I was denied a liquor license after 131 New Orleans French Quarter Business (FQBA) members submitted a letter to Troy Hebert instructing him to deny my license. Within three days of his receipt of the FQBA letter my application was denied. I received over 20 unannounced inspections to ensure I was not in violation of state ordinances particularly selling liquor to minors. Each official inspection indicted that there were no violations. Generally, businesses serving liquor can expect 2 - 3 unannounced inspections over a 2 or 3 year period. The denial and violation of my right to pursue a business and economic development is a direct violation of U.S. law 18 USC code 249. September will mark the 2nd year of my application process and denial. Last week the ATC filed an Opposition with Judge Brown to "stay" our administrative hearing which was scheduled in March 2015. This delay will create further financial and economic hardship. Email Judge Paula Brown and request that she deny the ATC its' last minute request to "stay" the administrative hearing.

Two weeks ago, the Supreme Court, in a bitterly divided decision, okay-ed Oklahoma's use of a controversial three-drug cocktail to execute prisoners on death row. The case came before the court because of the recent horrifically botched executions that used that method. The narrow 5-4 decision clears Oklahoma to keep executing prisoners this way, but the controversy remains. Other states can chose not to do this. Indiana uses a similar three-drug method in its executions and it's time that Indiana's Governor and legislature agree to halt these executions.

Too many people feel their vote doesn't count. Establishing voting districts free of political bias will put the power of the vote back in the hands of the voter and not the politicians.

Last week, House Republicans poured salt into an open wound by trying to ram through a bill allowing Confederate battle flags to fly on federal sites and national parks. Just as the people of South Carolina were coming together across party lines to take down the Confederate flag in a healing show of unity, Republicans in Congress were doing whatever they could to protect this symbol of hate and division. Sign the petition: tell Congress to remove the Confederate battle flag from the U.S. Capitol and get back to work!

I've been an educator since 1980, took exams in my field of study by college staff/ professors and passed because they prepared me. NOW these exams of research based information designed by professionals outside of earning a teaching degree SHOULD NOT be the final indicator of teaching abilities. RATHER...IF THESE TYPES OF EXAMS ARE SO IMPORTANT, DPI SHOULD WORK COOPERATIVELY WITH ACCREDITED INSTITUTIONS TO MAKE THEM AN INTEGRAL PART OF THEIR CURRICULUM and controlled by these institutions to create/tests and decide who's qualified to teach.

Right now, one out of every 100 Americans is behind bars. The U.S. spends $80 billion yearly on incarceration. And people of color bear the brunt of this broken system. Fortunately, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity for change. Democrats and Republicans in Congress have begun working together. They have introduced several bills that create the possibility of comprehensive criminal justice reform--this year. But unfortunately--that's ALL they have done. Yes, a few bills look good. But no VOTES have been scheduled. No HEARINGS have been set. And the time for action this year is running out! Our leaders need to get moving--today. If we get enough supporters to create a groundswell, we can start ending the vicious cycle of suffering our unjust incarceration industry has caused. The next few days will be crucial. If we can show that Americans everywhere are demanding #JusticeReformNOW, we can push Congress to get a bill onto President Obama’s desk and signed into law by the end of 2015. We have legislation. They need to take a VOTE. Please, add your name and call for criminal justice reform now, and we will deliver your signatures to Congress. Our prisons lock up too many people, waste too much money, ruin too many lives, and fail to make our communities safer. We can’t afford this. Join me and demand #JusticeReformNOW--sign the petition today.

Thousand of undocumented immigrant families in North Carolina could soon have a chance to start fixing their immigration status and get temporary job authorization under Executive Actions on Immigration, but Governor Pat McCrory has signed our state onto a wasteful lawsuit to hold back progress. This frivolous lawsuit only serves to hurt North Carolina families and our economy. If all people who qualify for these programs were to receive them, this would mean over $197 million for our state’s economy. These hardworking families would also qualify for driver’s licenses and automobile insurance, adding more money to our economy and making our roads safer. _______________________________________________________________ Miles de familias inmigrantes indocumentados en Carolina del Norte pronto tendrán la oportunidad de empezar a arreglar su situación migratoria y obtener una autorización temporal de empleo bajo las acciones ejecutivas de inmigración, pero el Gobernador Pat McCrory ha incluido a Carolina del Norte en una demanda que pretende frenar este progreso. Esta demanda frívola solo sirve para dañar a las familias y economía de Carolina del Norte. Si todas las personas quienes califican para estos programas los recibieran, esto significaría más de $197 millones para nuestra economía estatal. Estas familias trabajadoras también calificarían para licencias de conducir y seguro de auto, estimulando nuestra economía más y haciendo nuestras carreteras mas seguras.

This is the final showdown to stop Republicans from starting a war with Iran. The United States, Iran and five other world powers announced a historic deal to dramatically curb Iran's nuclear program in exchange for easing international sanctions on Iran. Republicans are trying to sabotage the deal, put us back on the path to confrontation with Iran and start a war – but they can't do it unless Democrats help them. We need to build an impenetrable firewall in Congress to prevent Republicans from passing any legislation to kill the deal and putting us back on the path to confrontation and war. Tell your Senators and Representative to go on record in support of the deal.

Let my son come home. He is not violent. He has been in a Federal prison for over 10 Years. He has 10 more to go for a gun he never used and was not his and less than 5 Grams Of Crack. Judge Jones of Abbingdon, VA keeps denying his petitions for a retrial. Please help my son Randy Rader - 10562-084. His Mom Debra

I am starting this petition because I am sick of the continued aggressive Republican onslaught upon public education in this state.

I'm a wheelchair dependent person. I'm personally facing replacing my current wheelchair lift at a cost of $4,000. - that's cheap compared to other wheelchair dependent people. Their adaptations can cost as much as the van. We are not asking for insurance to buy us vans. We just want them to pay to install the durable medical equipment necessary to remain active members of society.

As a 5th generation California, I am proud of the fact that California opposed the Confederacy and supported the Union cause in the Civil War. Mr. Calvert has perverted California history by supporting the Confederate flag in his official capacity as a representative of California in the US House of Representatives.