I would be so sorry to see a tiny special interest which preys on the poorest and weakest working families remain free of any controls for another year. I'd really hate to see a study or commission in place of a real reform.

The brain research is in--children's brains learn and grow best in supportive, cooperative environments in which they can actively participate, not in demanding, competitive environments in which they must passively receive and regurgitate state-dictated knowledge. Their futures and the future of our society is at stake!

Brandon has followed all the rules and yet the denied him his first hearing. This is his first time getting into trouble and they would not even give him the first offenders. I need your help please.

As a native New Jerseyan, I'm outraged that Gov. Christie put his own political ambitions above the welfare of this state's residents & environment. Exxon must be held accountable for the damage it has caused, & not given a token slap on the wrist.

Family judicial system benefits and profits by increasing and prolonging family disputes with absolute disregard to the children's and parents' wellbeing. Preponderance of evidence nationwide shows that family courts and CPS are the biggest and most serious obstacles and danger families and children have to suffer from during separation process. Children and innocent parents are permanently scarred and damaged emotionally, mentally financially, etc. while judges and attorneys are scavenging and feeding on their struggle. The family court judges are taking advantage of their judicial immunity and discretion that they are disregarding the Constitution, federal laws, state laws and they even have the discretion to violate any and all laws including the court's own local rules. A second in a baby's or child's life is a long time, yet they have to go through the most critical, stressful, burdensome and damaging stage of their lives. A stage that is so serious that is sufficient to damage and collapse the most intelligent and educated professional in the society. The situation is so sever that leads parents to the cliff and often times it destroyed many hardworking, decent and innocent parents and children. This practice of family courts is because there are federal incentives in the social security act called Title 4-D funding. It guarantees rewarding sums for the states, family courts judges, Social Services, etc. and it guarantees huge financial securities for private attorneys. Let's not forget that judges and attorneys are siblings in the craft, the longer the litigation takes, the more money attorneys make. If you don't have an attorney, you have opened up a can of worms and you and your children are not going to see a happy sunny day in your entire life. 80% of the cases are based on gender and financial discrimination in favor of the mother. Our children are the most fragile, they are the future parents and the safety of our society, if they grow up scarred and damaged, expect to have the same kind of society.

From the Councilor: "Since April 17, 2014, I have been performing my duties as a City Councilor without pay while I examined an apparent conflict in state regulations (MGL Ch. 39, Sec.6A.) regarding compensation of public employees as it concerns my career as a public educator and my public service as an elected official of Ward 3. In March of 2014, I received a call from the state, followed by a letter from the Ethics Commission, which stated in a legally complex manner that I unknowingly had a “conflict of interest.” Somehow my career as an educator at Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech was in conflict with my duties as a city councilor. The conflict is not in the work I do, but because of the fact that I receive a salary from both positions and they are from the same municipality. It stated I had 30 days to choose one salary only. Apparently, because of a court ruling the ethics law conflicted in definition in such a way that I and my employers were unaware: based on the phrasing of the law, it seems regional school district employees and its teachers are municipal employees. Despite the fact that no “actual, material conflict exists” I am not allowed to collect the pay I have earned." That is not right. If you believe the councilor should get what he rightfully works for, please sign this petition today!

