Scientific research has shown that primates such as chimpanzees possess a wide array of traits that would seem to suggest that they are rational, autonomous beings capable of feeling emotional and physical pain and being unhappy with their environment. Chimpanzees such as Hercules and Leo should not be kept caged up in inhumane research facilities that would put them in distressing emotional and physical states.

The Billionaire owners of the PawSox want to move from McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket less than a mile down the road at the Apex site on the backs of Rhode Island taxpayers. The owners claim it will bring in millions of revenue a year. We already have an awesome and beloved stadium at McCoy. If they can bring in millions in revenue at Apex in Pawtucket, why can't they do it at McCoy in Pawtucket? It won't create jobs because these jobs are already in our state and city, at the present stadium. Let the governor and legislature know that Rhode Islanders do not want this new stadium! Just say no!

The letter attacking Dr. Oz is not from the Columbia faculty. It's from ten physicians, all of whom have industry ties. What it's really about is that the industry is furious that he has taken on genetically modified crops. So you basically have industry henchmen who are after Dr. Oz here. One of them in fact, the head of the American Council on Science and Health, spent some time in federal prison for Medicaid fraud. These groups are called "astroturf groups." That is, they appear to be grassroots groups representing real consumers, but, in fact, they are the henchmen of industry here, and that's what you're looking at with this letter. The media often gets swept up by this; they say, "this is a great story." They get swept up by it, they report it, but they don't look at who wrote that letter.

According to a new report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce entitled The Economy Goes to College, [https://cew.georgetown.edu/report/economygoestocollege/] college-educated workers in America now make 80 percent more on average than workers without a college degree. That's twice the wage advantage of 50 years ago. The state of Louisiana has reached a tipping point. To allow our public institutions in this state to suffer such catastrophic budget cuts, after the already crippling cuts of 2008-2009 (my Alma Mater the University of New Orleans' state support has already been reduced by $40 million since that time AND THAT'S JUST ONE SCHOOL) will be to "compromise academic quality, further diminish program offerings and limit both educational access and attainment." - University of New Orleans President Peter J. Fos I agree with the Georgetown study's findings wholeheartedly. We need to be increasing our state's college graduates, not reducing them. As the state ranking second-to-worst not only in education but ALSO in everything from health care conditions to legal climate to gender pay gap our legislature should be doing MORE to make college a viable option for our young people, not LESS. The study's authors conclude, "Education is not just the preferred path, but increasingly it's the only reliable path to a middle-class life." The surest way to reduce income inequality, to quantifiably stimulate and sustain economic activity in our region, to lose less of our best and brightest to 'brain drain', and to contribute to an enhanced quality of life is through higher education. Forcing our public universities to file for the equivalent of academic bankruptcy is truly a travesty, especially in light of the hundreds of millions each year wasted on pet projects, special interest groups, and voucher programs for far below sub-par private schools. Protecting the sanctity of quality higher education, at an affordable rate, is the only way to ensure we advance as a state.

We are serving notice that as citizens of the City of Rochester we deserve to be treated with dignity and respect irrespective of our race, color, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, age or any other factors. We are further requesting that any and all members of the RPD whose behavior violates the Code of Ethics, be held accountable for their actions as provided by the laws governing the department.”

I am a senior of 82 years and I have been in a yoga class for 3 years. It has helped my sore neck and shoulders so that I am no longer in pain. Funding for senior programs has already been cut and are continuing to be cut so that very soon they will be eliminated. We are a growing population, paying taxes, and our population will continue to grow because we are living much longer than previously. It will cost the state more money than they have gained. It will cost the state much money when we need doctors and hospitals because exercise and social programs are eliminated.

California is in a severe crippling drought. Instead of building a dirty oil pipeline from Canada to Texas, that will only benefit billionaires while destroying our air, water and environment, let's build a CLEAN water pipeline from the water logged states of Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, etc. to California. The farmlands here feed the nation. This will provide jobs, food and water for the fertile lands of California.

By allowing citizens to easily register to vote online, voter turnout would be increased, strengthening our democracy

New Yorkers agree: It's time to shut down the "LLC loophole," once and for all. The Board of Elections failed to act, but the Senate can still do it before the end of the legislative session. Sign the petition and tell your Senator to close this loophole!

Congress is now considering “fast track” trade authority for trade agreements. There are many reasons to oppose fast track. But Maryland Senator Ben Cardin and his allies have just added a new one. They are including in the Ryan-Hatch “fast track” trade bill a US negotiating objective to block European trade restrictions against Israeli settlements in the West Bank. [1] This provision is opposed by J Street [2], Americans for Peace Now, [3], and JVP [4]. European efforts to uphold international law by limiting trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank are supported by Human Rights Watch. [5] Urge your Representative and Senators to vote NO on the Ryan-Hatch “fast track” trade bill by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/maryland-senator-ben-card_b_7118876.html 2. http://jstreet.org/blog/post/j-street-opposes-roskamvargas-trade-bill-that-undermines-us-and-israeli-interests_1 3. http://peacenow.org/entry.php?id=11643 4. https://twitter.com/naiman/status/591318386245775362 5. http://www.hrw.org/news/2015/04/18/dispatches-israeli-supreme-court-upholds-anti-boycott-law

As religious leaders and members of congregations in California we affirm our support for SB 277 which requires California's children to be vaccinated against communicable diseases. Our religious traditions teach us that the highest value is saving lives and we believe that the mandatory vaccination bill will do just that – save the lives of children and adults who otherwise might succumb to diseases that can easily be cured.

I am a committed Christian who finds singling out groups for special discrimination to be anti-Christian.