Conversation Nation

 

If a high school jock gets caught drinking, he sits on the bench. But if the lead actor in the school play is found drunk, he still gets to take the stage

At least that's the way it is at one local high school, but the principal says that's not fair. When it comes to alcohol and drug abuse, he wants all students, from the football team to the chess club, to face the same punishment

Norton High principal Raymond Dewar points out that when a high school athlete violates alcohol or drug policy their punishment is determined by rules established by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association. For instance, after a first offense a football player would have to sit out 25 percent of the games

But Dewar says no such punishment exists right now for a member of the debate team or the chess club or other extra curricular activities. He wants to level the playing field by proposing a 30 day suspension from after-school activities for anyone violating out-of-school policies

At least one school board official is worried that policy may be too intrusive. He tells the Sun Chronicle it may not be reasonable for the school to have jurisdiction that "extends into the kid's entire life."

School the glee club be punished the same way as the basketball team? Does the school have the right to punish kids for what they do outside of school hours?

 

A Plymouth Marine says he was just following orders but he was convicted of kidnapping and murdering an Iraqi citizen.

A clemency review panel recommended he be released from prison but the Navy Secretary is not buying the "heat of the battle" excuse and says the Marine must spend 11 years behind

Last night WBZ's Christina Hager spoke to Pvt Larry Hutchins father who says what happens in a killing zone can't be compared to murder back home

Navy Secretary Ray Mabus did not agree with the clemency panel's recommendation. He says Hutchins and two other Marines along with a Navy man dragged a 52 year old Iraqi citizen out of his home, dragged him into a ditch and shot him to death. Sec Mabus says the killing was deliberately planned and not conceived in the heat of battle or the stress of war

In most cases the military goes along with the clemency review panel. Congressman Bill Delahunt says he will help the Hutchins family fight for their son's freedom. He says you can't compare our criminal statutes here to what happens on the battle field

Do you think the heat of the battle rules apply here?

 

To plow or not to plow? That is the question for many Massachusetts cities and towns when it comes to private streets.

Down in Middleboro the new DPW head originally said he wouldn't plow so-called "unaccepted streets" but he changed his mind after an avalanche of complaints

These private roads may not be up to the town's standards and now some Middleboro residents worry that this decision has opened up "a can of worms" The chairman of the Board of Selectmen tells enterprisenews.com that the issue has been festering for years and some residents demand to know why some roads are plowed and others are not

One resident worries that this decision could mean the town has to spend millions to bring these unaccepted roads up to standard

Should private mean the homeowners have to maintain their own streets?

 

Most students thought it was a prank. Their school, about a 30 minute ride from Fenway Park, announced it was holding a New York Yankees championship celebration.

While most of the Endicott College students think the idea is ridiculous, the school president believes it's a teachable moment

Next Monday the school will hold the victory party on the campus common and paint a fire hydrant with the Yankee pinstripes and NY logo. Endicott president Dick Wylie tells WBZ it's all about teaching his students about tolerance

Good luck with that. You could see this making sense at a Connecticut college where you might have a lot of Red Sox and Yankee fans, but Beverly is clearly part of Red Sox Nation

"Teachable moment" or terrible idea?

 

***UPDATED***  I spoke with Santa!  Click HERE for the story....  David Wade

Swine flu fear has people taking all kinds of precautions. Some church goers won't shake hands. Kids playing soccer are told to give the "high elbow" instead of the high five

And now 'tis the season for mall Santas to be cautious too. Next to the candy canes your kids will see Santa packing Purell. But that's not enough, these suburban Saint Nicks want the government to get them vaccinated

A group representing costumed Santas has asked congress to designate them as a priority group for the swine flu vaccine. They want to be considered on the same level as health care workers or infant caregivers. The president of a group called Santa America also points out that most mall Santas are overweight or obese so that puts them in the high risk category to get H1N1

A health director from New Hampshire says Santa should consider greeting kids from a few feet away rather than on his lap. He also wonders whether it's appropriate to even have mall Santas during the flu season

Do you think the jolly guy deserves to be on the priority list?

 

Some towns already ban them from living near schools and playgrounds. Now the most dangerous sex offenders may be barred from staying at homeless shelters

Supporters of a bill to be debated today say it will make shelters safer and free up much needed space but some warn there will be more problems if these people end up on the street

The Globe reports that 74 percent of the Level 3 sex offenders who have registered with the state list a homeless shelter as their address. Shelter providers complain the state has gutted their funding so much they can't possibly keep an eye on these offenders.

