Mumia Abu Jamal has always maintained his innocence in the shooting of Daniel Faulkner in 1981, but says the racially-charged atmosphere surrounding his case prevented him from receiving a fair trial.  Noelle Hanrahan with prison radio says that politics played a big role in the thirty-year struggle to get Mumia off death row.

Mumia Abu Jamal is well known for his weekly commentaries on world events, which are broadcast on KBOO and hundreds of other radio stations around the world.  According to Noelle Hanrahan, who records the weekly commentaries, Mumia’s reputation as a journalist has contributed to the publicity around his case:

As KBOO’s Jenka Soderberg reports, the problem is widespread, and stems from a lack of resources for mental health in the county.

An Israeli court is expected to issue a verdict in the case of the late Rachel Corrie next week.

Corrie was killed by a U-S-made Israeli armored bulldozer in 2003 when she stood in front of the bulldozer to protest the demolition of a Palestinian doctor’s home.

Her parents, Cindy and Craig Corrie, are on their way to Israel for the final court hearing in the lawsuit they filed against the Israeli government four years ago.

They spoke with KBOO’s Jenka Soderberg about the latest developments in the case

RachelCorrieFoundation.org

U-S Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in Israel today to talk with Israeli leaders about the Gaza offensive.

Although Hamas leaders have announced that they are on the brink of a ceasefire deal with Israel, Israeli officials have denied that claim. Meanwhile in Gaza, Israeli bombing has continued unabated, and tanks are lined up along the border.

For more on the situation, we speak with Portland resident Samir al-Sharif who is currently in Gaza visiting relatives