Veronica De La Cruz, a reporter and former television anchor for CNN news, has written a story for the Huffington Post on her fight for health care reform, and why it is such a personal battle:

On July 4, 2009, I lost my brother and my only sibling Eric Alexander De La Cruz. He passed away while awaiting a heart transplant. Five years ago, he was diagnosed with severe dilated cardiomyopathy, a weakening of the heart that prevents it from pumping normally. Since then, we had tried to get Eric insurance coverage that would allow him to get the treatment he needed, but no private insurer would offer him insurance because of this preexisting condition.

Read the full story here.

Photo via CNN

You remember Steven Mikulan? The widely-respected journalist and editor the LA Weekly canned last month after 25 years on staff? Mikulan was known for his versatility, earning accolades as both a theater critic and trial reporter. He counted Dominick Dunne as one of his many fans. Mikulan's most recent role at the paper was as editor of the LAW news blog, LA Daily. Said Kevin Roderick on LA Observed "I liked the aesthetics, if you will, that Mikulan brought to the Weekly's blog. He seemed to rise above the overheated city is falling apart while the Valley suffers meme that's currently in vogue at the Weekly, and his range of posts was a main reason I began checking the blog, well, daily."

Anyhow, the LAW fired him. And now they're looking for his replacement on Craigslist. Comfort with web publishing (including basic HTML) a must!!!

Previously on FBLA:

This is our former colleague at FishbowlDC current POLITICO reporter Patrick Gavin boxing with Congressman Peter King. The congressman seems to land a couple on Gavin's face. This is every politicians wet dream.

Via FishbowlDC

Politico Pillages Mediabistro For Staff

We smell the smolder of cremation. Ick.

Sixty or so protesters have gathered outside of the CNN building on Sunset Blvd. They are protesting what they say is biased reporting by the news network of the debate over a public health insurance option.

CNN is expected to run coverage of the angry (but peaceful) crowd outside its doors later tonight.

Similar rallies took place outside the CNN headquarters in New York and Atlanta. The protests were organized by The Young Turks and Democracy For America.

UPDATE: Here's a link to the reason for the protest.

Today's 'Good Morning America' featured an excerpt from an interview with pop icon Rihanna. This marks the first time Rihanna has spoken publicly about the night she was assaulted by her ex-boyfriend Chris Brown. The full interview with Diane Sawyer will air Friday night on ABC's "20/20."

Adult superstar Janine Lindemulder is out of federal custody and is fighting for parental custody of her 5-year-old daughter Sunny. Lindemulder's ex-husband Jesse James and his wife, actress Sandra Bullock, were granted temporary custody of the child earlier this year when Lindemulder entered prison for tax evasion. The couple now hopes to gain full custody of the child. From ABC News:

"What would give her the right to take away my daughter?" Lindemulder said. "You know, this is my daughter. I am the best mother I can be."

Lindemulder, who has appeared in more than 100 adult films, acknowledged making "horrific choices in the past" but says her life is back on track and that she deserves to keep custody of her daughter.

Bullock and James have called Lindemulder and her new husband, also a convicted felon, unfit.

In a letter to the judge at Lindemulder's sentencing, Bullock raised concerns about the girl's safety, alleging that the child was left alone during the day while Lindemulder was "asleep from drug use."

Interestingly, the article also quotes Lindemulder as saying she is no longer allowed to work in the Adult Industry. Is this a condition of her parole, and if so, how can it be legal? Certainly the courts would never bar a famous mainstream actress from working in Hollywood. We're hoping to learn more.

Previously On FBLA:
Porn Star Janine Getting Out Of Jail

We are more than aware this is an unfair question. Does Scrubs Magazine, a glossy for nurses give their staff health bennies?

Yes, we've heard the news about the media industry taking a giant hit the past couple years.

But it's a magazine about health care providers. For the longest time Wired only accepted pitches via - wait for it - snail mail. Which is like having to pass a drug test to write for High Times. So that's why we were curious.

Dayna Macy of Mind Over Media tells FBLA, "There actually are no staffers at Scrubs. Mind Over Media, the media development company that created it, is virtual. MOM is based in LA and is headed up by magazine industry veterans Amy Rappeport and Susan Gates. Their team is all freelance, pulled from the best/brightest/most experienced from New York to SF and LA."

Previously on FBLA: Scrubs Magazine Launches