Beyond the Hedges
National
Midterm election results
After the Nov. 2 Midterm Elections, Republicans have taken control of the House with 239 seats against Democrats' 186, with 10 seats still pending. Democrats maintained control of the Senate, though Republicans gained at least six Senate seats. Democrats held 50 seats, Republicans 46, and Independents two with two races still undecided as of yesterday. Republicans also won back a majority of governor's mansions, holding 29 of the spots, while Democrats retain 16 and Independents hold one with four races still pending. Proposition 19, a California ballot initiative that proposed to legalize and tax marijuana in the state, was rejected. Massachusetts and Colorado both rejected ballot measures that would have cut taxes by billions of dollars.
Source: USA TodayDrug tunnel found on border
A drug smuggling tunnel more than 1,640 feet long was discovered that crosses under the California-Mexico border. Equipped with a rail system, ventilation and lighting, the tunnel is extremely elaborate. Inside the tunnel more than 20 tons of marijuana were discovered. The tunnel links a warehouse in Otay Mesa, Calif., with another in Tijuana, Mexico. This is the second tunnel found linking Otay Mesa with Tijuana, the first being 2,400 feet long.
Source: BBC News
International
Russian ex-prime minister dies
Viktor Stepanovich Chernomyrdin died Wednesday at the age of 72. Born in 1938, Chernomyrdin joined the Communist party at the age of 23 and quickly rose through the ranks of the Ministry of Gas Industry, becoming its minister in 1985 and turning it into a national company, Gazprom, in 1989. Chernomyrdin served as Prime Minister for five years after being selected by President Boris Yeltsin in 1992.
Source: The Washington Post
Greek bomb plot investigated
As of yesterday, 14 letter bombs have been discovered in Greece in a spate of letter bombs sent from Greece to foreign embassies within Greece and goverments across Europe. The bombs are not powerful to cause serious injury, and two Greek men have so far been charged with terrorism due to the bombings. The bombs appear to be the work of domestic leftist terrorists interested in a show of force, and not of any international group. Greece has temporarily ceased overseas mail deliveries.
Source: BBC
More from The Rice Thresher
Founder’s Court goes alt-rock as bôa kicks off U.S. tour at Rice
Founder’s Court morphed into a festival ground Friday night as British alt-rock band bôa launched the U.S. leg of their “Whiplash” tour. The group headlined the third annual Moody X-Fest before what organizers estimate was “a little bit over 2,000 students” — the largest turnout in the event’s three-year history.
Rice launches alternative funding program amid federal research cuts
Rice is launching the Bridge Funding Program for faculty whose federal funding for research projects has been reduced or removed. The program was announced via the Provost’s newsletter April 24.
This moment may be unprecedented — Rice falling short is not
In many ways, the current landscape of American higher education is unprecedented. Sweeping cuts to federal research funding, overt government efforts to control academic departments and censor campus protests and arbitrary arrests and visa revocations have rightly been criticized as ushering in the latest iteration of fascism.
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