Monday, July 16, 2012Belconnen, Australian Capital Territory —

The Canberra Capitals Academy won 71–68 against the Bendigo Braves Saturday in the Round 16 South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) game at the Belconnen Basketball and Sports Centre.

From a narrow half time lead of 36–35, the Capitals managed to extend their lead to 46–37 before Bendigo pegged them back to 48–47 at three quarter time. Not far into the final quarter, the scores were tied at 55 all. With a little over two minutes left, the score was 63–66. The Capitals’ Michaela Dalgleish scored a three point shot to tie the score, but Bendigo’s Renae Camino replied with a two point basket to make it 66–68. The Capitals’ Mikaela Dombkins managed a three pointer, and was decked in the process. Sent to the free throw line, she converted one shot to make the score 70–68. With only twenty seconds left, instead of scoring, Bendigo fouled, sending the Captials’ Alyce Shearing to the free throw line. She missed both shots, giving Bendigo one last chance. Bendigo attempted a three point shot to win the game, but turned the ball over, and drew another foul that sent the Capitals’ Tessa Lavey to the free throw line. She scored one point. In the dying seconds of the game, Bendigo was unable to score, giving the Capitals a win.

With a median age of 19, the Capitals were somewhat younger than their opponents. Nonetheless, the team of Brianna Dalgleish, Michaela Dalgleish, Claire King, Abbie Davis, Tessa Lavey, Alyce Shearing, and Mikaela Dombkins conceded nothing in ball-handling skills.

The Capitals’ next home game is against Ballarat Rush on July 28 at the Belconnen Basketball and Sports Centre.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

The United States Senate Committee on Finance approved a proposal to reform health care on Tuesday, clearing it to move forward. The bill passed by a 14-9 vote, gaining support from the committee’s thirteen Democrats, and one Republican.

Senator Olympia Snowe was the only senator from the Republican party to back the bill. However, she said this might change as the bill moves through Congress.

“There are many, many miles to go in this legislative journey. My vote today is my vote today. It doesn’t forecast what my vote will be tomorrow,” Snowe said.

President Barack Obama, who supports the bill as part of his effort to overhaul the country’s health care system, welcomed the committee’s vote. “We are closer than ever before to passing healthcare reform but we are not there yet. Now is not the time to pat ourselves on the back – now is the time to dig in further and get this done. In this final phase we should engage with each other with civility and seriousness that has brought us this far and that this subject deserves.”

The bill, which contains a ten-year plan with an estimated cost of US$829 billion, is aimed at lowering healthcare costs and increasing the affordability of insurance. Proponents will now seek to merge it with another bill from the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus emphasized, “Americans want us to craft a package that will get the 60 votes needed to pass.” He argued that the Finance bill was the best candidate to attract needed the centrist support.

Critics, however, have said that the proposed plan is too costly, and will cause the government to interfere too much into the private healthcare sector.

“We can now see clearly that the bill continues its march leftward,” said the senior Republican on the committee, Senator Charles Grassley. “This bill is already moving on a slippery slope to more government control of healthcare.”