The state of California is trying to cut down on the electricity used by televisions. The state has mandated TV's be up to 33% more energy efficient by 2011, or they won't be able to be sold. Some 75% of the TV's on the market won't meet the new standards, meaning the choice for California consumers could be limited. The state says televisions account for 10% of the energy used. What do you think? Should big screen TV's be banned, or made more energy efficient, to save electricity? Should people be limited on how many TV's they can have in their home? Send us your opinion inside!
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The Freedom From Religion Foundation has filed a lawsuit over the nation's motto being inscribed into the new Capitol Visitors Center in Washington, D.C. The term 'In God We Trust' was etched into the new stone above the main entry to the building. Atheists say it violates the constitution, and they want the Supreme Court to order it removed. The government spent $150,000 to have the phrase put on the building. What do you think? Is it appropriate for the words 'In God We Trust' to appear on the Capitol Visitors Center? If not, should it also be taken off of our money? Send us your opinion by clicking inside!
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A federal judge in Spokane has granted a jail inmate's request, to go home and celebrate Thanksgiving with his mother. Terry Kinard was convicted of possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute, and faces more than seven years in prison. Because of the age of his mother, he asked for permission to spend time with her for the upcoming holiday. A judge granted a four-hour release, with two officers assigned to guard him the entire time. The guards will be paid for by the Kinard family. Court documents show Kinard has failed to appear in court more than 70 times. What do you think? Should this convicted criminal be allowed to visit his mother on Thanksgiving? Send us your opinion inside!
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In a stunning reversal, the federal government this week recommended most women don't need mammograms in their 40s and should get one every two years starting at 50. Furthermore, the government says it isn't necessary for women to do self-breast exams. The recommendations stand in stark contrast to most doctors and the American Cancer Society's long-standing position. The government claims getting screened for breast cancer so early and so often is harmful, causing too many false alarms and unneeded biopsies without substantially improving a woman's odds of surviving the disease. Still, experts say mammograms can find cancer early, and reduce a woman's chances of dying by 15%. What do you think? Why did the government make this recommendation? Who do you trust, the government or the American Cancer Society? Send us your opinion inside!
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The dairy industry is fighting back against school districts that are being urged to or have already banned chocolate milk from being sold in the cafeteria. Health watchers want schools to get rid of the chocolate milk, claiming its unhealthy for kids because of the sugar. Defenders say the extra sugar is worth it, because the milk has calcium and vitamin D benefits children need. A Connecticut school district that recently banned chocolate milk sales says milk consumption among kids has dropped 67%. What do you think? Should schools ban the sale of chocolate milk because it has extra sugar? Send us your opinion inside!
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A North Carolina historian is facing complaints from parents. When an elementary school took a recent field trip to a historical plantation, the historian decided to pick out three black students to play the role of slaves to teach them about what happened. He says he was trying to be as historically accurate as possible. The NAACP says the historian, if anything, should have had all students play the role of slaves. The historian says next time, he'll let students volunteer to play the role. What do you think? Did this lesson go over the line? Was it inappropriate for the historian to pick the black students to play the role of slaves? Send us your opinion inside!
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The approval rating of Congress is at one of the lowest points ever. Now, Republican senators are introducing a constitutional amendment that would place term limits on all members. Senators could only serve two terms, that total 12 years. Representatives could only serve three terms, that total six years. A constitutional amendment would require 2/3's majority in each chamber, and would have to be ratified by 3/4's of the states. The last time it was proposed, it received majority support, but not 2/3's. What do you think? Should there be term limits for members of Congress? Send us your opinion by clicking inside!
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A California family is outraged that the man who killed their mother, will inherit a bunch of money. Rowan Brooks, while maintaining innocence, was found guilty of strangling his wife of 18 years. He was arrested, released, and then re-arrested and convicted. Now, Brooks stands to inherit the money of his mother, who has recently died. He has already received $50,000 and is set to get a lot more. California prosecutors say he'll be able to put the money on his books in prison, and buy food, cigarettes and books. The woman's family now plans to file for restitution to get some of the money. What do you think? Should criminals be able to inherit money from family members? Does it matter if they maintain innocence? Send us your opinion inside!
