Lincoln Tribune

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• Bachelor Tax
• US Considering Medical Visit for Yemen’s Saleh
• US Presidential Candidates Struggle Ahead of Iowa Caucus
• Food poisoning kills 5 at rehab center in western Mexico
• Man dressed as Santa kills six family members at Texas home

Bachelor Tax Posted: 26 Dec 2011 09:00 PM PST Profile America — Tuesday, December 27th. The current campaigns for the Republican presidential nomination have generated a lot of talk about taxes. The subject of taxation has been controversial since biblical times. Throughout the ages, the two main questions have been: Who should pay taxes and how much? Perhaps no tax could rival the unfairness of that enacted in Missouri in 1820, when the legislature voted to tax bachelors between the age of 21 and 50 $1 a year — just for being unmarried. Obviously, the tax did not stand the test of time or legality. Today, 34 percent of adult men have never been married, compared to 28 percent of women. Together, they number about 76 million people. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau online at <www.census.gov>. Sources: Kane’s Famous First Facts, 7644 U.S. Census Bureau, America’s Families and Living Arrangements: 2011, Table 1 http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/hh-fam/cps2011.html

US Considering Medical Visit for Yemen’s Saleh Posted: 26 Dec 2011 07:07 PM PST The United States is considering whether to allow Yemen's outgoing president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, to undergo medical treatment in the U.S. for injuries sustained in an attack on his palace in June. A senior U.S. official said Monday that Mr. Saleh's office recently requested that he be allowed to receive specialized treatment in the United States. The official said the request would only be approved for medical reasons. On Saturday, Mr. Saleh said he would travel to the U.S. to calm the atmosphere in Yemen, ahead of presidential elections scheduled for February 21, not for medical treatment. He has said he will return to Yemen at an unspecified date to represent the opposition. The embattled leader agreed last month to end his 33-year rule amid violent street protests calling for his ouster. Protests have continued in Yemen despite Mr. Saleh's agreement to vacate the presidency. Pro-government security forces killed nine demonstrators on Saturday as they demanded the Yemeni president be tried for the deaths of more than 1,100 people since January. Protesters object to the immunity granted Mr. Saleh as part of the accord he signed in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. The White House said President Barack Obama's top counterterrorism advisor, John Brennan, called Yemen's vice president Sunday to emphasize the need for security forces to show "maximum restraint" when dealing with demonstrators. Vice President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi told Brennan he has started an investigation into deaths and injuries that have occurred, and that he would do what he could to prevent further bloodshed. The White House said both officials agreed it is important to stick to the transition path leading to the February 21 elections. Hadi on Sunday urged Mr. Saleh's foes and loyalists to commit to a truce.

US Presidential Candidates Struggle Ahead of Iowa Caucus Posted: 26 Dec 2011 06:49 PM PST <!--AV--> The United States elects its president in just a little more than 11 months.  But before the general election, the Republican party must first select a nominee, who will run against current President Barack Obama.  The now-ongoing Republican race has some interesting twists, it includes a candidate who failed to get on the ballot in the state where he lives and a libertarian who is under fire for allegedly writing discriminatory remarks. Republican candidates are all smiles when they come to the Midwest.  The Iowa caucuses, their first presidential test, is Tuesday, January 3.   The Iowa Republican party lists nine caucus candidates, but political analyst Matthew Dowd narrows it to three. "I think this race right now, unless somebody changes the dynamic in Iowa, is a race between Ron Paul, Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich, all of whom have tremendous [drawbacks in their background], and all of whom a majority of Republicans have worries about," he said. Gingrich has worries of his own, he did not submit the required number of qualified signatures to get on the primary ballot in  Virginia.  That's the state where he lives.  Virginia, the nation's 12th largest state, is seen as an important "swing state" where neither party dominates, making it crucial in the general election in November. Democratic political analyst James Carville said, "He's not on the ballot in Virginia, which in a close race, could actually mean something.  Secondly, it's probably indicative of something else that they weren't prepared for this, they weren't able to do this."   But the Gingrich campaign has been quick to focus on Congressman Ron Paul's recent issues.  Paul published newsletters in the 1980s and 90s that contained racist, anti-Semitic and anti-gay material.  "These things are really nasty," said Gingrich. "And he didn't know about it?  Wasn't aware about it and he's sufficiently ready to be president?" Paul disavows the newsletters, saying he did not write them. But a YouTube video from 1995 shows a different stance. "It's called the Ron Paul survival report and I put that out on a monthly basis," he said in the video. Still, Congressman Paul has passionate supporters who like his no-frills authenticity.  Important in Iowa where slightly more than 100,000 people will vote. The third top-tier candidate is former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, who has campaigned less in Iowa than some others. "The experience of balancing budgets is desperately needed in Washington and I will take it there," he said. Romney touts his economic expertise in this new TV ad.  But some staunch Republicans complain he's not conservative enough on other issues.   The good news for all three candidates is that Iowans have not chosen a clear favorite yet.  The bad news is they have less than a week to become that favorite.

