A radical anti-wolf group has applied to the Bureau of Land Management for permission to hold a wolf and coyote killing "derby" on public lands surrounding the Salmon, Idaho, area. This is the second derby in the same area organized by the group Idaho for Wildlife. The contest has historically awarded prizes for the most carcasses and for the largest wolf carcass taken by participants. Contests like this have no place on public lands. They put individuals, pets, and native wildlife at great peril and are in complete opposition to responsible, ethical hunting. Please ask the Bureau of Land Management to deny permission for the proposed wolf and coyote killing derby in the Salmon, Idaho, area.

It is only fair to the people that drive the streets of Chicago that a moratorium be placed on the automated traffic violation system, or red light camera system, until it has been determined that the process is fair and just. Fair and just practices should be the goal of government in Illinois, as it aims to protect the welfare and safety of everyone living in and visiting Illinois.

The Pawnee Buttes are two, erosion created, landmarks located in Weld County Colorado. North by northeast of Greeley Colorado they are the prominent features of the Pawnee National Grasslands. They have historic, ecological, anthropological and geological significance. They are endangered by development and mechanized use, and need to be preserved for posterity.

The Town of Shelburne, the Village of Shelburne Falls and the surrounding Hilltowns are still relatively healthy places to live. But we are in the midst of a major build out of antennas by AT&T and others who are willing to disregard the research demonstrating serious health damage from wireless radiation (EMF) in the name of "universal coverage" while continually redefining what is "adequate" coverage (3G, 4G, etc.). Now a local entrepreneur named Christopher Gray wants to install antennas in our communities to provide wireless internet signal through his company Hilltown Networks. While we certainly want to do as much of our spending locally as possible, it can not come with health costs for the entire community - including anyone who does not need Mr. Gray's services but is unfortunate enough to live within line of sight of the Shelburne fire tower where he wants to install one of his antennas in exchange for providing free internet service to Town Hall OR unfortunate enough to live next door to someone who becomes a Hilltown Networks customer and will receive radiation from his or her neighbor's receiver as it continuously searches for signal with its' own signal (cell phones work the same way). Some relevant points: 1. There are now more than 6,000 independent studies which demonstrate biological harm from high frequency radiation (EMF/RF). 2. The vast majority of people whose health would be impacted by another source of EMF through Mr. Gray's proposal already have access to high speed wired internet through Comcast (ie, all the residents of the village of Shelburne Falls and people who live along Route 2). The Shelburne Cable Advisory Board and others have been working for years for a town-owned wired solution which can happen if we don't "settle" (see link below for how Shelburne citizens can advocate for this). 3. Although there are certainly people in Shelburne Center who would take Mr. Gray up on his offer, there are, no doubt, many others who would not appreciate another uninvited source of electromagnetic pollution. 4. There will be no end to the wireless proposals coming to one Board or another in Shelburne. The Mass Department of Utilities ordered WMECO and other utilities to install "smart meters" on every residents' home on June 12th. Given the challenge that the town is going to face to provide a relatively safe environment for its' residents as these mandates/proposals continue to come in, the sooner the town is able to develop its' own sense of ideal levels of EMF exposure and from which sources we are willing to tolerate this exposure, the better. Given the big picture, saying yes to Mr. Gray when we are closer than we've ever been to a wired Comcast or town-owned solution would not be in the best interest of the majority of residents - particularly children whose thinner skulls and developing nervous systems make them especially vulnerable. For collected EMF resources and a special link to advocacy tools for Shelburne residents (other citizens in similar situations are also invited to use them), please visit: www.ptco.org/emf

As a Pitt County native who left and returned after 20 years, I have observed the persistent poverty and hopelessness of many residents in these counties. Our children need the mentoring and coaching that college advisers do so well. Help the LR&BJ Redden Foundation enable more youths to get better educations and employment opportunities. Everyone benefits!

