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MOSCOW (AP) — The Kremlin has decided to ban Americans from adopting Russian children, but a statement that its adoption deal with the U.S. will remain valid until 2014 has left the status of adoption efforts confusing. Here's a look at the issues:
Last July, after nearly a year of hesitation, Russia ratified an agreement with the United States setting terms for adoption. The agreement was worked out in the wake of a 2010 scandal over an American woman who sent her 7-year-old adopted Russian son to Moscow alone on an airplane, saying he had behavioral problems and she didn't want him anymore. That incident galvanized Russian resentment over adoptions, which had brewed for years over cases of Russian adoptees dying or suffering abuse at the hands of their American parents. Many Russians also found widespread American adoptions distasteful for their implication that Russians were too poor or apathetic to take care of their own.
In December, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law banning adoption of Russian children by Americans. The law took effect Jan. 1, and officials initially indicated that all adoptions would halt that day. However, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov now says that adoptions which have been approved by courts but not yet executed would be allowed to proceed.
When the law was passed, officials said some 52 Russian children were in the pipeline to get American families; Peskov says there have been court decisions in only six of those cases.
Since 1992, more than 60,000 Russian children have been adopted by Americans, according to the U.S. State Department.
The U.S.-Russian agreement specifies that either party can abandon the pact upon one year's notice. That means the agreement remains in force until 2014.
But the agreement does not specify whether adoption proceedings can continue during the one-year notice period. It says only that disputes on interpretation of the agreement must be worked out in negotiations between the "executive bodies" — the Russian Education Ministry and the State Department — or, failing resolution there, through diplomatic channels.
Also unclear is whether cases in which a court has approved an adoption are firm. Russian law says a court can repeal an adoption "in the interests of the child."
The United States aims to push Russia to move ahead with adoptions during the interim period. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Thursday: "We are very hopeful that we will be able to complete the cases of adoption that had been begun before the law was passed."
Peskov, however, showed the Kremlin is unwilling to give ground, saying: "In cases when certain judicial procedures haven't been completed, a complete ban on adoptions by U.S. parents will be enforced."
Both the spirit and the letter of the law are likely to come under lengthy and heated discussion.
Although several top officials, including the foreign and education ministers, opposed the law or expressed reservations about it, repeal appears politically impossible.
The ban was put forward by lawmakers from Putin's power-base United Russia party and overwhelmingly approved — only eight parliament members voted against it. If Putin were to try to push for its repeal, he would appear out of touch with his own cadre or unable to control it.
In addition, the law serves Putin's strategic purposes. Putin is deeply at odds with the United States over its alleged support for opposition forces and arrogance in world affairs. The ban allows Russia to emphasize its tensions with Washington without taking measures that would obstruct business cooperation or disarmament initiatives.
Instead of stepping back on adoption, Russia may choose to go even further. A parliament member from United Russia told the ITAR-Tass news agency that a measure to ban adoptions by almost all other foreign countries is expected to be offered in the near future. But other United Russia members have spoken against the idea.


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Deer hunters in three counties of the Dallas-area "Metroplex" could have new seasons if a proposal from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Commission is approved.
Discussion, research and public comment is ongoing for possible seasons in Dallas, Collin, Rockwall and Galveston counties, according to a report in Lone Star Outdoor News.
All four counties have seen extensive growth and development, shifting from primarily agriculture-based use in the last 40 years. Dallas, Collin and Rockwall counties are north, east and southeast of the Dallas-Fort-Worth Metroplex, while Galveston County is located southeast of Houston along the Gulf coast.
According to the LSON report, the Texas wildlife agency's recommendation is for a full season of archery-only either-sex whitetail hunting for Dallas, Collin and Rockwall counties. This mimics the regulations for Grayson County, on the Texas-Oklahoma border northeast of Dallas, which has an archery-only season.
To read the full report, CLICK HERE.

