Racism is a business and like any other business when faced with opposition, the business adapts and changes with the times. There is a plethora of businesses that flourish off of racial related issues and the privatization of prisons is no exception. Colorado spends over $2 million of our taxpayer money on private prisons. Let's put a stop to this corrupt business and make a dent in the racial issues our country faces on a daily basis.

We need a fully functioning Supreme Court and a fully functioning President for the next 11 months. If a missile lands on Iowa tomorrow - shall we leave it to the next president to respond? It is critical that the Supreme Court is brought back to full strength as quickly as possible so that all cases will be resolved rather than tabled or to allow lower court decisions to stand.

There are so many people who come to the U.S. trying to have a better life, but many reasons make them stay away from the opportunities that this country offers them. For so many years Immigrants have been fighting for Immigration Reform. If Immigration Reform could be created, it could bring better opportunities for undocumented people who want to make positive contributions to the U.S.

It's what Democracy is all about. When "The Voters" vote, their decision should drive the results - not that of a super delegate.

With cookie season in full swing, the archbishop of St. Louis is asking Catholic parishes to end a century-old tradition of hosting Girl Scout troops. Archbishop Robert Carlson claims that the Girl Scouts are "increasingly incompatible with our Catholic values" because of tenuous connections to organizations like Oxfam and Amnesty International whose political views he disagrees with. Despite conducting a lengthy witch hunt, the archbishop and his staff found nothing happening in local troops that he objected to. Unfortunately, that didn't stop him from writing a misleading letter to priests and troop leaders which makes plenty of vague accusations but omits the simple fact that the Girl Scouts don't take positions on controversial issues like abortion. More than 4,000 Girl Scouts meet in Catholic churches in the St. Louis area. They don't deserve to be held hostage to Archbishop Carlson's culture-war politics.

This BARRIER to REPRESENTATION, HB4013, will now be voted on by the Senate Judiciary. West Virginia’s Republican-controlled House passed a bill which would require voters to show one of several types of ID cards before voting. Some West Virginia lawmakers claim the bill is little more than an effort to suppress participation from elderly and minority voters, that this bill will only lead to further disenfranchisement of voters. Voter ID laws only prevent “voter impersonation” — someone pretending to be someone else — and that there have been NO reported cases of voter impersonation in West Virginia! Let your voice be heard and say "NO" to Voter ID Laws in West Virginia!

Honorably discharged veteran, Raymond Schwab, working at the Dept. Of Veteran Affairs in Kansas, requested a transfer to Colorado, so he could pursue cannabis treatment for his PTSD. The state of Kansas responded by taking his children away, and will only return custody if he gives up his legal cannabis treatment, even though he is a Colorado resident with a medical necessity. It is sickening that we repay our veterans by first denying them a safe and effective treatment in the state they reside, and then we punish them by taking away their children when they attempt to move. The state of Kansas should have no legal ground to keep his kids from him any longer.

As a board member of IAEE, want to realize the establishment of a free for all learner university to achieve equity. ofaarook@ gmail.com

Kids need recess. After all, "play" time is critical learning time and exercise. We shouldn't expect our kids to sit still in class for hours on end. But over the past few years, elementary schools in Florida have been phasing out recess—sometimes doing away with it entirely. Recess is proven to help kids develop important social skills, like communication, cooperation, and sharing. Recess also helps kids do better in school, as they become more focused in class. Every child should have the opportunity to benefit from recess.

Michigan business leaders know that equal protection for all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, is good for business. It's also the right thing to do. Michigan is behind the times on this issue. You can still be fired or denied housing for being gay or transgender, and it's perfectly legal here in the mitten! It's long past time to amend Michigan's civil rights laws to protect every Michigander equally.

Over half a million people in Iowa are presently covered under Medicaid. Their care is a paramount concern of all Iowans.

The state will lose good paying jobs to out-of-state companies and tax dollars will be lost and wasted on for-profit companies while our citizens in Iowa suffer.