Huffington Magazine Issue 90 | Page 7

Enter 2 FROM TOP: RAUL ARBOLEDA/AFP/GETTY IMAGES; P PHOTO/ROSS D. FRANKLIN; WIN MCNAMEE/GETTY IMAGES 3 4 POINTERS HUFFINGTON 03.02.14 VIOLENCE IN VENEZUELA Demonstrations continued in Venezuela this week, as anti-government protesters took to the streets across the nation. The demonstrators are calling for the removal of President Nicolás Maduro over runaway inflation, soaring crime rates and a tanking economy. Venezuelan Attorney General Luisa Ortega Diaz said 13 people have been killed and nearly 150 wounded since clashes began more than two weeks ago. GAY DAY IN THE SOUTH Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) vetoed a bill Thursday that would have allowed businesses in the state to refuse service to LGBT people based on the owner’s religious beliefs. The governor was facing pressure on corporate and political fronts to veto the legislation, with many arguing it essentially would legalize discrimination in the state. Major companies such as Apple, Yahoo, Delta and Yelp voiced opposition to the bill. In another victory for gay rights this week, a federal judge struck down Texas’ ban on same-sex marriages, declaring it to be “stateimposed inequality.” Unfortunately, the judge issued a stay on his ruling pending an appeal. NUTRITION MAKEOVER The FDA on Thursday released a proposal to significantly change nutrition labels on food — including making portion sizes more realistic, calorie counts much more prominent, and including a line for added sugars. The revamp would be the first major change to food labels in more than 20 years. The FDA said the changes were needed to help address the problem of obesity in the United States. The new label is being championed by the White House, especially first lady Michelle Obama. The proposal is open for public comment for 90 days.