Last week, Congress passed the final round of health care reform bills and adjourned for the 2-week spring recess. Senators working on comprehensive climate and energy legislation kicked their efforts into high gear, meeting with other senators and industry representatives in hopes of building support for their draft bill, which they plan on finalizing next month. During the congressional recess, 1Sky supporters collaborating on our nationwide “Storm” will be arriving en masse at in-state offices to demand that members of Congress oppose the "Dirty Air Act" proposals under consideration in both the House and Senate.

Climate Bill and Clean Air Act Timing

• March 27-April 11: Congressional recess – Kerry, Graham, and Lieberman staff working to write legislative text and submit bill (subs. req'd) as soon as possible to EPA for six-to-eight weeks of analysis
• April 1: New fuel economy rules under Clean Air Act for cars and light trucks to be finalized
• Week of Earth Day (April 19-23): Kerry-Graham-Lieberman (KGL) legislative text expected to be unveiled (subs. req'd)
• May or June: KGL climate bill could go to Senate floor

Climate Bill Momentum Building, "KGL" Draft Expected After Recess

Last week, Senators John Kerry (D-MA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Joe Lieberman (I-CT) held numerous meetings with groups of senators, administration officials, and business stakeholders to solicit feedback and build support as the trio gets closer to releasing a draft bill. Senator Mark Begich (D-AK) urged Kerry, Graham, and Lieberman to consider (PDF) both offshore drilling and adaptation measures in their proposal

It will benefit no Alaskan to slow the advance of climate change's effects if no one can afford to rebuild their eroding village, meet a payroll or heat their home.

In contrast, ten other senators from coastal states wrote to Senator Kerry (PDF) to inform him that they oppose offshore drilling and, "cannot support legislation that will mitigate one risk only to put our coasts at greater peril from another source." Meanwhile, the Sierra Club's new Executive Director Mike Brune made it clear that the Sierra Club is unhappy with several elements in the developing KGL proposals.

Tom Donohue, CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said last week that his powerful business lobby group "like(s) a lot of the content of the discussion."

Last week, Graham discussed more details from the trio's draft bill (subs req'd):

• Graham said that 60% of revenue generated from the sale of pollution permits will be returned to the public as dividends (subs req'd) with revenue from electric utilities being rebated through local distribution companies (LDCs).
• According to Graham, individual states will be able to opt-in to offshore drilling within 35 miles of their coasts, and opt-out of drilling 35-75 miles off their coasts
• Emission limits for power plants would be enforced beginning in 2012, manufacturers in 2016 (previously leaked, but then confirmed by Graham)

Twenty-two generally moderate Democratic senators recently sent a letter to Senator Reid pushing for a floor vote on comprehensive climate and energy legislation this year rather than pursuing an energy-only approach. Senators on the letter include: Tom Udall (D-NM), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Kay Hagan (D-NC), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Mark Begich (D-AK), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Tom Carper (D-DE), Mark Udall (D-CO), Al Franken (D-MN), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Ted Kaufman (D-DE), Ronald Burris (D-IL), Bob Casey Jr. (D-PA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Arlen Specter (D-PA), Jon Tester (D-MT), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).

Back in January, a different group of senators signed onto a similar letter (PDF), which when paired with this recent effort means that a total 33 senators (more than half of the Democratic caucus) have affirmed that they want to see comprehensive climate and energy legislation on the Senate floor this year. Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND) and Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) both indicated this week that they are backing away from their push for so-called "energy-only" legislation (subs req'd) as they wait to see details of the Kerry-Graham-Lieberman comprehensive energy and climate bill.

Senators Cantwell and Susan Collins (R-ME) worked last week to drum up support for their CLEAR Act (S. 2877 – see 1Sky's analysis at www.1sky.org/s2877). They held meetings with Senators George LeMieux (R-FL) and Judd Gregg (R-NH) and touted many of the components of their bill. Senator Graham responded to their new push, "Hopefully, we'll get the best of their ideas and the best of other people's ideas to basically come up with a new way forward."

