Etc., etc., etc. …...

Coming in future issues…..

Progress Report on Fontenelle Trees

Nebraska Byways:
Stories about
Nebraskans

WESTERN ARCTIC
GETS REPRIEVE

NRDC and our partners have scored a major courtroom victory for Arctic wildlife. In late September, a federal judge blocked the Bush administration from proceeding with oil and gas development in more than 1 million acres in the Western Arctic Reserve, including a pristine nesting area for migratory birds and the calving grounds for the Teshekpuk Lake caribou herd.

The court ruled that the Interior Department failed to consider the cumulative environmental impacts of oil and gas drilling on this sensitive ecosystem. In tandem with our courtroom campaign, BioGems Defenders have sent more than 100,000 messages urging the Bush administration and Congress to uphold protections for important habitat areas within the reserve.

COURT UPHOLDS STRICT LIMITS ON DEADLY SONAR

A federal appeals court has rejected the Bush administration's attempt to turn back a landmark NRDC courtroom win that limits the peacetime deployment of a powerful low-frequency active sonar system. According to the Navy's own studies, the LFA sonar system generates noise so intense that dangerous levels of sound travel more than 300 miles -- posing a deadly threat to whole populations of whales and other marine mammals that depend on their hearing to survive.

Three years ago, a lower federal court sided with NRDC and our partners and ruled that the Navy's plan to deploy this powerful new sonar system across 75 percent of the world's oceans violated a host of federal laws. In the wake of the appeal court's decision, the Navy must continue to adhere to an agreement with NRDC, which limits LFA testing and training to an area in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.

More WPA stories about Nebraska by Nebraskans

After a much publicized series of disasters while celebrating their 25th birthday in Argentina, the Bush twins, Jenna and Barbara,  were asked by the US embassy to leave the country, supposedly for their own safety. While in Argentina in a week's time, Barbara had her cell phone and purse stolen while dining in a restaurant under the protection of the Secret Service. Prior to that headline one of the off duty Secret Service agents was mugged and taken to the hospital for treatment. One paper reported both twins were running down the hallways naked and presumably intoxicated. All these events overshadowed the swearing in of the new US ambassador to Argentina…..The federal government has fined the Red Cross $5.7 million for blood safety violations….. There are still recounts going on in last month's elections for congress. Some 4-5 seats are still undecided. One seat in Florida gave the Republican the lead of 369 votes but the outcome is being challenged in court because some 18,000 votes were not counted. Ultimately the new Congress may decide which candidate to seat…..The Denver Post reports rumors that Colorado Sen. Wayne Allard may honor his two-term pledge and retire in 2008. That would open a Colorado Republican blood bath among extreme right wingers like Congressman Tancredo to less rabid candidates like former Gov. Bob Shaffer. Congressman Tom Udall has the inside track for the Democratic nomination along with $1.2 million in his campaign war chest….Kansas Senator Sam Brownback is close to announcing his decision on 2008 run for the White House. He would rely heavily on the GOP religious core….Untested Dems in Dem Districts: Some of the biggest upsets occurred in CDs that are trending Dem. But Reps.-elect Dave Loebsack (IA 02), Carol Shea-Porter (NH 01) and John Hall (NY 19) will have to prove they can run effective campaigns in a less-favorable

environment…...Dems in GOP Districts: Will Jerry McNerney (CA 11) and Steve Kagen's (WI 08) voting records match their liberal campaign rhetoric? Zack Space (OH 18), Nancy Boyda (KS 02), Chris Carney (PA 10) and Nick Lampson (TX 22) also need to position themselves in tune with their conservative CDs…..Northeast GOPers: Reps. Jim Gerlach (PA 06) and Chris Shays (CT 04) can expect another tough challenge for '08. And add Charlie Dent (PA 15) to the list of likely Dem targets…..Despite her $20 million warchest, many Democrats are believing Sen. Clinton will not run for president in 2008….Political guru James Carville predicts Al Gore will eventually run for the Democratic nomination in 2008….at least one Ohio county seems on the verge of junking their electronic voting machines and revert to paper, despite federal law….Democrats upped their winning percentage among Latinos in 2006 over 2004 and also recaptured suburban voting districts… Two former Democratic governors of Mississippi are poised to form gov- lt. Gov. ticket against Gov. Barbour in 2008….

U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson: Phone: (202) 224-6551  Fax: (202) 228-001240, Suite 5 Dirksen Basement (Temp)
Washington, DC 20510
senator@bennelson.senate.gov
U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel: Phone: (202) 224-4224  Fax: (202) 224-5213
346 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
chuck_hagel@hagel.senate.gov
Rep. Jeff Fortenberry: Phone: (202) 225-4806, Fax (202) 225-5686   1517 Longworth House Office Bldg. Washington,DC 20515
Rep. Lee Terry:Phone: (202) 225-4155  Fax: (202) 226-5452  1513 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
talk2lee@mail.house.gov
Rep. Tom Osborne:Phone: (202) 225-6435  Fax: (202) 236-1385
507 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

SEC. B, p2
Senate Moments

SEC. B, p3
HISTORY
SCRAMBLE