North Dakota governor signs "heartbeat" abortion ban

By Dave Thompson

BISMARCK, North Dakota (Reuters) - North Dakota on Tuesday adopted the most restrictive abortion law in the United States, as the governor signed a bill that bans the procedure in most cases once a fetal heartbeat can be detected, as early as six weeks.

Supporters of abortion rights said they would challenge the measure in court.

Governor Jack Dalrymple on Tuesday also signed a bill that bans abortions based solely on genetic abnormalities, the first state ban of its kind, or based on the gender of the fetus.

North Dakota is the latest state to pass measures to restrict abortions. Arkansas lawmakers earlier in March approved a ban on most abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy that could take effect in August if it survives expected legal challenges.

Several states ban most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Critics said the ban at six weeks would take effect before many women would know they were pregnant.

Dalrymple, a Republican in a state with a Republican-controlled legislature, said the constitutionality of North Dakota's effective ban at six weeks into pregnancy was an open question. He said lawmakers should appropriate money to a litigation fund for the state attorney general to defend against any possible challenges to the law.

The "heartbeat" bill provides exceptions if an abortion would prevent the death or irreversible impairment of a pregnant woman, but provides no exception for rape. It sets up a direct challenge to the Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion in 1973.

"These are bills that have passed the legislature. This is what they want to do," Dalrymple said in Dickinson, North Dakota. "They have a legislative right to find out if these laws can stand."

Republican state Senator Spencer Berry, a bill sponsor, had said when lawmakers sent the bill to the governor that 40 years of medical advancements should not be ignored.

CHALLENGE PLANNED

U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp, a North Dakota Democrat and former state attorney general, said the six-week ban and other abortion bills signed Tuesday probably were not constitutional.

"I think it's way too extreme," Heitkamp said.

The Center for Reproductive Rights said it plans to file a legal challenge to the six-week ban before it takes effect on August 1 on behalf of North Dakota's only clinic that provides abortions, the Red River Women's Clinic in Fargo.

"North Dakota has set a new standard for extreme hostility toward the rights and health of women, the U.S. Constitution, and 40 years of Supreme Court precedent," Nancy Northup, the center's president and chief executive, said in a statement.

"We will not allow this frontal assault on fundamental reproductive rights to go unchallenged," Northup said.

Roe v. Wade and later Supreme Court decisions have found that states cannot ban abortions before the fetus is viable.

Dalrymple on Tuesday also signed a third bill on abortions, requiring physicians who perform abortions in the state to have privileges at a nearby hospital that also permits abortions in its facility.

North Dakota lawmakers this session also approved putting a proposed amendment to the state constitution before voters in 2014 that would define life as beginning with conception, effectively outlawing all abortions.

Similar measures have been put before voters in several states, including Mississippi, and rejected.

Planned Parenthood said Tuesday it is working with a broad group of doctors, patients, teachers, lawyers and others to oppose the proposed "personhood" amendment.

(Additional reporting by Ernest Scheyder in Dickinson, North Dakota and David Bailey in Minneapolis; editing by Scott Malone and Leslie Adler)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/north-dakota-governor-signs-heartbeat-abortion-ban-165447884.html

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1-800-GOT-JUNK? Launches Mobile App to Improve Business ...

MobiJunk project is part of a government program to promote enterprise productivity through digital technologies.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - March 26, 2013 // PRNewswire // - The next evolution of junk removal has arrived for the world's largest junk removal company. 1-800-GOT-JUNK? has unveiled its new mobile application prototype to franchise partners attending the company's annual conference in Vancouver. MobiJunk is the result of several months of hard work by software developer, Gargoyle Software, Inc., and the business technology team at 1-800-GOT-JUNK?. The app was funded in part by a research and development grant designed to support enterprises to increase productivity growth through adoption of digital technologies.

"We needed a solution to remain efficient and customer-focused in a business landscape that's rapidly growing when it comes to technology," explains 1-800-GOT-JUNK? Vice President of Business Technology, Andy Parkins . "Junk has to be mobile if we are to succeed in this new environment, and to that end we have developed this platform to give our front-line employees the tools to provide superior customer service and responsiveness."

Truck team members have traditionally followed a paper schedule. SMS messaging dispatches new jobs and updated job information is available via a rudimentary WAP interface. Paper and pencil are common utensils and customers are still given carbon copies of hand-written receipts. MobiJunk will change all that, providing a rich interface to deal with job information on the front lines in real time.

1-800-GOT-JUNK?'s operational mobility strategy for 2013 includes 3 phases. Phase 1 focuses on key business functions, including invoicing and dispatching; route journal completions; customer data access; and commercial account details. Phase 2 adds mobile reporting analytics to the application, which will provide the team members and franchise partners real time metrics to easily capture revenue. Phase 3 will bring media focus to the mobile service by adding in even more useful functions, such as before and after photos. MobiJunk is currently available on the iPhone and android platforms.

Parkins says a key goal of the project is to provide a modern usability experience ? the right tools, at the right time, in the right place - for franchise partners and their teams. "We are striving to develop a product in which usability meets gamification to make the experience more fun and encourage user engagement."

