Monthly Archives: September 2012

Judge denies motions to dismiss DNA evidence in Hudson murder case

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A Middlesex Superior Court judge is allowing two samples of DNA to be used as evidence in the trial of a Framingham man accused of murdering a couple in Hudson in 2010.

Judge Sandra Hamlin denied defense attorney Thomas Fords request to dismiss a sample of Velezs DNA that was found underneath Trisha Bennetts fingernail and a blood spatter found on the jeans Velez wore the night of the murders, said Stephanie Chelf Guyotte, a spokeswoman for the Middlesex District Attorneys office.

During a pre-trial conference earlier this week, Ford argued that a report did not note which portion of Bennetts fingernail the DNA sample was taken from. Ford said DNA can be transmitted to the top of another persons fingernail through casual contact. However, DNA is normally transmitted underneath another persons fingernail if there is sexual or defensive contact.

Ford also expressed concerns that there was no defense expert present at the swabbing and testing of the DNA.

Assistant District Attorney Joseph Gentile said testimony at a previous hearing documented the DNA sample was found underneath Bennetts fingernail.

In the case of the blood spatter on Velezs jeans, Ford said a report did not identify which blood spot was extracted and tested for DNA. The number of spots tested was also not in the report, said Ford.

Citing a report, Gentile said the sample was taken from a defined section near the left thigh Velezs jeans near his thigh.

Jury selection began Friday and will continue on Monday, said Guyotte.

Velez, 29, is charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing deaths of Bennett, 20, and her boyfriend Angel Ortiz, 23. Bennett and Ortiz were found dead inside their Emerson Gardens condominium May 1, 2010.

Authorities arrested Velez nearly three months after he called 911 in the early morning of May 1, 2010, telling police he and two friends had been stabbed. Police found Velez, who was suffering from stab wounds, in the parking lot. Prosecutors say Velezs wounds were self-inflicted.

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Judge denies motions to dismiss DNA evidence in Hudson murder case

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George's Cosmic Treasure Hunt by Lucy and Stephen Hawking – review

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'I would recommend this to people who have a taste for adventurous and exciting books' This book is all about a boy called George, his friend Annie and her dad Eric (a scientist) and their adventures in space. They travel there by a super computer Cosmos. In this adventure, Annie has a message from aliens and she and George travel into space with their friend Emmett at Ground Control to find out ...

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George's Cosmic Treasure Hunt by Lucy and Stephen Hawking - review

Probe sought into status of stem cell therapy in the Philippines

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Probe sought into status of stem cell therapy in the Philippines

Space shuttle makes final flight in LA

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The US space shuttle Endeavour took its final flight on Friday, making a spectacular series of flypasts over California before landing in Los Angeles where it will retire near its birthplace.

Riding piggyback on a specially fitted Boeing 747, the shuttle flew over San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge before heading south to take in the Hollywood sign and Disneyland, later landing at LA International Airport (LAX).

'It's so cool, and so sad,' said Todd Unger, 28, among thousands who camped out from the early hours at the Griffith Observatory overlooking the city and the nearby iconic hilltop Tinseltown sign.

'It's the end of an era. But it shows what America can do, we can be really proud,' he added, waving a Stars and Stripes flag as the shuttle banked over the Hollywood Hills.

Cars were parked bumper-to-bumper up the winding roads leading up to the observatory, as Angelenos turned out en masse in several parts of the city to witness Endeavour's final flight.

The shuttle had spent the night at Edwards Air Force Base north of Los Angeles, the last leg after a two-day trip across the country from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Before reaching the West Coast, it flew over Tucson, Arizona, to honour former lawmaker Gabrielle Giffords, who survived a horrific shooting last year and whose astronaut husband Mark Kelly commanded Endeavour's final mission.

'It was pretty spectacular... The people of Tucson got an incredible view of this remarkable machine,' Kelly told CNN, adding, 'It's really a testament to American ingenuity.'

After arriving on Friday afternoon, the shuttle will spend a few weeks at a United Airlines hangar at LAX, before being transferred to the California Science Center, where it will go on display on October 30.

Endeavour, which flew more than 115 million miles (185 million km) in its two-decade career, completed its final mission last year.

