National News for Nov. 10 - 23

This is not original reporting. All information has been compiled from The Washington Post. Silver Chips Online posts this news summary to provide readers with a forum for discussion.

Nov. 20- The FBI disclosed the statistics of domestic hate crimes for 2007. Over 9,000 offenses were reported because of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation and disabilities. The number is an eight percent increase from the year before.

Nov. 10- The Center for Disease Control and Prevention distributed over 103 million doses of the influenza vaccine to clinics, hospitals and pharmacies this year. Vaccinations will be available through January when the flu season is at its peak, according to the CDC. The flu season has started slowly this year, the CDC reports.

Morrisville, NC

Nov. 20- Transportation Secretary Mary Peters plans to put in place new measures to protect the safety of students on school buses. Her plan includes putting shoulder belts on many school buses and increasing the height of the back of the seats by four inches. The focus on safety was prompted when Peters rode an elementary school bus and experienced overcrowding first hand.

Trenton, NJ

Nov. 10- The New Jersey state assembly and senate will meet to determine if the death penalty will be lessened to life in prison without parole. New Jersey has not completed an execution in 44 years.

Nov. 20- Representative Mike Ferguson (R-NJ) declared that he will not run for reelection. The Congressman said he wished to spend more time with his family.

Philadelphia, PA

Nov. 19- The city solicitor gave the Boy Scouts until Dec. 3 to reverse their policy of banning homosexuals from participating. The city justified its ultimatum with a local 1983 "fair practices" law. If the Boy Scouts fail to comply they will no longer be able to use the Beaux arts building, which they have been renting for $1 a year since 1928.

Annapolis, MD

Nov. 10- The Maryland Senate passed a $1.4 billion annual tax increase in an extremely close vote. The bill will raise sales, tobacco, corporate income and vehicle tilting taxes. The bill also restructures the state's income tax brackets in that two top income tax rates proposed by Governor Martin O'Malley will be reduced.