6-Year-Old Northeast Ohio Girl on 'No Fly' List

WESTLAKE, Ohio - Alyssa Thomas, 6, is a little girl who is already under the spotlight of the federal government. Her family recently discovered that Alyssa is on the "no fly" list maintained by U.S. Homeland Security.

"We were, like, puzzled," said Dr. Santhosh Thomas. "I'm like, well, she's kinda six-years-old and this is not something that should be typical."

Dr. Thomas and his wife were made aware of the listing during a recent trip from Cleveland to Minneapolis. The ticket agent at the Continental counter at Hopkins Airport notified the family. "They said, well, she's on the list. We're like, okay, what's the story? What do we have to do to get off the list? This isn't exactly the list we want to be on," said Dr. Thomas.

The Federal Bureau of Investigations in Cleveland will confirm that a list exists, but for national security reasons, no one will discuss who is on the list or why.

The Thomas family was allowed to make their trip but they were told to contact Homeland Security to clear-up the matter. Alyssa just received a letter from the government, notifying the six-year-old that nothing will be changed and they won't confirm nor deny any information they have about her or someone else with the same name.

"She's been flying since she was two-months old, so that has not been an issue," said Alyssa's dad. "In fact, we had traveled to Mexico in February and there were no issues at that time."

According to the Transportation Security Administration, Alyssa never had any problems before because the Secure Flight Program just began in June for all domestic flights. A spokesperson will only say, "the watch lists are an important layer of security to prevent individuals with known or suspected ties to terrorism from flying."

Right now, Alyssa has other priorities. "My Barbies, my magic mirror and jumping on my bed!" But her name will likely stay on the list and as for the next time she flies, the FBI says they'll rely on the common sense of the security agents.

"She may have threatened her sister, but I don't think that constitutes Homeland Security triggers," said Dr. Thomas.

The Thomas family can still fly, but the check-in process will likely take much longer. They plan on making another appeal to U.S. Homeland Security.

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White Rice May Raise Type-2 Diabetes Risk

By Kelly L. Jackson June 17, 2010 4:11 pm

Rice Lovers pay attention! A new study has taken a closer look at what our selections of rice means for our risk of diabetes. A group of researchers from the Harvard School of Public Heath evaluated three groups of participants and came back with some interesting results. They discovered that eating five or more servings of white rice per week increased a person’s risk for type 2 diabetes, the most common type of diabetes. They also found that replacing just one-third of a daily serving of brown rice would lower their risk. Additionally, including more whole grains such as wheat and barley would also reduce their risk.

Whole grain and whole wheat food products have become commonplace in most American supermarkets and restaurants, giving consumers healthier options with foods like pasta, flour and bread.

According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), having diabetes affects more than just patients’ blood sugar levels, it also often results in various eye, foot and skin complications, and increases the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease.

The results reported in most cases, eating more brown than white rice was not based on ethnicity and more so on a health-conscious diet and life choices, but noted that participants who ate the most white rice were typically not of European origin and were more likely to have a family history that included diabetes.

The ADA reports that type 2 diabetes is more common in older adults as well as in African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders.

The team of researchers explained that the superiority of brown rice is due to its high fibervitamins and minerals and the fact that it typically doesn’t cause a spike in blood sugar. Fiber is a significant fighter against the onset of diabetes because it slows the rush of sugar to the bloodstream. content,

Key potential influencers such as age, weight, smoking status, alcohol intake, family history of diabetes and other dietary habits were taken into consideration but, findings still held true.

Whole grains, rather than refined carbohydrates like white rice, should be the recommended primary source of carbohydrates for the U.S. population.

The most recent available data from the ADA reports that 23.6 million children and adults in the United States — that’s 7.8 percent of the entire population — have some form of diabetes. And 5.7 million people are living undiagnosed.

Water Buffalo Head Traps Man In Recliner!

(NewsCore) - A Florida man was rescued from his recliner early Friday after a mounted animal head hanging on his wall fell into his lap and pinned him down, The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported.

The falling object was a stuffed water buffalo head and it trapped the man as he slept in his recliner, Becky Herrin, spokeswoman for the Monroe County Sheriff's Office said.

The man couldn't move but managed to reach his cell phone and call police.

"All the male caller could do is yell his address and tell them he was 'crushed,'" Herrin said in a statement.

The man was treated at a local hospital and released.

15-Year-Old Brutally Beaten By Indianapolis Police

INDIANAPOLIS — The city’s police chief called Thursday for the firing of a white officer who he said repeatedly struck a 15-year-old biracial boy in the face during an arrest after the teen had been subdued by other officers.

Chief Paul Ciesielski said Officer Jerry Piland needlessly struck Brandon Johnson several times during the May 16 arrest near the boy’s home. Johnson was left with gaping wounds on his swollen face and a black eye.

“It was a difficult decision, but I know it was the right decision to terminate his employment because that certainly serves as an example that we have a zero-tolerance policy,” Ciesielski said at a news conference.

Ciesielski’s recommendation will go to the Civilian Police Merit Board, which ultimately will decide whether to fire Piland.

The teen’s family and black community leaders have called for a federal investigation into whether Johnson’s civil rights were violated. Piland, 36, and the other three officers directly involved in the arrest are white, while Johnson’s mother is black and his father is white.

“I’m grateful to have one bad cop off the streets, but there was a lot of wrongdoing here that day,” Johnson’s mother, Chantay Chandler, said at a news conference Thursday at the family’s home. Family representatives called on the department to fire the four officers directly involved in the arrest, but not a fifth officer who stood on the periphery.

“One token firing is not enough,” said the family’s attorney, Stephen Wagner.

Ciesielski said one of the other officers, Stacy Lettinga, received a reprimand for wrongfully arresting another youth at the scene, and that the three others had been exonerated. None of the five had any prior record of excessive force, and Piland has received several commendations.

Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi said last week that he was investigating the matter and had not decided whether to bring charges against any of the officers. He said he decided not to charge Johnson because it wasn’t in the best interests of the teen or the community.

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