Homework - Man arrested for being cruel to dog

Read the story. Watch the video. Answer the questions.


Click HERE to watch the video.


Story:
Manhattan (10/27/2010) - A Manhattan man was arrested and charged with torturing and injuring animals and possession of marijuana after a elevator security camera caught him mistreating a small dog.


An elevator security camera at the Grant Houses in Morningside Heights caught Carlos Baez, 29, violently yanking the leash of a small white dog, causing it to choke.


He is also seen kicking the dog and slamming it into a wall.


Police saw the video and were able to track down Baez.


He was arrested and charged with torturing and injuring animals and possession of marijuana.


The 10-pound dog, named Dutch, was taken to the Center for Animal Care and Control, where he is still being kept.


After an examination, he was found to be in good condition with no injuries.


Questions:
1. Where did this story take place?
2. When did this story take place?
3. What is the name of the guy that was being cruel to the dog?
4. What is the dog's name?
5. Where was the dog taken?
6. Why was the man arrested?


Info from NY1. Pic from api.ning.

Homework - Anti-Latino Campaign

Read the story. Watch the video.  Answer the questions. 

Click HERE to watch the video.

Story:
Nevada (10/26/2010) - Sharron Angle has a new advertisement up that features Hispanic-appearing men carrying weapons and appearing in police mug shots. In the ad, she says that her opponent, Senator Harry Reid (D) of Nevada, is soft on illegal immigrants.


Hispanic groups are furious. They said that the ad is racist and anti-Hispanic because it shows Hispanics as criminals and thugs.


The Hispanic groups are America’s Voice, Mi Familia Vota, and Campaign for Community Change. They said that they will try to convince Hispanics to vote against the anti-Hispanic lady who is running for the Senator position by running their own ad campaign.


"Sharron Angle has decided to run one of the ugliest anti-illegal immigrants ad campaigns in history," said Frank Sharry, executive director of America's Voice.


Story:
1. Where did this story take place?
2. When did this story take place?
3. What is the name of the lady that is running the racist advertisement?
4. Why do the Hispanic groups think the ad is racist?
5. Name one of the Hispanic groups.
6. How are the Hispanic groups going to try to convince Hispanic voters to vote against the anti-Hispanic lady?
7. What do you think, was the ad racist? Why


info from MSNBC and the CSM

Homework - Man escapes crash by cartwheel

Read the story. Watch the video. Answer the questions.


Click HERE to watch the video.


Story:
China (10/25/2010) - A mystery man in China rode his bike across an intersection and crashed into a truck that was also crossing the intersection. The crash was caught on video. 


The bike was completly wrecked but the guy riding the bike cartwheeled himself out of danger. As you can see in the video, he flipped off the bike, over the truck and landed on his feet! The biker then calmly came back and looked at his bike. The guy who was driving the truck called the police but the biker left the crash before the police got there. 


The mystery biker has not been identified but he has become an internet celebrity in China. 


Questions:
1. Where did this story take place?
2. When did this story take place?
3. How did the biker get himself out of danger?
4. What two types of vehicles were involved in the crash?
5. What could be the reason or the biker not wanting to be identified?


info from MSNBC

Homework - Rapper opens new restaurant in Harlem

Read the story. Watch the video. Answer the questions.


Click HERE to watch the video.


Story:
Harlem (10/24/2010) - After more than 25 years in hip-hop, rapper Doug E. Fresh is still going strong. The popular recording artist, who calls Harlem home, is spreading his wings in his old stomping ground. With concerns about the how the economy is hurting his hometown, the celebrity has just opened a restaurant on 132nd Street and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard called "Doug E's."


"Really even in this whole Obama initiative, and everything that’s going on with the economy, the only way to jump start it is we have to give each other opportunity. That’s the only way to make it work," says Fresh.


Doug E. Fresh it putting his money where his beatbox is. Young people in the neighborhood get to work part-time after school, dishing out scrumptious soul food and Caribbean cuisine.


