turning a rare reason to celebrate into carnage that killed at least 22 people — including medical students, doctors and three government ministers. The blast was blamed on Islamic militants who have shown a rising ability to carry out sophisticated large-scale bombings against high-profile targets.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Casting its first votes on revamping the nation’s health care system, the Senate rejected a Republican bid Thursday to stave off Medicare cuts and approved safeguards for coverage of mammograms and other preventive tests for women. The first round of votes ended with a fragile Democratic coalition hanging together. Senators voted 58-42 to reject an amendment by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., that would have stripped more than $400 billion in Medicare cuts from the nearly $1 trillion measure. It would have sent the entire 2,074-page bill back to the Senate Finance Committee for a redo.
Guinea’s president wounded in renegade attack CONAKRY, Guinea (AP) — A renegade faction of Guinea’s presidential guard opened fire on the African country’s leader Thursday, slightly wounding him amid rumors of deep divisions within the army nearly three months after a military-led massacre of protesters at a peaceful rally.
daughters Malia and Sasha assisted with this annual tradition on Thursday. They helped the president press a button and light the 40-foot Colorado blue spruce growing on the Ellipse, just south of the White House. The tree was planted in 1978. Every president since Calvin Coolidge in 1923 has presided over the lighting ceremony. Economy poised for steady but slow recovery WASHINGTON (AP) — Every step forward in this economic recovery seems to be followed by a step back. Thursday’s good news was that new unemployment claims fell for a fifth straight week, boosting expectations that fewer jobs were lost in November. That raises the possibility that the nation’s unemployment rate to be announced Friday will hold steady at 10.2 percent — still a 26-year high, but the first time since July it hasn’t gone up.
Obama family lights National Christmas Tree WASHINGTON (AP) — President Obama got some help lighting the National Christmas Tree. First lady Michelle Obama and
STATE/LOCAL
Republican questions Louisiana’s federal funding
The Louisiana Board of Ethics criticized by lawmaker
WASHINGTON (AP) — The top Republican on the House Oversight committee on Thursday challenged Louisiana officials about what the state is doing to financially help itself and asked whether the state is becoming a “permanent ward of the federal government” in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Rep. Darrell Issa noted Louisiana’s top income tax rate is 6 percent compared with 10.5 percent in his home state of California. He said California taxpayers deserve to know what Louisiana is doing to generate other revenue. “Are you going to be a permanent ward of the federal government?” he asked Louisiana health care leaders at a hearing on Capitol Hill. “What are you doing besides coming to us?” Alan Levine, health secretary under Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal, said the state is facing unprecedented challenges.
(AP) — The Louisiana Board of Ethics is pursuing charges against people without the evidence required to find violations of law, said the chairman of a legislative ethics oversight committee. The Ethics Board should be held accountable, because of its pursuit of “baseless charges,” House and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Rick Gallot said.
TODAY ON
lsureveille com
TODAY DO YOU HAVE AN OCCURRENCE? Call Andrew at the Student Media Office 578-6090, 9AM- 5PM or
Baton Rouge is expecting an 80 percent chance of precipitation today, according to the National Weather Service, and some of tonight’s precipitation could be snow. One to 3 inches of snow are possible this evening, according to the National Weather Service — less than a year after 3 inches fell on Dec. 11, 2008 during the University’s final exams of the fall 2008 semester.
Find The Daily Reveille on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lsureveille.
Log on to lsureveille. com to read football and sports blogs.
THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID
Possible Snow
SATURDAY
GET READY FOR FINALS WITH GENESIS TUTORING-FREE Monday- Thursday, 5pm-9pm 578-4339 Office of Multicultural Affairs 326A Student Union
Baton Rouge expecting 1-3 inches of snowfall today
Follow The Daily Reveille on Twitter: @TDR_news, @TDR_sports and @lsureveille.
Weather 52 33
ONGOING IN NOVEMBER
PAGE 2
49 33 MONDAY 58 49
SUNDAY 49 33 TUESDAY 65 52
GRANT GUITERREZ / The Daily Reveille
Log on to lsureveille.com to see pictures of the people behind the paper.
E-
CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS
The Daily Reveille holds accuracy and objectivity at the highest priority and wants to reassure the reporting and content of the paper meets these standards.This space is reserved to recognize and correct any mistakes which may have been printed in The Daily Reveille. If you would like something corrected or clarified please contact the editor at (225) 5784811 or e-mail editor@lsureveille.com.
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
The Daily Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Daily Reveille is an independent entity within the Manship School of Mass Communication. A single issue of The Daily Reveille is free. To purchase additional copies for 25 cents, please contact the Office of Student Media in B-34 Hodges Hall. The Daily Reveille is published daily during the fall and spring semesters and semi-weekly during the summer semester, except during holidays and final exams. Secondclass copies postage paid at Baton Rouge, La., 70803. Annual weekly mailed subscriptions are $125, semester weekly mailed subscriptions are $75. Non-mailed student rates are $4 each regular semester, $2 during the summer; one copy per person, additional copies 25 cents each. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Daily Reveille, B-39 Hodges Hall, LSU, Baton Rouge, La.,70803.
THE DAILY REVEILLE B-16 Hodges Hall • Baton Rouge, La. 70803
NICHOLAS PERSAC Editor JERIT ROSER Managing Editor, Content GERRI SAX Managing Editor, External Media ELLEN ZIELINSKI Managing Editor, Production J.J ALCANTARA Production Editor LESLIE PRESNALL News Editor ROBERT STEWART Sports Editor CASEY GISCLAIR Deputy Sports Editor MATTHEW ALBRIGHT Opinion Editor MEGAN WILLIAMS Photo Editor JAMES HARALSON Reveille Radio Director LAUREN ROBERTS Advertising Sales Manager
Newsroom (225)578-4810 • Advertising (225)578-6090