Floods in the West

The dams in the Pacific Northwest are starting to overflow with water. In Wyoming, National Guard members have been deployed to start piling up sand bags. The weather is supposed to be getting nicer in that area in the next week so the flooding will speed up then. Some have said that this could be the worst flooding anyone has ever seen. The dam holding this water is 500 feet tall and a mile across. It's one of the biggest concrete structures on Earth. Not only are people in danger, but fish are also in jeopardy. About 100,000 fish are dying every day and that number will most likely go up when the warmer weather sets in.

Right now, I'm glad to be living where I am. Flooding can do a lot of damage to peoples' houses, land, and lives. It's unfortunate that fish are also in danger in this situation. It looks as if the whole Northwest part of our country will be under water soon, but hopefully doesn't happen. I hope the flooding isn't as bad as they have been predicting.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43257643/ns/weather/

Jaycee Dugard Kidnapping

Phillip and Nancy Garrido kidnapped Jaycee when she was 11 and kept her, plus her two daughters hidden away after Phillip raped her many times. Both the defendants pleaded guilty to kidnapping and raping. Also, Phillip admitted to other cruel acts caught on tape. Phillip received 431 years to life in prison and Nancy got 36 years to life. Jaycee wrote that she hated every second of every day for the 18 years 4 months and 16 days she was held. She hoped they wouldn't be able to sleep at night like she had. Someone revealed that Phillip had used a taser to calm her and keep her from escaping.

I think it's awful what the Garrido's did to Jaycee. I can't even imagine doing any of the things they did. It's really hard to think that there are people in this world that would kidnap an 11 year old child, keep her hidden, and rape her. They took a lot of years of her life away from her. I can understand why she's having a hard time forgiving the couple.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43253444/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

Glee Cast Coming to Minneapolis

Thirteen of the cast members from Glee are coming to Minneapolis today. The concert will be at 7:30 at the Target Center. The concert tour started in Las Vegas on May 21st. The songs they will sing may include their most famous "Don't Stop Believing", "Toxic", and "My Life Would Suck Without You". Tickets went on sale February 19th at 10:00 am. Ticket prices range from $51.50 to $91.50.

It's really exciting that such a talented group of people are coming to Minneapolis to perform. I am going to the concert myself and I am so excited. The Target Center will be packed. There will be a bunch of crazed fans, including me, in the Target Center tonight. Hopefully there won't be any security problems. I really hope they sing Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance". I'm sure they will though since it's one of their best songs, along with "Don't Stop Believing".

http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/entertainment/glee-live-concert-minneapolis-feb-8-2011

NBA Finals

Jason Kidd, a 38 year old point guard who plays for Dallas has been playing well in the play offs. He's been one of the biggest leaders. He has averaged about 9.9 points per game and 7.7 assists. He has been passing the ball to all the right people. Tyson Chandler on the way to the basket, and Jason Terry from picks. He has been good on defense against Kobe Bryant and Russell Westbrook. Kidd has had a good season as a veteran.

I don't watch basketball all that much but it seems like Jason Kidd is a good player. He started to love the game when he was young and stuck with it. A lot of people are probably betting on him to get his team to the championship. I'm sure he feels a lot of pressure going into the play offs, as many are watching him in anticipation.

http://www.nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/43161308

E. Coli Outbreak

Two people recently have been infected by food poisoning from traveling in northern Germany. There have been 16 people who have died and more than 1,150 people sick from it in Europe since May. The victims have been hospitalized from the outbreak which was caused by a strain of bacteria that was rare. People have been told to report any travelers to Germany who have had HUS or bloody diarrhea. It only takes a few days for the poisoning to set into your system. HUS, which is often contracted from the poisoning can lead to kidney failure and acute anemia. About 373 people have HUS and another 796 people have the less serious infection. Hamburg, Germany has the most people who are infected. In most years, Germany only has about 60 cases of HUS.
I was shocked when I read this article. There are so many people dying and getting sick from the outbreak. I'm really glad it didn't start in the United States. It seems like officials are taking precautions so nobody else in the United States gets sick from it. It would be pretty hard to keep the outbreak from spreading. They must be doing a pretty good job though, since only two Americans have been infected.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43227702/ns/health-infectious_diseases/

Joplin Victims are Offered Homes

People left homeless from the Joplin tornadoes are being rental homes to live in for 18 months. Later, they may be bringing in trailers, as they did for New Orleans victims. There were almost 50,000 residents who lost homes in Joplin because of the tornadoes. Nearly a third of the city was damaged and 130 people were killed. Twenty nine people are still missing. Many of the victims are leaving the town. Others who aren't being put into homes are at the Red Cross shelter sleeping on cots.
I feel really bad for the people who live in Joplin, Missouri. I don't know if I would be able to stay in my town if something like this happened. It would be so hard to leave though. Watching your house being destroyed would be so awful. At least they are being offered rental homes and some can go to the Red Cross shelter. People who are in natural disasters receive a lot of love and support from the country but maybe not enough. I think more should be done from communities across the United States and even the World.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43217036/ns/us_news-life/

10 Dangerous Cities

Crime rate has went down 5.5 percent this last year but it isn't all positive news. The Northeast part of the United States has seen an increase in the amount of murders, forcible rapes, and aggravated assaults. Some people think this is because of the high poverty rates in these areas. In 2009 there was evidence that found the link between crime and poverty "inextricable". Detroit, Michigan; New Haven, Connecticut; and Baltimore, Maryland were rated as the most dangerous cities in America recently. Unemployment is improving in these cities but the parts where most crime is committed will probably not improve too much. A lot of the most dangerous cities will most likely have high levels of crime permanently. The list of the top ten dangerous cities in the United States right now are;
10. Stockton, California
9. Rockford, Illinois
8. Baltimore, Maryland
7. Little Rock, Arkansas
6. Oakland, California
5. Memphis Tennessee
4. New Haven, Connecticut
3. St. Louis, Missouri
2. Detroit, Michigan
1. Flint, Michigan
Some of these cities really surprised me as being the top ten dangerous cities. I thought California was a pretty safe state to live in. Michigan looks like it's the most dangerous. I would not recommend living in those areas if you have children or large families. I'm sure it's still nice living in those cities, but it would be hard knowing you aren't very safe. Home is supposed to be where you feel safe. I'm glad I live in Minnesota, even with all the snow.

 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43158398/ns/business-us_business/