Bellingham to Host NAN Economic Council

The Sovereign Tribal Council announced today that the Salish-Sidhe capitol has been selected as the site for the 2057 Summit for Economic Affairs. This summit, held every five years, will discuss trade and economic laws between the Native American Nations, as well as international economic policy.

The big issue this year is shaping up to be agriculture, with nearly all of the nations having one thing or another to say about the subject. Perhaps the most controversial topic is the imminent unveiling of Wind River Corporation's Shoshoni Hydroponics Farm, slated to open in June of this year. This 20,000 square kilometer facility is built entirely underground, making it the largest underground complex in the world.

"The Shoshoni Hydroponics Farm will be a paradigm shift in the way the NAN is fed," states Wind River CEO Ron Mull. "Since our complex will be climate-controlled, we will be able to produce up to ten harvests annually, as well as growing crops as diverse as pineapples and winter wheat, all in a germ- and pest-free environment. All the NAN will be able to enjoy fresh, natural food, free of chemicals, and at affordable prices."

Not everyone is happy with this development, however. "The introduction of undergroud farming is a rash experiment at best," argues Sheila Doxawnee of the Algonkian-Manitou Agricultural Bureau. "Wind River has been highly reluctant to let any Council observers into their facility to verify their claims of safety and ecological responsibility. Moreover, they have released no studies to prove that crops grown without sunlight are as nutritious as traditionally-grown crops. I feel that allowing Wind River to continue without any Council oversight is a mistake we can't afford to make."

Just as controversial is the issue of water rights. The Ute Nation is already making somewhat hostile overtures to the Pueblo Corporate Council's proposal to buy rights to another five million gallons per year, to be diverted from the Colorado River. The PCC leadership maintains that these rights are vital to keep up with the growing population center of Phoenix. The Ute, however, are unwilling to divert such a large amount from their agricultural industries, as well as the lucrative tourist trade of Las Vegas.

Surprisingly, the Trans-Polar Aleut nation, which rarely makes waves during NAN political councils, is putting forth a greivance against the Athabaskan Council for what TPA representative Mary Two Bears calls "criminally negligent border security." Two Bears's claim revolves largely around the illegal transporting of controlled sugar products to the TPA nation, which many claim to come mostly through the mountain ranges of Athabaska. The Athabaskan Council has not yet made any public rebuttal to Two Bears's accusation.

The Summit on Economic Affairs is slated to be held from March 3rd through the 14th at the Bellingham Convention Center. It remains to be seen whether the UCAS's request to have a delegate present will be approved.

Democrats Back Vogel's "One World" Party

In Response to last Thursday's announcement by Republican leadership of that party's complete backing of new candidate retired General Franklin Yeats for the '57 repeat election, the Democratic National Committee has announced today that it will be throwing its weight, and its name behind ecological conservationist lawyer Arthur Vogel's grassroots "One World Party". The new "Democratic 'One World' Party" has officially nominated Vogel as their chosen candidate for President of the United Canadian and American States.
Arthur Vogel is a dwarf from Ontario and, as of yet the only metahuman presidential candidate. One of the first dwarves born as a result of UGE, Vogel is in his early 40s. An expert attorney specializing in ecological causes, he worked his way through law school and has built his career on pulling off difficult and delicate negotiations with powerful corporations. Arthur Vogel first made international headlines during the infamous People vs. Hawkshorne Chemical trial of '49 when he presented the toxin induced tumors on an eight year old girl's face and head as the prosecution's first forty-seven exhibits of evidence. Hawkshorne later settled out of court for an undisclosed amount, rumored to be in the billions of nuyen. And they weren't alone, the Ontario dwarf has an unparallelled record of wins and large settlements against corporations that violate various eco-laws. He is a dynamic speaker, and many people consider him a champion of eco-conciousness.
True to form, Vogel's campaign platform stresses ecological issues and conservation. His One World Party is dedicated to the idea that the UCAS can only be saved if its citizens first heal the Earth, and that people can only make peace with themselves when they make peace with the planet. The democratic party adopted the One World platform and are backing Vogel all the way; they have allowed him to label himself a Democrat to give him recognition and "respectability" plus enough money and exposure to to go from fringe candidtate to full-fledged political player in a Manhattan minute. The DNC is still in negotiations with Vogel regarding a choice of running mate. At this time, it is believed that Eric Travers, last years Democratic nominee, will get the VP nod.

