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City Assessment Complete

SYKTYVKAR - well, it's finally done. After sifting through all 113 applicants for city status, the Uralican Tribal Board has again made a decision concerning who does and does not obtain city status on 1 May 2010. Most cities in the published list of non-cuts that was done nine days ago were cleared. The number of cities in Uralica now sits at 173, nearly double what it was before. Although these are rounded to the nearest five hundred, the following lists are in order of population. The smallest city in Uralica is now officially Igrim, whose population is barely over twenty thousand people, at 20 078 officially.

APPROVED (with census population data):

Sysert, Southeast Uralica - 120 000

Aramil, Southeast Uralica - 67 000

Raduzhnyy, Yugra - 67 000

Tavda, Southeast Uralica - 60 000

Lyantor, Yugra - 60 000

Dobryanka, Permski Rayon - 53 000

Rezh, Southeast Uralica - 52 500

Urai, Yugra - 50 000

Muravlenko, Yamalia - 48 500

Pazhga, Mennoland - 45 000

Tráty, Komiland - 43 000

Vuktyl, Central Uralica - 42 000

Artyomovsky, Southeast Uralica - 42 000

Gubakha, Permski Rayon - 41 500

Osa, Permski Rayon - 41 500

Shumerlya, Chuvashia - 41 000

Onega, Northwest Uralica - 41 000

Käkshär, Kirovski Rayon - 40 000

Naryan-Mar, Nenetsia-North Uralica - 40 000

Nyandoma, Northwest Uralica - 39 500

Hiipinä, Sapmi - 39 500

Kostamus, Karelia - 39 000

Kuiksk, Yugra - 39 000

Kizel, Permski Rayon - 37 000

Kamyshlov, Southeast Uralica - 37 000

Käkisalmi, Karelia - 36 000

Orlov, Kirovski Rayon - 35 000

Zarechnyy, Southeast Uralica - 35 000

Igra, Udmurtiya North - 35 000

Vereshchagino, Permski Rayon - 34 000

Nizhnyaya Tura, Southeast Uralica - 34 000

Öskölömi, Central Uralica - 32 000

Talka-Salya, Yamalia - 32 000

Mikun', Komiland - 31 500

Konosha, Woodlands - 31 000

Sortavala, Karelia - 30 000

Gubkinsky, Yamalia - 30 000

Aleksandrovsk, Permski Rayon - 29 500

Nytva, Permski Rayon - 29 000

Ägerce, Udmurtiya South - 29 000

Kouteri, Sapmi - 28 500

Karhumägi, Karelia - 28 000

Chetyrgoroda, Yugra - 28 000

Enso, Karelia - 27 000

Uva, Udmurtia South - 27 000

Emva, Komiland - 26 500

Krasnovishersk, Permski Rayon - 26 500

Beloyarsky, Southeast Uralica - 26 000

Nizhnyaya Salda, Southeast Uralica - 26 000

Turinsk, Southeast Uralica - 26 000

Balezino, Udmurtiya North - 26 000

Sernur, Mari El - 25 500

Usolye, Solikamsk-Berezniki - 25 000

Talitsa, Southeast Uralica - 25 000

Gryazovets, West Uralica - 25 000

Lashma, Mordoviya - 24 500

Zheshart, Komiland - 24 000

Kizner, Udmurtiya South - 24 000

Ilyuchinsk, Yugra - 24 000

Usovuori, Northwest Uralica - 23 500

Troitsko-Pechorsk, Central Uralica - 23 000

Tsivilsk, Chuvashia - 23 000

Ochyor, Permski Rayon - 23 000

Kuálõk, Sapmi - 23 000

Verkhny Tagil, Southeast Uralica - 23 000

Sheksna, West Uralica - 22 500

Kargopol, Northwest Uralica - 22 000

Murmashi, Sapmi - 22 000

Plesetsk, Northwest Uralica - 21 500

Degtyarsk, Southeast Uralica - 21 500

Vienankemi, Karelia - 21 000

Maskasola, Mari El - 21 000

Sentervorri, Chuvashia - 20 500

Polar Dawns, Sapmi - 20 500

Vytegra, West Uralica - 20 500

Krasnoslobodsk, Mordoviya - 20 000

Kolosjoki, Sapmi - 20 000

Baranchinsky, Southeast Uralica - 20 000

Igrim, Yugra - 20 000

REJECTED (with census data and reasoning):