subset: commoncrawl


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"Nina," starring Zoe Saldana as singer, pianist and civil rights activist Nina Simone, will enjoy a December release.
That development is the result of a new distribution deal for the biopic, which has been acquired by RLJ Entertainment.
Written and directed by Cynthia Mort, the film will find Simone self-exiled in France — and convinced by her manager Clifton Henderson (David Oyelowo) to embrace America again.
RLJ Entertainment is named after its chief Robert L. Johnson, who also founded the BET network. (He is also America's first billionaire.)
"I had the special privilege early in my career of working with Ms. Simone while coordinating a performance for former D.C. Delegate Walter E. Fauntroy, and knowing first-hand of her major contribution to the soul and emotion of the Civil Rights Movement," said Johnson. "I look forward as I am sure many others will, to her story and legacy being made available by RLJ Entertainment to consumers on various media platforms in the coming months."
[via Variety]
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Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories
by Susan Mikula Campbell
The Niagara-Wheatfield School District is holding budget information sessions at district elementary schools to explain the budget process and seek input from community members.
One of the budget information meetings was held March 7 at Errick Road Elementary. Meetings are set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 19, at Colonial Village Elementary and Thursday, March 21, at West Street Elementary.
The board already has decided that its 2013-14 budget will not exceed the state tax cap. The meetings will be open forums at which residents can ask questions and make suggestions, Interim Superintendent James Knowles said. Board members and either Knowles or the business manager will be present.
"We're trying to give the people information on where we are right now and why we are there, what things we really don't have control over (mandates), and give ideas on how we are going to close the gap," Knowles said.
Either more revenue or some cuts will be necessary to stay under the tax cap, district officials agree.
"Like every place else, it's a challenging situation," Knowles said of the budget process.
Much is still up in the air right now that has to be settled in Albany.
Part of that is extra funding that the governor would like to see used for universal pre-kindergarten, full-day kindergarten or possibly a longer school day.
District business manager Kerin Dumphrey said that to continue running the district as it is now and still stay under the 2 percent tax cap, the district would need an extra $1.4 million, even if voters are asked to approve the entire tax cap amount.
In order not to exceed the tax cap, the board would have to stay at 5.9 percent or less of the current tax levy of $28,661,923, Dumphrey said. That would mean the most the tax levy could be would be $30,355,843.
"We're still $1.4 million apart from what we want and what we could afford," Dumphrey said. "There's still a lot of work to be done."
The district had to try two times to get a budget approved by voters last year. The revised $60.5 million budget was finally passed on June 19, 2012, after the first budget, which would have brought a 9.9 percent increase in the tax levy, was defeated on May 15, 2012.
Dumphrey will be retiring at the end of this week. The district is contracting through the Niagara-Orleans BOCES for a business manager, but may return to having its own in the future, Knowles said.
The next regular meeting of the Niagara-Wheatfield Board of Education will be on Wednesday, March 20, at the high school's adult learning center. Meetings generally begin with an executive session at 6 p.m.
•The Board of Education also began the first round of interviewing potential candidates for the position of superintendent of schools this week, according to Knowles. From the initial interviews, the board will choose candidates it will want to interview further.