Jets Soar Over Vikings 30-27

It's official, the New York Jets are the 56-57 UCAS League champions. Coming on strong from the beginning, New York seemed to own the first half of the game. From Hiram Epstien's fantastic touchdown return from the opening kickoff to the excellent capitialization on the score of turnovers in the second quarter, the Jet's seemed to walk all over the Vikings. Despite an impressive fourth quarter rally, Minnesota failed to catch up to the Jets' powerful start.
Minnesota's star runningback, Katrina Holden, distinguished herself as usual. From recovering her own team's fumble and running 120 yards for a touchdown to punching straight through New Yorks formidable defensive line to score Minnesota's final seven points, the 5'7" Holden seemed to be personally carrying Vikings through much of the second half. "We didn't lose because I'm a woman" she told ASN reporters "we lost 'cause the rest of my team isn't". Of course many point to Alan Aekers, Minnesota's second string quarterback as the reason for the many turnovers and poor planning. It's an open secret that Aekers, unlike injured QB Alan Corman, dislikes Holden and fails to utilize Minnesota's best offensive asset. As Coreman's allergy to his recently installed bone-lacing is due to keep him down for next season as well, it is unknown at this point what the Viking's managment will do about the situation.
The UCAS champion Jets will now go on to face the Freedom League champion Richmond Generals in the Superbowl in Jacksonville CAS on the 24th.

Republicans back Yeats

In response to pro-tem president Pritchard's announcement of the shortened election run, the Republican National Comittee called an emergency meeting yesterday to decide whether or not to back last year's presidential candidate Governor Alan Tate of Minnesota for this year's repeat election. Speculation ran high as the Republican party leadership cloistered itself away from prying eyes in order to render their decision. Some believed that Governor Tate would once again recieve the nomination and a second chance to run. Other's believed that pro-tem president Betty Jo Pritchard, the speaker for the house (R-Ont) now sitting in the oval office, would be pushed forward as the Republican nominee due to her no-nonsense attitude and demonstrations of ability shown during her time as pro-tem president.
After Tate's "hard question" foible during last year's election campaign, the it appeared that the Technocrats were able to waltz their way to an easy win. Thought the election proved to be rigged, many Republicans expressed extreme doubt in Tate's ability to recover from that particular mishap even during this second election.
Pro-tem President Pritchard on the other hand, seems to have her hands full with the office thrust upon her, and the ongoing effect that the impeachment process has had on an already unruly congress. When asked if she would pursue the 2057 ticket, President Pritchard had this to say:
"I have never run for President, I have never had any intention of running for President. What I do now, I do because it's my job as Speaker. If the party leadership wants to nominate me... Well, we'll see."
Of course all of the speculation wrapped up at around 12:45 when the Republican party leadership held a press conference in Washington FDC. In a bold move, they announced thier full backing of retired UCAS Army General Franklin Yeats. A career soldier, and former member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Yeats has historically been a vocal proponent of ending the decades long series of military cutbacks initiated by congress. In stark contrast to the public's perception of Governor Tate as a man afraid of decisions, Yeats has already come across as a strong steady voice for the Republican party. At his acceptance of the nomination, Yeats had this to say:
"If we want the United Canadian and American States to survive, we have to elect leaders who care about something beyond their own personal ambitions. We have to elect leaders who love this country, who want to see it strong again, and who aren't afraid to make personal sacrifieces to serve the nation's good. I love this country, and I am willing to shoulder the burden of leading it down the difficult road to renewal."
While that statement can be seen as directed towards the Chicago containment zone, many fear a more dire meaning behind his words. His nomination has many believing that the Republicans have chosen to fully support a reformationist agenda. Politicos in the CAS, CalFree, and the NAN (especially the Sioux Nation) are already decrying Yeats as a warmonger. While he has made no official statements regarding the forced reconcilliation with former members of the old United States since the nomination, he has been vocal about reformation in the past As of yet, General Yeats has not picked a running mate.