Link to Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/31/business/31pay.html?hp

Link to Video: http://mediamatters.org/blog/200907280055

Link to Article: http://lohud.com/article/20090726/NEWS02/907260357/-1/SPORTS

ALBANY - Sen. Pedro Espada Jr. will return to the Democratic conference, potentially bringing an end to the month-old struggle for control of the chamber.

The Bronx Democrat, who continues to be the subject of a several investigations into his professional and political activities, has claimed the post of Senate president pro tempore since joining with Republican senators on June 8 to try to take control of the chamber.

It is unclear if the Democratic conference, which is currently meeting, will allow him to hold onto that position.

Find Your State Senator and Their Contact Information Here: http://www.nysenate.gov/senators

Sample Letter:
"I, your constituent, have found the behavior of the state senate over the last month appalling. If you do not become an active force in getting the people's business back on track, you will not have my vote in next year's election."

The mother of a 555-pound, 14-year-old boy in South Carolina was charged with neglect last week for allegedly failing to control her son's weight.

Before fleeing town with her son, Jerri Gray had been contacted by the local Department of Social Services previous times about her son's weight and was even issued a treatment plan to turn around Alexander Draper's morbid obesity, Gray's attorney Grant Varner told ABCnews.com.

But when Gray failed to bring Alexander in for some of his medical treatment appointments recommended by the department and he continued to gain weight, the state sent notice that Gray would lose custody of her only child.

"She panicked," Varner said. "She had no lawyer, she couldn't afford a lawyer and they took off. They had no destination really. They stopped in Baltimore to do laundry, which is where they were found."

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/01/opinion/01dowd.html