The Embattled Clean Air Act

To date, 193 members of the House have signed onto at least one of the seven Dirty Air Act proposals in that chamber, representing dangerous momentum to roll back the Clean Air Act. This week, Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D-IN) became the latest co-sponsor of one of the measures. Forty-two senators are co-sponsoring companion measures in the Senate. Big Oil and Dirty Coal are pulling out all the stops to attack the Clean Air Act from every possible angle and are lobbying hard to get members of Congress to join them.

1Sky supporters are raising their voices by "storming" the in-state offices of elected officials over the next few weeks and demanding that members stand with them in defense of the Clean Air Act. MoveOn.org, Sierra Club and a range of state and regional groups are collaborating with us on the Storms.

Finishing Touches on Health Care, Obama to Sign "Fixes"

After a series of grueling debates, the Senate passed the reconciliation health care package last Thursday on a vote of 56-43. A few small changes were made to the bill, which required the House to approve the bill once more on Thursday before President Obama signs the package of into law. Democrats Ben Nelson (D-NE), Mark Pryor (D-AK), and Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) all voted against the final bill.

Financial Regulatory Reform

Financial regulatory reform is now high on the Senate agenda along with climate and immigration reform. Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, has introduced a bill which passed out of his committee last Monday. Senate Republicans are predicting that it has a good chance of passing with bipartisan support before the Memorial Day recess.

Home Star Bill Moving in House

The Home Star program passed out of the House Energy and Environment Subcommittee last Wednesday, and now moves to a full vote in the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The bill will encourage home energy efficiency improvements through a rebate program and is expected to create 168,000 jobs and save homeowners $9.2 billion on energy bills.

Prepared by Jason Kowalski and Julie Erickson from 1Sky’s policy team. Please direct questions or comments to jason@1sky.org.

Filed under: Gut Reactions, TV News

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1. Dr. Conrad Murray Pleading Not Guilty on Manslaughter Charges

From acting to handbag design, 'Hills' stars share their post-show plans.
By Jocelyn Vena

Kristin Cavallari and Audrina Patridge
Photo: Jesse Grant/ Getty Images

Now that it's been announced that the upcoming season of "The Hills" will be the last, we wonder: What will the cast go on to do after the show ends? After Lauren Conrad's departure she began her own mini-empire that includes a book series, a clothing line and a movie in the works. Whitney Port left the show only to star in her own spinoff, "The City." The fates of the remaining "Hills" stars are up in the air, but they've hinted at possible post-show careers.

Heidi Montag has made it known that she wants to be a pop star and she's also recently made her way into movies, having filmed a cameo for the new Adam Sandler flick "Just Go With It." She also recently tweeted she's back in the designing game. "Designing my FIRST handbag! I am so excited!" she tweeted. "What's your favorite type of bag?"

Her husband Spencer Pratt recently shared that he intends to go back to school to study encryption at the University of Southern California so that he can work for American Defense Enterprises in their cyber-security division. He said of his new career path, which is a far cry from his rap career, "I have decided to refocus my energy and devote my full resources to helping America face this and other unprecedented challenges."

Kristin Cavallari has some experience in the acting game, so it seems likely that she would further pursue a career in Hollywood. She's already gushed about how much she enjoys the world of acting. "I love being on set and being in a movie," she said. "I think it's so much fun. I really, really love it."

Audrina Patridge has also dabbled in acting, so she may focus some of her energy on that — but she's also been working with Mark Burnett on a pilot in hopes that it will get picked up once "The Hills" wraps up. As for Brody Jenner, he can always make a stop by "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" to hang out with his TV family. And while Conrad has jokingly said she'd love it if Lo starred in the "L.A. Candy" flick, Bosworth has said that she would like to get into TV presenting in her post-"Hills" life.

What do you want to see happen to the "Hills" crew after the show ends? Tell us in the comments!

