Bronwen Vogel 5

International:
The Swiss are building a 3.5 billion dollar tunnel through the base of the Swiss Alps. The tunnel will supplement a 19th-century crossing through the Lötschberg. Along the main tunnel will be 20 additional miles of tunnel for upkeep and emergencies. The Swiss say that instead of destroying the mountains, the new pass will preserve them because it reduces traffic flow. While the European union has increased in traffic flow 40% since 1995 Switzerland has decreased by 8%. The new tunnel is expected to accommodate at least 70 freight trains a day and 30 passenger trains traveling at 120 miles an hour. That would cut an hour off of the trip from Northern to Southern Switzerland. About 1,200 Austrians have been hired to labor on the tunnel and it is expected to be completed in a year.

I don't really think there needs to be any concern of preserving the mountains- there seems to be plenty to go around. If I had to frequently travel through Switzerland I would use it simply to keep from having to navigate through the mountains and having a faster trip would be a great incentive as well. They probably aren't allowed to drive 120 miles per hour, so this sounds like a great alternative. My experience with trains in Europe has shown me that they are just as bad or worse than public transportation in Phoenix. I hope they take care of the tunnel.

International:
Flash floods have swept away villages and towns across Africa killing an estimated 200 people. In seventeen countries thousands have been displaced. Uganda was one of the hardest hit with the only way out of some Providences by helicopter or boat. Some people were offered an escape by canoe, but were afraid to get in because they had never been in a boat before. It is estimated to be the worst flood in 35 years. But on the more positive side, the flood hit after harvest. Since many parts of Africa are lacking weather devices, the amount of rain in many places remains unknown. Somalia and Ethiopia are also among the heavily flooded areas. Disease is becoming out of control and many people are displaced.

What a ridiculously big mess. Obviously it could not be helped, but it's to bad more people were not able to be warned so they could evacuate. Or maybe they were and they paid no heed like some of the people in New Orleans. Reading this story makes me thankful for America and our government. Although it takes a long time for our government to react to natural disasters at least it is organized enough to help and warn people of danger.

National:
Two disabled women and five children were locked in a basement with very little food and opportunities to shower. A four by five cinder block cell was used as a time out sort of punishment area. James and Stephanie Dickinson in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania were paid $9,000 a month to care for them. The couple adopted the five boys who are now ages 5 to 15 in 1998. As she was being led away Stephanie Dickinson said "I love my children very, very much... I did not do the things they said I did." The women were in their 50s. All were said to have psychological or physical disabilities.

This sounds like a case of foster care being horribly abused. People housed kids in exchange for money and did their best to get rid of the kids. I've heard of things like this before, but never anything this bad. It's disgusting! The couple should be sentenced to quite awhile in prison. I wonder if all of those kids were handicapped, or if the couple just claimed they were since handicapped foster children come with more money.

National:
Louise Ogborn, 21, was hoaxed into a strip search at Mcdonalds in Kentucky. She was threatened and told she must participated. "I didn't know what was going to happen. I didn't know if this was my last day on earth." She was told to undress and perform sexual acts, but says she does not remember most of what happened. The former fiance of the assistant manager of the McDonalds performed the hoax and is serving five years in prison.

I think there is plenty of stupidity to go around in this story. First of all, who could do something like that and expect not to get caught? And why didn't Ogborn scream or run away or something. My first instinct would have been to fight. The article says the strip search took place in a McDonalds office- so shouldn't there have been other people around? It sounds like a uncanny.