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Space shuttle makes final flight in LA

AfterOurs Urgent Care, Highlands Family Medicine Join Forces to Tackle Emergency Room Overcrowding

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AfterOurs Urgent Care and Highlands Family Medicine have joined forces to provide patients throughout the Denver, Colorado area with access to acute healthcare during evenings, weekends and holidays.Denver, CO (PRWEB) September 20, 2012 AfterOurs Urgent Care and Highlands Family Medicine have joined forces to provide patients throughout the Denver, Colorado area with an improved level of access ...

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AfterOurs Urgent Care, Highlands Family Medicine Join Forces to Tackle Emergency Room Overcrowding

Medicine To Boost Brain Power – Lucky Discovery – by His Holiness Paramahamsa Nithyananda

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His Holiness Paramahamsa today announced the name of an ayurvedic product as one of his luckiest discoveries to boost brain power - an ayurvedic medicine called Kadukka Podi (Haritaki) or inknut powder, with the botanical name Terminalia Chebula.Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) September 22, 2012 Paramahamsa Nithyananda today urged thousands of followers worldwide to start using Haritaki or 'Kadukka Podi ...

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Medicine To Boost Brain Power - Lucky Discovery - by His Holiness Paramahamsa Nithyananda

Opposing groups debate medical school proposition

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On Friday the Austin-Travis County EMS union held a press conference to endorse the health district's Proposition 1State Senator Kirk Watsons plan to bring a medical to Austin and expanding care to more residents.

"A lot of people in our community that don't currently have a medical home will have a medical home in community clinics, will have better wellness programs, Sen. Watson said.

Meanwhile, members of the Travis County Taxpayers Union are protesting the property tax hike that the proposition requires. For a $200,000 home, the tax would come out to an additional $100 per year.

"That number was not chosen on what Austinites can afford, Laura Pressley, Proposition 1 opponent, said.

For every dollar local taxpayers spend on the project, the federal government will put in $1.50. Supporters call that a boon, but opponents call it an empty promise.

"The problem is that is coming from a bankrupt government. I promise you, cuts are coming, opponent Roger Fall said. Where are we going to fill that dollar-fifty gap? Where's that money coming from?"

Those opposed to the tax hike say it's simply too much for Austin families to shoulder. Energy and water rates are already going up, and other bond item will be on the November ballot.

Meanwhile, supporters say bringing a medical school to Austin will generate $2 billion dollars for the economy each year.

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Opposing groups debate medical school proposition

Pierson, Liberty close out season with 91-74 win

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NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- Plenette Pierson had 19 points, eight rebounds and five assists as the New York Liberty beat the Tulsa Shock 91-74 on Saturday.

Essence Carson, who left with an apparent leg injury in the fourth quarter, had 18 points and and Cappie Pondexter scored 17 as New York (15-19) finished the regular season 9-8 at home. The Liberty will take on Connecticut in the first round of the playoffs.

''Tulsa's three guards they had out there gave us trouble and I think we contained that in the second half, which allowed us to be better offensively,'' Pondexter said. ''Defense definitely gave us that aggressive edge that we need and that we played with all season.''

Ivory Latta had 16 points and six rebounds for the Shock (9-24), who already have their best record in three seasons since moving from Detroit. Tulsa, which was a combined 9-59 the last two years, dropped to 3-13 on the road heading into the season finale at Indiana on Sunday.

Tulsa led by 10 at the half, and got 14 points, four rebounds and four assists from Riquna Williams.

''We played a really good first half and we came out aggressive,'' Shock coach Gary Kloppenburg said. ''We were going inside-out, we were getting shots and they stepped their defense up in the second half. We were in a lot of trouble getting good looks. They (The Liberty) came out with a lot of energy wanting to win their last home game.''

The Liberty secured a playoff berth earlier in the week, and that may have been the cause of a slow start vs. the Shock. On Thursday, when Chicago was eliminated with a loss to Atlanta, New York clinched a spot minutes after losing by double digits at Tulsa.

They did so in the second half, outscoring the Shock by 27 points. The Liberty finished with four players in scoring double figures, including Kia Vaughn (14), who also had nine rebounds.

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Pierson, Liberty close out season with 91-74 win

WNBA: Liberty close out season by routing Shock

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Plenette Pierson's 19 points helped pace the Liberty past the Shock.