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PNR RailWorks recommends a comprehensive track inspection performed by a qualified track inspector on a scheduled basis (at least twice a year) to meet your operating requirements. A thorough track inspection involves walking the entire track, visually evaluating the subgrade, rail, ties, ballast, switches and turnouts. Our inspection team also can perform routine maintenance, such as adjusting and lubricating switches and tightening bolts, when authorized. If we identify a pressing deficiency, PNR RailWorks will immediately notify facility management so appropriate action can be taken. Within a few days of the inspection, PNR RailWorks will present a detailed report featuring an overall track evaluation and an assessment of each turnout in the facility.
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42 U.S. Code § 300aa–33 - Definitions
prev | next
For purposes of this part:
(1) The term "health care provider" means any licensed health care professional, organization, or institution, whether public or private (including Federal, State, and local departments, agencies, and instrumentalities) under whose authority a vaccine set forth in the Vaccine Injury Table is administered.
(2) The term "legal representative" means a parent or an individual who qualifies as a legal guardian under State law.
(3) The term "manufacturer" means any corporation, organization, or institution, whether public or private (including Federal, State, and local departments, agencies, and instrumentalities), which manufactures, imports, processes, or distributes under its label any vaccine set forth in the Vaccine Injury Table, except that, for purposes of section 300aa–28 of this title, such term shall include the manufacturer of any other vaccine covered by that section. The term "manufacture" means to manufacture, import, process, or distribute a vaccine.
(4) The term "significant aggravation" means any change for the worse in a preexisting condition which results in markedly greater disability, pain, or illness accompanied by substantial deterioration of health.
(5) The term "vaccine-related injury or death" means an illness, injury, condition, or death associated with one or more of the vaccines set forth in the Vaccine Injury Table, except that the term does not include an illness, injury, condition, or death associated with an adulterant or contaminant intentionally added to such a vaccine.
Source(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title XXI, § 2133, as added Pub. L. 99–660, title III, § 311(a),Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3778; amended Pub. L. 107–296, title XVII, §§ 1714–1716,Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2320, 2321; Pub. L. 108–7, div. L, § 102(a),Feb. 20, 2003, 117 Stat. 528.)
2003—Pars. (3), (5), (7). Pub. L. 108–7repealed Pub. L. 107–296, §§ 1714–1717, and provided that this chapter shall be applied as if the sections repealed had never been enacted. See 2002 Amendment notes below.
2002—Par. (3). Pub. L. 107–296, § 1714, which directed amendment of first sentence by substituting "any vaccine set forth in the Vaccine Injury table, including any component or ingredient of any such vaccine" for "under its label any vaccine set forth in the Vaccine Injury Table" and of second sentence by inserting "including any component or ingredient of any such vaccine" before period at end, was repealed by Pub. L. 108–7.
Par. (5). Pub. L. 107–296, § 1715, which directed insertion of "For purposes of the preceding sentence, an adulterant or contaminant shall not include any component or ingredient listed in a vaccine's product license application or product label." at end, was repealed by Pub. L. 108–7.
Par. (7). Pub. L. 107–296, § 1716, which directed addition of par. (7), was repealed by Pub. L. 108–7, § 102(a). Par. (7) read as follows: "The term 'vaccine' means any preparation or suspension, including but not limited to a preparation or suspension containing an attenuated or inactive microorganism or subunit thereof or toxin, developed or administered to produce or enhance the body's immune response to a disease or diseases and includes all components and ingredients listed in the vaccines's product license application and product label."
Effective Date of 2002 Amendment
Pub. L. 107–296, title XVII, § 1717,Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2321, which provided that the amendments made by sections 1714, 1715, and 1716 (amending this section) shall apply to all actions or proceedings pending on or after Nov. 25, 2002, unless a court of competent jurisdiction has entered judgment (regardless of whether the time for appeal has expired) in such action or proceeding disposing of the entire action or proceeding, was repealed by Pub. L. 108–7, div. L, § 102(a),Feb. 20, 2003, 117 Stat. 528.
Construction of Amendments
Pub. L. 108–7, div. L, § 102(b), (c),Feb. 20, 2003, 117 Stat. 528, provided that:
"(b) Application of the Public Health Service Act.—The Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 201 et seq.) shall be applied and administered as if the sections repealed by subsection (a) [repealing sections 1714 to 1717 ofPub. L. 107–296, which amended this section and enacted provisions set out as a note under this section] had never been enacted.
"(c) Rule of Construction.—No inference shall be drawn from the enactment of sections 1714 through 1717 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107–296), or from this repeal [repealing sections 1714 to 1717 ofPub. L. 107–296], regarding the law prior to enactment of sections 1714 through 1717 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107–296) [Nov. 25, 2002]. Further, no inference shall be drawn that subsection (a) or (b) affects any change in that prior law, or that Leroy v. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Office of Special Master, No. 02–392V (October 11, 2002), was incorrectly decided."
LII has no control over and does not endorse any external Internet site that contains links to or references LII.