Since 1990 Volusia County has been warned by FWS and the State about its violations of the ESA with beach driving. V/C callously ignored the warnings, and the agencies involved took no action. Both the environment and humans have paid the price for their political decisions. According to data, children under six have been the most severely adversely impacted by the inactions of those without the moral courage to address it. FWS propagandizes its duty to protect the environment, when in fact, from my personal experience their practice is somewhat different. Taxpayers funding these agencies should be outraged that most of the good coming from FWS/DOI is litigation driven. I was a plaintiff in the original lawsuit against V/C for its violations of the ESA in 1995. The permit was expedited to keep that action from going to trial. Had it been tried, beach driving would have been banned and lives would have been saved and much human suffering avoided.

We, the citizens of Philadelphia, believe the state’s takeover of our schools through the School Reform Commission has weakened the voices of parents and community in the operation of public education in Philadelphia. We have gathered 40,000 signatures to place this measure on the ballot that would return local control to Philly. We now call upon the Philadelphia City Council to stand aside and put the amendment on the November ballot to abolish the School Reform Commission and return local control of Philadelphia’s schools. They should also encourage their constituents to support the amendment.

Over the last 4-5 years, Detroit Public Schools, has had 3 Emergency Managers. All have come in with 6 figure salaries, brought in an executive staff with 6 figure salaries, closed schools and left with the school system still millions of dollars in the red. Their solution to balance the budget is to cut employee salaries, raise health care premiums and increase class sizes, which is detrimental to students and staff. Teachers took a10% pay cut last year and now they are imposing another 10% pay cut this school year. DPS cannot cut its way to prosperity, particularly at the expense of the employees,whose salaries and benefits are not the reason it is on the brink of bankruptcy. I'm starting this petition to bring this attack on education to the forefront. We must stop the politicians from raping the education system!

My partner of 23 years, Cesar Valenzuela, was killed at work in February. He was driving a baggage tug at Los Angeles International Airport, working for airport contractor Menzies Aviation, a company with a history of broken equipment and unsafe working conditions. He was run over after being thrown from the poorly maintained vehicle he was driving. The official safety report was released today. The company found to have violated basic safety rules. The vehicle didn’t have a working safety belt. Menzies discouraged workers from wearing seatbelts. Inspections weren’t done properly. My partner’s death could have been prevented. Cesar should be alive today. His death leaves me without the man I love and leaves my two children without a father. Los Angeles World Airports’ Board of Airport Commissioners has the power to remove a company’s license to operate because of serious safety violations. It is time for LAWA to act and hold companies accountable for unsafe working conditions at LAX.

This petition is being sent out to help the flood victims in the towns of Islip and Brookhaven. Many people including myself have major damages to their homes and have lost so many belongings due to the historic rainfall in our area on August 13th 2014. Most people, like myself are not covered by their homeowners insurance because it is considered flood damage, we need our Senators and Governor to step in and send financial aid to all of these people who have lost so much and have no way of fixing the damage themselves! Thank you