Food poisoning kills 5 at rehab center in western Mexico Posted: 26 Dec 2011 05:26 PM PST GUADALAJARA, MEXICO (BNO NEWS) -- At least five people have died after dozens of people became ill while eating at a dinner on Christmas Day at a rehab center in western Mexico, state officials confirmed on Monday. More than 50 people were eating at the Garam drug addiction rehab center on Sunday evening when they suddenly began suffering from symptoms of food poisoning. The rehab center is located on Federation Street near downtown Guadalajara, the capital of the Mexican state of Jalisco. Oscar Mejia, Emergency Coordinator of the state's Jalisco de la Cruz delegation, confirmed that at least five people have died since getting sick while 37 others have been hospitalized, including some who are in a critical condition. The victims were having soy sausages, vegetables and rice for dinner. Initial reports indicate the food may have contained cyanide, although further lab tests will determine if the chemical substance was the cause of the deaths. But health officials said two paramedics and one doctor also showed signs of food poisoning after treating the victims, resulting in special protective suits being called in as a precaution. The local Red Cross said the first victims arrived by themselves just before 10 p.m. local time, while 14 others called emergency services later on. Among those killed is a 15-year-old teenager, state officials said. One of the victims, 35-year-old Juan Carlos Diaz, told local media that most of the food at the rehab center is donated by volunteers, as is the case at most rehab centers in Mexico. "Yesterday, the members ate first, followed by the workers," Diaz said, as quoted by the El Universal newspaper. "Around half an hour had passed before we noticed and no one ate anymore, but the effects were very fast in some of us." Officials, workers and cooks were being interviewed by authorities on Monday regarding the origin and preparation of the food. (Copyright 2011 by BNO News B.V. All rights reserved. Info: sales@bnonews.com.)

Man dressed as Santa kills six family members at Texas home Posted: 26 Dec 2011 04:11 PM PST GRAPEVINE, TEXAS (BNO NEWS) -- A man dressed as Santa Claus shot and killed six of his family members at a home in Texas on Christmas Day, police said on Monday. He then turned the gun on himself. The apparent murder-suicide occurred at the Lincoln Vineyards Apartments living complex on Hall-Johnston Road in Grapevine, a Dallas suburb. The bodies of seven people, four women and three men, were found inside along with two handguns. Police forced their way into the home after receiving a 911 call during which nothing was said, although it was not clear if the recording may have contained the sounds of gunshots. The bodies were found lying in the middle of newly opened gifts and a Christmas tree. Grapevine police Lt. Todd Dearing said that some of the victims were seated on furniture while others were slumped on the floor, indicating the family was in the midst of opening their Christmas presents. The identities of the victims or the shooter were not immediately released, but their ages were 15, 19, 22, 55, 56, 58 and 59. News of the tragedy rocked the city, which was recently proclaimed the "Christmas Capital of Texas" by the state's Senate. "This is obviously a terrible tragedy," said Mayor William Tate, as quoted by MSNBC.com. "The fact that it happened on Christmas makes it even more tragic." Police said the gunman was dressed as Santa Claus and found no signs of forced entry into the home, but the motive behind the killings remains unknown. Reports indicate the gunman had recently split up with a woman and had financial problems, with their home sold in 2010 at a foreclosure auction. (Copyright 2011 by BNO News B.V. All rights reserved. Info: sales@bnonews.com.)

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