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BEIJING (Reuters) - New Chinese Premier Li Keqiang pledged on Sunday to work with U.S. President Barack Obama to forge "a new type of relationship" for the sake of peace in the Asia-Pacific region, and said the war of words about cyber-hacking must end.
Li did not specifically mention the U.S. military "pivot" towards Asia which has concerned China nor Beijing's territorial spats with its neighbors, stressing instead the common interests between the world's top two economic powers.
"Our government will work with the Obama administration to work together to build a new type of relationship between great countries," Li told reporters at a carefully scripted news conference at the end of the annual session of parliament.
"China and the United States should have sound interactions in the Asia-Pacific region and starting from this we can move to build a new type of relationship between powers," he said.
"That will also be good for peace and development in the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large."
Li did not talk about frictions between the two including North Korea's nuclear ambitions and China's claims over the South and East China Seas. Nor did he mention U.S. plans announced on Friday to bolster missile defenses in response to "irresponsible and reckless provocations" by North Korea.
But he did directly address accusations by Washington of hacking from China of U.S. military, government, corporate and media computer systems.
A U.S. computer security company said last month that a secretive Chinese military unit was likely behind a series of hacking attacks mostly targeting the United States.
China has countered on numerous occasions that it too is a victim of hacking attacks.
"I think we should not make groundless accusations against each other, and spend more time doing practical things that will contribute to cyber-security," Li said.
Noting that he "sensed the presumption of guilt" in a reporter's question, Li said called cyber-security a worldwide problem and said: "China does not support, indeed, we are opposed to, such activities."
Obama raised U.S. concerns about computer hacking in a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, the same day Xi took office.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew will press China to investigate and stop cyber-attacks on U.S. companies and other entities when he visits China this week, a senior U.S. official said on Friday.
Lew will also press Beijing to allow the Chinese currency to rise further against the dollar, and push on other concerns such as increased market access for U.S. goods and better protection of U.S. intellectual property rights, the official said.
New U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry plans to make his first visit to China in coming weeks.
Despite the tensions, both sides have many mutual interests, including ensuring stability on the Korean peninsula and the health of the world economy.
(Reporting by Terril Yue Jones and Benjamin Kang Lim; Editing by Ben Blanchard and Nick Macfie)


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Attending the Upper Midwest Employment Law Institute in St. Paul this past May, I was only seeking to fulfill my continuing legal education requirement. I wasn't looking for politics, but at the institute's plenary morning session I found myself listening to NLRB acting general counsel Lafe Solomon. Solomon is a newsmaker worthy of general attention, a perfect representative of the lawlessness at the heart of the Obama administration.
Representing an agency that is in legal limbo as a result of Obama's putatively unconstitutional appointments to it, Solomon is carrying a heavy load. In his remarks before the Employment Law Institute in May, Solomon conveyed a mournful angst and subliminal anger about the situation in which the board finds itself. I failed to capture that spirit in the photograph Solomon let me snap before his remarks at the breakout session.
In her weekly Wall Street Journal column Kim Strassel now finds Solomon to be "The lord of U.S. labor policy." Strassel explores the deepening legal limbo of the board and the shenanigans of its combative acting general counsel. Solomon is flailing manfully in a bad cause:
Right now, the NLRB is the only weapon the administration can wield on behalf of Big Labor. The need to placate that most powerful special interest was behind Mr. Obama's decision to install his illegal recess appointments in the first place, and it explains the NLRB's continuing defiance of courts and Congress. Mr. Solomon's wisdom is the Obama philosophy of raw power, in all its twisted glory.


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Trivia Quiz #38
Yay, I'm back! The Legion of Super-Gamblers made out OK in Las Vegas (some of us did) - at least we all had enough for a cab ride to the airport. So, this month's trivia, a couple weeks late, based (loosely) on the LSG trip:
1. Ventura is the Gamblers' Planet in the 30th/31st centuries. Where have we seen it in the 20th/21st centuries?
2. The LSG freed some money from the clutches of the evil casinos. Name three people or groups to have freed Mordru from imprisonment.
3. There's always paperwork when there's money involved. What was the name of United Planets' statute-in-council #2958-07Q? [Either answer is acceptable.]
4. Who stayed behind to watch the HQ during the wedding of Bouncing Boy and Duo Damsel (and didn't get to party at Casino Nix Olympica)?
5. The volcano at the Mirage Casino erupts every 15 minutes from sunset until midnight, but Krypton only exploded once. Which Legionnaires were present on Krypton shortly before its destruction?
6. The LSG is always up for new members, and the initiation test is that you have to gamble at the same table with other members at least once. But twice, Saturn Girl asked the Legion to induct a new member based only on her say-so. Who were these Legionnaires?
7. Sometimes a LSGer will only appear at one or two gatherings and then mysteriously stops. When was Insect Queen's last appearance with the Legion?