Ashley Cowan

National: Poll finds that most people agree with birth control at school

In Washington a poll showed that people decisively favor letting their public schools provide birth control to students, but they also voice misgivings that divide them along generational, income and racial lines. The school's students are sixth- through eighth-graders, where most of the children are 11 to 13 years old. Sixty-seven percent of the people that voted supported giving contraceptives, or birth control, to students. As many as sixty-two percent believe that providing the birth control will reduce the number of teenage pregnancies. Some parents however oppose schools distributing the birth control because they believe that it is encouraging the students to engage in sexual intercourse.

Opinion: Are you kidding me right now?!!! When I was between 11 and 13 I would have never dreamed of having sex that young! It was not something that ever even popped up in my mind. However I agree with the school's decision to distribute the birth control because I believe that it would truly cut down the rate of teenage pregnancies. But all I have to say to those kids is keep their pants zipped up!!!

International: Hurricane in the Bahamas raises death toll

In Nassau, Bahamas the tropical Storm Noel drenched the beautiful islands. On Thursday the storm's wake rescuers in the Dominican Republic headed out in boats and helicopters to reach dozens of communities stranded by floods and mudslides. Because of Noel, the death toll in the Caribbean rose to 101. Noel is the deadliest storm of the Atlantic region this year. People were forced to evacuate their homes due to the rainfall in the Bahamas.

Opinion: I can only imagine what those people are going through. The Bahamas are so beautiful and to see that a storm is disrupting the peace over there bothers me. My heart goes out to the people who lost loved ones to this storm. Also I feel bad for the people who's homes got ruined due to water damage. It is truly amazing what natural disasters can do.

National: New bridge built in New Orleans

Two years ago, the cities on the opposite sides of Biloxi Bay bumped heads over blueprints for a new bridge. The new bridge was supposed to be wider and taller to replace a highway span that was demolished by Hurricane Katrina. However the disagreement vanished as the thousands of Gulf Coast residents celebrated the opening of the new six-lane bridge between Biloxi and Ocean Springs. The new 1.6-mile bridge restores the last broken link in coastal U.S. 90, a landmark in the region's recovery from Katrina.

Opinion: I'm so happy that they put in that new bridge. It probably has much deeper meaning for the people in New Orleans, than to us. They have been through so much and I bet this new bridge is helping them just that little bit in their steps towards recovery. I'm glad that people can compromise over decisions that are effecting a lot of other people.

International: Army is short on combat supply

In Washington, The Associated Press reported that the Army does not have enough personnel or training to adequately supply its soldiers in combat. It needs an additional 2,000 military and civilian personnel with the authority to sign and manage contracts. Reports by experts convened by the Pentagon said the Army "lacks the leadership and personnel to provide sufficient contracting support."

Opinion: HAHAHAHAHA! Mr. Hjort you already know what I have to say about all of this! :) WAR EQUALS BAD!!! PEACE EQUALS GOOD!!! If we had gotten out of Iraq by now we would have no need for more troops and training! The boys that we are sending into Iraq are to young and inexperienced to be out there. I completely disapprove of it.