Lincoln, NE is a thriving city, with forward-thinking residents who care about the environment, the economy, and the well being of their fellow citizens. Lincoln residents want to support companies who treat their employees with respect and dignity. The residents of Lincoln would like other shopping options besides those like Sam's Club and Walmart, so that we can embrace the ideology of people receiving living wages for quality work. We do not want to support the other big box stores of the world, but until we have other options, it is difficult to maintain that ideology. Costco please consider building a store in Lincoln, NE.

As a commercial real estate professional, Vice Chair of the Paradise Valley Village Planning Commission, father of two girls, advocate of the 32nd Street revitalization efforts and avid PMP nature lover, I do not support the proposed dispensary on what is intended to be a main thoroughfare for families on foot, bike and car. The dispensary will disrupt the proposed revitalization efforts, discourage further redevelopment, and lead to an erosion in property values.

Hourly employees are protected by law and paid overtime hours if they work longer than 40 hours per week. We need a similar protection in place for exempt employees who many times are pulled in to work 16 hour days non stop because the company doesn't want to hire and pay for the hourly paid help, when they can get the work done 'for free'. This can end up in loss of family, shortened or loss of life, lawsuits clogging the system. Simply put, people who work very hard at what they do, deserve to have time away from work to pursue their own life outside of work, to have regular planned absences from work, vacation time, at least one day off each week as well as compensation for the 'me time' hours given.

The Koch brothers are once again attacking our freedom to join together in unions to improve the lives of all working people, and we want them to stop! In my over 20 years of teaching, I’ve seen America’s economy swing out of balance in favor of corporate CEOs and wealthy special interests who manipulate the rules to benefit themselves at the expense of the rest of us. It’s already way too hard for many Americans to get by, let alone get ahead. Now there’s a new case before the U.S. Supreme Court that threatens to make things even worse. A group called the Center for Individual Rights, which the American Prospect recently revealed has been funded by the Koch Brothers, other right-wing one-percenters, and even white supremacists, is trying to make it even harder for public service workers – teachers like me, as well as nurses, social workers, firefighters and others -- to band together at work in order fight for benefits and wages we can use to provide for our families This Koch Brothers-backed group is asking the Supreme Court to impose the same kind of radical agenda we’ve seen hurt everyday people in states like Wisconsin and every state in the country. Worse yet, just like in Citizens United, this all-out attack on everyday Americans would be enshrined in the Constitution. When I began teaching at a California community college in 1992, it never even crossed my mind not to join a union, and it’s a decision I’ve never regretted. We’ve all seen the research showing that strong unions benefit the middle class. Being a union member has allowed me to speak in one voice with my fellow teachers for things that matter and benefit the community – better training, smaller classes, and wages and benefits that can sustain families. But if the groups behind this case get their way, it will be another major blow to the middle class. Tell the Center for Individual Rights: Enough is enough! It’s time to stop attacking working people -- the teachers like me and other public service workers who work to make our communities better. Sign this petition and join us as we tell the Center for Individual Rights that we will not let corporate CEOs and the wealthy special interests stop us from banding together and forming unions to make our lives better. Lacy Barnes, College Instructor, California Federation of Teachers, Local 1533

We really need to spend out money more wisely and the defense budget is breaking us. Think what we could do with a billion dollars in education or for streets or medical funding.

Millions of Americans are unemployed and need jobs. Even if it costs Apple twice as much to make its products in America, Apple's profits would only be modestly affected since its profit margins are so high. With state subsidies, tax incentives and other support, the margins would still be high, dollars exported for manufacturing would stay in America and one of America's iconic companies would be supporting Americans. It's a win-win.

I have been personally involved in this issue for 20 plus years and I can no longer be silent.

