Top Stories

How Much Impact Does Your Faith Have On Your Vote?

It’s the economy.  No, it’s social justice.  No, it’s the sanctity of life.  There is no shortage of opinion as to the top issues this election.  Earlier this year, the Barna Group did some research on those issues – and how much of a role faith plays in it.  Over the course of the next couple of weeks, we’ll look into the specifics of that survey with David Kinnaman of the Barna Group, who tells us they break people down into 5 faith segments: Evangelical Christians, Non-Evangelical Christians, Notional (or cultural) Christians, Non-Christians, and Skeptics (atheists and agnostics). Stay with us over the next several days as we delve deeper into that study from the Barna Group. And you can hear Dennis Hutchinson’s entire interview with David Kinnaman, president of Barna Research, by clicking the link to your right, on this page.

Fallen Border Patrol Agent’s Funeral Today

Border Patrol Agent Nicolas Ivie will be laid to rest today.  Ivie is the agent that was killed in the line of duty last week south of Tucson.  The FBI says it appears his death was caused by friendly fire, but Jeff Self with U-S Border Patrol says that doesn’t change the fact that he died serving his country. The funeral for agent Ivie is today.

DEA Takes Back Millions of Unused Prescription Drugs

Typically when you think of a crackdown at the Drug Enforcement Administration, you think illegal drugs.  A 2-year initiative called “Drug Take-Back Day” just finished about a week ago, and the DEA says they were able to get 2 million pounds of unused, potentially dangerous prescription drugs out of circulation.  That program started after a survey came out that showed 6 million Americans abuse prescription drugs, and that 7 out of 10 got them from friends or relatives.

California Dreamin’ Becomes $6.00 Per Gallon of Gas Nightmare

Things got a little crazy at the gas pumps in California over the weekend, with record breaking prices well over 5-dollars per gallon at times.  The average price yesterday was about $4.65, and all of that happened because of a temporary reduction in supply caused by a power outage.  That meant some stations had to close altogether, while others tried to pick up the slack.  One gas station in Long Beach had gas at $6.65 a gallon.

Clamping Down on Illegal Music Downloads

Another lawsuit is brewing over copyright laws and buying music online.  A company called ReDigi that allows folks to resell songs they’ve downloaded is being sued by EMI Records for copyright violation.  ReDigi says they have checks in place to protect against illegal downloads.

Safe Autos

Four automobile models are getting pats on the back from the insurance industry in the latest crash tests.  The Lexus ES, Hyundai Santa Fe, Subaru XV Crosstrek, and the new Dodge Dart all earned the top award for performing well in crashes.

Meningitis Outbreak Expands to Michigan

Michigan is the latest state to be added to the list in that meningitis outbreak that came from tainted steroid shots.  At least 20 cases have been confirmed in Michigan, including at least 2 deaths in the last week.  The number of cases nationally is now close to 100.

More Peanut Butter Recalled

Sunland continues to expand its recall of peanut butter products tainted with salmonella.  It already included 100 products, and now has been expanded to include everything that was made in that plant after March 1, 2010.  All you need to know at FDA.gov.

Family & Relationships

Sooner State Says “NOT OK” To Planned Parenthood

Oklahoma has become the latest state to cut off funds to Planned Parenthood.  Planned Parenthood says they don’t perform abortions at facilities in Oklahoma, but they do make referrals.  Texas cut off funding for them earlier this year.

Work

Small Biz Hiring Down

Hiring by small business was down for the 3rd straight month in September.  The National Federation of Independent Business says uncertainty is the biggest problem, making it tough for business owners to make the commitment to spend.

Finances & Economy

Poll: 7 in 10 Believe It’s OK to Walk Away from Your Mortgage

If you wonder why the housing market hasn’t fully rebounded, it may be because so many of us don’t think defaulting is all that big a deal.  A new survey by Zogby shows that 68 million Americas believe homeowners should be allowed to simply walk away from their mortgage, with no consequences.  The survey looks at what are called “Strategic Defaults.”  These are folks who can pay, and don’t owe more than their home is worth, but still plan to walk away.  At least 28 million Americans are planning to do just that.  And that doesn’t even take into consideration the almost 11 million homeowners that are underwater in their mortgages.

Health

More Will Exercise if it Helps Others

Using social marketing to sell ideas instead of products may be the best way to get us off the couch.  New research out of the U-K suggests that people are more likely to exercise if they feel like it’s helping somebody besides themselves, and is part of an overall community-wide effort.  In England, they called it “Fit & Fab” - and they found more people willing to take part in it than in all the pre-existing efforts.

Gastric Bypass Surgeries Growing

As the nation’s waistline has expanded, so have the numbers of people who are now considered candidates for gastric bypass surgery.  Some forecasts say it could be as high as 31 million people, so doctors wanted to find out how well people who’d had the surgery fared 6 years later.  Dr. Ted Adams says the results were encouraging. Almost 80% had been able to maintain a “very significant degree of weight loss.” Every cardiovascular risk factor improved, when compared to the control group, who did not have the surgery.  More in the latest Journal of the American Medical Association.