Philosophically, it makes no sense for political parties to boss political primaries. But the objection is not just philosophical, it is pragmatic: DC usually backs the wrong candidate. Here in Montana, our state party rules ban intervention in primaries. We let the voters decide and it is a smart policy. But the Washington, DC based Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) is trying to boss our 2014 senate nomination. The Senate Majority Leader even tried to prevent voters from even having a choice. Adding insult to injury, new Public Policy Polling results show the candidate the DSCC is backing has *worse* poll numbers for the general election, in a race that could decide control of the US senate. Washington, DC wants somebody who won't rock the boat. Washington, DC wants somebody who won't mention "single-payer" and talk about health care as a fundamental right. Washington, DC wants somebody who won't mention "Snowden" and talk about the need to restore the Fourth Amendment. Washington, DC wants somebody who will follow orders, not fight to fix the filibuster. Montana voters deserve a choice. And Montana Democrats should be the only ones deciding who will represent us in the November general election.

On Thursday evening, November 7, Wake County Animal Services, under the direction of Dr. Jennifer Frederico, initiated an unannounced raid at the home of Carol De Olloqui, Founder of Calvin's Paws Rescue. In light of the irregularities and deviation of protocol that took place during this raid, where 60 cats were euthanized unnecessarily, please accept my formal request demanding the resignation of Dr. Jennifer Frederico. We ask the Department of Environmental Health and Wake County Commissioners initiate immediate action to terminate her employment. We are independent animal rescue volunteers. We are not associated with Calvin's Paws Rescue. For the record, while we do not condone the total number of animals that were found located at Ms. De Olloqui's home on that Thursday evening, the extreme actions on behalf of Dr. Frederico in this case begs for a strict review and finally, her dismissal as Director of Wake County Animal Services. Facts: -Ms. De Olloqui was physically restrained and not allowed to provide veterinary documentation to support each animal -Four of Ms. De Olloqui's personal cats were destroyed -Four of the cats present on the property at the time of the raid were being held as a courtesy for an owner that recently lost her home in a fire -Several of the cats euthanized were under various area veterinarians' care. The veterinarians were available but not allowed to present any documentation at the time of the raid -Several of the cats euthanized were the property of other rescues -Calvin's Paws Rescue and many other rescue fosters were in route to Ms. De Olloqui's home to retrieve animals and provide them with shelter but were turned away. Many are approved partners of Wake County Animal Shelter. -Ms. De Olloqui granted access to Dr. Frederico and her team into the home of her own accord -Calvin's Paws Rescue is an approved partner of the Wake County Animal Shelter -This is not the first quick rush to euthanize animals by Dr. Frederico. In a recent raid at a home in Holly Springs, the media reported 42 cats were euthanized. In 2012, Sassy, an owner surrender dog to the Wake County Shelter was euthanized within minutes of being presented to the shelter. The owner had a change of heart and returned to the shelter to find the dog had been euthanized, the shelter staff citing aggressive behavior. Points for consideration: Per Section 3 of the NC Legal code, article 19A-49 , each animal cruelty investigator at his own expense must attend annually a course of at least six hours instruction offered by the North Carolina Humane Federation or some other agency. The course shall be designed to give the investigator expertise in the investigation of complaints relating to the care and treatment of animals. Failure to attend a course approved by the board of county commissioners shall be cause for removal from office.all animal cruelty investigators are to attend an annual. Do we know that the officers on site had the proper training to handle this type of case? Where there have been other raids such as puppy mills, search and seizures in our state, the animals confiscated were reviewed and held. Only the most ill were euthanized. Citizens lined up at the shelter in one particular case to "adopt" the highly sought "pocket book" type dogs like Maltese and Pomeranians. Rescues took most of the dogs that had medical issues to foster and hopefully, rehome. Was there prejudice in this case because the animals that were euthanized, just CATS, and not the highly adoptable designer dogs that can provide the shelter with a great press coverage and quick adoption fees? Government agencies are challenged with cut backs and reduced spending during these hard economic times. There were alternatives available that would have avoided impacting the tax payer and saved the animals lives. Why was Dr. Frederico given this latitude? In the recent interview with WRAL reporter, Renee Chou, Dr. Frederico stated that available space at the shelter was one of the main reasons for euthanasia. Ms. De Olloqui has been charged with three counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty charges and the raid is considered a criminal investigation. In criminal investigations, the animals are considered "evidence" and are required to be held. If the Dr. Frederico and her team did not allow the vet and rescue documents to be viewed and substantiate the status of each cat, by law, the animals would have had no "proof of ownership" and therefore are required to be placed on a stray hold by the shelter, typically 72 hours. This did not happen. The reports released in the media changed daily. Initially, the cats were reported healthy. The reports the following week advised that 60 of the cats were ill and required to be euthanized. Where are the documents that support this decision? Why would you allow the opinion of one person, who is on record for being quick to euthanize and in previous documented cases, made questionable decisions, be allowed carte blanche when the lives of so many animals were on the line? Dr Frederico references that when hoarding situations arise, "they are handled on a case by case basis". Not true. There is a protocol and it was not followed. This was a feline genocide. The rescue community and animal advocates are outraged. The people that make up this network are tax payers and registered voters and as a group, demand this case it's due diligence. As county commissioners and state government employees, the more important question to be answered is why does the State of North Carolina have such high numbers of unwanted and abandoned animals? Why are the county animal shelters and rescue organizations completely full? Continual pet overpopulation and lack of legislation to require mandatory spay/neuter for all companion animals is the crux of the problem, not people like Ms. De Olloqui as Dr. Frederico would have everyone to believe. Dr. Frederico and Wake County ...