"I understand the kid that, you know, he needs some money because he gotta get back and forth to school," says Fresh.


Doug E. Fresh says he understands the challenges because he was one of those kids, until he hit the big time when he was still a teenager.


Young Doug E. Davis transformed himself into Doug E Fresh and rose to instant fame with "The Get Fresh Crew" in the early 1980s when he learned how to mimic drum beats.


Doug E's restaurant is just the beginning. The 44-year-old rapper also has a state-of-the-art recording studio around the corner and on the next block he has immediate plans to open a comedy club. It's also a family affair. His wife is very involved in the business and parents regularly pop into the restaurant.


Meantime, the rapper says he still considers himself one of the homeboys.


Questions:
1. Where did this story take place?
2. When did this story take place?
3. What is the name of the rapper that opened the restaurant?
4. What kind of food does the restaurant serve?
5. What is Doug E famous for?
6. How old is Doug E Fresh?


Info from NY1

Homework - New Mac Book Air

Read the story. Watch the video. Answer the questions.

Click HERE to watch the video.

Story:
Califoria (10/20/2010) - Apple let everyone know about the brand new Mac Book Air laptop and about its' new operating system, Lion. The new laptop is faster and lighter than the old one. It is also different because now you will be able to download apps for the laptop! This means that everything that you can do on the iphone, ipad or ipod touch, you will now be able to do on your laptop!

Users can authorize up to 5 devices on their iTunes accounts, so if you buy the app one time, you will be able to use it on your ipod touch AND on your new laptop! You can play Angry Birds everywhere!

The new Mac Book Air App Store will start selling apps in 90 days from now.

Questions:
1. Where did this story take place?
2. When did this story take place?
3. How is the new Mac Book Air laptop different than the old one?
4. How many devices can you authorize on your iTunes account?
5. When can you start buying the new apps?

Info from the Huffinon post

Homework - Facebook Apps Give Away Your Infomation

Read the story. Watch the video. Answer the questions.

Click here to watch the video.

Story:
Palo Alto, California (10/18/2010) - Many of the most popular applications, or "apps," on the social-networking site Facebook Inc. have been giving  access to people's names and, in some cases, their friends' names—to companies, a Wall Street Journal investigation has found.

"Apps" are pieces of software, like Farm Ville, that let Facebook's 500 million users play games with each other . The Journal found that all of the 10 most popular apps on Facebook were giving out users' IDs to outside companies. Three of the top 10 apps, including FarmVille, also have been giving out personal information about a user's friends to outside companies.

The issue affects tens of millions of Facebook app users, including people who set their profiles to Facebook's strictest privacy settings.

Facebook says it is taking steps secure personal information, after a WSJ investigation showed that personal IDs were being transmitted to third parties via Facebook apps.

Questions:
1. Where did this story take place?
2. When did this story take place?
3. What kind of information has facebook been giving away?
4. What are 'apps'?
5. How many people are affected by this?


Info from NY1 and the Wall Street Journal

Homework - Bronx SChool Goes Green

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Click HERE to watch the video.


Story:
Bronx (10/18/2010) - A public school in the Bronx is taking its efforts of "going green" to a whole new level.


The 1,400 square foot roof of greenery at the Alfred E. Smith Career and Technical Education High School in Melrose is the first officially approved Green Roof at a public school. 


A green roof is a roof that is covered in plants. They are also known as living roofs and are good because they absorb rainwater and provide insulation from the heat.


Trucks began unloading sections of the roof Saturday morning for installation.


Students say the roof can bring many benefits to the school.


"In the high high months of heat like June, August September you're going to see at least a 65 percent change in the temperature," said another.


Funding for the roof was provided by the City Gardens Club and the New York State department of Environmental Conservation.


Officials say a green roof can last two to three times longer than a typical roof. They also it can reduce heating and cooling costs and manage storm water runoff.