When 1-800-GOT-JUNK? began franchising more than 10 years ago it was considered a relatively low tech company. Now, it's anything but, as Parkins explains. "This company is all about innovation. It's one of our four pillars of success. When you think you can't do something, think again until you realize you can. That's what will position us for the technology explosion that's coming."

About 1-800-GOT-JUNK?

1-800-GOT-JUNK? is pioneering an industry that is helping residents and businesses remove junk and regain space. Whether it's a pile of household junk in the garage or a warehouse full of office furnishings, 1-800-GOT-JUNK? removes it for you, making the ordinary business of junk removal exceptional. We are passionate about recycling and donating to charity. 1-800-GOT-JUNK? was founded in 1989 and now operates throughout North America and Australia. For more information, visit www.1800gotjunk.com.

SOURCE 1-800-GOT-JUNK?

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Source: http://www.franchising.com/news/20130326_1800gotjunk_launches_mobile_app_to_improve_busines.html

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The drones are coming ... but our laws aren't ready

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Snowstorm takes aim at Plains, Midwest

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) ? An early spring snowstorm forced the cancellation of more than 100 flights at Denver International Airport and closed several roads Saturday as it moved eastward, dumping more than a foot of snow in some places.

The snow started falling around midnight in northeast Colorado and then moved into northwest Kansas and southwest Nebraska.

Ten to 15 inches of snow had fallen by Saturday afternoon north of Interstate 70 in northwest Kansas and northeast Colorado, with another 1 to 2 inches expected in the area, said Ryan Husted, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Goodland, Kan., where 15 inches of snow had fallen.

The storm also dropped up to 7 inches of snow in southwestern Nebraska before tapering off Saturday afternoon, said David Pearson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service near Omaha, Neb.

"But the wind is really blowing, so visibility in those areas is still going to be pretty low," Pearson said.

Husted said winds gusting at speeds of up to 45 mph were creating snow drifts of 2 to 3 feet in parts of Kansas, Colorado and Nebraska.

I-70 had been shut down Saturday from Denver to Colby, Kan., because of poor visibility. The northbound lanes of Interstate 25 also were closed south of Fort Collins, Colo., because of multiple accidents.

"It's a mess here," said Jerry Killingsworth, a National Weather Service meteorologist also based in Goodland, Kan. "Heavy, wet snow, tree limbs down."

At the Goodland 24/7 truck stop, truckers milled around. With roads in the area closed, they are "just waiting," said Samantha Lamb, the truck stop's assistant manager.

"Our hotel across the street from us is pretty full," Lamb said. "Our parking lot has a good 35, 40 trucks in it."

As the system moved eastward, it threatened to inconvenience fans attending the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Kansas City.

Scott Blair, a meteorologist in Pleasant Hill, Mo., said light showers and drizzle began switching over to snow Saturday afternoon in Kansas City and western Missouri. The heaviest snowfall was expected overnight, with up to 6 inches forecast for the Kansas City metropolitan area.

"If people don't need to be out driving tomorrow that would certainly be recommended," he said.

Dan Gavitt, vice president of the NCAA men's basketball championships, said teams and officials already are onsite and that no game delays are anticipated.

"This region routinely has winter snow and has the appropriate equipment and procedures to manage these winter conditions," Gavitt said in a written statement. "We encourage fans planning to attend games to pay attention to the weather, use good judgment and follow any directions from local authorities regarding travel and weather."

North Carolina coach Roy Williams was nonplussed.

"It's no distraction, unless the roof goes off, we'll still be able to play and the whole bit like that," Williams said.

Elsewhere, some churches and other organizations were calling off events. Among them, the final game of the Emporia State baseball series with Southwest Baptist was canceled.

Denver International Airport spokesman Heath Montgomery said about 106 flights have been canceled, many of which involved commuter jets headed to nearby destinations or to mountain towns.

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center said up to a foot of new snow in the mountains could create dangerous avalanche conditions.

Colorado State Patrol troopers also spent part of Saturday working a crash near Johnstown involving a tractor-trailer that burst into flames. An estimated 20 to 50 vehicles, including four tractor-trailers, crashed or slid off the roadway in the area. The patrol said several people were hospitalized, but no fatalities have been reported.

The system will move into Illinois and Indiana overnight and into Sunday.

Meteorologist Dan Smith with the National Weather Service in Lincoln, Ill., said snowstorms aren't uncommon in early spring. The latest the area has seen snow, he said, was April 23, in 1910.

"One good thing about (the snowstorms) is it doesn't matter how much you get, it usually doesn't stick around too long because temperatures start to warm up pretty good," he said.

Farther south, tornadoes were possible in Louisiana and Mississippi, while strong winds and low humidity could lead to forest fires and wildfires in parts of New Mexico and West Texas.

