Scott's : Breaking News

3:34 PM

Sister Barbara Markey Pleads Guilty For Money Stealing

HULIQ, USA
 

Sister Barbara Markey Pleads Guilty For Money Stealing

Sister Barbara Markey, N.D., Ph.D., could face up to 20 years in prison for stealing over $300,000 from the Omaha Archdiocese.

She pleaded guilty yesterday, and admits to having gambled most of the money away, while using the rest for gifts and trips.

Curiously, a June 30, 2007 article in the Omaha-World Herald, says Ms. Markey was originally accused of stealing $820,000.

The 73-year-old nun Sister Barbara Markey is an internationally known clinical psychologist who helped develop the FOCCUS marriage-preparation program. She was fired in 2006 as Director of the Catholic Family Life office.

Source: By Was That My Outside Voice

The Archdiocese of Omaha released a statement of satisfaction with Sister Barbara Markey's guilty plea.

The Archdiocese of Omaha is satisfied with Sister Barbara Markey�s guilty plea to theft by deception today in Douglas County District Court. The case relates to funds taken from the Archdiocesan Family Life Office and FOCCUS, Inc., a Nebraska non-profit corporation affiliated with the Archdiocese, while Sister Markey was the director. Financial irregularities discovered in 2006 resulted in Sister Markey�s termination.

The Archdiocese is finalizing a settlement agreement resolving civil lawsuits related to the case. Under the agreement, Sister Markey will make restitution of $125,000 to the Archdiocese and the Archdiocese will not object to any recommendations that Sr. Markey be sentenced to probation.

Rev. Joseph Taphorn, Chancellor of the Archdiocese, says it was clear that the Archdiocese would not recover all of the missing funds. Taphorn added, �Sister Markey�s willingness to plead guilty and make some restitution will hopefully bring this matter to a close. We�re ready to move on.�

Source: Archdiocese of Omaha News

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11:55 AM

Christian Castro wants to adopt

Christian Castro wants to adopt

 http://hollywoodlatino.blogspot.com/


It's a craze. Angelina, Brad, Spielberg, Cruise, now Christian Castro. After his wife just gave birth to baby number two, the couple says "We're blessed to have these children that God has given us...we want more and we have been thinking maybe our next addition would be an adoption." Developing....
(photo by MHPIXS.com)

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11:17 AM

Truckers' Strike Starts

My Fox Colorado.com, USA
 
Truckers' Strike Starts 3-day work stoppage called for, impact unknown Last Edited: Tuesday, 01 Apr 2008, 7:13 AM MDT Created: Tuesday, 01 Apr 2008, 7:13 AM MDT
 

DENVER  (MyFOXColorado.com) - Truckers across the country say they�re going on strike Tuesday to protest rising fuel costs.

It could mean anything from bricks to tissue paper won�t arrive at its destination on time.

Anything hauled by independent truckers - those who own their own trucks and pay for their own fuel - could be affected.

The average trucker is paying at least $4.00 per gallon for diesel fuel, so one who travels all over the country spends about $3,000 a week on fuel.

There are 350,000 independent drivers in the US. Approximately 3,000 of them are based in Colorado. But there's no way to tell how many of them will strike.


FOX 31�s Melissa Mollet found talked to people at a truck stop in Denver, where there was full support for the work stoppage.

However, the National Independent Trucker Association says many of the drivers can't afford to strike. If they don't work, they don't get paid.

�It's hurting the consumer now because all good and services for the most part are brought by truck,� said truck driver Manual Holsey. �As prices rise the price of freight will rise too to the consumer. Everything is passed on to the consumer.�

�Something's gotta� happen,� said truck driver John Stitzel. �They're killing us out here. My boss has four trucks. He's struggling to make it. We can't do it. Even the big guys are starting to lay off drivers or cut back on trucks. $4.00 a gallon is ridiculous.�

The strike is expected to last for 3 days.

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10:21 AM

Pelosi Comes Out For Baldwin

Queerty, USA
 
Pelosi Comes Out For Baldwin
 

pelosi-3.jpgbaldwin-tammy-1.jpg
The United States government�s queer discrimination runs deeper than we thought. Politico reports this morning that the Pentagon attempted to block Tammy Baldwin from traveling with her long time lover, Lauren Azar, with whom she exchanged domestic partner vows in 1998.

While Defense Secretary Robert Gates and his cronies claim Azar doesn�t count as a �spouse,� Speaker Nancy Pelosi came out in full force for Baldwin.

In appealing to Gates, Pelosi aides said their boss was simply asking the defense secretary to follow a precedent established by her predecessor, former Republican Rep. Dennis Hastert of Illinois. Pelosi told Gates that Hastert had allowed Baldwin to take Azar on a previous trip abroad.

Gates, who was apparently unaware of any earlier trips, told the speaker that she was responsible for the House travel rules and had the authority to make an exception, according to officials on and off the Hill. His only requirement was that Pelosi send him a letter authorizing the trip. Pelosi sent such a letter moments after the phone call ended, and Azar was allowed on the plane.

The Department of Defense makes clear to Politico that their decision simply reflects a deal with Pelosi and should not be taken as a precedent. Aren�t they charming?

This wouldn�t be the first time the government treated its gay employees� differently. Former Romanian Ambassador Michael Guest resigned in protest last year after trying unsuccessfully to amend State Department policy on same-sex couples. While straight partners are granted access to security and language training, their queer counterparts must fend for themselves.

Openly gay Representative Barney Frank blames the Baldwin situation on the current administration, �I think the military was following orders. I think the administration disapproves of same-sex marriage.� It seems to us that the issue goes much deeper than just this administration, but indicates severe flaws in our nation�s political landscape - one that�s clearly skewed toward straight citizens.

If the government wants to shine the light of liberal democracy in places like Iraq, we suggest they do the same here in the States. It�s pretty disheartening that the Department of Defense refuses to include same-sex partners under their spousal guidelines. But, you know, that�s just our homo opinion.

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