Questions:
1. Where did this story take place?
2. When did this story take place?
3. What is a 'green roof'?
4. How much longer do 'green roofs' last?
5. What kind of costs do the green roofs reduce?


Info from NY1

Homework - Miners Alive and Happy in Chile!

Read the story. Watch the video. Answer the questions.


Click HERE to watch the video.


Story:
Chile, South America (10/13/2010) - Yesterday at 9pm, Shift Foreman Luis Alberto Urzua became the 33rd and last miner to travel the 2,000-feet journey back to the earth's surface in a one-person rescue capsule in Copiapo, Chile.


Urzua is being credited with keeping his men alive during the first 17 days of their ordeal by keeping them calm and rationing their food.


The rescue effort, which began shortly before midnight Tuesday, was virtually glitch-free thanks to the capsule's spring-loaded wheels, which were greased to endure a smooth ride through the hard rock shaft.


Chile's health minister says all the miners are getting immediate medical attention and are in good health, despite being underground since August 5 when the mine collapsed.


Florencio Avalos, 31, was the first miner to take the 15-minute journey back to the earth's surface.


Mario Sepulveda Espina, the second miner rescued, was the most excited of the group to be rescued thus far. His shouts were heard even before the capsule peeked above the surface.




After hugging his wife, Sepulveda Espina handed out souvenir rocks to laughing rescuers.


The youngest miner, 19-year-old Jimmy Sanchez, was pulled out fifth and the oldest miner, 63-year-old Mario Gomez, was pulled out ninth. The miners were underground for 69 days.


Questions:
1. Where did this story take place?
2. When did this story take place?
3. How many feet did the miners have to travel to get back to the earth's surface?
4. When did the mine collapse?
5. What was the name of the first miner to be rescued?
6. How long were the miners underground?


Story from NY1. Image from washingtonpost.com

Homework - EMT who ignored a pregnant woman may go to jail

Read the story. Watch the video. Answer the questions.


Click HERE to watch the video.


Story:
Brooklyn ( Tuesday 10/12/2010) - An emergency medical technician who is accused of not helping a pregnant woman who died inside a Brooklyn Au Bon Pain restaurant last year was brought in front of the judge on Tuesday on charges stemming from the incident.


Melissa Jackson, 23, turned herself in to authorities this morning and was charged with official misconduct. She faces up to two years behind bars.


Another EMT involved in the incident, Jason Green, was shot and killed in an unrelated incident in July.


Witnesses say Jackson and Green, who were off-duty, refused to step in as Eutisha Rennix, 25, was dying of an asthma attack.


Jackson's lawyer maintains his client did nothing wrong and actually called the 911 dispatcher directly.


Both Rennix and her unborn child died at the hospital.


Questions:
1. Where did this story take place?
2. When did this story take place?
3. What is the name of the woman who was charged?
4. Why was she charged with official misconduct?
5. What was the name of the other EMT involved in the incident?
6. What was the name of the woman they refused to help?
7. What happened to the woman that they refused to help?
8. How many years will the EMT go to jail for?


Info and video reposted from NY1

Homework - Ninth Gay-bashing Suspect Arrested

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Click HERE to watch the video.

The Bronx (10/11/10) - A ninth suspect in the brutal anti-gay attacks against three people in the Bronx was taken into police custody Monday.

Ruddy Vargas-Perez, 22, will be arraigned Tuesday on charges stemming from the attacks on a 30-year-old gay man and two 17-year-old boys who were romantically linked with him.

Investigators say Vargas-Perez was apprehended by police after he failed to turn himself in last week.

"I just want to let the community know that my brother's not part of the Latin King Goonies, he's not part of that gang, my brother's innocent, he ain't guilty," said Vargas-Perez's brother, Raul Sweeney.

Some of the suspects went in front of the judge on Sunday.

Eight other suspects, ranging from ages 16 to 23, were charged on  Sunday with hate crime charges, including kidnapping, robbery and sodomy. Six were denied bail and two were given $50,000 cash bail or $100,000 bond.

