1. Current Events By: Emily

2. Maine Real ID Act  The state of Maine’s ID only meets our states standards and not the federal.  Starting 3 years from now, if you live or work in the US, you’ll need a federally approved ID card to travel on an airplane, open a bank account, collect Social Security payments, or take advantage of nearly any government service. Which means your driver’s license will have to be reissued to meet federal standards.

3. The Real ID Act  Since the Real ID Act is part of the Department of Homeland Security, only ID cards approved by Homeland Security can be accepted “for any official purpose” by the feds.  President Bush is expected to sign an $ 82 billion military spending bill soon that will, in part, create electronically readable, federally approved ID cards for Americans.

4. Olympics to 'rebound from crisis'  The head of the International Olympic Committee has said anti-China protests had created a "crisis" but that the Games in Beijing would "rebound".  The US House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed a motion condemning China's "extreme" response to recent protests in Tibet.

5. Olympic Torch Route Torch lit in Olympia on 24 March and taken on five-day relay around Greece to Athens After handover ceremony, it is taken to Beijing on 31 March to begin a journey of 136,800 km (85,000 miles) around the world Torch arrives in Macau on 3 May. After three-month relay all around China, it arrives in Beijing for opening ceremony on 8 August

6. Olympic Torch Relay  Activists are protesting China’s human rights record, its grip on Tibet and support for Sudan despite years in Darfur.  It began its 85,000-mile journey from Ancient Olympia in Greece to Beijing on March 24, and was the focus of protests from the very start.  Jacques Rogge said he was “deeply saddened” by the previous protests and was concerned about the relay in San Francisco.  “We recognize the right for people to protest and express their views, but it should be non-violent,” said Rogge.

7. Cartoon

9. Bibliography  http://www.news.com/FAQ-How-Real-ID-will-affect- you/2100-1028_3-5697111.html http://www.news.com/FAQ-How-Real-ID-will-affect- you/2100-1028_3-5697111.html  http://cagle.msnbc.com/news/TibetTurmoil/main.as p http://cagle.msnbc.com/news/TibetTurmoil/main.as p  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7339959.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7339959.stm  Portland Press Herald : Wednesday and Thursday