This is the most newsworthy story of the week because it encompasses most of the elements of news. The issues deal with homeland security and defense, and our nation's tradition and law regarding foreigners. The story is timely because it is an ongoing project that will affect us from now into the future, and there is much impact because if the plan is successfully executed it will affect the entire nation and any potential South American immigrants--along with our diplomatic relations with Mexico. There is an element of conflict because there is an election campaign paralleling this issue. Voters will need to take this into account, as will the candidates. (The Washington Post, 2/22/08, p. A12).
The most interesting story this week was the article on recent scientific developments into genetic diversity in humans. This research has been occurring since the Human Genome Project began in the 1990's, but periodically little tidbits of information are revealed which help scientists to figure out a piece of the puzzle of human development and our genetic/ethnic diversity. The studies support the idea that modern human beings left East Africa, continuing into Central Asia, and dispersing east and west from there to populate the entire planet. They also confirm earlier research which shows that Africans generally have more diverse genes than people from other continents (meaning they are generally genetically stronger or healthier). It can be seen in history that the farther west people migrated (i.e. European countries), the more diseases have made a dent in the population and evolution of the people. There is so much information out there about the tiny details of human genetics, which is quite interesting and usually quite pertinent to medical and biological fields. It shows how interconnected humanity is, and how much our future is dependent on learning from our past. (The Washington Post, 2/22/08, p. A5).
In their final debate on Tuesday before March 4's crucial Ohio and Texas primaries, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama clashed on their health care, Iraq, and trade policies. (The Washington Post, 2/27/08, p. A1). Immigration officials, after much accusation that they have failed to deal properly and thoroughly with illegal immigrants convicted of crimes, have partnered up with local corrections systems and increasingly monitored court and criminal records to identify deportable immigrants, leading to a steep rise in deportations. (The Washington Post, 2/27/08, p. A1). The Senate voted overwhelmingly Monday to begin debate on a bill that would require the Bush administration to start withdrawing U.S. forces in Iraq in 120 days and cut battlefield deployments, which is facing much support from Republicans as well as Democrats. (The Washington Post, 2/27/08, p. A3). A fierce crowd of several hundred Serbian demonstrators overran and burned part of the American Embassy in Serbia's capital of Belgrade on Thursday, inflamed by the U.S. recognition of Kosovo's independence. (The Washington Post, 2/22/08, p. A1). A U.S. Navy cruiser in the Pacific Ocean hit a spy satellite falling toward Earth last Wednesday, according to Pentagon officials, in hopes that the satellite's fuel tank would be ruptured, preventing 1,000 pounds of harmful chemicals from reaching Earth. (The Washington Post, 2/22/08, p. A1).
