Oklahoma is home to many intelligent and talented individuals. The legalization of marijuana for medical and personal use would shift an amazing economic boost for our state. Schools, roads, hospitals these are but a few things that are still in need of repair and /or reform. For years I have heard talk of how cutbacks, crackdowns, lotteries and casinos would bring revenue to our state and give us the means to fix these things, yet here we stand. With an absolute accomplishment of nothing to show. There are numerous positive facts and statements that can be made on marijuana and the many uses it holds. It's legalization could help get and keep Oklahoma a debt free and financially sound state. Aside from also helping to thin out correctional facility overcrowding and pioneering in cancer cures and being the most useful plant on the planet. Why would you not legalize? It is time to break the cycle of ignorance and fear, stand up, change the way the world sees and put your stamp on a whole new chapter in our futures past.

A 16-year-old charter school student says he was roughed up by Philadelphia Police so bad it sent him to the hospital-with possible injuries that could last a lifetime. We want to warn you some of the details of this story are graphic. 16-year-old Darrin Manning is still having trouble walking a week later. He suffered serious injuries to his genitals. He claims came at the hands of a Philadelphia Police officer during a recent arrest. "I think that was wrong. I think that was going overboard," Manning said. Manning, a sophomore at Mathematics, Civics and Charter School had just got off the subway with a dozen team mates in uniform on their way to play a high school basketball game. He says the group was confronted by police at broad and Girard. Exactly why the students were stopped and questioned is still unclear, but manning says he was put in handcuffs. he then says during a pat down a female officer squeezed his genitals so hard-it ruptured his testicle. "She patted me down again and felt her reach as she grabbed my butt and she grabbed and squeezed and pulled down and that's when I heard something pop," Manning said Hospital records show Manning spent night following his arrest at children's hospital where he underwent emergency surgery. His mother Ikea Coney says her son may have permanent injuries preventing him from fathering children. "The doctor told me you have to press charges and that just alarmed me," Coney said. Manning is now facing charges of aggravated assault and resisting arrest. "He doesn't deserve no felony he's not a bad child. He's not in the streets," Coney said. "I believe he was sexually assaulted" The founder of his school says she was with manning 10 minutes before the incident. She says this straight-A model student hasn't had a single discipline problem in his 3 year history at the school. "You shouldn't be able to do that to any child. But this is a 16-year-old and that the force that was used in his private area it's sort of concerning to me," Coney said. Police in the 22nd District tell FOX 29 they are looking into this case and perhaps launching an internal investigation in the next couple days.

I am just a normal law abiding citizen that happened to hear about the news of the man Kelly Thomas. I watched the ~30 minute raw video footage of the police officers beating Mr. Kelly Thomas. When the verdict was released today (1/13/14) on the news where the officers were found "Not Guilty" on all counts, I was completely shocked. I don't agree with the jurors' decision and that they must have missed some important facts that were witnessed in the video. The case must be retried.

Corporate lobbyists are influencing & lining our politicians' pockets. Instead of doing what is best for their constituents, they are acting in their own best interests by accepting campaign donations. Stop the greed!

Years ago when my husband and I went to a financial advisor, he recommended we consolidate our student loans. Now we are going through a divorce. My soon to be ex has stopped paying all of his bills, including his portion of the student loan. I cannot afford to cover his portion, so his lack of payment is destroying my credit. A quick internet search lead me to many similar stories. These loans are no longer allowed due to exactly these kind of issues. However the law also prevents the separation of these loans. I would happily pay back my portion, even at a higher interest rate. Student loans should be allowed to be returned to separate loans so one spouse cannot ruin the credit of the other even years after a divorce.

they post false info, are very racist against certian nationaltys

Money simply should not be the determining factor in an election. Conservative groups received a huge boost from corporations to the tune of $719 million in the 2012 elections. We need a constitutional amendment that will put the power back with the masses. This idea that "corporations are people" must come to an end. We need to break this fixed system!

Wolves were recently removed from the Endangered Species Act protections. They are now being hunted, trapped, and snared often suffering terrible pain before death in these barbaric torture devices. Despite the public's support of wolf recovery, and in contravention of the court's holdings that kept them protected the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the urging of special interest groups, pushed wolves off the ESA and into the hands of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming where the state "management" plans call for killing almost all of their wolves. The method by which this was achieved was via a sleazy backdoor non-germane rider that was pushed for by ranchers, sportsmen and hunting groups. This is the first time that any animal was targeted to be removed from the ESA. Not only is it bad for wolves but it has opened the door to target other species from being protected under this key legislation. We need wolves placed back on the ESA by another act of Congress. Take your legislators to task.

The USDA is poised to allow farmers to plant 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) resistant corn and soy. This would allow farmers to plant these crops wherever they please without any government oversight, disregarding the harms they will cause. 2,4-D is a toxic herbicide associated with serious health impacts. Dow AgroScience created these 2,4-D resistant crops so farmers could spray the herbicide without killing their corn and soy. But when the same herbicide is sprayed on a field repeatedly, a few naturally resistant weeds survive, reproduce and eventually take over. Because farmers did this with Monsanto’s Roundup-resistant crops, fields across the U.S. are now choked with Roundup-resistant weeds. Industry’s solution is to genetically engineer crops to resist a different, more toxic herbicide, to kill those resistant weeds but not the crops. But make no mistake, these GMO crops will, like their predecessors, lead to much greater use of even more dangerous chemicals, the development of more herbicide-resistant weeds, destruction and genetic contamination of neighboring crops, and severe economic impacts on other farmers. USDA projects approval of these crops will result in an up to 600 percent increase in 2,4-D use on crops, to as much as 176 million pounds per year, while independent scientists believe much greater increases are likely. Drifting 2,4-D already causes more crop injury events to neighboring farms than any other herbicide. Please tell the USDA to deny approval use of these crops.

It is of the utmost importance. The people are hungry.

Last year, Rhode Island lawmakers first considered a statewide ban on plastic bags. With the General Assembly back in session for 2014, we have the opportunity to get this on the agenda right away. It’s going to take significant people power to overcome tough plastics industry opposition at the State House, so take action and share with your friends!

Some Supreme Court Justices scoff at the idea that their associations past and present could effect their judicial fairness. The arrogance that leads them to feel that they are immune to the effects of behavior not tolerated in lesser mortals creates public mistrust in the Courts and undermines a vital part of our system of government.