I first wrote the Mayor and City Commissioners on June 22, 2014 in regards to a jetty pollution/smell issue at Smather's Beach. I received respectful and much-appreciated emails back from Mr. Wardlow & Mr. Weekley, for which I am grateful. Mr. Wardlow forwarded my letter to Public Works, from which in turn I received a dismissive email response that didn't at all address or attempt to resolve the issue. Please see below for my original email nearly 2 months ago and my responses from Mr. Wardlow (thank you) and Mr. Greg Veliz. This area has continued to smell and be an eyesore. This issue also happens not just during the summer, but during the other 3 seasons as well. It just is at its worst "smell-wise" in the hot summer months. This area is filthy 365 days a year, except for the infrequent, very few days when the trucks come and pick up some (never all) of the trash/seaweed. This was a problem well before I moved to my current location across from Smather's Beach 6 years ago. I have lived in Key West for over 25 years, where both my children were born and raised. My issue remains unsolved. My issue, again, is the jetty that is situated at the furthest east end of Smather's Beach, near the airport, on S. Roosevelt Blvd. across from the bridal path. This area is located in both districts 3 and 4, I believe. This jetty collects massive amounts of seaweed and trash, and my issue is how infrequently it is cleaned. When I heard back from the two commissioners, one shared my concern. Commissioner Weekley (thank you) even told me he took the other commissioners to that spot once to let them witness this smell and eyesore. When I received an email back from Public Works, the email said the beaches were cleaned 365 days a year and the trash and seaweed collected there was blamed on the summer winds. I am not talking about the beaches being cleaned, which I am aware includes raking or cleaning the beaches every morning. I am well aware that a truck comes on a too infrequent basis and picks up this seaweed and trash that collects by this jetty. My issue, and the issue of my neighbors and neighboring Sheraton Hotel and Best Western and the issue of every tourist and Key West citizen who walks along S. Roosevelt Blvd., is that this seaweed pick-up is not frequent enough and not thorough enough. Any one of us could take a walk or bike ride tomorrow night, or any night or day, along S. Roosevelt from the airport to the start of Smather's Beach and we would: 1. Gag on the SMELL, which the rotting seaweed and TRASH are emitting. This is unhealthy to breathe in. We can get scientists to prove that the ammonia released by this is unhealthy for humans to breathe. 2. Be disgusted by the SIGHT of all the trash there and think that Key West is a city that doesn't care about it's cleanliness. 3. Not in any way want to TOUCH our feet or body in the water by wading into our ocean in this area, due to the filth. I'm not just talking about the seaweed, which of course I realize is natural, but the trash that collects in it and sits there for weeks at a time. 4. NOT want to live in my condo complex at Key West By the Sea, because the stench can be smelled from even the back C buildings every time one steps outside or opens a window. This stench and eyesore also hurts our property values. No way could anyone sell a condo here in the summertime; no buyer, unless they had lost their sense of smell, would buy here at that time. The majority of tourists would also not choose to stay at The Sheraton, again, and probably not the Best Western, Doubletree or any motels/hotels along S. Roosevelt, especially any tourist who chose to take a walk to Smather's Beach from their motel, as I imagine a huge percentage of them do. 5. Wonder if this pollution and garbage were unhealthy for the sea life as well, including our sea turtles. I am sure we could get scientists to prove this as well. I realize the Homeless population is a huge issue this election, and I am not complaining at this point about the number of homeless on Smather's or Higgs Beaches. This problem with the jetty trash and pollution is just as big as an issue as the Homeless issue. I do intend to follow this up with a petition signed by all my neighbors and board members of Key West by The Sea as well as the management of Sheraton Hotel and the hotels/motels by the airport, as well as every concerned citizen I can find in Key West. I am now semi-retired and have the time to do this and intend to focus on this until the November election and beyond. I just submitted this email to the Key West Citizen and I intend to see if I can get this issue and petition in the paper (update: it was in today's paper dated 8/20/14). I also intend to stop everyone I see walking on the beach, tourist and locals alike, to sign this petition, which I have already drawn up and made sure it is legally binding. I intend to ask to be placed on the agenda for up-coming city and county commission meetings (update: I was allowed to speak for 3 minutes at last night's, 8/19/20, commission meeting and am being sponsored by 3 of our commissioners: Wardlow, Weekley and Vaniz (thank you!!!), to be placed on the agenda for the next meeting on 9/3/14.) In conclusion, this jetty is often the first thing all Key West visitors see when they leave the Key West airport. It does not make a good impression on 3 out of our 5 senses. I personally have had friends and relatives visit who commented such things as "Why doesn't Key West care enough to keep this area clean on a daily basis?" I realize cleaning this area on a more frequent basis, in a thorough manner (which means completely at each seaweed/trash pickup) on, for example, a twice a week basis, will cost money. As a taxpayer, I, and many others, believe it will be money well spent. There is no doubt in my mind that Key West is losing tourist dollars due to this eyesore and smell. I also would like to believe that...

Some residents across Oahu run non-licensed commercial operations such as backyard weddings, bed and breakfasts, and tourist businesses in residential areas. The increase of the illegal operations places a strain on neighborhood resources, increase traffic volume, and can cause safety hazards. If passed, this Bill would ensure that violators engaging in illegal commercial activities in residential areas would pay any accrued fines from their activities or seek Council approval for a settlement less than the full amount. For more information or to read the Bill in full context, visit: http://www4.honolulu.gov/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-151286/BILL050%2814%29.htm I am asking my colleagues to pass this Bill without delay. Join me in showing your support! Mahalo