Hands free devices still distract drivers  

Using hands free devices that translate speech into text remains very distracting to drivers and lessens their attention and focus.

Donating adult organs to children under 12 raises complicated ethical issues

Providing children under the age of 12 with donated adult organs raises many complicated ethical issues.

Patient without health insurance have risen nearly 22 percent

Patient out of pocket costs for key medical procedures have risen nearly 22 percent in the past year.

Google purchasing an online mapping service

Google is purchasing the online mapping service WAZE in a deal valued at just over a Billion dollars.

Children’s relationship with their father can impact depression and behavior problems tendencies

A child’s relationship with their father can have a significant impact on tendencies toward depression and behavior problems.

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This year’s theme was “Our Inspirations: the people, places, and things that have inspired us to progress”IVR. The graduating seniors focused on inspirational professors such as keynote speaker  Dr. Christina Ayala-Alcantar of the chicana/o studies department.

“It has really been my honor to have many of you as my students,” said Ayala-Alcantar. “You inspire me to read, to do my homework, so that we (can) have great class discussions. It really is an honor to be in a classroom with you.”

Guadalupe Ruiz-Madrigal, Chicana/o Studies graduate, helped with the Aztlan Graduation planning committee. She said that this ceremony is more personal and intimate than CSUN’s general commencement ceremonies.

“I think that the regular graduation from school is not as personal as this one,” said Ruiz-Madrigal.

The Aztlan graduation and scholarship committee is a student run organization. This committee has been hosting commencement ceremonies for Chicano Studies graduates since 1969.

The UCLA Anderson economic forecast predicts a recovery in the construction industry.

Most Americans say investigate terrorism threats is more important than protecting personal privacy

Sixty two percent of Americans say it is more important for the federal government to investigate terrorism threats than for their personal privacy to be protected.

Budget cuts will lead to seven courthouses closing in LA county  

Huge budget cuts will lead to seven courthouses closing in LA County, and the loss of hundreds of jobs.

The cost of renting tiers

Customers who rent tires often pay double or triple the cost of buying, and may face aggressive repossession policies.

Solar power has reached a record level  

Solar generated power in California has reached a record level.

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Treatment center for mentally ill jail inmates

L-A County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky is recommending building a treatment center for mentally ill jail inmates.

Closing San Onofre power plant  

Southern California Edison makes the difficult decision to close its troubled San Onofre nuclear power plant.

NSA has collected communication records of U.S. citizens

The National Security Agency has been routinely collecting the communications records of millions of United States citizens.

Holder explains the seizure of phone records

Attorney General Eric Holder explains the Justice Department’s seizure of phone records from the Associated Press and E-Mails from Fox News.

Top 20 percent of income earners gaining more wealth from tax breaks

The top 20 percent of income earners will reap more than half of the 900-Billion dollars in benefits from tax breaks.

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Family members mourn the loss of 26-year old Marcela Franco and her father Carlos Franco at a memorial for the victims of the Santa Monica shooting. Photo credit: Charlie Kaijo / Senior Photographer

Family members mourn the loss of 26-year old Marcela Franco and her father Carlos Franco at a memorial for the victims of the Santa Monica shooting. They were gunned down in their car by John Zawahri last Friday. Marcella died at the hospital of her injuries. Photo credit: Charlie Kaijo / Senior Photographer

Family members of 26 year old Marcela Franco and her father, Carlos Franco, embrace during a memorial vigil at Santa Monica College, Monday evening. Marcela and her father were gunned down in their car by John Zawahri on their way to buying books for her classes, Friday. Photo credit: Charlie Kaijo / Senior Photographer

Teenage unemployment, one of the highest rate with 25 percent

Recessions hurt the youngest and most inexperienced workers, resulting in a teenage unemployment rate that stands at 25 percent.

A new program will provide school children with high speed Internet connection

President Obama unveils a program that aims to get 99 percent of America’s school children linked to high speed Internet connections.

Voluntary labeling on alcoholic beverages

Alcoholic beverages can be brought into the modern era with a voluntary labeling requirement that includes nutritional information.

Aggressive breast cancers among Black women

Black women face higher rates of more aggressive breast cancers.

Mental health benefits

Mental health benefits are being expanded for more than 60-Million people.

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More funding for school districts with low-income students

The state legislature agrees on a budget deal that increases funding for school districts with low-income students and English language learners.

State Treasure Bill Lockyer ending his career

State Treasure Bill Lockyer will be ending his political career.

IRS spending habits

Congress holds a hearing exploring the extravagant spending habits of the Internal Revenue Service.

Fire pits used at beaches might be banned

The South Coast Air Quality Management District is seeking a ban on fire pits used at beaches.

Rules will not be set to reduce helicopter noise

The federal Aviation Administration decides not to set rules to reduce helicopter noise in the Los Angeles region.

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Evening Update Weds June 12

Lawmakers are moving aggressively to combat against military sexual assaults

Lawmakers outraged by high profile cases of military sexual assaults are moving aggressively on legislation that may strip commanders of their authority.

Growing use of electric equipment at the Port of Los Angeles

The growing use of electric equipment at the Port of Los Angeles is leading to the development of an energy efficiency plan.

Schools need to do more to assure students are physically healthy 

The Department of Education says schools need to do more to assure students are physically fit and get enough exercise.

“Parenting in the Age of Digital Technology”

A report has been released titled “Parenting in the Age of Digital Technology.”

Acceptance of homosexuality is higher when religion is less central

A Pew Research Center study finds that the acceptance of homosexuality is widespread in countries where religion is less central in people’s lives

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Evening Update TUES June 11

Santa Monica shootings

A woman critically wounded in the Santa Monica shooting rampage has died, bringing the total of number of victims killed by the gunman to five.

Nation’s organ transplant system begin challenged  

The nation’s organ transplant system is being challenged to give dying children under 12 equal access to obtain lungs from a donor.

Health coverage

Sixty four percent of uninsured Americans haven’t decided if they will buy health coverage for next year.

DNA evidence

The Supreme Court is allowing states to gather DNA evidence from anyone arrested for a serious crime

A growing distrust for IRS

A growing number of scandals and the targeting of conservative political groups have American taxpayers not trusting the Internal Revenue Service.

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Evening Update Monday June 10