NEWS ITEMS

Oakland, CA: More than 100 people were arrested in violent protests over the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man by a transit police officer. At least three cars were set on fire, store windows were smashed and a police cruiser was vandalized in what started as a peaceful demonstration Wednesday over the Jan. 1 shooting of Oscar Grant. Police in riot gear threw tear gas to try to break up the demonstration.

Officer Johannes Mehserle shot the 22-year-old on a BART station platform after
responding to reports of men fighting on a train. Officers had pulled Grant and a few other men out of the train. The shooting and events leading up to it were captured on amateur videos that have been broadcast on television. The victim was lying face down on the platform when he was shot. BART police, city police and the district attorney are investigating the shooting.

Grant's family has filed a $25 million wrongful death claim against BART.

Washington DC: Chief Justice John Roberts agreed to hear the case challenging eligibility for presidency of Obama. The complaint by Dr. Orly Taitz claims the there is evidence that Obama was not born in the U.S. and is not a naturalized citizen. The U.S. Constitution stipulates that a president must be born a U.S. citizen or be a naturalized citizen. Hawaii allows Foreign Born children of Hawaiian Residents to obtain Hawaiian Birth Certificates, it allows one to get Hawaiian Certification of Life birth based on a statement of one relative only, without any corroborating evidence.

London, England: Someone made off with a BMW owned by Princess Beatrice who left the car unlocked with the keys in the ignition while she went into a store. The car was apparently a birthday gift from her father, Prince Andrew. The dimwit princess is fifth in line to the British throne. She receives round-the-clock protection from a police bodyguard.
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