0-1Salsa is a house cat. She belongs to Chris Condetti. We asked Chris what Salsa means to his family.CHRIS CONDETTI: "She is part of the family. She's always with us.“Many people treat their pets like family members. Americans spend large amounts of money on health care for pets. They spent $13 billion on veterinary care in 2010. But the health of animals also has a big influence on medical care for people. At the University of Missouri, Doctor Kim Selting recently completed a study on cancer in cats.DOCTOR KIM SELTING: “I think the value of what happens for the health of a pet and how it might translate to human health has come very much to the forefront.”Veterinarians study information about animal health from across the United States. At the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, Doctor Chand Khanna tests new cancer drugs for dogs. He says those tests may help people with cancer.DOCTOR CHAND KHANNA: "For the most part, almost every human cancer that occurs, occurs in the dog.“Veter is a Mars scientist's dream machine. We're so excited to have this rover going to Mars this year. It's going to be the virtual presence for over 200 scientists around the world to explore Mars and Gale Crater that we'll talk about. This rover is not only the most technically capable rover ever sent to another planet, but it's actually the most capable scientific explorer we've ever sent out.“Curiosity is much larger than earlier rovers. It has a plutonium-fueled nuclear reactor that will provide plenty of power for Curiosity's many activities. The vehicle also has 17 cameras, and a laser that can examine the chemical make-up of rocks.ASHWIN VASAVADA: "What really dominates the design of this rover is the fact that it has this ability to sample rocks and soils on Mars for the first time, and so it has a big six-foot [1.8 meter] robotic arm. And the rover is partly that big because it holds two very capable scientific laboratories inside the rover.“[Vasavada says] one instrument measureractions.5-2Date palms are grown in Coachella Valley---an irrigated agricultural area in southern California. This irrigated desert valley is the biggest producer of dates in the United States.Sea View Ranch is one of the prime growers of dates in Coachella Valley. Owner Dennis Jensen says the first dates were brought to the valley in the early 1900s.Jensen: "There were some travelers who had been to Morocco, Algeria, and different areas and noticed that our weather and our temperatures were very similar to the climates that they had (in that area) in that region." "So a few of them got together and imported some date offshoots into this area and they attempted to raise them and they seem to thrive very well.“Like any fresh fruit, there are many varieties of dates but the pride of Sea View Ranch is the Mejdool variety. It is known as the King of Dates. "Its size, its texture, its quality and the taste---all seem to come together in one date and because it is the largest of all the datetheir ballots and get their thumb inked to show they participated. Some observers say the straw poll better reflects a candidate's coffers than the White House aspirant's real appeal to the voters.But to participants, the real winner is Iowa itself.Participant David Lundberg: "I think it's important that we represent the central United States, the grassroots of the United States. If the candidates can come here and field here first, rather than go to the high population centers, I think that's good for the nation."Outside the coliseum, there is a festival atmosphere, with tents set up by the presidential candidates. Lots of food, live bands and the candidates stoking enthusiasm.The Iowa Republican Straw Poll has traditionally attracted the Party's most committed members. These people are driven by issues they feel should be at the forefront of campaign discussion.Participant Suzanne Stannick: "The important issues this year to me are taxes, the economy, pro-life issues, and immigrationallow Muslim workers short breaks to pray.Kapitan: "Workers are permitted bathroom breaks anyway, so it’s not like they would be treated differently. It would be akin to a bathroom break."JBS Swift maintains it has not terminated any employees for their religious beliefs or practices, including praying in the workplace.Kapitan says she hopes to reach an out of court settlement with the company."Initially they said that any break would be an undue burden on the company. Then recently we had an encouraging letter from them in response to our suggestions, (saying) adapting them in part or proposing they adapt them in part. They proposed to move the break time for all workers.“Ali Shira is now employed at a plant in a neighboring town, where he says he is allowed to observe his religious customs. He says his experience with JBS Swift is causing him to doubt religious freedom in the United States."We were given an orientation before we were brought here about the Constitution of the United l.
