| Iowa starts 2008 US election race
Most opinion polls suggest an extremely tight three-way race between Democratic contenders Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards. The latest survey prior to the caucuses by Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby showed Senator Obama just ahead of Mr Edwards, with Senator Clinton in third place. The same poll also showed Mike Huckabee extending his lead over his nearest rival Mitt Romney for the Republicans. .
A tweener caucus?
Wouldn't it be great if your kids were just as informed, and they didn't tune out as election season tunes up? We talked to experts on the topic of kids and politics; here are their tips on how to get kids interested in Decision 2008, even if they won't be old enough to vote for another presidential election or two. The journalist: Linda Ellerbee. Through her "Nick News" program on Nickelodeon, the respected newswoman has spent nearly two decades giving kids a voice on current events. The latest production is "Kids Pick the President," a yearlong election-awareness campaign that aims to connect politics to kids' lives. It kicked off with "The Kids Primary" and an online primary election where they can cast their votes. Additional programs will run throughout the year.
Havoc in the harbor
Aside from tsunami damage, recent storms also have wreaked havoc on the weakened harbor. Already this season, at least $350,000 in damages have plagued the harbor, resulting in more broken docks, electrical outages and cramped quarters in the boat basin as vessels are shuffled around. The governor recently proclaimed a state of emergency in Del Norte County, so the harbor will be reimbursed for someif not allof these repair costs. Storms during the winter of 2005-06 created about $500,000 in damages even before the tsunami struck later that year. Federal and state emergency aid is covering those ongoing repair projects, which include rebuilding the inner sea wall, dredging and some erosion protection. With the most recent storms, harbor staff have tried to prioritize repairs where safety is most compromised, Harbormaster Young said.
Ex-Harper adviser goes to bat for Taser International
He was an intense, baby-faced policy wonk imported to help Alberta's new finance minister track megabucks pouring into provincial coffers. Within a couple months, insiders said Ken Boessenkool was doing most of the heavy thinking on tax reform for the gaffe-plagued Stockwell Day. Now, nine years later, Boessen-kool's resume has grown to include a key spot in getting Stephen Harper elected leader, a top designer role for the Conservative's five-point 2004 platform and supervisory duties in policy and strategic planning for two Conservative election campaigns. That's why he is now a go-to lobbyist in Calgary's Hill and Knowlton office when in-a-pickle clients need to bend a friendly federal ear quickly. .
If the Pats win, are they the best team ever? Maybe ...
And all you sportscasters and sportswriters who will spend this week gushing over the Super Bowl, it would be nice if a few of you mentioned that, a mere four months ago, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell found the Patriots guilty of "a calculated and deliberate attempt to avoid long-standing rules designed to encourage fair play and promote honest competition." Two billion people will watch the Super Bowl; almost all of America's children and teens will watch the Super Bowl. If the bottom line of the event is "It's fine to cheat, you'll get away with it," what message does that send? .
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