All nine suspects, who were part of a gang called the Latin King Goonies, on October 3 allegedly found out the victims were gay, brought them to an abandoned apartment at 1910 Osborne Place and then allegedly beat and tortured them.

Questions:
1. Where did this story take place?
2. When did this story take place?
3. What is the name of the gang that was involved?
4. Why was the gang arrested?
5. What is the name of the ninth  suspect?


Info from NY1

homework - Metro Fares Will Go Up As of Dec 30

Read the story. Watch the video. Answer the questions.


Click HERE to watch the video.


Story:
Manhattan (10/6/2010) The Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board approved fare hikes and higher prices for unlimited-ride MetroCards by a 12-2 vote in a heated Midtown hearing Thursday.


The MTA's third fare increase in the past three years will start on December 30.


The base fare will remain at $2.25, but single-use cards will cost $2.50, since users will pay 25 cents for the card itself.


The bonus for Pay-Per-Ride cards will kick in only after $10. The discount will go down to 7 percent. Currently, users get a 15 percent bonus after $8.


The seven-day card is to go from $27 to $29, and the 30-day card will increase from $89 to $104. The MTA is also charging an extra dollar for buying a new MetroCard, rather than refilling an old card.


The one-day and 14-day unlimited cards will be discontinued.


Questions:
1. Where did this story take place?
2. When did this story take place?
3. When will the fare increase start?
4. How much will a single use card cost?
5. How much will a seven-day card cost?
6. How much will a 30-day card cost?
7. Which cards will be discontinued?


Info from NY1. Image from http://habitaenmi4.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/mta-typeface1.jpg 

homework - Can't Buy Soda with Food Stamps

Read the story. Watch the video. Answer the qusetions.


Click HERE to watch the video.


Story:
New york City (10/7/10) - Officials are looking to remove sugary drinks from the grocery lists of some lower income New Yorkers.


Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Governor David Paterson are going to ask the  U.S. Department of Agriculture later today to include beverages such as sugar sweetened sodas on the list of items shoppers are not allowed to buy with Food Stamps.


Health officials say they hope the move will help them combat the epidemic of childhood obesity and diabetes among New Yorkers.


According to data released by the city, more than 40 percent of all city public school kids are obese or overweight, which could lead to serious health problems in the future.


The moves comes on the heels of a major Health Department ad campaign detailing the heath risks of soft drinks and other beverages.


According to health officials, a 20-ounce soda contains the equivalent of 26 packs of sugar.


By including sugary beverages on the list of banned items like alcohol and cigarettes, health officials say families will be able to use their Food Stamp benefits to buy healthier items.




Questions:
1. Where did this story take place?
2. When did this story take place?
3. What are people not going to be allowed to buy with Food Stamps?
4. What percent of public school kids are obese or overweight?
5. How much sugar is contained in a 20 ounce soda?
6. What other items are banned from the food stamp list?
7. Why do you think the Mayor and the Governor want to take soda off Food Stamps?


Info from NY1

homework - Hate Crime in Chelsea

Read the story. Watch the video. Answer the questions. 


Click HERE to watch the video.


Story:
Manhattan (9/28/2010) - Three men have been charged in connection with a pair of bias attacks against gay men in Manhattan, including one attack that took place at the birthplace of the gay pride movement, but more suspects are at large.


On Friday, police say Andrew Jackson, 20, and five other individuals assaulted two men who were kissing at the corner of Ninth Avenue and 25th Street in Chelsea.


Jackson is facing charges of assault as a hate crime and police are still looking for the five other suspects.


Charges under a hate crime carry longer prison sentences than regular crimes. Hate crimes are crimes that are committed out of prejudice. Attacking someone because of who they are, like when the KKK used to  beat up on African-American people.


The Manhattan District Attorney's office is also investigating the incident.


Meanwhile, Staten Island residents Christopher Orlando, 17, and Matthew Francis, 21, are facing charges of attempted robbery and assault as a hate crime.


