Morning Media Summary

Tech:

Dearborn Republican sues Facebook for shutting down account during election, foiling his ‘attempt to overthrow the Dingell Dynasty’:
“Dearborn attorney Majed Moughni says he lost his bid to unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. John Dingell last year, in part, because he lost his Facebook account.”
Verizon offers refunds for fraudulent SMS messages: http://www.itworld.com/mobile-amp-wireless/139644/verizon-offers-refunds-fraudulent-sms-messages
“Verizon on Wednesday said that it filed a lawsuit this week against a group of people and related companies that it alleges duped people into signing up and getting charged for premium short message services.”

Text messages to replace stamps in Sweden:
“A similar system is set for launch in Denmark on April 1st allowing users to send a text message, prompting a special code to be sent back.”

House subcommittee votes to kill net neutrality:
“A U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee has voted in favor of a resolution to throw out the U.S. Federal Communications Commission’s recently adopted net neutrality rules.”

Global Warming / Environment / Energy:

Hope and Change: Gas Prices Have Gone Up 67 Percent Since Obama Became President:
“Ah, January of 2009. Hope was in the air, but more importantly, gas was under two dollars a gallon. Since then gas prices, have gone up 67 percent and it’s an ominously upward trend. Interestingly enough, the Heritage Foundation also took a look at the first 26 months of Bush’s presidency — gas only rose 7 percent during that time frame.”

Insurance / Gambling:

Nevada Gaming Control Board Calls Online Gambling Law Vague:
“Caesars Entertainment was already leading the way into the online gambling era in the US, but a partnership with subsidiaries of Internet gaming giant 888 Holdings, has confirmed the company is preparing for US regulations. On Wednesday, the Nevada Gaming Control Board gave their approval to the business partnership.”

Health / Safety:

These GOP Budget Cuts Might Make You Puke (or Worse):
“Would you like some salmonella with those budget cuts? If Republicans have their way, food safety could fall casualty to the congressional budget-cutting fervor. Buried in the House GOP’s budget bill, which passed last month and would axe $61 billion in spending, are major funding reductions for agricultural inspections. And consumer advocates warn that these cuts could escalate outbreaks of food-borne illnesses.”

Economics:

Geithner says lending cuts hurt U.S. influence:
“”We live in a dangerous world, the world isn’t standing still,” he told a House of Representatives Appropriations subcommittee where he sought backing for a $1.24 billion budget increase to $3.36 billion for international programs that Treasury oversees.”

Rand Paul’s party of one:
“Sen. Rand Paul is the only member of Congress who has entertained not just one, but every single one of the following ideas: Requiring a $2,000 deductible for Medicare plans, raising the age at which Americans can receive Social Security, drastically cutting military spending, eliminating foreign aid to Israel and the rest of the Middle East, and weaning poor Americans off “intergenerational welfare,” more commonly known as Medicaid.”

Legal:

Illinois abolishes death penalty, clears death row:
“For a mother who lost her son to violence, Illinois’ decision to abolish the death penalty is a betrayal. But to a father who lost two daughters and a grandson, it’s simply the Christian thing to do.”

Labor:

Why I’m Fighting in Wisconsin:
“In 2010, Megan Sampson was named an Outstanding First Year Teacher in Wisconsin. A week later, she got a layoff notice from the Milwaukee Public Schools. Why would one of the best new teachers in the state be one of the first let go? Because her collective-bargaining contract requires staffing decisions to be made based on seniority.”

Wis. GOP bypasses Dems, cuts collective bargaining:
“At least two dozen protesters spent the night just outside the Wisconsin state Assembly chamber in anticipation of a late Thursday morning vote on explosive union rights legislation that passed the Senate after Republicans outmaneuvered their missing Democratic counterparts and pushed through the bill.”

Transportation/ Land Use:

Supporters of high speed rail welcome new survey results:
“New fuel to the argument for high speed rail in central Florida.”