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Daily Archives: May 6, 2007
The costs of taming climate change
May 6, 20071:05 a.m.
Some hopeful news amid the global warming gloom: The latest report issued by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says that controlling global warming is both doable and affordable.
According to the study, the world’s nations could get greenhouse gases under control by 2030, with a modest investment in new technologies, auto fuel standards and other anti-warming measures.
The fixes would add about $100 to the cost of every ton of carbon dioxide pumped into the environment — or about an extra $1 for a gallon of gas.
The Bush administration immediately rejected the costs as provoking a worldwide recession, but the report argues that many of the strategies would actually stimulate the economy by fostering innovation and jobs.
And the longer we wait, the report said, the costlier the fix will be. “If we continue doing what we are doing now, we are in deep trouble,” said Ogunlade Davidson, co-chairman of the group.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
Should WPD post photos of prostitutes?
May 6, 20071:03 a.m.
In partial response to concerns raised by Eagle columnist Mark McCormick, the Wichita Police Department has changed slightly the Web site on which it posts photos of men and women arrested for prostitution-related crimes. McCormick was concerned about the police posting photos of the prostitutes, who may be victims themselves. The police acknowledged that concern but still is going to post the pictures. What it has changed, though, is that the Web site no longer archives photos older than 30 days, which might help arrested women put their past behind them.
Posted by Ross Stewart
A start to an Iran-U.S. thaw
May 6, 20071:02 a.m.
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki ended up boycotting an anticipated dinner meeting Thursday with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, scuttling hopes of a major diplomatic breakthrough during the summit in Egypt. But there were encouraging reports that ambassadors from the two countries met Friday and laid the groundwork for future meetings on the Iraq war and other topics.
It’s good that the Bush administration seems at least open to the idea of talks with Iran and Syria. As many U.S. military leaders have said, the war in Iraq won’t be won by the military. It requires political and diplomatic solutions.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
Not even the best in the second tier?
May 6, 20071:01 a.m.
The debate performance of Kansas’ senior senator underwhelmed T.J. Walker on, of all things, National Review Online: “Sam Brownback seems like a nice man. In fact, he reminds me of my third-grade Sunday School teacher. Unfortunately, Brownback seems as presidential as my third-grade Sunday School teacher.”
Posted by Rhonda Holman
A new push for cameras in cop cars
May 6, 20071:00 a.m.
The Sunflower Community Action group says it met recently with Mayor Carl Brewer in a renewed push for video cameras in Wichita police cars in the 2008 budget.
The council last year failed to approve the money for a pilot project that would have installed cameras in a limited number of squad cars, but the recent case of a woman who says she was brutalized during a traffic stop has provided another example of the kind of he-said, she-said situation in which a camera might have made a difference.
Sunflower might have hurt its effectiveness, though, by storming the city manager’s office Friday to demand answers on a parks issue. City spokesman Van Williams decried what he called a "publicity stunt" for TV cameras and told The Eagle editorial board that such ambush tactics make city leaders "less eager" to work with the group.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
