by Lisa Hernandez

SANTA ANA, Calif. -- The owners of a prize-winning bulldog have doubled the reward for his safe return to $2,000.

The dog used to go to work with his owner every day at a print shop in Santa Ana, but Bubba apparently snuck out of the building last week after a coworker left the front door open.

Witnesses said they saw the dog trot down to 1st and Sullivan streets, where two men in a dark vehicle took him in a car.

"It's awful. It's miserable not having Bubba home for the holidays," said Suzanne Stephens, Bubba's owner.

Bubba is a show dog, and his brother is the skateboarding bulldog featured on television commercials. The family is now circulating fliers and reaching out to the community, hoping someone knows who took him.

Bubba takes medication regularly, so the owners are very concerned.

"I just know in my heart that someone is going to do the right thing and bring him home," Stephens said. "I'm just praying for a Christmas miracle."

Anyone with tips is asked to write in on the Surf City Bulldogs Web site.

For more info click here

Friends and family of a 28-year-old mother who disappeared nearly a week ago are fasting and praying for her safe return as volunteers post thousands of fliers with her image on it.

Susan Powell was reported missing Monday under what police are calling suspicious circumstances. A prayer service attended by about 100 people was held for her Saturday in West Valley City.

Since she was reported missing, authorities have questioned her husband and searched a desert area where he said he took the couple's two young children, ages 2 and 4, camping early Monday morning in freezing conditions.

Josh Powell returned Monday night, after police had already received a call from relatives who had not heard from the Powell family.

He declined to answer questions from The Associated Press on Saturday.

"I can't say anything," he said following the prayer service.

Meanwhile, Susan Powell's father, Charles Cox, flew in from Puyallup, Wash., south of Seattle, on Friday to aid in the search. He spent Saturday morning granting dozens of interviews to media outlets around the country in an effort to keep his daughter's name and picture in the news.

While Cox and Josh Powell shared a brief hug before the prayer service began, Cox said the only conversation he's had with him since his daughter was reported missing was on Tuesday.

Cox didn't attend a news conference Saturday organized by Josh Powell's brother-in-law, Kirk Graves, in which Graves said Josh Powell's side of the family is still hopeful Susan will come home. Cox said he's concerned too much attention is being placed on Josh Powell.

"I'm kind of concerned that all the focus is on him at the present. I mean he's told his story — believable or not — and I don't see him as capable of harming her," Cox said. "And the more time spent on him, the less time there is looking at other possibilities."

About 30 detectives have been assigned to find out what happened to Susan Powell. West Valley City Police Capt. Tom McLachlan says police haven't been able to verify Josh Powell's story because snow had covered the spot along The Pony Express Trail where he said he took the children.

Complicating the search for Susan Powell, McLachlan said police don't have a description of the clothing she was wearing when Josh Powell last saw her about 12:30 a.m. Monday.

Susan Powell's friend, Kiirsi Hellewell, said she saw her Sunday afternoon walking home from church, which Josh Powell did not attend.

JoVonna Owings said she had dinner with the couple and their children around 4 p.m. and that Susan Powell was wearing a long-sleeve black shirt and black pants.

Hellewell described her friend as a "girly girl" who liked to get dressed up when she went out with friends and make blankets for friends at church.

While Hellewell described the couple as spontaneous, she said the winter camping trip seemed out-of-character.

"They might go camping, but they would not do it in the winter, they would not do it in the middle of night and they wouldn't do it when they were expected at work the next day," she said.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Sean Goldman is still in Brazil! Please make sure that you have signed the petition demanding the return of this child to his father. Currently, the petition has over 55,000 signatures but needs as much support as possible.

click here

Also, please visit the BringSeanHome.org website to get the latest news and a link to the Facebook page.

Sean's mother is deceased and he is living with his step-father in Brazil. This story has been on 60 Minutes and other news programs.

Don't forget about this campaign!

Bring Sean Home for the Holidays 2009

The author is Professor Robert Watson of Lynn University who was once a writer for the New York Times.

Professor Watson writes:

Hi friends,

I am always being asked to grade Obama's presidency. In place of offering him a grade, I put together a list of his accomplishments thus far. I think you would agree that it is very impressive. His first six months have been even more active than FDRs or LBJs the two standards for such assessments. Yet, there is little media attention given to much of what he has done. Of late, the media is focusing almost exclusively on Obama's critics, without holding them responsible for the uncivil, unconstructive tone of their disagreements or without holding the previous administration responsible for getting us in such a deep hole. The misinformation and venom that now passes for political reporting and civic debate is beyond description.
As such, there is a need to set the record straight. What most impresses me is the fact that Obama has accomplished so much not from a heavy-handed or top-down approach but from a style that has institutionalized efforts to reach across the aisle, encourage vigorous debate, and utilize town halls and panels of experts in the policy-making process. Beyond the accomplishments, the process is good for democracy and our democratic processes have been battered and bruised in recent years.
Let me know if I missed anything in the list (surely I did).

Robert

You probably won't hear anything in the news about this anniversary until the 50th is reached.

However, I realized that it is significant in the fact that Kennedy was forty-six years old at the time of his death.

For those who were alive and old enough to remember, this was a horrible day in history. Most people can recall where they were when they first heard the news. I was in school.

It took our country in a different direction and changed us as a nation forever.

                                         ~Rest in Peace JFK~

MUNCIE -- The clock is ticking.

Dear Fellow Democrats,

We have control of BOTH the Executive and Legislative branches yet nothing is really getting done.

It is time for the leaders and members of the Senate and the House to get behind President Obama and bring about all the changes that were promised in the last election.

The Republicans always vote together in a block and it's time for the Democrats to do the same thing. Why worry about bi-partisan support for anything?

If you agree, sign this petition in support of our President.

Support President Obama's Efforts for Change

click here

I have been thinking about this issue as I have heard a few complaints about the glitches and bugs here at Care 2.

You know, all websites have them (even Facebook). I tried to order stamps yesterday from the USPS  and their website wasn't working properly.

There are many things that I enjoy at Facebook but if I HAD to choose between giving up one or the other, I would choose to stay at Care 2.

Facebook group formats are boring. There is no way to add graphics or customize group or profile pages. I can't do a blog like this one either.

Care 2 is really a complex website offering something for everyone!  Where else can an armchair activist find so many ways to support the issues that matters most to them? Care 2 News , the Petition Site and click to donate are all at one website!

The important thing about all of this is that we can have the best of both worlds and participate at both websites: Care 2 and Facebook.

One last thing: Try getting a response for tech support at Facebook.

Thanks Care 2 for all that you offer.

I want to let everyone know why I have been missing in action. I was taking a morning walk with a friend and a car hit me.  I have a couple of broken bones. Had surgery on 7/11/09 and was released from hospital on 7/13/09.

Keep me in your prayers.

Kristi K

Thanks for all of your e-cards and "comments" containing good wishes! I'm getting better and going to physical therapy twice a week. Kristi 10-12-09

I finished physical therapy! YAY!

Kristi 11/10/09

Stacey is giving back by trying to help other abuse victims. Please visit her new website: Healing Sisters

"Healing Sisters is a resource for victims of sexual abuse to come together, share their stories and heal their wounds. Create an account, write a blog, join the forums and begin to heal today."

click here

Thanks for caring,

Kristi K