The show that made Heidi Montag, Spencer Pratt and Lauren Conrad household names, "The Hills," is coming to an end after six seasons. 

“I think we’ve told the story of struggle and of finding yourself in L.A.,” creator Adam DiVello tells Entertainment Weekly. “A lot of these kids have found themselves and have certainly embarked on different careers and different paths.”

Montag recently underwent 10 plastic surgery procedures in one day and DiVello reveals how the upcoming season will address the transformation, telling EW, "We tell the whole story. We pick right up where Heidi goes and sees her parents. And our cameras are there that minute the mother opens the door and sees her daughter for the first time."

'The Hills: Final Season' to premiere April 27.
By MTV News staff

"Hills" star Kristin Cavallari
Photo: Miranda Penn Turin

The season finale of "The Hills" in December left a lot of unanswered questions: Will Kristin and Justin Bobby last? Was that really the last time Audrina and Justin Bobby will ever speak? Will Brody actually break up with Jayde? And will Heidi and Spencer ever have a little Pratt? Those questions will become a lot more dramatic during the show's sixth and final season, which was announced by Entertainment Weekly on Wednesday (March 24).

Yes, the forthcoming season will be the show's last. "I think we've told the story of struggle and of finding yourself in L.A.," creator Adam DiVello told EW. "A lot of these kids have found themselves and have certainly embarked on different careers and different paths."

Indeed, many of the events of the past few months find their way into the season, including Heidi Montag's plastic surgery, the results of which she shows to her mother in the first episode. "We tell the whole story," DiVello said. "We pick right up where Heidi goes and sees her parents. And our cameras are there that minute the mother opens the door and sees her daughter for the first time." Executive producer Liz Gateley added, "It's a really touching but heartbreaking scene to watch."

DiVello also commented on rumors that Montag's husband Spencer Pratt had left the show. "Spencer is dealing with some stuff right now, and once he gets through that, we'll be back to shooting with Spencer again. Bottom line is you will see him. He'll be in most of the episodes."

Also in the show's final 12 episodes, fans will see Audrina Patridge dating singer Ryan Cabrera and Kristin Cavallari contending with rumors of drug abuse. "When Kristin was in Miami for the Super Bowl, there was definitely some late nights for her and some speculation that she might be partying a little too hard," Gateley said. "So we're definitely going to cover that part of Kristin. We're pretty much covering everything you've read [about in the tabloids]."

And perhaps most pressing of all, will Lauren Conrad, who left the show in 2009, be back? We'll just have to wait and see, although DiVello did say: "I always joked it would be nice to see Lauren get married."

"The Hills: Final Season" premieres on April 27 at 10 p.m. ET/PT followed by "The City" at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT on MTV.

What do you think will happen in the final season of "The Hills"? Let us know in the comments below!

• Kristin's Greatest 'Hills' Moments

• The Hills (Season 5) | Cast

Stating Dr. Conrad Murray administered anesthetic Propofol which caused Michael Jackson's death, Joe Jackson wants the physician held to account medical malpractice.

0 comments Source: www.aceshowbiz.com

John Hooper, writing about Pope Benedict (Reactionary or prophet?, G2, 23 March) comments that Cardinal Sean Brady "remains in his job despite admitting being involved in a shameful cover-up in the 1970s". The media are getting very worked up over whether Cardinal Brady should or should not resign or be removed by the Catholic church from his post. Surely this is an internal matter for the church? More appropriate is to ask whether the state should prosecute Sean Brady for being an accomplice after the fact to, and conspiring to, cover up very grave crimes against children.

Michael Gabriel

London

• Your timely article on Pope Benedict's pontificate neglects only two points. 1) The liberal wing of the Catholic church is closer to being effectively excluded from influence over the church's affairs than at any time in recent history; and that 2) Pope John Paul II, despite his anti-communist liberation credentials, appointed Cardinal Ratzinger to head up the congregation for the doctrine of the faith at the same time as packing the college of cardinals with conservatives. The present state of the church is his legacy.