Rockstars' 1.06 Update disabled us to do this in any way.

Boundary Stone, a local restaurant in the Bloomingdale neighborhood of Washington, DC, tweeted out a petition opposing a minimum wage increase for tipped workers. Many people who live off of tips can't afford basic necessities. Tipped employees in DC make $2.77 an hour. This is too low. Boundary Stone should apologize for taking this public stance and should voluntarily raise the wages for their tipped employees. To learn more about what it's like to live off of tips, here is a great video from the Restaurant Opportunity Center: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mc_8uDr-ce0 Boundary Stone's tweet is here: https://twitter.com/BoundaryStoneDC/status/402856058005114880

Our nation is continuing in the trend of disinterested voters. I think the current age gap between the first year someone decides to vote, and the first time they could have voted is too long.

The proposed building of multi-family condominiums with access from Arch Hill Drive via Cedar Crest Drive will create a congestive and unsafe amount of traffic diverting through the Balcones Village/Spicewoood neighborhood. Cedar Crest Drive is a narrow road with no sidewalks that currently serves as the main pass-through between Balcones Village and Spicewood. Cedar Crest is also the main thoroughfare for parents and buses taking children to Spicewood Elementary from Balcones, and Canyon Vista Middle School from Spicewood. Allowing access to the proposed development from inside the BV/S neighborhood (and possibly Anderson Mill Road) will encourage commuters to create a route through the neighborhood to access Hwy 183 in lieu of using Anderson Mill. Furthermore, the increased traffic of that would result if condominium residents must use interior streets to access their homes, the neighborhood roads would become even more congested and dangerous. Please sign this petition to help us Stop the Condo development that is proposed.

Taxes and grant money goes toward incarcerating parent's in contempt of child support. Tax payers want taxes and grants to go toward parent's in contempt - to work in programs (retail, fast food, janitorial, etc.) established with local companies to have wage garnishment while the parent works - versus incarceration and the children go without any money. Please give funding toward parent's who work instead of quota's and money toward the number of incarcerations. Companies may get tax breaks with these work programs and children will be provided for versus parent's sitting in jail without providing for the child/children. If parent's refuse to work in the programs for their child -they can clean the city streets as a service to taxpayers.

My house is located directly next to the lot where a new 9 story hotel /community center is planned to start construction NEXT WEEK. The neighbors that live near this site (16 Olive) deserve to know what type of hotel/hostel this will be and the type of community services that are planned in this building. The property is included in the IBZ (Industrial Business Zone) zoning designation of Grand Street but THIS type of Property is not appropriate for POWERS & OLIVE streets. I am concerned about the type of Hotel this will be and the potential issues with car and pedestrian traffic. Please sign so we can HALT the process and find out more. Portia Dyrenforth

I was unaware of the practices of Halal approved food processing and believe the methods of animal slaughter is barbaric and unnecessary cruel torture. I also am not Islamic and do not want Islamic declarations or processes performed on products that I purchase. This should be a right of all Americans to know if they are purchasing Halal approved products.

Verizon Wireless is discontinuing monthly discounts for customers who have retired from affiliated employers and/or organizations. It's purely a revenue issue for Verizon. It began when Verizon wooed and smoooozed large employers; seeing an opportunity to attract thousands of customers, all at once. A 5-20% discount was an genius marketing tool and strategy that could be easily absorbed; compared to the millions to be made with the potential thousands of new customers. The organization I retired from had over 2.6 million employees. Verizon was mesmerized by the shear number of potential customers with these contracts, and reverification was obviously not a Verizon company policy or standard. They have not monitored "the discount"; because this is the first time I've had to reverify my employment. Consequently now, I would imagine, Verizon has thousands of customers who are receiving the discount still, after terminating employment with the original employer, which qualified them to get the discount. When I received my notice to reverify my discount, I promptly called Verizon to learn where to send my annuity statement. I was quickly told "Oh No, you are retired." Since I'd never been asked to reverify my employment and/or association, in four years, I assumed the discount was for retirees too. In my organization the previous retirees never said, "Oh, when you retire you will loose your Verizon discount." I would also imagine that most other retirees have had opportunities, over the years, to switch to a different carrier, but did not and have stayed as happy satisfied loyal customers. In today's toilet economy, with companies laying off people, downsizing, closings, etc. there are thousands of people stampeding towards the retirement door. Verizon sees, with tunnel vision, the potential of the money to be made off the thousands who have, and will retire. A 5-20% revenue jump, times thousands of retirees, should look pretty good on the bottom line. It's very unfair of Verizon to create this system, to get our business, not monitor it, and now suddenly decide to terminate it, without warning. This is a knee jerk impulsive attempt to make millions. We retirees are on limited incomes; usually a fraction of our former salaries. Thousands of us may well take our celluar telephone business elsewere.

The addition of another 1000 cars daily on Waukegan Road is a safety, health and noise issue. The gateway to Northbrook should not be a gas station/car wash/convenience store. The site is surrounded by retirees who already must contend with a busy roadway. The addition of this kind of traffic would be creating a very dangerous situation.

Really, Can anyone justify not labeling GMO Content? We deserve the right to know what is in our food!