Sandy leaves thousands homeless
40,000 New Yorkers are faced with the task of finding shelter after having homes destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. Some are being housed in hotels but there is a shortage of additional vacant housing. With thousands more still without power and a Nor’easter on the way, Mayor Michael Bloomberg faces challenges of restoring his city.
Read original story in The New York Times | Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012
Gas shortage strikes New York and New Jersey, rationing implemented
As of Friday, Nov. 2 only 40 to 50 percent of as stations in New York City and New Jersey were able to operate. Some are down due to power failures, others because they ran out of gasoline. The Defense Department is sending 12 million gallons of fuel to resupply stations in New Jersey and governor Chris Christie has ordered a rationing system based off of the last number in the license plates of motorists.
Read original story in The New York Times | Friday, Nov. 2 2012
Terrorist sentenced for attempted attack
A man from Massachusetts was sentenced to 17 years in prison for an attempted terrorist attack on the Pentagon. Rezwan Ferdaus pleaded guilty in Federal Court in July to one account of terrorism. He planned to equip aircraft rigged with explosives to be detonated via cellphone. His plan to attack the Pentagon was never set in motion.
Read original story in The New York Times | Friday, Nov. 2 2012
Suicide rate increase during recession
In a study put out by a medical journal on Sunday, in 2008 to 2010 rates of suicides have jumped to four times of that in the eight years before the recession. Economic downturns usually spike jumps in these rates, and some researchers link it to unemployment as well.
Read original story in The New York Times | Sunday, Nov. 4 2012
Unemployment rate ticks up
The report on unemployment from October states that it has risen from 7.8 percent to 7.9. This occurring only days before the election may sway voters to reconsider or pay more attention to this issue. Though it is down from its all time high of 10 percent in 2009, any amount of rise can be cause for concern.
Read original story in The New York Times | Friday, Nov 2 2012
Election Day brings several firsts
Following elections on Tuesday, several states reached important milestones. Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize recreational marijuana and Wisconsin became the first state to elect an openly gay senator to the United States Senate. Maine and Maryland also became the first states to have gay marriage approved by voters. John Hickenlooper, governor of Colorado, issued cautionary advice to Colorado citizens, stating that marijuana use is still prohibited under federal law.
Read the original story in the Washington Post | Tuesday Nov. 6, 2012