Mark Phillips

Haywards Heath, West Sussex

• The formal requirement of celibacy for Catholic priests is not 2,000 years old (Letters, 20 March). It is a relatively recent phenomenon, instituted after the first millennium of Christian history. In the11th century, the demand for clerical celibacy came from below, as communities sought to establish that their priest was a disinterested party they could trust, and not someone who would put the interests of his children and grandchildren ahead of the common good. If priestly celibacy now arouses fear and distrust – rather than dispelling them – then there is no reason why the church cannot, in her wisdom, return to her more ancient practice.

Conrad Leyser

Fellow and tutor in medieval history, Worcester College, Oxford

• The most controversial pope in history (G2, 23 March)? Not even close. Off the top of my head, I can offer Leo IX (led the church into the east-west schism); Urban VI and others (during the great western schism, when there were at times three claimants to the papal throne); and Alexander VI (aka Rodigo Borgia). I think Benedict's got a way to go.

Simon Dennis

London

• When you have finished dealing with the scandals in the Catholic church (Pope fails to quell calls for reform, 22 March), perhaps you could give some consideration to the role of the Protestant ethic in promoting the individual competitiveness which sustains the discredited capitalist system.

Ron Bente

Emsworth, Hampshire

MTV's reality series The Hills will say goodbye after this season, Entertainment Weekly reports.

Poll: Who's the best Hills bad girl?

"I think we've told the story of struggle and of finding yourself in L.A.," creator Adam DiVello told EW. "A lot of these kids have...

Read More >

Other Links From TVGuide.com

• Laguna Beach
• The Hills
• Kristin Cavallari
• Heidi Montag
• Lauren Conrad
• Audrina Patridge

Post from: Crushable

Celeb Tweetup: Bieber Naps, LC Goes To The Dentist

This week, Philadelphia Weekly got scared by the recent onslaught of rainy weather and sought shelter in City Hall.

Aaron Kase profiles the city's Office of the Inspector General, which has allegedly saved the city $7.6 million by identifying inefficiencies in city agencies since Mayor Nutter appointed a new head in 2007. Various members of City Council question the office's value and suggests it is redundant with the City Controller, but considering the fact that City Council is probably the worst offender when it comes to wasted money, we hope nothing comes of this.

Jacob Lambert asserts that, no matter how much John Street grandstands, the soda tax doesn't actually affect the poor as disproportionately as he says it does. In fact, the bigger affront would be voting down the tax, thereby losing millions of dollars that would otherwise go toward parks and youth development initiatives.

PW catches up with South Philly legend Mikey Wild, who is playing Vincent Price in an upcoming film.

Are we really assuming that most folks don't know about Philly Freecycle? Well, sucks for them, because Phillyist just nabbed 30 bricks, an omelet pan, and a jogging stroller. Try to contain your jealousy.

PW also gives a shout-out to the Central Branch of the Free Library, which contains over seven million items and holds frequent events.

Poet CA Conrad talks about moving to Philadelphia and finding creative inspiration in some of its least expected places.

PW sees Zama in Rittenhouse Square as representative of the recent renaissance in local Japanese cuisine, even if it still has a little work to do.

Sounds like Up is actually worth traveling to Bristol for. And that's saying a lot.

Derek Zoolander fans, beware: Ben Stiller is apparently abrasive and unbearable in Greenberg.

Kathleen Turner, John Waters, and an exhibit honoring the Slinky's invention? This is going to be an awesome week. Or you could start saving now for PW's Sake Fest 2010.

(CNN) -- The California state medical board will ask a judge to prevent Dr. Conrad Murray from practicing medicine in California while he is being prosecuted in Michael Jackson's death, according to documents filed on Tuesday with the court by California Attorney General Jerry Brown.

0 comments Source: www.cnn.com