Protecting small farms in Michigan should be a top priority. Many farmers' markets are a consortium of small farms producing local produce. This is a vital part of local economies in many areas in Michigan and around the country. Michigan lawmakers should support the rights of individuals, not just the interest of big business.

Did you know that every day vulnerable children slip through the safety net that’s supposed to catch them? Keisha entered the child welfare system as an infant and bounced around foster families for years. At 12 years old, she was raped and forced into prostitution. At age 17, Keisha was arrested, detained, and labeled a juvenile delinquent (1). Keisha is not a criminal. She is a victim of human trafficking. The child welfare system should have identified her before law enforcement sent her to jail. Due to severe lack of capacity and training, the social workers in charge of her well-being failed to intervene. The system that was supposed to protect her left her traumatized instead. Keisha is not alone. There’s substantial evidence that child trafficking victims usually have involvement with the child welfare system either before or during their exploitation (2). In Maryland, nearly 30% of cases referencing human trafficking involve minors (3). Child welfare agencies across the country are not identifying or providing for the needs of children - some already within their systems - that are vulnerable to sex and labor trafficking. You can change this reality. U.S. Senators are considering passing legislation to fix this injustice. But they need your help. Senator Mikulski can help ensure that child welfare agencies take action to protect these children. The child welfare bill will improve child welfare agencies’ ability to identify and protect more vulnerable children. That’s why we need Senator Mikulski to support the Strengthening the Child Welfare Response to Human Trafficking Act of 2013 (S.1823). Sources: 1. Ima Matul, Child Welfare System Must Work Better to Help Stop Trafficking of Children | Commentary, ROLL CALL (Jan. 23, 2014), http://www.rollcall.com/news/child_welfare_system_must_work_better_to_help_stop_trafficking_of_children-230345-1.html?pg=1. 2. A New York State study showed that 85% of child trafficking victims had prior involvement with the child welfare system. Frances Gragg, Ian Petta, Haidee Bernstein, Karla Eisen, & Liz Quinn, New York Prevalence Study of Commercially Sexually Exploited Children, Prepared for: New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Apr. 18, 2007. 3. National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) Data Breakdown, Maryland State Report 1/1/2013 – 12/31/2013, available at: https://na4.salesforce.com/sfc/p/300000006E4S/a/600000004UwS/OJQI0uqWB.DsXVTWOclL1ws2ZLst2DQ5ZtqZQkFq95Q=.

I bought my condo in Bettendorf, Iowa, in 2007 and lived there ever since. What started out as an excitement of a new homeowner, gradually turned into a worst nightmare. As soon as the Board of Directors was formed (in 2008) they started their reign of terror by bullying owners into compliance with their unreasonable propositions, misinformation, micromanagement and redlining. One of the few very harmful amendments to the Association Bylaws was the BOD's orchestrating a ban on renting. The Board manipulated the owners into thinking that the value of their homes was going down due to renting (even though only a few condos out of over a hundred units were rented at the time). The real reason behind the ban: a large proportion of renters were families of color, mostly professionals from Asia. Condo owners' meetings usually resemble a coliseum-style intimidation of those who disagree with the BOD's decisions. In addition, I wonder if the ban on renting was even valid since there is no public record of the amendment. In any case, the Board stands by its decision to ban renting and those who have to relocate for any reason are in danger of having to foreclose their homes and face other hardships. However, when it comes to real issues, such as the maintenance, the owners are left to their own devices. This winter, for example, the driveways literally looked like a skating rink. I was one of the unfortunate owners who ended up with a back injury after falling on the ice. Instead of an apology, I was advised by a Board member to use a back door, where there was supposedly less ice! Palmer Hills Place BOD's terrorizing and their illegal, racist, harmful actions and neglect need to stop. They need to step down and let the well-intended and capable board members to take their place.

Some of the biggest boundaries for bisexual teens and adults to overcome are erasure and isolation, with people from both the straight and gay community ignoring their issues or refusing to even admit they exist.

Minnesota could be on the verge of joining New York in passing the National Popular Vote bill this year, finally giving each citizen an equal vote in our nation's presidential elections.

We know from leaked documents that the Trans-Pacific Partnership will force ISPs to act as “Internet Police”, monitoring our Internet use, censoring content, and removing whole websites. It will also give media conglomerates centralized control over what you can watch and share online.

Yes, I have ongoing stomach and digestive problems due to foods. I want my grandchildren and great grandchildren protected.

As students interested in rural medical education in Oregon and the ORSP we support Lisa Dodson's succession plans for the ORSP. We feel it would be in the best interest of the Dean's Office, the OHSU School of Medicine, and all parties involved to accept her succession plans and recommendations for the future of the ORSP. With her years of experience in rural medical education and the connections she has made throughout the state, she is the best fit to appoint those faculty members who will take over for her as ORSP leadership, and to develop the curricular plans for its future.

We must do the right thing by putting an end to circuses that have wild animals, to teach our children the truth about circuses and kindness to all animals, and to speak out for wild animals in circuses. Don't believe the circus, they say wild animals love to perform and live healthy, safe lives. Facebook: Speak Out for Circus Animals

This petition is to show the support from the many locals that would like to see the Plaza Theater revived and open to the public.

Individual members of Michigan Legislature are a lot more receptive to petitions that are started by their own constituents. PLEASE SIGN AND SHARE THIS PETITION WITH EVERYONE WITHIN OUR DISTRICT!! Warmest Regards, A local very small farm hobbyist

Anneewakee Trails subdivision is one of the largest subdivisions in Douglas County, GA, with hundreds of our children attending school throughout Douglas County daily. Our children's safety should be our top priority, but vehicles parked along the roadways, in addition to speeding vehicles, are an increased hazard to our children's safety and should be stopped. Commissioner Kelly Robinson has proposed coordinating with the Board of Education to designate NO PARKING ZONES for bus stops, and to partner with the Department of Transportation, to install speed humps throughout the community.