Joel Plummer/ZUMAPRESS.com

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- Plenette Pierson had 19 points, eight rebounds and five assists as the New York Liberty beat the Tulsa Shock 91-74 on Saturday.

Essence Carson, who left with an apparent leg injury in the fourth quarter, had 18 points and and Cappie Pondexter scored 17 as New York (15-19) finished the regular season 9-8 at home. The Liberty will take on Connecticut in the first round of the playoffs.

"Tulsa's three guards they had out there gave us trouble and I think we contained that in the second half, which allowed us to be better offensively," Pondexter said. "Defense definitely gave us that aggressive edge that we need and that we played with all season."

Ivory Latta had 16 points and six rebounds for the Shock (9-24), who already have their best record in three seasons since moving from Detroit. Tulsa, which was a combined 9-59 the last two years, dropped to 3-13 on the road heading into the season finale at Indiana on Sunday.

Tulsa led by 10 at the half, and got 14 points, four rebounds and four assists from Riquna Williams.

"We played a really good first half and we came out aggressive," Shock coach Gary Kloppenburg said. "We were going inside-out, we were getting shots and they stepped their defense up in the second half. We were in a lot of trouble getting good looks. They (The Liberty) came out with a lot of energy wanting to win their last home game."

The Liberty secured a playoff berth earlier in the week, and that may have been the cause of a slow start vs. the Shock. On Thursday, when Chicago was eliminated with a loss to Atlanta, New York clinched a spot minutes after losing by double digits at Tulsa.

ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Courtney Vandersloot scored 20 points to help the Chicago Sky hand the last-place Mystics their 13th straight loss.

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WNBA: Liberty close out season by routing Shock

Libertarian Party candidate for president speaks in St. Paul; Johnson is former Republican

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ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Libertarian Party candidate for president has brought his campaign to Minnesota. Gary Johnson, a former New Mexico governor who left the Republican Party at the end of 2011, spoke Friday at Macalester College in St. Paul as part of a nationwide college tour.

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Libertarian Party candidate for president speaks in St. Paul; Johnson is former Republican

Libertarian president candidate speaks in Minn.

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ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Libertarian Party candidate for president has brought his campaign to Minnesota.

Gary Johnson, a former New Mexico governor who left the Republican Party at the end of 2011, spoke Friday at Macalester College in St. Paul as part of a nationwide college tour.

Johnson told an audience of about 150 people he would push to privatize Social Security, abolish the Federal Reserve, repeal the Patriot Act and relax the nation's drug laws.

Minnesota Public Radio reports Johnson appeared with former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura. Ventura told the audience that Johnson is the only viable alternative to President Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney.

Johnson's campaign says his name will appear on the presidential ballot in all 50 states, though that is subject to legal challenges in several states.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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Libertarian president candidate speaks in Minn.

Libertarian Party chair supports candidates arrested on drug charges

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Two Ravalli County Libertarian candidates recently arrested on drug charges are on the front lines of protecting life, liberty and property, according to Ravalli Countys Libertarian Party chair.

David Merrick said he remains fully supportive of Rob McCoy and Karen Fisher.

I still fully support these two candidates, Merrick said this week. They havent harmed anyone.

Both McCoy and Fisher are Libertarian candidates for state legislative seats this year.

Both were charged with felony drug counts last week after the Ravalli County sheriffs office allegedly found more than twice the legal amount of marijuana allowed a medical marijuana provider at McCoys home.

Court records said documents seized during the search indicated that Fisher and her husband, Jeffery, were involved in the marijuana grow operation found at Rob and Andrea McCoys home.

The search followed the Hamilton police departments detainment of McCoys daughter, who allegedly distributed marijuana-infused candy on a school bus.

The Libertarian Partys 2012 presidential candidate and former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson has criticized the countrys war on drugs and urged the legalization and taxation of marijuana.

Merrick said property is a chief issue for the Libertarian Party and a persons own body is property. People should be able to do anything they wish, as long as its not harming anyone else.

If you dont have that property right to your own body, how can you expect to use real estate property rights or any others? Merrick said. The right to life, liberty and property needs to be protected by elected officials.

