There is no issue more profound or more basic than the food that we put into our bodies. While more research needs to be done on the full impact of GMOs, they are not without risks. For example, some GMOs are designed for increased pesticides, which have been linked to serious health and environmental impacts. Consumers have a right to know when GMOs are in their foods and to make purchasing choices for themselves. Eleven months ago, Whole Foods committed to labeling their store-brand products in response to consumer demand. GMO companies like Monsanto and their Big Ag allies have spent millions to defeat efforts to win labeling laws. However, Whole Foods has shown that if enough of their customers demand it, grocery stores will label their products. Kroger already offers Simple Truth, an organic store-brand, which labels if a product is GMO free. However, those who do not purchase the more expensive organic brand every time are left in the dark. With widespread customer support, we can get Kroger to label all of their store-brand products. People power is what will win this effort – please sign the petition, send it to other Kroger shoppers you may know, and get involved in the local movement.

Schools need to be accountable for the actions of students who bully other students in the schools. We are losing to many kids lives over this epidemic. The time to do something.. IS NOW!!! Thank you!!

I am starting this because I want too be the animals voice, not just for Bobcat's, but all helpless animals that can't speak for themselves! Illinois needs to stop making laws up, without asking THE PEOPLE!

I love WGN morning news. The morning crew is the best in the business. They are hilarious, witty, and they make the news (as bad is it can be), tolerable. Paul and Robin need to do the Thanksgiving parade. It will completely ruin my holiday, and I will blame WGN, the Tribune Company, all of its affiliates, the pencil-pushing management, and anyone else I can find to blame for my burnt, dried out and half-drunk turkey. Thanks!

The People of Pennsylvania have invested our tax dollars in building our roads, bridges, parking garages, parking meters, and other infrastructure. Now Gov. Corbett is on track to give the bridges we built to private contractors for 4 to 5 decades. It's true that Pennsylvania's bridges are in sad shape. But there are other, better ways to repair and rebuild our bridges. States that have privatized their infrastructure have found that these deals are bad for the people. We need to stop these bad deals now.

Schools have been mandated to use the Common Core Learning Standards. They are not required to use EngageNY for curriculum. They are allowed to develop their own curriculum as long as they align it with Common Core.

I know many people who would benefit from some form of medicinal marijuana, from my father, who died of cancer a handful of years ago, and suffered greatly during chemo and radiation treatments, suffering that could have been alleviated by marijuana; to a niece of mine who suffers from dozens of seizures per week, to another friend who has to leave the workforce due to debilitating migraine headaches. So much suffering that can be at least partially mitigated, by a simple stroke of the pen.

Cami Anderson, the Christie-appointed Superintendent of Newark Public Schools, is escalating her attack on OUR public schools. This time she is attempting to further destabilize schools and neighborhoods by destroying the relationships between students and our teachers - dedicated teachers that we rely on to help build a strong foundation for our future. Cami is requesting permission from state Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf to use a “waiver or equivalency” to fire hundreds of education workers with no consideration for seniority or tenure. Yes, this shreds the basic rights of union workers, but in the teaching profession it also hurts students like us who rely on stable relationships with experienced and professional school staff. Research proves that high turnover rates in schools hurt students, especially the children of working class families who are already economically disadvantaged. And let us be clear, Anderson’s One Newark plan and her attack on Newark’s public schools disproportionately targets low-income, working-class communities and communities of color. Anderson desperately needs this waiver to remove tenured teachers so she can fill a $100 million budget shortfall over the next three years that SHE CREATED by hiring hundreds of inexperienced TFA teachers to push older, higher paid teachers out of their schools, and by promoting the expansion of charter schools that funnel money out of traditional public schools. She figures that if she can get rid of the highest paid education workers – who earned that higher pay through years of dedicated work on behalf of our fellow students, then she can fill much of that budget gap, AND eliminate unionized workers at the same time. Her Christie-appointed colleague, Commissioner of Education Christopher Cerf, is expected to approve her request…just days before he leaves his post on March 5th. How convenient. As students in Newark Public Schools, our teachers influence and support extends far beyond what is in text books. Our teachers and school staff have spent countless hours of their lives advising, teaching, and simply talking with us during our lunchtimes, after school, at sporting events, plays, concerts, college days, and MANY other school related activities. The proof of their work is clearly evident in all of the data. Newark Public Schools met the standards for gaining local control from the nearly two-decade long occupation set by the state QSAC rubric, a measure established by the state to protect their control over our schools. After meeting those standards the state moved the goal post in order to maintain control and prevent Newark’s communities from having a voice in our schools. It is clear that Christie’s control over our schools is not out of concern for academic achievement or student success – it is an attack on Newark’s working-class communities and an effort to turn public money and public necessities into private profit. Anderson has a vision for Newark’s schools. Privatize the system, socialize the costs, and subject students to inexperienced Teach For America (TFA) teachers working for poverty wages under dictatorial conditions. This is not fair to dedicated teachers who have given decades of their lives to Newark’s students. This is not fair to us - the students - who rely on their training, knowledge and experience as teachers and educators to help us build the foundations we need in our lives to be successful. This is not fair to Newark’s communities, to our city or to our future. Kristin Towcaniuk & Jelani Walker Newark Students Union & NJ Communities United Members

Oregon passed HB3460 enabling licensing of Medical Marijuana Facilities in October. HB3460 allows the Oregon Health Authority to license Marijuana facilities March 3rd 2014. After the state legislature passed sb1531 cities have taken it upon themselves to see this as a threat and placed bans on a prescribed medication being dispensed to patients through these facilities. After the passing of SB1531 the city extended it ban until Dec 31st 2014. Sick people are waiting for their medication. We encourage the city to adopt its time place and manner rules asap so these patients can access their medication locally.

Inspired by the recent Win-Win-Win of the student-driven and community-led minimum wage campaign in San Jose, we students in the East Bay are organizing to do the same here in the East Bay. Only 3 other cities in the entire United States have minimum wages at $10 or more. Let’s add the entire East Bay to that list: Oakland! Berkeley! Alameda! Richmond, Hayward, Union City, Fremont, San Leandro, El Cerrito, Albany, San Pablo, Newark, Piedmont even… It’s time for a living wage, East Bay!

because we need it now and the inaction of speaker and the gop is just inaceptable anymore, they have to work in something, days, months and years are passing and this GOP does not work, is that old?

I'm tired of the outrageous lies that have passed for ads over the years. EVERYONE is affected by this. Very few voters are informed enough to know when they're being lied to.