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A New Mexico women's soccer player has been suspended indefinitely, for what she did to opposing players in a recent game versus Brigham Young University. Video shows Elizabeth Lambert punching players, kicking soccer balls in their face, and yanking one girl down by her pony tail. (Watch the video inside) Lambert says she lost control of her emotions. Some are calling for her to not only be suspended from all college sports for life, but also face assault charges. What do you think? Should this player be banned for life, and even face assault charges? Send us your opinion by clicking inside.
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The Supreme Court heard arguments today about whether its cruel and unusual punishment for juvenile criminals to be sentenced to life in prison. Activists want the court to outlaw the possibility, saying juveniles are too immature to know what they are doing, and shouldn't have to die behind bars. More than 2,500 juveniles are currently serving life without the possibility of parole. More than 40 states allow for the sentences, with some offenders as young as 13. What do you think? Should juvenile criminals be eligible for life in prison? Is it cruel and unusual? And if you could set an age limit on life sentences, what would it be? Send us your comments inside!
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As police and FBI investigators try to piece together exactly what happened at Fort Hood on Thursday, new details are emerging about the shooter- Major Nidal Malik Hasan. The military says Hasan was a Muslim convert, who was disciplined several times for his 'outlandish' comments about the military's efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. On web postings, Hasan reportedly defended suicide bombers. And as he was shooting yesterday, witnesses report he was yelling "Allahu Akbar!" - an Arabic phrase for "God is Great." He was supposed to deploy to Iraq in the coming weeks, but he wasn't going to be on the battlefield. What do you think? Should the shootings at Ford Hood be called a terrorist act? Or do you think it was more a matter of military stress? Send us your comments inside!
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A Minnesota woman has decided to let the entire world watch as she gives birth to her first child. The 23-year-old woman plans to have cameras broadcast the entire birth on a social networking website. She says she wants it to be an educational experience. Even though she and her husband have lined up corporate sponsors, they insist it is not about money. What do you think? Should women broadcast births on the internet? Is it about education or money? Would you watch? Tell us your opinion inside!
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A California Democrat is introducing legislation in Congress that would require all businesses across the country to pay sick employees, when they tell those employees to stay home. Backers of the legislation say workers shouldn't have to choose between their livelihood and their co-workers' health. Opponents say passing the law would discourage employers from letting workers stay home sick. What do you think? Should businesses have to pay employees when they tell them to stay home sick? Tell us your opinion inside!
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A Texas high school student is claiming discrimination. O'Rhande Chapman says he regularly wears women's clothing to school. But he was sent home this week, after taking it further. He wore a wig and stiletto heels. The school says he violated the dress code that specifically bans wigs and long hair. The student says he'll stay out of school unless they let him come back, wearing everything he wore before. What do you think? Should schools be able to send students home for cross-dressing? If you were the principal, would you have sent him home? Send us your opinion inside!
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Washington state says enough is enough. Starting this year, the state won't allow any religious displays inside the state capitol building in Olympia. That means the Nativity scene, will be moved outside. The state is trying to avoid another huge controversy over the displays. Last year, an atheist group put up its own display, proclaiming there was no God. Other groups also wanted displays put up. The state says the only display allowed inside the capitol building will be a 'holiday tree.' What do you think? Should the state allow the Nativity scene inside the capitol building? If it does, should others be allowed as well? Tell us your opinion inside.
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A Washington, DC television station is getting both praise and criticism for showing a topless woman on the news. The station was doing a special report, teaching women how to do self breast exams. But they didn't blur out the woman's breast, showing them several times in several newscasts. The criticism has come in from people who note the station waited until the November sweeps rating period, to show women how to perform the possibly life-saving exam. We want your opinion. Is it appropriate for the station to show this topless woman performing a self breast exam? Would you be offended if you saw a topless woman on the news performing this exam? Watch the video and send us your opinion inside!
