Judge Blocks Parts of S.B. 1070; Education Policy; Legislating Pain Medications; Harlem Politicians; Movie Adaptations of Books

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Thursday, July 29, 2010

Legal impressions of a federal judge's having blocked several key parts of Arizona's controversial immigration law; civil rights groups criticize President Obama's plans for education; FDA and Washington State work on two distinct models for regulating prescription painkillers; a history of Harlem politicians; Patrik Henry Bass and the successes (and failures) of movies based on books.

Top of the Hour: Arizona Immigration Law Injunction, Morning Headlines

Marshal Larry Talvy tells us he is disappointed with the injunction blocking parts of the Arizona immigration law; headlines.

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Last Minute Ruling Holds Most Provisions of Arizona's Immigration Law

Yesterday, just one day before Arizona's controversial immigration law was to go into effect, a federal judge put a last-minute hold on some of the most controversial parts of the law, including the requirement for immigrants to carry papers at all times, and the directive for officers to check the immigration status of people they detain for other reasons.

For civil rights groups who oppose the law, it's a last-minute reprieve. For law enforcement agencies who supported it, it's a disappointing setback. It's been a long three months for supporters and opponents alike since Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed S.B. 1070 into law on April 23rd. 

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Economic Dissonance Between Wall Street and Main Street

The economic numbers that we’re seeing across the country seem to indicate, as Fed Chair Ben Bernanke asserted, that our nation’s economic future is “unusually uncertain.”  The Consumer Confidence index released in July reaffirms a growing pessimism on Main Street, where the decline in confidence is likely due to barely noticeable wage growth and concerns over employment. But that is not the case on Wall Street, where the stock exchange is experiencing an upward trend sparked, in part, by recent earnings reports from some big businesses that have slimmed down their costs through the recession. But what does this disconnect mean to you?  

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Rep. Charlie Rangel to Face House Ethics Panel

Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) may face the biggest fight of his long political career when he faces a public ethics hearing on Capitol Hill later this afternoon. At the heart of the hearing are allegations that Rangel underreported his rental income on a villa in the Dominican Republic, held multiple rent-stabilized apartments in New York City, and misused congressional stationery to solicit private donations for a City College center that bore his name.

Representative Charles Rangel (D-NY) may be facing the biggest fight of his long political career when he faces a public ethics hearing on Capitol Hill later this afternoon.  At the heart of this hearing are allegations that the Congressman underreported his rental income on a villa in the Domincan Republic, held multiple rent stabilized apartments in New York City, and misused Congressional stationary to solicit private donations for a City College center that bore his name.  

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Civil Rights Groups Turn a Critical Eye on Obama's Education Policies

President Obama is scheduled to speak today on education reform, just days after a team of civil rights groups joined forces to release a policy framework criticizing his education policies. Obama's speech is part of the program for the National Urban League's Centennial Conference this week.

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Reaction from Phoenix to Restraints on Arizona Law

Judge Susan Bolton blocked sections of the controversial law, S.B. 1070, that would have required police officers to check a person's immigration status while enforcing other laws, and that would have required immigrants to carry their papers with them at all times or face detention. For reaction from Phoenix, we hear from Nadine Arroyo Rodriguez, KJZZ Phoenix Public Radio news reporter for the Latino Affairs desk. 

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When a Solution Becomes a Problem: Doctors and Lawmakers on Opiate Painkillers

Today an FDA advisory panel meets with lawmakers to hammer out voluntary best practices for doctors who prescribe opiates. The regulation of opioid drugs like Oxycontin has loosened in recent years, as patient advocates asked for powerful narcotic painkillers for end-of-life care and cancer treatments. But in loosening restrictions for such cases, the FDA opened a window for wider prescriptions — and for abuse.

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Top of the Hour: Arizona Reacts to Injunction, Morning Headlines

Carissa Hessick, Associate Professor of Law at Arizona State University, on whether the legal battle will go to the Supreme Court; headlines.

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What's Next for Arizona Immigration Law?

Federal Judge Susan Bolton issued a blow to Arizona's controversial immigration law Wednesday, blocking key parts of the law, including the provision that requires immigrants to carry their papers with them at all times. We take a look at how long the injunction will stay in place and what Arizona's next legal move might be. And we ask what this means for other states that want to craft their own immigration policies. 

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Dolores Huerta Discusses SB 1070 Injunction

Dolores Huerta co-founded the United Farm Workers of America alongside Cesar Chavez in 1962. Huerta coined the slogan "Si Se Puede." In the years since, she has gone on to mobilize countless unions, activists and Hispanic organizations. At 80 years old, Ms. Huerta shows no signs of slowing down. She responds to the injunction which blocks major parts of Arizona’s controversial anti-immigration law.

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School Demands Counseling Student Shift Her 'Biblical Views' on Homosexuality

24-year-old Jennifer Keeton was pursuing a master’s degree in education at Georgia’s Augusta State University until the school became aware of her religious opposition to homosexuality. At that point, the school demanded that Ms. Keeton participate in diversity sensitivity training, and suggested that she attend a gay pride parade in order to complete her training. Ms. Keeton has sued the school in federal court for infringing on her civil rights.

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From Adam Clayton Powell Jr. to Charles Rangel: The Past and Future of Harlem's Political Leadership

This afternoon a House ethics panel will lay out the charges against Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), who, at 80 years old, is one of the longest-serving members of Congress. Rep. Rangel has represented Harlem since 1970, when he ousted the legendary Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Both men had long, storied careers representing what may be the country’s most famous African-American neighborhood, home to Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey, Langston Hughes, and many others. But a lot has changed in Harlem since Powell, Jr. was elected in 1945. We look back at the history of Harlem politics and the power of the "Gang of Four."

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Listeners Respond: What Are the Best Movie Versions of Books?

Yesterday, we asked listeners to tell us what movie version of a book they like better than the book itself. Many of you responded with answers ranging from the classic "Shawshank Redemption" to the movie based on the graphic novel, "Persepolis." Some of you thought movies can simplify a book's sprawling plot, and others felt movies breathed life into their favorite characters. Listen to what listeners had to say and add your own!

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The Best and Worst Film Adaptations of Books

What makes a film adaptation of a book work, and what makes it fail? The Takeaway talks with Patrik Henry Bass, senior editor of Essence magazine about why he believes some adaptations work better than others. We also chat with Ben Sherwood, author of "The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud," about watching his novel make the transition from page to screen.

What do you think? Which books made better movies?

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Arizona Sen. Russell Pearce: 'We Don't Need Immigration Reform... We Need Immigration Enforcement'

Arizona State Senator Russell Pearce was the primary sponsor of Arizona's immigration law, S.B. 1070. However, since a federal judge handed down a partial injunction yesterday in response to a legal challenge by the Obama administration, parts of that law are now blocked. Pearce tells The Takeaway that he is ready to take the fight all the way to the Supreme Court, if necessary. "Arizona's not going to take it," he says, "we're going to do something really novel, which is enforce the law."

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Univision Anchor Jorge Ramos Takes the Long View on SB 1070

Jorge Ramos is an anchor on the Spanish language television network Univision, and author of A Country for All: An Immigrant Manifesto. A familiar face in Hispanic households across America, Ramos regularly covers the immigration debate. Ramos talks about Arizona's hobbled law, and where immigration reform can go from here. He says that the time is right for immigration reform, "but that nobody has the political courage in Congress to do something about it."

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