News Briefs

Former Drug Police Chief Arrested in Panama

The former commander of Bolivia's anti-narcotics police force was arrested and charged with drug trafficking in Panama. Rene Sanabria will now face trial in the U.S.

Sanabria was arrested in Panama after it was suspected that he was going to be involved in organizing shipments of cocaine to the U.S. Officials say Sanabria was allegedly involved in a cocaine shipment to the U.S. last November, in which 317 pounds were smuggled into the country.

Bolivia is the world's third largest producer of the coca plant, which is the raw material for producing cocaine. In recent years, Bolivia has been criticized by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for not taking a strong stance in counter-narcotic agreements.

President Evo Morales used to be a coca grower himself and maintains that the plant has medical uses, but his administration is doing all it can to stop the illegal production of cocaine.

Sanabria was in charge of Bolivia's anti-narcotics force until 2009 and was still working in the intelligence department for the government when he was arrested. Three other senior police officers have also been implicated in the smuggling.

Shyamalan Big Winner At The Razzie Awards

With all of the movie industry buzz focused on Sunday night's Oscars, it is easy to forget about Hollywood's other award ceremony this past weekend. On Saturday night, the Razzie Awards were held, which honored the worst of the worst in movies this year.

The biggest winner, or loser, was M. Night Shyamalan's The Last Airbender. The film netted Shyamalan worst director honors as well as worst film, worst supporting actor, worst screenplay, and a special award deemed "worst eye-gouging misuse of 3-D." Despite the poor critical reception, The Last Airbender made $320 million at the box office.

Worst actor was presented to Ashton Kutcher for his role in Valentine's Day. Worst actress was awarded collectively to the co-stars of Sex and the City 2, which included Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Catrall, Kristin Davis, and Cynthia Nixon.

Awards were handed out based on voting from 657 people in 18 countries. Along with the ceremony were a number of sketches and spoofs of Oscar nominees, including 127 Hours and Black Swan.

Union Supporters Rally At City Hall in Buffalo

On Saturday afternoon, union members met at Buffalo's City Hall to support the public workers facing budget cuts in Wisconsin. Demonstrators say this sign of solidarity shows their support of unions everywhere.

The situation in Wisconsin is the result of an attempted Republican bill that will severely limit bargaining rights for public workers. Supporters of the bill say that the current system is not working, and is costing the state money. The new bill is intended to close the budget deficit. Others claim that the bill is solely in the interest of the wealthy and there are different ways to save the state money.

Union members across the country are demanding that workers' rights are maintained and that they deserve a say in how wages, training, and safety regulations are determined.

Protests like this have been held across New York State and the country. More than 500 protestors attended the rally at City Hall and among them were teachers, police officers, and civil service workers.