Severnyy Beloyarsky, Yugra - 32 000, insufficient infrastructure

Olenegorsk, Sapmi - 30 000, no campus of SCU, insufficient commercial district

Zapolyarny, Sapmi - 26 500, no campus of SCU, insufficient commercial district

Snezhnogorsk, Sapmi - 25 000, no campus of SCU, insufficient commercial district

Nizhnesortymskiy, Yugra - 24 000, no campus of SCU, insufficient commercial district, not enough music schools, insufficient infrastructure

Polyarny, Sapmi - 23 000, no campus of SCU, insufficient commercial district

Pokachi, Yugra - 23 000, no campus of SCU

Provoi, Mari El - 22 000, insufficient infrastructure

Reftinsky, Southeast Uralica - 20 500, no campus of SCU

Gornozavodsk, Permski Rayon - 20 000, no campus of SCU, insufficient infrastructure

Bisert, Southeast Uralica - 20 000, no campus of SCU, insufficient commercial district

Salomäk-Ola, Mari El - 19 000, too small, no campus of SCU

Gadzhiyevo, Sapmi - 19 000, too small, not enough music schools, no campus of SCU

Verkhnyaya Tura, Southeast Uralica - 19 000, too small (joint SCU campus with Krasnouralsk should it attain city status)

Gremyachinsk, Permski Rayon - 18 500, too small, no campus of SCU

Arti, Southeast Uralica - 18 500, too small, insufficient commercial district, no campus of SCU

Kambarka, Udmurtiya South - 18 500, too small, no campus of SCU

Pitkäranta, Karelia - 18 000, too small, no campus of SCU

Chad, Permski Rayon - 18 000, too small, insufficient infrastructure

Zaozyorsk, Sapmi - 18 000, too small, no campus of SCU, insufficient commercial district

Kimcheng, West Uralica - 18 000, too small, no campus of SCU

Ustyansk (form. Oktyabrsky), Northwest Uralica - 17 500, too small, no campus of SCU

Kuyeda, Permsky Rayon - 17 000, too small, no campus of SCU

Bulanash, Southeast Uralica - 17 000, too small (joint SCU campus with Artyomovsky should it attain city status)

Barda, Permski Rayon - 16 500, too small, no campus of SCU

Volchansk, East Uralica - 16 500, too small, no campus of SCU, insufficient commercial district

Mezhdurechenskyy, Yugra - 16 000, too small, no campus of SCU

Kükeś, Chuvashia - 15 500, too small, no campus of SCU

Nizhniye Sergi, Southeast Uralica - 15 500, too small, no campus of SCU

Vojatsu, Karelia - 15 000, too small

Vurnary, Chuvashia - 14 000, too small, no campus of SCU

Pyshma, Southeast Uralica - 14 000, too small, no campus of SCU

Izyayu-Kozhva, Pechora - 12 000, too small, no campus of SCU

Uralica Ready To Pay Up - Didriksen

VORKUTA - Bring on the assignments, says Ulrike Didriksen.

The Mennonite has been working feverishly for the last couple weeks to make sure all is ready to roll in the ERHDC's "Special Committee Concerning The Payment Of Reparations To Nemesis And Others." Originally, Uralica had intended to pay reparations to Monos Archein as well, however, a change in the system meant that the Uralicans' money and supplies will be headed primarily to the Nemesis alliance.

"We've been ready to pay up for a while now," said Didriksen in a recent interview. "We're waiting for the order from TOOL Finance. Having twice our TOOL-required war chest means more giving is possible. But don't get any funny ideas. We're prepared for other things as well, if you catch my drift."

Greater Lacedaemon Praised

SYKTYVKAR - The Blood Brothers alliance is a protectorate of The Order Of Light, the alliance Uralica belongs to.

