Ashley Cowan

National: Tainted food kill 224 pets

Earlier this year U.S. officials received thousands of complaints about pets being killed by contaminated pet food. A major recall had begun last March after ingredients imported from China were found to have contaminated some pet food. Canadian manufacturer Menu Foods Income Fund was hit the hardest, recalling 60 million packages of pet food. On a previous survey posted on the Internet, the team at Michigan State University found that they had attracted just 500 responses and of those 500, only 348 cases of pet sickness met the criteria for kidney failure caused by the food contamination. The deaths from the contaminated pet food may have been caused by the mixing of two compounds, melamine and cyanuric acid.

Opinion: That sucks so bad for the people who lost their animals due to a defect in some animal food. You really cannot replace your pets, but the least they can do is try to find the ingredients that are making the animals sick. I wish the researchers the best of luck.

International: Earthquake hits the Caribbean Islands

In Roseau, Dominica, a powerful earthquake hit the eastern Caribbean. Although office workers and shoppers on several islands were fleeing the streets, there were no immediate reports of injuries. The earthquake which struck at 2 p.m. where it was centered 26 miles southeast of Roseau, the capitol of Dominica, where the shaking lasted for about 20 seconds.

Opinion: I am glad to hear that there were no immediate reported injuries. I have never experienced an earthquake myself, but I truly could not imagine the things that were going through those people's minds. I don't know much about earthquakes but I'm glad to hear that there hasn't been any major damage.

National: Boy dies from refusal of blood refusal

In Seattle, a few hours after a judge ruled that a 14-year-old Jehovah's Witness, Dennis Lindberg, sick with leukemia had the right to refuse a blood transfusion that might have helped him, the boy died, a newspaper reported. The judge said the eighth-grader knew "he's basically giving himself a death sentence. The judge was quoted saying "This isn't something Dennis just came upon, and he believes with the transfusion he would be unclean and unworthy." Doctors had given Dennis a 70 percent chance of surviving the next five years with the transfusions and other treatment.

Opinion: O my goodness, I honestly cannot explain how this story makes me feel. It both angers me and breaks my heart to read this. I'm upset that the boy chose death over a blood transfusion, but I have respect for him to refuse what he thinks is wrong according to his religion. I just wish everyone believed in God and did what the Bible says. The world would be like heaven.

International: Chavez protesters flood streets of Venezuela

In Caracas, Venezuela, tens of thousands of people flooded the streets of the capitol on Thursday to oppose a law that would eliminate term limits for President Hugo Chavez. The protesters were blowing whistles, waving signs, and shouting "Not like this!" and were dressed in blue, which is a color chosen for the opposition. "This is a movement by those of us who oppose a change to this country's way of life, because what the law aims to do is impose totalitarianism," said former lawmaker Elias Matta.

Opinion: Wow! The people of Venezuela truly oppose Hugo Chavez. I truly couldn't imagine not living in a democratic society. I hope the referendum does not pass so the people have a chance to change their society.