The document summarizes current events across various topics: - States want to pass laws criminalizing officials assisting NSA surveillance but the Constitution's Supremacy Clause would override this. - Interest groups heavily fund Louisiana Senate candidates along party lines. - An openly gay Republican is running for Congress in New Hampshire to help the party with LGBT issues. - The Supreme Court will hear a case on forced unionization of government-paid caregivers. - A fraternity at UNL was shut down for various offenses including an inhabitable house. - Four kittens broke into a maximum security prison in New York.

1. Current
Events
Ashley Glesinger
Government
January 20, 2014

2. The Constitution and Federalism
• States are trying to pass
legislation that would
criminalize State
officials who assist in
the federal
government’s electronic
surveillance campaign.
• If passed, the
Supremacy Clause in
the U.S. Constitution
would over ride any
state legislation.

3. Political Parties and Interest Groups
• Nola.com breaks down
what interest groups are
funding Louisiana Senate
frontrunners Mary
Landrieu and Bill
Cassidy
– Found that MD, Bill
Cassidy’s donations
coincide with his
profession. (Health
Profession Interest groups
are highest donor)

4. Elections and Campaigns
• Openly gay Republican
from New Hampshire
Dan Innis has decided to
run for U.S. House of
Representatives.
– Innis is one of three
openly gay Republicans
active in politics.
Dan Innis (Right) with husband.
• Could help Republicans
bridge the gap when
making legislation that
affects the LBGT
community.

5. Institutions of Government:
The Judiciary Branch
• Supreme Court to hear arguments on the
following:
– Caregivers of elderly who receive medicare or
medicaid may be forced to join a union.
– Illinois legislation claims the caregivers, even if they
are family members, are government employees
because the patients receive taxpayer money from
Medicare and Medicaid
– Caregivers argue they do not receive any benefits of
government employees, therefore they cannot be
forced to unionize

6. Civil Liberties and Rights
• Court decision that
Bloggers have the same
first amendment rights
as journalists
• Crystal Cox, a blogger
for a financial company,
made several defamatory
remarks about clients
• Court ruled in her favor
because remarks were of
public concern
Crystal Cox, blogger and
avid selfie taker?

7. Foreign Policy:
Winter Olympics
• The United States
government fears Russia
does not have adequate
security for the
upcoming winter
Olympics.
• The U.S. voiced their
concerns, but Russia is
not cooperating
• Chechen Rebels have
stated they are going to
target the games.

8. Nebraska Government
• Governor Dave
Heineman held a press
conference
– Prison reform and taxes
among the subjects
discussed
– Not many people happy
with how he’s handling
the situations

9. International News:
Cuba and European Union
• EU willing to negotiate with Cuba to reach
an association agreement.
• Could lead to trade liberalization.
• European Union insists on Havana
respecting Human Rights
• Cuba has become less strict by allowing
Cubans to run businesses and opening
Internet Access.

10. Local News:Sigma Nu Closed
• The Sigma Nu fraternity
at UNL was closed down
by national Sigma Nu
Group after firefighters
discover the current state
of house inhabitable
– Numerous empty alcohol
containers, trash, tampere
d fire alarm among the
offences.
– Investigating possible
criminal activity

11. News of The Bizarre:
Prison Kittens
• 4 Kittens sneak into a Maximum Security
Prison in Fort Ann, New York
• Inmates and Prison Electrician are currently
caring for kittens until they find homes.

12. Bibliography
"4 kittens pull 'break-in' at upstate NY prison." Colorado Springs Gazette. 18 Jan. 2014. 20 Jan. 2014 <http://gazette.com/4-kittenspull-break-in-at-upstate-ny-prison/article/1512900>.
Alpert, Bruce. "Greater New Orleans." The Times-Picayune. 12 Jan. 2014. 20 Jan. 2014
<http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/01/on_the_hill_what_interest_grou.html>.
Associated Press. "Court: Bloggers have First Amendment protections." USA Today. 20 Jan. 2014. Gannett. 20 Jan. 2014
<http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2014/01/20/defamation-bloggers-supreme-court/4658295/>.
Associated Press. "Spain says EU considering closer ties with Cuba." JournalStar.com. 20 Jan. 2014. 20 Jan. 2014
<http://journalstar.com/news/world/europe/spain-says-eu-considering-closer-ties-with-cuba/article_cc3f1c12-a229-55c8b08d-fe818f3f00f1.html>.
Dunker, Chris. "National Sigma Nu group suspends UNL chapter." JournalStar.com. 20 Jan. 2014. 20 Jan. 2014
<http://journalstar.com/news/local/education/national-sigma-nu-group-suspends-unl-chapter/article_2f302cd7-55c4-504ba3c1-22f3cc999a13.html>.
Kaplan, Rebecca. "U.S. officials: Russia not cooperating on Sochi Olympic security." CBSNews. 19 Jan. 2014. CBS Interactive. 20
Jan. 2014 <http://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-officials-russia-not-cooperating-on-sochi-olympic-security/>.
McMorris, Bill. "Supreme Court to hear case on forced unionization." Fox News. 20 Jan. 2014. FOX News Network. 20 Jan. 2014
<http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/01/20/supreme-court-to-hear-case-on-forced-unionization/>.
Press, STEVE PEOPLES Associated. "Gay Republicans Face Long Odds in House Campaigns." ABC News. 19 Jan. 2014. ABC
News Network. 20 Jan. 2014 <http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/gay-republicans-make-election-history21588754?singlePage=true>.
"US Constitution could keep state officials from going to jail for helping NSA." BizPac Review. 20 Jan. 2014. 20 Jan. 2014
<http://www.bizpacreview.com/2014/01/20/us-constitution-could-keep-state-officials-from-going-to-jail-for-helping-nsa95451>.
Walton, Don. "We've got some drama ahead." JournalStar.com. 19 Jan. 2014. 20 Jan. 2014 <http://journalstar.com/news/state-andregional/statehouse/don-walton-we-ve-got-some-drama-ahead/article_5bc5e52c-959e-5944-ab5d-bef436c6760e.html>.