___

Associated Press writers Jason Keyser in Chicago, Thomas Peipert in Denver, David Skretta in Kansas City, Mo., and Margery A. Beck in Omaha, Neb., contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/snowstorm-takes-aim-plains-midwest-171700123.html

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Twitter Opens Tweet Archive Access To Users In 12 More Languages, Including Farsi, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Malay and Spanish

Today Twitter announced that it would be ramping up its archiving tool to cover people who use the service in 12 non-English languages: Dutch, Farsi, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Malay, Norwegian, Polish and Spanish -- giving the company one more way of engaging with its international audience, now 70% of its 200 million-monthly user base. The ability to access your own archive of tweets -- which lets you see everything you tweeted and retweeted, and lets you retweet those tweets yet again -- was first launched last year, in December, as a service only for those using Twitter in English.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/jGGcejkFUeI/

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Low-end Txtr Beagle e-reader coming to the US for $70, not $13

Back when Txtr first revealed its enthusiastic scheme to enter the low-end e-reader market, the idea was that it would be doing so by offering the Beagle at an extremely cheap rate. Fast forward to today, and it looks as if the Txtr Beagle will undoubtedly be hitting shelves in the US, but just not at the price we had hoped -- the e-reader itself is set to be carrying a $70 tag, making it a lot more costly than the $13 device that was originally planned. If you're still interested despite the unexpected outcome, then pay our source link a visit, where you'll find the Txtr Beagle now available for pre-order and ready to take your cash.

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Via: TG Daily

Source: ShopEreaders

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/11/txtr-beagle-e-reader-us-price/

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Jeter, Rivera make spring training debuts

New York Yankees Derek Jeter runs to first base after connecting for a single during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Atlatna Braves at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., Saturday, March 9, 2013. Jeter singled sharply to left field on his first pitch since breaking an ankle last fall in the AL championship series. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

New York Yankees Derek Jeter runs to first base after connecting for a single during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Atlatna Braves at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., Saturday, March 9, 2013. Jeter singled sharply to left field on his first pitch since breaking an ankle last fall in the AL championship series. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

New York Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera, who announced his plans to retire at the end of this season, delivers a warmup pitch before facing the Atlanta Braves in the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., Saturday, March 9, 2013. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

New York Yankees Derek Jeter reacts after connecting for a single during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Atlatna Braves at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., Saturday, March 9, 2013. Jeter singled sharply to left field on his first pitch since breaking an ankle last fall in the AL championship series. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

New York Yankees' Derek Jeter connects for a first-inning single against the Atlanta Braves in his first at-bat in a spring training baseball game since breaking an ankle during the 2012 playoffs, at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., Saturday, March 9, 2013. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Atlanta Braves shortstop Tyler Pastornicky, left, looks on as New York Yankees Derek Jeter reacts after he was out at second base on a play during a spring training baseball game at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., Saturday, March 9, 2013. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) ? In a few years, this will be a scene from Old-Timers' Day: Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera walking on the field to loud ovations.

For now, though, it is a sight the banged-up Yankees had been waiting for: their captain and closer returning to the field following major injuries.

Jeter and Rivera made their 2013 spring training debuts Saturday in the Yankees' 2-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves, which dropped New York's AL-worst exhibition record to 3-11.

"It's really positive for us," Girardi said.

The 38-year-old Jeter was a designated hitter and singled sharply to left field on his first pitch since breaking his left ankle on Oct. 13 in the AL championship series opener. Jeter, who missed New York's first 13 spring training games, grounded out to third base in his only other at-bat.

"Everything was fine," Jeter said. "It's good to get back into a game. Now, it's normal spring training. Get more and more comfortable."

Jeter, immobile for part of the offseason following surgery on Oct. 20, is scheduled to DH again Monday. He could return to shortstop on Wednesday.

"We'll see how he feels and go from there," Girardi said.

The 43-year-old Rivera was back on the mound, just hours after announcing this will be his final season. In his first game since April 30, he threw a 1-2-3 fifth inning that required 15 pitches. He looked like his overpowering self of old, retiring Dan Uggla on a popup to second and then throwing called third strikes past Juan Francisco and Chris Johnson.

"Pretty much what we're used to seeing from Mo," Girardi said. "On track to be ready for opening day."

Rivera made just nine appearances last season before he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee while shagging fly balls on May 3. Rivera had surgery on June 12.

He called the day "overwhelming."

"It was wonderful," Rivera said.

New York had had a difficult spring training. Already knowing third baseman Alex Rodriguez will miss the first half of the season following hip surgery, the Yankees will be without centerfielder Curtis Granderson (broken right forearm) and first baseman Mark Teixeira (strained right wrist tendon) until May.

As for the Braves, starter Mike Minor allowed three hits and two walks in four shutout innings.

"We threw a lot of sliders and curveballs, and stayed away from changeups, threw maybe five," Minor said. "So, really just working on that and just trying to workout of jams. Mix in more game-like situations."

Tyler Pastornicky, hitting .419 this year, tripled in the seventh and scored on Uggla's single.

NOTES: Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino threw the ceremonial first pitch to Hall of Fame reliever Goose Gossage. ... Yankees LHP Boone Logan (tender elbow) is to throw off a mound Sunday. ... The Yankees had non-roster utility man Ronnier Mustelier do extra pregame work at third base.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-03-09-BBO-Braves-Yankees/id-2eedc10ebf1842be8ab0aac7505ca261

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