The Endangered Species Act prohibits any action, administrative or real, that results in a “taking” of a listed species, or adversely affects habitat. Yet, our government has opened up the North Carolina coast for seismic testing and development in an area where critically endangered right whales and a variety of endangered sea turtles feed. Developers have requested approval to "take" up to 5 right whales for offshore development. We need to take social action on behalf of those who cannot protect themselves and demand the enforcement of the Endangered Species Act.

I know people who fall in the Medicaid gap who cannot get coverage. I also know medical professionals who see firsthand how the failure to expand Medicaid results in increased use of emergency department resources, underpayment to hospitals and medical professionals, and substantial loss of work productivity.

On February 16, an oil train derailed and exploded in Fayette County, West Virginia. At least one tank car landed in a river, spewing oil into the local water supply, a home was burned to the ground, and hundreds of residents were evacuated. This catastrophe was the third oil train disaster in just 72 hours. It's time for President Obama to stand up to the oil and rail industries and protect the 25 million Americans who live in the oil train blast zone.

To radically reduce the level of green house gas emissions, and still be able to maintain modern lifestyles through the use of biofuels and clean energy. There are many incredible and sustainable uses for hemp, and it is time we used Hemp to the fullest potential. Hemp can be grown with little to no pesticides, which would help preserve the integrity of our water supply as well as support and renew the dwindling pollinator population. Hemp can yield 3-8 dry tons of fibre per acre, meaning we can safeguard our forests from the expansion of logging. Leading to cleaner air and the creation of more National Parks and outdoor spaces. Additionally, and most importantly, Hemp is carbon negative, helping to reverse the effects of global warming. Industrial Hemp should not be confused with Marijuana, as it has about as much THC as an O'Douls (non-alcoholic beer) has alcohol, meaning it will not render a "high" with use. Though most of the population is unacquainted with this fact, hence the push to legalize in States that have already legalized Marijuana.

As in many of our nations states with the worst health care systems, Oklahoma's Nurse Practitioners are restricted from providing their full scope of trained practice and subsequently restricted access to care and poor patient outcomes are a result. Despite Oklahoma’s 49th ranking in our nation’s state health care system, our leaders remain hesitant to act against physician-led special interest groups quoting false fears and biased opinions. We firmly believe that with organized public support founded on the volumes of evidence-based studies that support Nurse Practitioner Free practice, our States leaders will eventually act to break the special interest lead stranglehold on our health care policy by adopting policies and practices based on the widely available volumes of evidence based findings.

Lalíik is held sacred by native peoples of the Columbia Plateau, including the Nez Perce, Umatilla, Wanapum, Cayuse, Walla Walla, and Yakama, and is revered as a spiritual epicenter to this day. Native cultural heritage must be protected.

Do you think you are paying too much at the pump? Support HB 483, Motorist Tax Relief - Motor Fuel Tax - Consumer Price Index and Sales and Use Tax Equivalent Rate Adjustments - Repeal.

Too many voices have been silenced by Mike Pence and the state legislature. Sign up to be heard in the Hoosier state! Move the state forward and not back.

The Roswell Daily Record has a history of publishing anti-Hispanic and anti-African-American cartoons. Its anti-New Mexican and its time to stop. Advertisers provide the financial support to publish a newspaper and its editorial positions. Roswell defines New Mexico to the world (and beyond) and local businesses who support racist publications like the Daily Record's recent editorial cartoon are turning away business and tourists from their stores. Help us tell the paper's advertisers to pull out of supporting publications like these that misrepresent New Mexico to the world.

The victims in this case were undocumented immigrants. Justice was denied to these people. Similar cases involving those in positions of power result in conviction of sexual battery, rape and carry harsh prison time plus sex offender registration requirements which did not happen in this case. A review of the court decision is required and necessary.

This bill would be a bad deal for New Mexico. We've seen time and time again that when public systems are bought up by private companies rates increase, staff lose jobs and transparency with the public vanishes. In the water sector, a public-private partnership is a type of arrangement wherein a local government contracts with a private entity to run all or part of a government-owned drinking water or wastewater system. Communities with aging infrastructure often think that the private sector can deliver financing or better services. The truth is just the opposite. These kind of public-private partnerships restrict transparency and keep the public out of the loop. Full proposals would NOT be subject to the state's open records laws until after the deal is signed, so the public would not be able to review a proposal or weigh in and voice their opinion. Instead, the state should facilitate public-public partnerships among public sector entities to share resources and expertise. Intermunicipal cooperation, interlocal agreements and bulk purchasing consortiums can improve public services and reduce costs while allowing communities to retain local control of their essential water and wastewater resources. Keep our public water under public control!

Governor Tom Wolf recently halted all executions in Pennsylvania. Now is the time to end the death penalty for good. Death penalty cases cost taxpayers far more than locking up prisoners for the rest of their lives, while providing no additional benefit to society. By replacing the death penalty with life without parole, we could free up millions of dollars that could be redirected to other public safety needs, or to help murder victims' families. Replacing the death penalty with life in prison without the possibility of parole also ensures that we’ll never execute an innocent person. At least 150 people have been wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death in the U.S., including six from Pennsylvania, and some innocent people have even been executed.