They are accused of attacking a man in the bathroom of the historic Stonewall Inn on Sunday.


Authorities say one of the suspects told the victim he did not like gay people, demanded money and then assaulted him, all while the other suspect blocked the door.




1. When did this story take place?
2. Where did this story take place?
3. What is the name of the guy that was charged with beating up the 2 gay men who were kissing?
4. Why were Christopher Orlando, 17, and Matthew Francis, 21, arrested?
5. Where in New York City are  Christopher Orlando and Matthew Francis from?
6. Why do you think all these guys attacked the gay people?
7. What is a hate crime?


Info from NY1. Image from http://www.sfsu.edu/~ohr/noindex/images/no_hate.jpg

homework - Pineapples Causing Chaos in Costa Rica

Read the story. Watch the video. Answer the questions.

Click here to watch the video.


Costa Rica (10/1/2010) An investigation by Guardian Films  has found a lot of environmental and social damage caused by pineapple production in Costa Rica, from where pinapples sold in Europe come.


The Guardian found that:


• The use of chemicals has led to dirty drinking-water for communities around the plantations. The company sprays chemicals on the fruit and these chemicals get washed into the rivers when it rains. The water is so filled with chemicals that one group of villages, near plantations owned by Del Monte, has been forced to collect water from tankers for more than three years.


• Repeated chemical accidents have inflicted serious damage on the local environment. In June this year, a fire at a chemical dump used by the fruit company Dole caused a toxic cocktail to spill into the nearby river. Fish and other wildlife including crocodiles were killed along miles of waterways. The pesticide involved is sprayed by Dole on its bananas. Dole told us that it was co-operating with the authorities investigating the accident.


• Workers reported suffering serious health problems from being near to the chemicals used on pineapple plantations, including in some cases accidental chemical poisoning on Del Monte and Grupo Acon farms. Grupo Acon supplies Tesco, Asda, Dole and Fyffes.


• Price cuts in European supermarkets have led to wages being cut by Grupo Acon (one of the fruit companies), workers said.


• When the workers try to join a union to improve wages, they are fired by Del Monte and Grupo Acon plantations.


Questions:
1. Where did this story take place?
2. When did this story take place?
3. Why is the drinking water dirty around the plantations?
4. In what month did the fire at Dole cause a toxic cocktail to spill into the nearby river?
5. Why are the workers suffering from health problems?
6. Why have the workers wages been cut?
7. What happens when the workers try to join a union?


Video and info from the Guardian.com. Image from rangebuzz.com

homework - Corrections officer shot

Read the story. Watch the video. Answer the questions.


Click HERE to watch the video.


Story:
The Bronx (10/2/2010) - A Department of Correction officer who was shot in the Bronx by police officers for refusing to put down his weapon early Saturday has been suspended without pay.
Sources say Victor Hernandez, 35, was carrying a 9mm pistol as he walked out of Club Legend near Third Avenue and 161st Street in Morrisania around 3:45 a.m. Saturday.


Plainclothes police officers wearing badges hanging from their necks arrived at the scene and demanded he put down the weapon.




When Hernandez pointed his gun at the officers, they fired on him. He was shot in the left arm and taken to Lincoln Hospital.
Police say a 9mm pistol, seen above, was found at the scene.


Department of Correction officials say Hernandez is an officer assigned to Rikers Island and is authorized to carry a gun. As of Saturday evening, they were not sure if the pistol found at the scene was issued by the department.


Sources say Hernandez may have been drunk at the time of the shooting.


Police say the officers clearly identified themselves with their shields displayed and repeatedly asked Hernandez to drop his gun.


Hernandez joined the Department of Correction in 2006.


Story:
1.Where did this story take place?
2. When did this story take place?
3. What was the name of the Corrections Officer that was shot?
4. Why did the police shoot him?
5. Where does the Corrections Officer work? 
6. Do you think the police were right to shoot him? Why or why not?


Info from NY1