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Recent News Stories

• The Next President's Homework Assignment
  Forbes--Nationwide, 39% of fourth graders tested at or above proficient in math, up from 31% in 2003. Progress? A little. But in science, fourth graders improved only one percentage point in the same period. [Read more]
• 7 Years to Climate Midnight
  Washington Post--The world may have only seven years to start reducing the annual buildup in greenhouse gas emissions that otherwise threatens global catastrophe within several decades. That means that between Inauguration Day in January 2009 and 2015, either John McCain or Barack Obama will face the most momentous political challenge of all time. [Read more]
• McCain Outlines Technology Policy
  Broadcasting & Cable--McCain opposes net neutrality, but echos the FCC's open access guidelines. [Read more]
• Senate, House should approve energy bill
  Denver Post (Opinion)--The Denver Post on why Congress should pass the relabeled "Gang of 16" energy bill. [Read more]
• Reid rips "old doc McCain's" energy policy
  Politico--Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid emerged Wednesday night to rip into Sen. John McCain for selling ”snake oil" on energy issues. [Read more]
• Arctic sea ice drops to 2nd lowest level on record
  AP--Arctic Ocean sea ice has melted to the second lowest minimum since satellite observations began, according to scientists at the National Snow and Ice Data Center. [Read more]
• U.N. Makes Headway In Climate Talks
  CBS News--Proposals Include Limiting Emissions By Industries, Compensating Countries For Halting Deforestation [Read more]
• FAA Rushes to Fix Aging System That Caused Delays
  WSJ--The Federal Aviation Administration said it is overhauling an error-prone computer system that caused hundreds of delayed flights Tuesday. [Read more]
• Finding Use for the Airwaves' 'White Spaces'
  Washington Post--The FCC has spent nearly a year testing devices designed to use empty television channels, known as white spaces, for high-speed Internet service. As those tests near conclusion, the agency is evaluating yet another proposal about the best use of the airwaves. [Read more]
• Tropical Storm Gustav Threatens U.S. Energy Infrastructure
  Wired--Tropical storm Gustav is headed straight for the heart of the Gulf's oil-producing infrastructure, according to early government forecasts, and it could become a very strong hurricane. [Read more]
• Doubly endangered
  Nature (Opinion)--The landmark Endangered Species Act in the United States needs more flexibility and fresh thinking — but not of the kind being advocated by the Bush administration. [Read more]
• Green Roofs Offer More Than Color for the Skyline
  NY Times--The thousands of recently planted green and purple shrublike sedum lining the roof of Con Edison’s training center in Long Island City look a bit out of place in the shadow of Manhattan’s skyline. [Read more]
• Daily TIPs: How Green is My Convention?, Twitter of Science, Mobility Powers Mobiles, & More
  Xconomy--Both the Democratic and Republican Conventions plan on being their greenest ever. [Read more]
• FCC proposes rules for VOIP 911 calls
  FCW--Enhanced 911 systems would accommodate calls from IP-enabled phones under rules proposed by the Federal Communications Commission. [Read more]
• Former FCC Chairmen to Discuss Cross-Partisan Agenda for Telecom Policy
  Government Technology--William Kennard and Michael Powell, a Democratic and a Republican former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, will speak on "Consensus FCC Reforms and the Communications Agenda for the Next Administration" next month. [Read more]
• Despite Breakthroughs, Embryonic Stem Cells Still Needed
  Wired--The transformation of pancreas cells from one type to another has been hailed as a breakthrough: until now, such tricks required of scientifically -- and sometimes ethically -- tricky stem cells. But for all its promise, the new technique -- like de-differentiation before it -- won't replace embryonic stem cells, and wouldn't have been possible [Read more]
• Purdue, Citing Research Misconduct, Punishes Scientist
  NY Times--An appeals committee at Purdue University has upheld findings of misconduct on the part of a professor who claims to have created energy-generating fusion in a tabletop experiment, the university announced on Wednesday. [Read more]
• Don't retire shuttle in 2010, McCain says
  Orlando Sentinel--Citing worsening tensions with Russia, U.S. Sen. John McCain and two influential Republican colleagues have asked the White House to take steps that could keep the space shuttle flying beyond its scheduled retirement in 2010. [Read more]
• GOP adds global warming to its 2008 platform
  The Hill--The National Republican Party for the first time is expected to acknowledge global warming in its 2008 GOP Platform, according to a draft of the document. [Read more]
• Party Platform, McCain Differ on Immigration, Climate
  Bloomberg--The Republican Party released a draft of its 2008 platform that differs from candidate John McCain on issues including immigration, stem-cell research and climate change, while endorsing his ideas for economic growth and free trade. [Read more]
• Bush proposes protections for Pacific islands, atolls and reefs
  L.A. Times--The plan to guard against mining and fishing is expected to be finalized before the president leaves office. [Read more]
• 6 more senators seek end to oil drilling impasse
  A.P.--Six more senators on Tuesday joined a bipartisan group of 10 senators backing a bill they say will break the stalemate over offshore drilling in Congress. [Read more]
• Clinton Says U.S. Climate Policy Will Change
  CQ.com--Former President Bill Clinton skirted direct political commentary as he spoke to visiting foreign officials in Denver on Tuesday, but he pledged that the United States will “partner with the rest of the world” to combat climate change after a new president takes office. [Read more]
• Dems: Broadband policy crucial but so-far nonexistent
  ZDNet--At a panel at the Democratic National Convention, Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) said Republican support for a broadband policy is nonexistent. [Read more]
• Report: Lab certifying voting equipment failed to meet requirements
  Government Computer News--An independent laboratory accredited to certify voting systems has been accused of not meeting strict requirements for the testing program and will undergo monitoring by a team of federal observers. [Read more]