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Libertarian Party chair supports candidates arrested on drug charges

Disputed islands test resolve of two giants: China and Japan

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Riot police last week stand guard outside the Japanese Embassy in Beijing with two rows of barricades as people protest Japanese control of the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands, a contested group of islands in the East China Sea. (Sim Chi Yin, The New York Times)

SENKAKU/DIAOYU ISLANDSThe voyage to these remote islands at the center of one of Asia's most dangerous territorial disputes is a bone-jarring seven-hour boat ride from one of Japan's southernmost ports, a long-enough journey that the fishermen who brave the often-stormy seas regularly sail in pairs for safety. The trip from the mainland of China, which also lays claim to the islands, is even longer.

The waters around the islands are thought to be infested with man-eating sharks. And the islands themselves, while tropical, are hardly postcard quality. Uotsuri, the largest of the five islands, is nothing more than a pair of craggy mountains with boulder-strewn slopes that rise 1,000 feet almost straight from the water's edge.

Two nearby islands are nothing more than large rocks covered by scruffy shrubs and bird droppings. No one has lived on the islands since World War II.

The value of the islands has never been in their aesthetics, but in history and geopolitics: what control of the islands says about the relative power of Asia's two economic giants, one rising and the other in what many see as a slow decline.

It remains unclear how far the longstanding territorial conflict could escalate. China has in recent days tamped down protests that were threatening to slip beyond its control, and the two countries share deep economic ties that make the stakes of further escalation clear.

Interest in the islands rose in the late 1960s, when scientists began saying the nearby sea floor could hold oil deposits.

The current rise in tensions was evident during the recent boat trip to the islands, when a coast guard ship trailed the ship carrying the journalists and nationalists, even after extracting promises that no one would make a break for the islands. As the two ships were about three miles from Uotsuri, the coast guard demanded it go no further.

The three nationalists said they planned to point out the need to defend the islands against China by posting a short documentary of their trip on YouTube.

"We must draw the line with the Chinese here," said the leader, Hissho Yanai, 50, who heads the 80-member Association to Protect Our Children's Future from Chinese Intimidation based in Aitama, just north of Tokyo. "If we let them have the Senkaku Islands, they'll come after all of Okinawa next."

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Disputed islands test resolve of two giants: China and Japan

Health care law helps Conn. seniors save $58M

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Saturday September 22, 2012

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- Federal officials say the health care law championed by President Barack Obama and scorned by Republicans has helped Connecticut seniors save nearly $58 million on prescription drugs this year.

The U.S Department of Health and Human Services says the Affordable Care Act has enabled seniors in the Medicares "donut hole" coverage gap save an average of $776 in the first eight months of this year.

The health care law provides better Medicare coverage for seniors with high prescription costs, and no copayments for preventive care.

Nearly 259,000 Connecticut residents received at least one preventive service with no co-payments in the first eight months of this year.

The average Connecticut resident with traditional Medicare will save $5,000 and people with high prescription costs will save more than 18,000 from 2010 to 2022.

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Health care law helps Conn. seniors save $58M

Administrator of Clark & Daughtrey Interprets Health Care Reform Issues

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Published: Saturday, September 22, 2012 at 11:58 p.m. Last Modified: Saturday, September 22, 2012 at 11:58 p.m.

LAKELAND | Sticking with the status quo won't solve the woes of the United States health care system, Adil Khan said Friday, but he's not convinced the changes now being implemented will either.

Khan, chief administrative officer of Clark & Daughtrey Medical Group in Lakeland, sees more promise in proposed legislation languishing in Congress for years that would expand Medicare to cover all ages. It's H.R. 676, the National Health Insurance Act.

"This is not socialized medicine," he told members of the Lakeland South Rotary Club at their noon meeting.

"We're not talking about changing Medicare. It's already there. We're talking about expanding it."

Socialized medicine, he said, would be if the government owned all or most hospitals and medical practices, a change neither the current legislation approved by Congress nor the Medicare expansion would make.

Medicare already is in place, serving almost 10 percent of the population, Khan pointed out, and its 3 percent overhead costs are much lower than those of commercial health insurance plans.

Hospitals and most doctors accept Medicare.

In contrast, Medicaid, which the current health care reform effort would expand, isn't popular among doctors.

Most don't accept it, Khan said, explaining that Medicaid "does not cover the cost of providing care."

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Administrator of Clark & Daughtrey Interprets Health Care Reform Issues