HOA homeowners are being abused, many fraudulently and criminally dragged into colluded and corrupt courtrooms to be stripped of their finances and property with no due process, no protections of the existing laws and no respect for their rights by those within the legal systems or the courts. It appears, in locales like Monroe County, Pennsylvania and other areas of America, that many of these many times greed-driven targeted abuses, crimes, frauds upon the courts and property thefts are gender based, family status based, age based, or targeting those with disabilities, or who have a family member with a disability, and some appear to be discrimination based and/or hate crimes too! We need national exposure of the HOA abuses across America and for the perpetrators of these crimes and injustices, no matter where they are, or who they are, or who they know, to be charged, to be prosecuted and sentenced and their victims rectified. Many of the HOA crimes and property thefts are being committed over state lines, and I believe these criminal acts warrant federal investigations, prosecutions and sentencing as well! It is long overdue that the HOA criminality, homeowner abuses and property thefts are put to an end in America, so let us all see this happen now! Thank you so very, very much! PS: If you have any doubt of what is truly going on in these crimes against innocent HOA homeowners, please listen to this recent interview with former PA Congressman and former PA Auditor General, Don Bailey (donbaileylaw.com) on twigscaferadio.com. The interview exposes the disgraceful, illegal and damaging injustices and "ongoings" in our legal system that anyone within this system, at every level and position, should be ashamed of! There is no wonder why and how this is happening to innocent HOA homeowners in "abusive" and criminal HOAs, along with their abusive accomplices in some courts and others! twigscaferadio.com Justice Served - Episode 7 - 10-28-15 In fact, all the "Justice Served" and "Jasikoff and Friends" and "Sanity Check" are well worth listening to. Here are the shows posted thus far: and I trust you will want to listen to all, especially important is "Justice Served" 10.20, 10.21,10,22, & 10.28 for starters, in my opinion! You need to hear these guests! twigscaferadio.com Jasikoff & Friends •Jasikoff & Friends Episode 1 - 10-15-15 •Jasikoff & Friends Episode 3 - 10-20-15 •Jasikoff & Friends Episode 2 - 10-16-2015 •Jasikoff & Friends Episode 4 - 10-21-15 •Jasikoff & Friends Episode 5 - 10-22-15 Sanity Check •Sanity Check 10-22-15 •Sanity Check - 10-28-15 Justice Served with Andy Ostrowski •Justice Served - Episode 1 - 10-15-15 •Justice Served - Episode 2 - 10-16-15 •Justice Served - Episode 3 - 10-20-15 •Justice Served - Episode 4 - 10-21-15 •Justice Served - Episode 5 - 10-22-15 •Justice Served - Episode 7 - 10-28-15

The Republican leadership has agreed to a deal to keep the government operating, raise the debt limit, and ensure that all Social Security benefits continue to be paid in full and on time beyond 2016. When hostage takers release their hostages, we are, of course, relieved that the hostages are no longer in harm’s way, but this is nothing to celebrate. That the ransom isn’t steeper is also not something to celebrate. The deal does include some good provisions: Medicare beneficiaries will not experience the drastically large premium increases that were set to take effect next year. It also closes a loophole that was introduced in the law relatively recently that allows wealthier Americans to game the system by claiming extra benefits inconsistent with the goals of the program. But there is a diversion of Social Security resources towards virtually nonexistent fraud. This focus on fraud is a distraction from Social Security’s one real shortcoming: its benefits are too low, and an overwhelming majority of Americans know it. Congress should follow the will of the people by expanding those modest but vital benefits and restore the program to long-range actuarial balance by requiring the wealthiest among us to pay their fair share. Join us in calling on Congress to follow the American people and expand Social Security benefits! The fraud prevention provisions will require workers with disabilities to wait longer to receive their earned benefits and may prevent some from receiving their earned benefits completely. That is wrong. And though there are positives in this deal, Social Security legislation, as a matter of principle, should always go through regular order, in the light of day. If that were done, Social Security would be expanded. That’s why we can’t rest on our laurels. We need to keep pressure on Washington to expand, not cut, Social Security benefits.

Arizona will soon become the first and only state to impose a one-year lifetime limit for impoverished households receiving federal benefits from the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program. This move will cut off aid for 1,600 Arizona families in July. The TANF families provides support for families while they're looking for jobs, offering roughly $195 per month in additional assistance. By placing a cap on this program, Arizona is leading a systemic attack on the poor -- one that other states are likely to copy if its allowed to stand.

The result of the dark stores rulings reduces the stores' taxable value by 50% or more. This takes away local control of funding. Key services to citizens are being severely impacted: libraries, fire protection, search and rescue, sheriff/police services, roads, veterans, recreational, public transit, schools and seniors. Upper Peninsula lawmakers have been working on this problem since 2011-12, but previous legislation never got out of committee. Our communities are suffering and we need to convince committee members to support all Michigan communities through solid tax legislation and updated Tax Tribunal policies.

Currently, 19 states have passed laws or enacted policy to provide a fair chance at employment for formerly incarcerated job seekers. The President has said he wants to implement federal-level reform in the criminal justice system during his last days in office. Hearing from you can help move him to action.