Opponents of the bill are cautioning that putting these offenders back on the street will most likely lead them to commit new crimes. One advocate told the Globe "If the purpose of this ban is to continue to punish and effectively banish people after they've done their time and paid their debt to society, then it's a pretty effective policy."

Safer to have these offenders in a shelter or on the street?

 

The cover of Newsweek ignited quite a heated debate in the newsroom this morning.  To coincide with the release of Sarah Palin's book, Newsweek's editors decided to print two essays about the former Alaska governor and have her image grace the cover.  The photo was chosen from a shoot Palin had done for Runner's World Magazine.  Palin is not happy about the picture that was chosen.  Writing on her Facebook page, she said "the out-of-context Newsweek approach is sexist and oh-so-expected by now."  She also called it degrading. 

Newsweek is defending the cover.  "We chose the most interesting image available to us to illustrate the theme of the cover, which is what we always try to do.  We apply the same test to photographs of any public figure, male or female: does the image convey what we are saying?  That is a gender-neutral standard."

Do you think it is sexist?  What do you think about this story?

 

50 is the new 40 - when it comes to Mammograms according to the US Preventive Services Task Force, and a lot of Doctors think the whole idea is at best confusing and at worst dangerous.  A Government panel of scientists have recommended that women wait until 50 to be screened for Breast Cancer  - AND, they add - breast self-exams do not work.  Take a look at the details.

So after decades of being told to do monthly self exams and to be sure to get a first mammogram at 40 - this panel (including the breast expert Dr. Susan Love which is fascinating) tells American women: no-no, that's ok - we don't want you to get unnecessarily worried over anything in your 40's.  It only saves 1 life out of 1900 anyway...waiting until  age 50 saves 1 life out of 1300 - a far better statistic.  An alarmed MGH expert says this "will condemn women ages 40 - 49 to unnecessary deaths from breast cancer."

Pardon me if this Doctor's daughter is more than a little skeptical about this "Government Panel."

Does it strike anyone else as odd that after decades the mantra on mammograms suddenly changes THIS fall - the autumn that the Health Care Bill is working its way through Congress?  The new guidelines are based on science, they say - not cost considerations - but mammograms at 40 do lead to unnecessary biopsies, they say.  Biopsies and procedures = $$.  "Paging Dr. Lobbyist, Dr. K Street Lobbyist...your Insurance Company is waiting..."  Too much of a conspiracy theory?  You tell me.

Important: The American Cancer Society, The American Medical Association and the National Cancer Institute all urge screening starting at 40.  They ALL disagree with the Government Panel. 

I have a sister who is alive today because a mammogram caught her breast cancer at 38.  If false positives make me worry unnecessarily, I say - bring it on.  I can deal with a little anxiety.  Chemo's a lot tougher.

What do you think?  Is this irresponsible?  Do these changing guidelines drive you crazy?  Should a Government Panel be over-ruling scores of physicians on this? Is this all just about money? Or do you think we should coninue to adjust our thinking in matters of medicine?

 

The mayor of Cambridge insists there was no cover up but questions still linger this morning about what role the police played in the hours before a state senator fled the scene of a hit and run

Senator Anthony Galluccio refuses to admit if he had been drinking before the crash but now, several weeks later, Cambridge police revealed they helped a reportedly drunk Galluccio get home the night before

13 hours after the police escorted Galluccio home, he crashed into a minivan and took off

Why did police wait for 25 days to file a report on bringing the state senator home? The chief says his officers are not required to file such a report if no crime is committed. The mayor says the officers did nothing wrong by escorting a citizen home

The report wasn't even released to WBZ after filing a Freedom of Information request

You can read the police report here (pdf)

If there was nothing to cover up why did police wait until several weeks later to tell the story? Those officers knew the day after the crash this was turning into a huge controversy. The police knew who Galluccio was and he knew them

 

If you drive an eco-friendly car do you deserve preferred parking in public spots?

A couple of green-thinking lawmakers believe so

This morning Democratic senators Jack Hart and Sonia Chang-Diaz will try to convince the legislature to let cities and towns designate parking spaces for vehicles that are stingy on gas

The bill proposes that spots for cars designated as low-emission, ultra-low or zero emission be set aside as a reward. If someone pulls into one of these spots in a gas guzzler, they could be hit with a ticket ranging from $15-$50 or be towed

A Boston city councillor has already proposed giving free parking spots to anyone who drives a hybrid vehicle

Shopping malls and churches have spaces reserved for cars carrying infants and for "people who need to be close" but those are voluntary and don't come with penalties

What about the hard working landscaper and his pick up truck? How about the mother of five who drives a minivan?

Is better parking an incentive to buy a more fuel efficient car?