But one Blood Brother nation has helped TOOL protect itself, twice over.

Due to the existing rules of combat, some nations are small enough that rogue nations such as Land Of The Last and Shadowblade can attack them and not fear significant reprisal, or so they thought. Land Of The Last was counterattacked by TOOL nation Chimpton, an attack that was semi-expected. But completely unexpected by the aggressor of the conflict was the entrance of the small-yet-heroic nation of Greater Lacedaemon. The extra firepower was enough to force the member of the 4-nation alliance, "The Overlord's Hand," to peace out.

More recently, an alliance-of-one, Shadowblade of "ICON," took it upon itself to attack Defcon, a lower-level TOOL nation. Coming to Defcon's aid, sure enough, was Greater Lacedaemon's armed forces. Supplementing this was a unanimously-approved ERHDC aid package from Uralica.

Jarkko Salomäki publicly praised both the nation and its ruler Machanidas for its willingness to help, in a press conference he called yesterday afternoon.

"The actions of Greater Lacedaemon defy definition," he said. "The Defconian army has told me that the Lacedaemonite soldier is the epitome of what a soldier should be - strong in the face of adversity, gentle with the friendly civilian, and placing the success of the team and the welfare of the defended above his own life. I wouldn't doubt it for a second. The fact that that nation has already come to our assistance twice should speak for itself. If Uralican award rules allowed it, I'd give the whole nation the Kunnianmitali! Machanidas deserves any plaudits he gets, too. He is a strong leader of sound moral character."

Uralican News

Lesnoy, Nizhnyaya Tura To Merge

NIZHNYAYA TURA - It is expected that, at the beginning of July, the twin cities of Lesnoy and Nizhnyaya Tura in Southeast Uralica are going to become a single body, keeping the municipal hall of the former, but the name of the latter. Dr. Vlasi Malenkov, a long-time member of the Uralican government, was quick to explain this in an interview.

"The people of Lesnoy wanted to shake the negative impression people got of the city due to its former status as a closed town within Old Russia. Nizhnyaya Tura as you know is practically one with Lesnoy anyway, so I can't see why it wouldn't work. Anyway, the two cities had referenda, and both came out with the same end result - an official merger will take place on 2 July 2010."

Music

"The Pelastus Experience" Sells Out Filharmonia Three Times Over... Within A Day!

SYKTYVKAR - When Pelastus decided to put on a show alongside the Uralican Symphony Orchestra, they had no idea of the reception they would get. All three of their original booked shows, on 30 April and 1 and 2 May 2010, sold out within 12 hours of first going on sale.

"Apparently we made a few fans at Eastertime," frontman Matti Pitkänen joked. "But it's awesome that people see that when you put metal and classical music together, you get something even better. We're actually pondering going to the studio with these guys and recording a symphonic album. Maybe coming up with some new stuff too. Tanne [Kangur, Pelastus' bassist] wanted us to do some classical works that involved a full metal ensemble, too, so we'll talk to Sirkka Numminen and Ruslan Kamyshin about that and see if they're game for it."

The series of shows, called "The Pelastus Experience," has now been bolstered from three days to nine. Furthermore, several filming companies from Uralica and abroad have agreed to film all nine days' worth of music.

Education

Second Annual School Rankings Released

ÖSKÖLÖMI - Uralica released its yearly ranking of its well-funded education system, which was marked by a standardised test done by all grades from 4-13 (measuring mathematic, writing, linguistic, and critical thinking skills), percentage of Grade 12s who remain in school for Grade 13, average marks on national exams in various subjects, student progress reports done by the teachers, and teacher progress reports done by the principals in the case of primary schools.

"Let's let the facts speak for themselves," said education kingpin Ovdey Shlomov. "Even the worst Uralican schools are solid when stacked up against mid-range schools from other nations. But we have released the top 50 in each age category and 'pay class' (that is, the distinguishment between public and private) to the public. And there are some public schools that would make most nations' private schools jealous!"

The results of this year's assessment will be posted at www.uraledu.edu.ur.