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The Washington State Department of Corrections confirms Swine Flu vaccines have been sent to the Washington State Penitentiary and the McNeil Island Prison. High risk inmates are being vaccinated, even though health districts across the country report widespread shortages of the vaccine. The state wants to get inmates protected to protect other inmates and prison workers. Other state prisons have ordered and should be receiving vaccinations soon. Meantime, the Spokane Regional Health District has canceled all five of its vaccination clinics next week because it doesn't have enough to go around. What do you think? Should prison inmates be receiving the Swine Flu vaccine? Should they have to wait until the general public is vaccinated? Tell us your opinion inside!
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A Florida Home Depot worker is claiming discrimination. He was fired for wearing a patriotic button with the text 'One Nation Under God - Indivisible.' Trevor Keezer says he was wearing it to support his brother, currently serving in the military. He had been wearing it for almost a year before the store fired him. Keezer was an award winning employee who worked at Home Depot for almost two years. Home Depot says it has a strict policy banning all buttons that are not store-approved. What do you think? Should Home Depot have fired this employee? Would you be offended by the button? Tell us your opinion inside!
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While news outlets across the nation cut back budgets and lay off staff, the Columbia School of Journalism says its time for government to get involved. It wants the government to let newspapers and local TV stations to become non-profits. They're also proposing new taxes on TV and telecom customers as well as broadcast licenses. That money would then be used to fund media outlets. The school says American society must now take responsibility for ensuring news reporting and accurate journalism lives on. What do you think? Should the news media be funded by taxpayers and should it be non-profit? If you could funnel your money to any news organization, which one would it be? Send us your opinion inside!
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A Muslim woman in Texas is encouraging people to boycott a farmer's market, because she was turned away from the store for not showing her face. For the safety of the customers, the store's policy requires all customers show their face while inside. But when Latifia Aimaq wouldn't reveal her face from behind her veil, she was turned away. She says the store was targeting her because she's a Muslim. The store owner says its a policy for all customers. What do you think? Should businesses require customers show their face? Should there be an exception for Muslim women? Tell us your opinion inside!
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A Dallas police officer is under fire, for writing a ticket to a woman for being a 'non-English speaking driver.' The woman was driving her daughter to school and performed an illegal U-turn, and was also driving without a license. But the third charge for not speaking English was the most unusual. Dallas police say the rookie officer made a mistake, and that its only a law to speak English if its a commercial driver. The department says the officer will get more training. What do you think? Should this officer be fired? Should people be required to speak English to drive? Post your comments inside!
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Former President George W. Bush has a new job. He's going on a business speaking tour in Texas, as a motivational speaker. The former president will be joined by former Secretary of State Colin Powell and former New York Mayor Rudy Guiliani. Speaking tours are not unusual for a former president. But in this case, tickets cost just $4.95 per person. What do you think? Would you pay to 'get motivated' by former President George W. Bush? Send us your comments inside!
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The Obama administration plans to order seven companies that took bailout money to reduce the pay of their top 25 employees by as much as 90%- even if those companies have began to pay back the money. Under the new salary regulations, compensation would be limited at Bank of America, AIG, Citigroup, General Motors, GMAC, Chrysler and Chrysler financial. What do you think? Should the government set pay limits for these companies? Should it extend to other companies? Tell us your opinion inside!
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Thanks to legislation pushed through Congress earlier this year, credit card companies are planning to charge good customers even more. Starting next year, Bank of America will start charging customers an annual fee if they don't carry a balance. Even those who pay off their balances will be hit with the fee. Credit card companies say they have no choice but to charge good customers more, because they are limited on how much they can charge bad customers. What do you think? Should good customers be charged more? Tell us your opinion inside!
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A group of college students in Portland are demanding Halloween stores remove 'illegal immigrant masks' from store shelves. The students say the masks are inappropriate and offensive. Some stores have agreed to take them down. What do you think? Are these masks offensive? Would you let your child wear one? Sound Off by sending us your comments inside!
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The world- even the White House- was shocked Friday when President Obama was awarded the Nobel peace prize. The Nobel committee awarded it to the president for his 'efforts to strengthen international diplomacy.' The nominations had to be submitted by February 1st of this year, meaning the president had been in office for less than two weeks when he was nominated. What do you think? Did the president deserve this award? Tell us your opinion inside!
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