The food-stamp economy
On the last day of every month, shoppers at Walmart load their carts with food and household items and wait for the midnight hour. Is this the new normal in America? Full Article
FCC looks into "60 Minutes" blackout
WASHINGTON (Hollywood Reporter) - The Federal Communications Commission is investigating a mysterious signal loss by an Alabama CBS affiliate during a "60 Minutes" segment about the state's imprisoned former governor.
The news item concerned allegations that Don Siegelman, a Democrat who is serving a seven-year term for corruption, was railroaded by Republicans in the Justice Department.
FCC chairman Kevin Martin told reporters Tuesday that the agency received "20-odd" complaints about the 12-minute blackout of Huntsville station WHNT-TV's broadcast on February 24. The blackout occurred at the beginning of the broadcast of the 13-minute segment.
"I have instructed the staff to handle this like we do all the other complaints," said Martin, a Republican appointee. "I've asked the staff to send a letter (to the station) with the complaints attached, asking them to respond to it."
Despite claims that a GOP-engineered conspiracy caused the blackout, WHNT said it was caused by a malfunctioning receiver. The station later aired the entire Siegelman item twice.
The "60 Minutes" story suggested Republican politics was behind Siegelman's prosecution and imprisonment, a claim prosecutors deny. It's unclear what action the FCC can take as it has little say on content outside of indecency issues.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
