Mayor Patrick Rushing, of Air Heights, Washington, is refusing to resign after posting Facebook comments referring to Michelle Obama as "gorilla face" and President Barack Obama as "monkey man." Throughout his five-year tenure as Airway Heights mayor, Rushing's Facebook page has regularly churned out (mostly reposted) images and comments that have been racially insensitive. How can someone with so many racist preconceived notions serve racially diverse constituents?

My family spent all of Summer 2014 touring our amazing country, logging close to 15,000 miles by minivan. We stopped at numerous National Parks and Monuments, and a few Presidential Libraries that my mother wanted to see for the first time. At each spot, we wanted to purchase a souvenir. To our disappointment and dismay, it was challenging to find anything produced domestically. We love our global neighbors, but it is saddening to think of slapping a Grand Canyon magnet manufactured in China on my fridge to represent an American Treasure.

Most Richmonders and most enrolled at and working at VCU are unaware that the Jefferson Davis Memorial Chapel is located on the 17th Floor of the West Hospital (former MCV) at The Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. This chapel must be renamed. The chapel, dedicated in 1963 by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, is a fine place for worship but who can imagine a Black person choosing to do so? This monument to the traitor Jefferson Davis should not be on the property of a state-owned hospital dedicated to serving the region's poorest. It must be renamed and rededicated to those poor people seeking compassionate medical care. Michael Rao, President of Virginia Commonwealth University, can be contacted on Twitter at @vcupresident.

The Department of Justice must conduct an independent investigation into the death of Sandra Bland in Texas. The circumstances surrounding her traffic stop are suspicious and deserve an independent, thorough, accountable investigation--especially in light of new video footage. We cannot allow the local police to investigate themselves. The Department of Justice has the authority--and power--to find out what happened to Sandra Bland.

Keep Elmora Hills community and schools from becoming overcrowded.

I work for the Chicago Teachers Union. We are outraged that the Chicago Board of Education has known for four years that these toxic swaps with Bank of America were putting a tremendous strain on the school budget. However, despite being briefed, warned and provided ample information, they did nothing. We are taking matters into our own hands and giving the people an opportunity to create meaningful change and hold Bank of America accountable.

Offer competitive ISP. Regulations, maintenance, infrastructure owned and operated by the City of El Paso.

6000+ troops have died in the Iraq/Afghanistan war, more than 5 times that number have committed suicide, and 100,000+ have major injuries. One of those suicides was my friend's son. With so much unrest in our world at this moment, and our military troops being sent all over the world, a peaceful solution to Iran's nuclear program is the best solution.

I, Dr. Patricia M. Harris have started this petition because since 1993 on the steps of an inner city high school, I saved one student but failed to save another from gun violence. I too could have been killed, however, the gunman decided to run instead of shooting me in the back. There isn’t one day of my life that I do not think about the ordeal. Our country is worsening and we are in a state of emergency with gun violence. It is clear to many that gun ownership and the lack of its control takes precedence over the brutal, savage, and inhumane execution of innocent men, women and children. Enough is Enough! Denial that, “No More Needs to Be Done” will only allow violence to continue and fester. How many more children must die? How many more innocent worshipers must die? How many more innocent by-standers must die? Just how many more people must die? Let’s WAKE UP and Ignite powerful voices for stricter laws for the possession, use, abuse, and control of Gun Violence.

Senator Bernie Sanders deserves substantial airtime because we believe that his platform and policy proposals speak directly to the lives of middle and lower class American more than any other candidate in the presidential race. He is financed exclusively by the American people and as a result he is free to speak and fight on our behalf. The history of his political career demonstrates that his words are consistent with his entire record and that he is committed to fighting for all of the American people. As listeners of WHYY and NPR, we would like to hear Sen. Sanders proposals given substantive and consistent coverage.

Under the administration of Spain and America, I see my people dying and collapsing under economical hardships and an island mandated by so many regulations that it is virtually impossible to have an economy. The people of Puerto Rico have endured political oppression and psychological warfare created to divide the people by separating the island into sects set on propaganda and political denominations bent on selling our cultural identity for a couple of U.S.dollars. We need Puerto Rico to be free. The U.S. needs to guide us to help us build our economy, then watch it grow.

Not only are these two Great Lakes the source of freshwater for millions of people in several states, they also provide thousands of pounds of edible fish - all of which is in danger of being ruined if this decades old pipeline should burst. We in Michigan have seen how slowly Enbridge responds to pipeline leaks and the results in the Kalamazoo River are heart breaking, but they pale in comparison to what could happen if something happens to the 62 year old pipeline that runs beneath the confluence of Lakes Michigan and Huron.