Frida news links #13

for the week 02/22/08 - 02/29/08

A suicide bomber in a wheelchair killed a top policeman and wounded two others when he blew himself up in the police operations centre in the Iraqi city of Samarra on Monday, police said.

Grant funds to teach technicians how to administer mammograms to women with disabilities in Chicago.

The family of an Oregon woman fatally shot by her husband has filed a lawsuit against the man. Virginia Roberts, 51, of Gresham died of a gunshot to the head Feb. 2. Her husband, John Lyle Roberts, told relatives and Gresham police that he killed his wife out of compassion. He said his wife suffered from the incurable Lou Gehrig's disease and told him she would rather be killed than wait for it to progress. But according to court documents, two doctors who examined Roberts before her death told police she did not have that disease or any other terminal illness.

Mentally ill more likely to be crime victims than perpetrators.

Texas must act quickly to reform its facilities for the mentally impaired, family members and advocates told Texas lawmakers Friday. Advocates urged the state to beef up staffing at the facilities and ensure that residents have legal guardians who can represent them regarding their care.

Day care dilemma: Few facilities can handle disabled kids

After seven years in prison for killing his disabled daughter, Tracy, Robert Latimer will be freed on day parole this week. The appeal division of the National Parole Board this afternoon overturned a parole board decision last December that rejected Mr. Latimer's bid for parole. Following a month-long review, it concluded that Mr Latimer does not post an undue risk to reoffend.

Leave Britney alone - the young star is in a fight for her life against mental illness.