Aliyev Wins Third Term in Azerbaijan

Ilham Aliyev won a third term as president of Azerbaijan, on Wednesday.

Facing nine opponents Aliyev took eighty-five percent of the vote, with only one other candidate taking more than five percent.

The opposition is accusing Aliyev's government of fixing the election, adding to their usual accusations of corruption.

In 2003, Ilham followed his father as president, after Heydar Aliyev had served two terms of his own.

Until 2009, after Aliyev was in his second term, the Azerbijan constitution did not allow for third terms, but he pushed through a referendum removing term limits.

US Army: Private First Class Cody J. Patterson

Private First Class Cody J. Patterson, twenty-four of Philomath, Oregon, died on October 6.

He and three others were killed when their unit was struck by an improvised explosive device, in Zhari District, Afghanistan.

Patterson was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment out of Fort Benning, Georgia. 

His decorations include: Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal, Purple Heart, NATO Medal, Parachutist Badge, Expert Rifle Marksmanship Badge, National Defense Service Medal.

US Army: Sergeant Patrick C. Hawkins

Sergeant Patrick C. Hawkins, twenty-five of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, died on October 6.

He and three others were killed when their unit was struck by an improvised explosive device, in Zhari District, Afghanistan.

It was his fourth deployment to Afghanistan.

Hawkins was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment out of Fort Benning, Georgia.


His decorations include: Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, Expert Rifle Marksmanship Badge, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Presidential Unit Citation.

US Army: Sergeant Joseph M. Peters

Sergeant Joseph M. Peters, twenty-four of Springfield, Missouri, died on October 6.

He and three others were killed when their unit was hit by an improvised explosive device, in Zhari District, Afghanistan.

Peters was assigned to the 5th Military Police Battalion out of Vicenza, Italy.

His decorations include: Combat Action Badge, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, two Army Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Iran Campaign Medal with Arrow Device, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Driver's Badge.

US Army: First Lieutenant Jennifer M. Moreno

First Lieutenant Jennifer M. Moreno, twenty-five of San Diego, California, died on October 6.

She and three others were killed when their unit was struck by an improvised explosive device, in Zhari District, Afghanistan.

Moreno was assigned to the Madigan Army Medical Center out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

Her decorations include: Bronze Star, Combat Action Badge, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, NATO Medal, Parachutist Badge, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, and Army Service Ribbon.

2nd Attempt to Recall Hudak Being Made in Colorado

A group called Recall Hudak Too is making a second attempt to see Colorado Senator Evie Hudak recalled.

Earlier in the year an attempt was made, but not enough signatures were gathered to gain a vote.

However, recalls were successful against two other senators, in September.

Hudak is one of several Democrat senators who voted for restrictive gun laws, that many Coloradans feel are unConstitutional.

She is also in a district which is not considered safe.

In the 2012 election, she won a three way vote, for Westminster, with only forty-seven percent, and beat the Republican candidate by less than six hundred votes.

For Hudak to face a recall vote, organizer will need to gain at least twenty thousand signatures, by November 2.

If the recall is successful against Hudak it would switch the Colorado Senate from being controlled by the Democrats to controlled by Republicans.

Boston School Bus Drivers go on Surprise Strike

In a surprise walk out Boston school bus drivers went on strike, on Tuesday.

The walk off caught the school district, the city, parents, and even the drivers' union off guard.

Parents were forced to make emergency plans to get kids to school.

Mayor Thomas Menino called the strike illegal and ordered police to look for stranded students and take them to school via patrol cars.

Menino also set plans in motion for schools to be open an hour earlier and later on Wednesday, to allow parents more time to get kids to and from school.

He also announced that city buses and the subway would be free for students.

United Steelworkers, the union which represents the drivers, told the drivers that they need to get back to work.

The drivers are protesting new rules which keep them from taking buses home with them and installed GPS units so that parents could track the buses via a phone app.

CDC Narrowing Search for Salmonella Source That Has Sickened 278

The CDC has announced that they have narrowed down the source of a major salmonella outbreak.

Two hundred and seventy-eight people, in eighteen states, have been made ill by tainted chicken.

The strains of salmonella have so far been quite difficult to treat with antibiotics, but no one has died.

According to the organization, they have traced the tainted chicken to three Foster Farms plants.

No recall has been announced, as the CDC has been unable to narrow the search down to specific products.

At this point, they are advising consumers to simply ensure that the chicken is properly cooked to one hundred and sixty-five degrees.

A meat thermometer is the best way to be sure that the temperature has been reached.

US to End Military Aid to Egypt

The US government is preparing to stop military aid to Egypt.

A slow down of aid has been occurring since August, over the military coup which took place.

Now the US will be stopping shipments completely.

The Obama administration is scheduled to make the announcement, on Wednesday.

For Egypt's military, the ending of aid will mostly be symbolic as several other countries began sending aid after the coup.

Obama Continues His Refusal to Negotiate

In a special news conference, President Obama once again refused to negotiate with Republicans over the government shutdown.

Accusing them of extortion and threats, he continued to ignore Republican offers to get the government going again.

Obama is not alone in refusing to discuss things with the Republicans, most Democrats are backing the President.

Republicans responded by insisting that Obama and the Democrats at least negotiate and discuss the many Republican offers.

Time will tell which side will break first, but the longer things go on the more unhappy the American public is becoming.

While Democrats point at the growing number who are unhappy with Republicans, they ignore that their own approval ratings are also plummeting.