Democratic politicians prepare for upcoming Pennsylvania primary
As the April 22 Pennsylvania Primary approaches, candidates prepare to steal the state title. Barack Obama is supporting his ‘change’ campaign with a six-day tour including a stop in Lehigh Valley. Obama Promised to guarantee health care eligibility to all Americans and to withdraw troops from Iraq over a 16-month time period in his March 31 campaign speech. Philadelphia’s mayor, Michael Nutter, has publicized his support for Senator Hillary Clinton endorsing her in her Pennsylvania endeavors. Clinton is expected to talk to voters about the economy and her campaign will recruit thousands of campaign volunteers.

Southwest Airlines caught in investigation

A recent inspection has revealed that Southwest Airlines has failed to submit several planes to mandatory inspections as a result of the company not wanting to take jets out of commercial service. An investigation of Southwest’s maintenance revealed that 117 airplanes were flown without being subjected for checks to fuel and rudder complications. The FAA, the Federal Aviation Administration, relies on each individual airline to conduct inspections. Allegedly, some of the Southwest jets were flown for as long as 30 months without being inspected for fuselage damage. Southwest now faces a $10.2 million civil penalty for continuing to fly after the airline told regulators that had missed required inspections of the planes.

Protestors interrupt Beijing Olympics ceremony

Protestors interrupted the ceremonial lighting of the Olympic torch in Greece March 24 while the president of the Beijing Olympics, Liu Qi, gave a speech. Two men carrying a large black flag ran into the stadium. These two men were allegedly a part of the group, Reporters Without Borders, supporting a boycott for the Beijing Olympics. Discussion of an Olympic boycott has begun after China’s recent violent crackdown on demonstrators in Tibet. Some renowned humanitarians and celebrities are referring to the games as the “genocide Olympics,” connecting the Chinese government to the genocide in Darfur.

MARISSA PERLMAN co-editor-in-chief