Michigan is one of only a handful of states that locks up juvenile offenders under the age of 18 alongside the adult prison population, often for non-violent offenses. A recent investigation by the Huffington Post found a system rife with abuse and horrific treatment of children by guards and fellow inmates throughout Michigan. They found instances of children as young as 16 forced to share cells with adults where they were repeatedly subjected to sexual abuse. Or corrections officers, totally untrained in dealing with adolescents, forcibly restraining teens on slabs of concretes for days at a time. And a penal system, all the way from the county prosecutor to the attorney general, stacked against the poor and young people of color. Here's how Huffington Post Editor Ryan Grim summarized the shocking abuses: "The overincarceration of people in American society has reached pathological levels, but for the same treatment to be meted out to children demands immediate intervention. Liberals, conservatives and libertarians are all coming together to call for comprehensive criminal justice reform, and the movement's progress is impressive and hopeful. But there is a long way to go, and these kids can't wait." The findings of this investigation are a national disgrace and Michigan lawmakers should move quickly to end these abuses. A civilized society doesn't put children in prison with adults. http://highline.huffingtonpost.com/articles/en/cruel-and-all-too-usual/

The New York Times reports that between 2001 and 2011, right-wing extremists in the U.S. averaged 337 attacks per year, and killed 254 people—a toll that's only risen since 2012.[1] In Charleston on June 17, at Mother Emanuel church, nine more murders were added to that total in a killing spree that was intended to "start a race war," according to the shooter.[2] And since the massacre in Charleston, six Black churches in the South have suspiciously caught fire, including several that have already been identified by authorities as arson. Right-wing extremism was already a real threat—last year, in a survey of 382 law enforcement agencies, 74% listed anti-government extremism as a top three terrorism risk.[3] But recent events have made this issue more urgent than ever, and it's time the Department of Homeland Security took action. If you agree that your member of Congress should sign Representatives Keith Ellison and Raul Grijalva's letter to President Obama and Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson, please sign the petition. The letter by Reps. Ellison and Grijalva specifically calls on the Department of Homeland Security to reopen the Extremism and Radicalization Branch of the Homeland Environment Threat Analysis Division.[4] That branch, which is critical to addressing the growing right-wing terrorist network within our own borders, was disbanded in 2009 because of partisan political pressure. Today, no politician worth their salt as a public servant can debate the statistics. The biggest cause of extremist violence in the U.S. since September 11 has verifiably been home-grown right-wing radicalism, and it's in the best interest of everyone, whether politically conservative or liberal, for the government to stop denying this problem and start doing something about it. Tell your member of Congress: Please add your name to Reps. Ellison and Grijalva's letter urging the DHS to take immediate action. Sources: 1. "The Growing Right-Wing Terror Threat," The New York Times, June 16, 2015 http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/16/opinion/the-other-terror-threat.html 2. "Dylann Roof Said He Wanted To Start A Race War, Friends Say," NPR, June 19, 2015 http://www.npr.org/2015/06/19/415809511/dylann-roof-said-he-wanted-to-start-a-race-war-friends-say 3. "The Growing Right-Wing Terror Threat," The New York Times, June 16, 2015 http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/16/opinion/the-other-terror-threat.html 4. "House Democrats urge Obama, DHS to target 'violent right-wing extremism,'" The Washington Post, June 25, 2015 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/06/25/house-democrats-urge-obama-dhs-to-target-violent-right-wing-extremism/

The Western Environmental Law Center is a nonprofit, public interest environmental law firm. In 1998 we won our first victory for Mexican gray wolves, by securing the federal government's release of 11 captive-bred wolves in order to reestablish wild populations. In 1998 there were no wild Mexican gray wolves left in the US, and by 2014 there were 109. Today we need your help to ensure this rare and population is protected!

Shark finning is illegal in US waters, but fins from sharks finned on the high seas, caught illegally or unsustainably by other nations can still be imported into New Jersey and sold overseas. Fins from sharks killed in state waters can also be exported, leading to an increase in the domestic shark fishery. Help stop the slaughter by reducing the demand for this unnecessary luxury and helping stop the shark fin trade.

No government employee is above the law, nor free to violate their sworn duties due to personal convictions, and still remain in office.

Partnerships indicate a shared vision and belief system. Donald Trump's bigoted statements and positions are not aligned with the PGA's stated mission and vision.

Andy Puzder, Hardee's and Carl's Jr. CEO, recently appeared on Fox News and disrespected his 20,000+ employees by insisting that they are so dependent on public benefits that they would not want to work full-time hours nor take promotions if the minimum wage were raised. He went on to say, "These [public assistance] benefits are essential for people, they're how they pay the rent, they're how they feed their kids," without noting the irony that it's his company's poverty wages that make it impossible for fast food workers to make ends meet without public assistance. The fast food industry benefits from over $153 billion a year in subsidies in the form of public assistance because their wages are so abysmal. These subsidies allow CEOs like Puzder to earn a staggering $17,192/day, which is more than a minimum wage employee makes each year. Tell Puzder to open his eyes and see that his greed is the real problem.

The renewable energy standard (REPS) has been integral in growing North Carolina's renewable energy industries, but we still depend on dirty fuels like coal to generate 99% of the state's energy. If we want the clean air, energy security, and sustainable economic growth that renewable energy can offer, REPS must be protected. H332 would freeze REPS and halt all growth in the state's renewable energy sector before it is able to provide the full range of its environmental, economic, and social benefits. Tell our legislators to defeat H332 because we want renewable energy to keep growing in North Carolina.

People deserve to have at least one day a week to travel to and from various activities without being hindered by long delays caused by road closures, road repairs and road improvements. Sunday is a day in which the great majority of our citizens rests. It is a family day, a day for shopping and religious activities and family visits. Not a day to spend long hours snarled in long traffic delays due to road work and road improvements.

If these were purported Islamic terrorists bombing "American" churches, this would not be tolerated. The government needs to take a stand to eradicate this terrorism against the Black community specifically and Americans at large.

Why is it that having less than a certain balance in your bank account means you get charged? Why is it that the less money you have, the more you get charged for not having much money? It seems wrong to me. If nothing else, just from the simple logical perspective, one should not be expected to pay money in order to keep their money in the bank if doing so will "break the bank" so to speak. I've been in this position many times. It is unjust. It simply keeps poor people poor and does not afford anyone in this position the opportunity to save money and change their financial situation. It also encourages people to keep what little money they have out of banks and credit unions altogether in order to be able to use all of it rather than losing $10 a month to maintenance fees (which is a great deal when one has less than $200 in the bank). Keeping cash on hand is also less secure because of the possibility of loss through accident, fire and flood, and theft.

Donald Trump has officially entered the 2016 presidential race and will be vying for the Republican party's nomination. Since announcing, Donald Trump has attacked Mexican immigrants as " rapists" and "killers." Following these attacks, Univision announced that it was ending its partnership with Donald Trump and would not air Miss USA pageant. NBC later followed suit announcing that it was severing all ties with Donald Trump. In its statement, NBC made it clear that Donald Trump's brand of bigoted bullying is simply inconsistent with the values that NBC represents. However, American Express has an even stronger relationship with Trump than NBC. It's time for American Express to follow Univision, NBC, and Macy's lead and finally dump Trump.