Debra J. Saunders' column tells the whole story: "Last year, Congress passed an amendment that barred the Department of Justice from using federal dollars to prosecute medical-marijuana dispensaries in states that have legalized them. Last week, three senators proposed a measure to clean up the federal-state medical-marijuana mess once and for all. "Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J.; Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.; and Rand Paul, R-Ky., introduced their CARERS(Compassionate Access, ResearchExpansion and Respect States) Act, which should draw support from the right and left. "Why? "First, it would reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule II drug, granting recognition that marijuana has legitimate medical uses, a sop to the left. Second, it would direct the federal government to stop prosecuting dispensers in states that have legalized marijuana for medical use - a states' rights emphasis that should draw GOP votes. "The measure also would allow cannabidiol imports to help patients with epilepsy and seizure disorders - the folks who need medical marijuana the most - and allow Veterans Affairs doctors to prescribe medical marijuana. "Booker sees his legislation as a matter of "common sense, fiscal prudence and compassion." "For decades, Congress wouldn't move on medical marijuana because D.C. pols thought of advocates as goof-offs who just want to get high. They didn't see the legitimate medical benefits. Then, two years ago, CNN physician-reporter Sanjay Gupta looked at the issue anew and found that cannabis could help children with life-threatening seizures. "Medical marijuana has been used to treat people with epilepsy, Parkinson's, brain tumors and post-traumatic stress disorder without the serious side effects often associated with prescription drugs. "From San Francisco, CARERS looks like a political slam dunk. It has bipartisan support. Already 23 states have legalized medical marijuana, which puts momentum on the "yes" side. "It stands a good chance of moving because it's so bipartisan in nature," said Bill Piper, the Drug Policy Alliance's man in Washington, D.C. But: "The hard part is going to be getting it through committee." Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, opposes the bill. "Will Grassley allow the bill to come to a vote? "The committee is unlikely to take up a bill in the near future that remakes these laws so broadly," spokeswoman Jill Gerber answered. She added that Grassley "is looking at ways to lift any unnecessary barriers" to scientific research into marijuana-based medicines to treat epilepsy and other conditions affecting children. "There are 11 GOP and nine Democratic senators on the committee. I see three Rs who could vote yes - Mike Lee of Utah and Ted Cruz of Texas support states' rights, and Jeff Flake of Arizona voted for similar legislation in the House. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe there are more. "That would put Sen. Dianne Feinstein in the middle. Other committee Dems are very likely to vote yes. On the one hand, Feinstein and Grassley often work closely on drug-war issues. On the other hand, Feinstein does represent California. Her office told me DiFi is still reviewing the legislation. "Which leads to my final question: Would President Obama sign CARERS? Advocates believe the White House could have and should have made marijuana a Schedule II drug years ago, but didn't. "The administration has been behind the curve. "Everyone pretty much believes that" Obama is not really for current federal marijuana laws, said Marijuana Majority Chairman Tom Angell, just as many believed Obama supported same-sex marriage back when he said he was against it. ""I wouldn't be shocked to see him evolve on this issue the same way he did for marriage equality," Angell mused. "Maybe all we need is for Joe Biden to say that marijuana should be legal."" http://www.chron.com/opinion/outlook/article/Saunders-Medical-marijuana-bill-lost-in-smoke-6143197.php

Holyoke, MA is a district that serves a high percentage of students who live in poverty and whose first language is not English. In Massachusetts, schools and districts are ranked on a scale of 1-5 based on data taken from high stakes standardized test scores and other data such as dropout rates, all of which are directly correlated with income. Level 5 districts face the severe sanction of being placed into state receivership. Because of the misuse of this data, Holyoke has been rated a Level 4 district and is currently facing the possibility of a Level 5 rating and losing control of its schools to a state-appointed receiver. Removing local control will do nothing to address the real issue affecting student achievement, which is economic injustice. Holyoke needs state support for its schools and students, not a state takeover. Read more: http://www.massteacher.org/issues_and_action/ongoing_issues/holyoke.aspx

I've belonged to the NYSC in my neighborhood for eight years, and I'm angry that I have to pay extra now that they're dropping their rates. Since they're the biggest chain gym in NYC, I'm sure many other people like me - steady customers that NYSC is taken advantage of instead of rewarding for our loyalty. Let's ask Gallagher and Giardina to waive or refund the new enrollment fee for their loyal customers.

The Alcoholic Beverage Control agents involved in the brutal nighttime assault on honor student Martese Johnson had no regard for the upstanding University of Virginia student's safety when they viciously slammed the 20-year-old's head onto a brick walkway, causing blood to spray in several directions and pool in rivulets beneath his gaping forehead, while passersby looked on. It was later revealed that the young man had been arrested after his valid, state-issued identification was found to be "overly suspicious." Martese was ultimately arrested for "public intoxication, swearing, and obstruction of justice," of which many believe he is innocent. This type of policing is dangerous, divisive, and has no place in American society.

For the past 15 years, Parents for Public Schools has been lobbying our elected officials to make fair school funding a priority. With an ever decreasing tax base and an increase in the number of children living in poverty in Syracuse, the impact of funding inequity has reached crisis proportions. The Syracuse City School District is dependent on the state for the majority of the school funding and the residents do not vote for a school budget. It’s time to take the politics out of funding education and make sure all schools receive the resources their students need.

Implicit bias is based on the idea that social behavior may not always be under a person’s conscious control. Much of our behavior is driven by stereotypes that operate automatically and therefore, unconsciously. The reinforcement of these stereotypes deepens the unconscious bias.