The James Logan Courier

By Rebecca Soltau, Courier Staff Writer

It has been discovered that Walter Reed Army Medical Center, a hospital specifically for the rehabilitation of soldiers coming home from Iraq and the Middle East, was rapidly falling into disrepair. The severely wounded troops were being housed among rats, mice, mold, cockroaches and rot.

When the Congress finally started to demand something be done (only after the Democrats took it back from the Republicans, mind you), a series of Pentagon and Walter Reed officials expressed surprise and disgust at the conditions that were found in the hospital. They promised that the complaints would be taken care of ASAP.

By Jim Fry, VOANews
Washington, DC
22 February 2007

The U.S. Army's second in command says he is disappointed in the living conditions that wounded soldiers endure at the Army's main hospital for the wounded.

A newspaper investigation in Washington, D.C. revealed what it called neglect of the soldiers, and frustration among those soldiers and their families. The Army is promising action and some in Congress want an investigation.

By Rick La Plante, New Haven Schools Public Information Officer

UNION CITY – Patsy Lockhart of Barnard-White Middle School is one of a select group of teachers from throughout the state being honored as part of the California Teachers Association Human Rights Awards Program.

Ms. Lockhart is the recipient of the 2007 Lois Tinson Human Rights Award, one of eight awards to be presented Saturday, March 3, at the annual CTA Equity and Human Rights Conference in San Jose. The Tinson award is presented to an individual whose activities have helped achieve significant progress toward equal opportunity for African Americans.

The Philadelphia Inquirer (MCT)

Pop:
DEAN & BRITTA "Back Numbers" (Zoe, 3 { stars)
Dean Wareham has excelled at quiescent, Velvet Underground-derived rock for a couple of decades now, stretching back to his days leading the sometimes somnambulant trio Galaxie 500 in the '80s through his years making delicately restrained music with Luna.

But the New Zealand native really got his slow-motion groove on with L'Avventura, his 2003 collaboration with Luna bassist Britta Phillips, who is now Wareham's wife.

By Carmen Shiu, Courier Entertainment Editor
Everlife, by Everlife
Release date: February 20, 2007
Label: Buena Vista
ASIN: B000MGUZNE

For Disney Channel viewers, Everlife (Julia, Amber, and Sarah Ross) should be a name they know. Since 2004, these three sisters from Pittsburgh have had five successful singles in Radio Disney s Top 30 playlist. Two notable ones are Go Figure (from Disney Channel Original Movie, Go Figure ) and Find Yourself in You (from Disney Channel Original Series, Hannah Montana ). A number of songs on their latest self-titled album (released on February 20,) are not original songs and/or were featured on other albums, which downplays the band.

Apple Computer Inc. (MCT)

Top 10 songs on iTunes Music Store for Feb. 27:
1. "This is Why I'm Hot," Mims
2. "Break It Off," Rihanna & Sean Paul
3. "Don't Matter," Akon
4. "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race," Fall Out Boy
5. "Cupid's Chokehold," Gym Class Heroes
6. "The Sweet Escape," Gwen Stefani
7. "What Goes Around .../... Comes Around," Justin Timberlake
8. "It's Not Over," Daughtry
9. "Say It Right," Nelly Furtado
10. "Here (In Your Arms)," Hellogoodbye

For more information, please visit the iTunes Web site at www.apple.com/itunes/.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

By Carmen Shiu, Courier Entertainment Editor

Neighborhood Rapstar, 2XL
Audio CD (February 20, 2007)
Original Release Date: October 24, 2006
Label: Tommy Boy
ASIN: B000I2IR78

It is hard to believe, but the twin brothers of the California-based rap duo 2XL are only 16 years old. Bennett Laze and Justin Royal Talmadge Armstrong just released their debut album, Neighborhood Rapstar, on February 20, 2007. At such a young age, 2XL are already working with big names as they appear on the album like Cherish, E-40, and Scott Storch.

By Patrick Pilapil, Courier Staff Writer

Funeral for Yesterday, Kittie
Release Date: February 20, 2007
Label: X Of Infamy
ASIN: B000MQ55HK

4 out of 5 stars

When it comes to hard rock, the list of female musicians who have made an impact in the genre is very short. Wendy O. Williams, Lita Ford and Courtney Love are the only ones that come to my mind. However, one all-female band from Canada aims to make that list just a bit longer.

You can see Kittie on tour on Wednesday at 8 p.m., at the Fat Cat Music House and Lounge, in Modesto.