Franki Benavidez

National Summary:
In Washington, Sen. Hilary Clinton had lent $5 million to her campaign and in January she ended up with $1.5 million while Democratic rival Sen. Barack Obama had a sum more than 10 times bigger. Obama’s campaign said Wednesday he was approaching 1 million unique donors, a fundraising base that already is expanding the $138 million he raised during his one-year quest for the presidency. For both Obama and Clinton campaigns, they have spent $1 million a day - $28.5 million for the Clinton campaign and $30.5 million for the Obama campaign. This past Wednesday the Federal Election Committee filed reports showing how desperate Clinton’s financial situation looked going into the all-important Feb. 5 Super Tuesday contests.

Opinion: I cannot believe Obama's campaign has made much more than Clinton's! I think it's really embarrassing that Clinton had to lend $5 million to her own campaign. After she lent $5 million, she only got $1.5 million back to her campaign. Obama is making mad money in his campaign so he really doesn't have anything to worry about. I'm actually really glad Obama is making a lot more with the fundraising than Clinton.

Summary:
In Toledo, Ohio, Cindy McCain didn't hesitate at all as she walked to the microphone and while she stood by her husband in the face of rumored or alleged marital infidelity. She had told the press that she and her children trust that her husband and that he would'nt do anything to disappoint them and especially America. She also said that her husband is a man of "great character." Cindy and her husband McCain had denied the published reports that he had an affair with a lobbyist.

Opinion: I am so shocked to hear about this rumor McCain having an affair with some lobbyist! Why is it when a candidate does really good in their campaign and then all of a sudden a terrible rumor comes out about them? I honestly hope that this rumor of McCain having relations with the lobbyist isn't at all true! While I would watch the debates with McCain, I appreciated his intensions in order to help America.

International Summary:
In Tokyo, Japan, a U.S. Army serviceman is under investigation for allegedly sexually assaulting a Philippine woman in the southern Japanese island of Okinawa. There hah been recent series of crimes blamed on American troops, including the arrest of the Marine last week on suspicion for raping a 14 year old. In Tokyo, the case involved involved an alleged attack at an Okinawa hotel earlier this month, officials said. A report by the Japan's Kyodo News agency said American military authorities had taken the servicemen into custody. This past Wednesday, the U.S. Military put tight restrictions on U.S. troops in Japan to crack down on the crime spree. It was also limiting some 45,000 military personnel, civilian employees and their families to bases, workplaces or off-base homes indefinitely.

Opinion:
I think it's terrible what had happened to the Phillipine woman who was sexually assaulted by the U.S. Army serviceman. It's extremely bad for a man in the U.S. Military to have allegations like this towards him. If what he did was true, why would someone risk their job and reputation in the U.S. Army? I don't understand why any one would risk their job especially if you're a U.S. Army serviceman.

Summary:
In Ipswich, England, a former pub landlord was convicted for the murders of 5 slain Ipswich prostitutes. The families of those girls demanded the death penalty for the pub landlord. After a 6 week trial, a jury at Ipswich Crown Court only took 8 hours to find Steven Wright, the pub landlord, guilty of the 5 murders he had committed. During a 10-day period in December 2006, the remains of the 5 women were found in isolated spots near the town. This murder case has been the was the most intensive murder spree in British criminal history.

Opinion:
I absolutely hate hearing cases in which a man goes on a killing spree! I thinks it's awful to hear cases in which young girls are prostitutes then and having them end up dead. I don't think I'll ever know how the girls' families feel but it's terrible for what had happened to them. The man that had done those horrible killings to the girls should get the death penalty for sure! I know people say we should'nt put people in death row but for a case like this, you have to put a man like this on death row.