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November 09, 2011 | | PERSONHOOD Voters scored a victory for women’s rights last night, writes Michelle Goldberg, soundly defeating an amendment that would have defined life from conception. But the fight isn’t over yet. The founders of Personhood USA, the group behind the amendment, say the defeat won’t slow plans to get similar amendments on 2012 ballots in Florida, Montana, and other states. If Mississippi is any indication, however, they’ll have a tough road ahead: Both gubernatorial candidates in Mississippi supported the amendment, and yet it was rejected by 58 percent of voters. “If a personhood amendment can’t win in Mississippi, it can’t win anywhere,” writes Goldberg. Medicine The nation’s largest retailer and employer now wants to become its largest primary-care provider as well. Last month Walmart sent out a request for information seeking partners to help it "dramatically ... lower the cost of healthcare ... by becoming the largest provider of primary healthcare services in the nation." The document, obtained by NPR and Kaiser Health News, says the company would offer a range of services, from basic prevention to the management of chronic conditions such as HIV and depression. Analysts say the retailer is likely attempting to boost store traffic. Partners will be selected in January. REVERSAL Christmas is back on: The Obama administration is backing off of a proposed 15-cent tax on fresh Christmas trees after it faced a firestorm of criticism from conservatives and some small growers. The levy, which was to be put in place by the Department of Agriculture, would have raised about $2 million for a promotional campaign to support the tree industry. “We have good reason to believe it will be successful for our industry,” Oregon tree farmer Betty Malone told the Chicago Tribune. But many on the right attacked the idea as just another tax. Eurozone Greece will have to wait for a new prime minister after plans for George Papandreou to officially resign were postponed. Talks between party leaders and the Greek president will resume tomorrow. In a televised address, Papandreou reiterated his intention to resign and wished his successor luck, but he didn't say who exactly that successor will be. Other party members tell Reuters that Greece’s new prime minister will likely be Filippos Petsalnikos, the current speaker of Parliament and a veteran socialist. "We have agreed on Petsalnikos, but things can change between now and when the prime minister sees the president," said a source involved in the discussions. Greek citizens and international lenders have been watching nervously as the two parties fought over who will lead the government through the deeply unpopular austerity program. UPRISING Students are occupying London. A crowd of up to 10,000 has stormed the U.K. capital, demonstrating against government cuts to university funding that will boost their fees. Cops have made some 20 arrests, and protesters have been seeing throwing sticks and bottles at the police, who are armed with rubber bullets. Just last year, similar student protests turned violent and the party headquarters of Prime Minister David Cameron were attacked. Some of today’s protesters hitched up with the Occupy London movement, briefly creating a tent city with about 28 tents. | | 
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