Bronzeville residents, as with residents in many of the surrounding communities, rely on grocery stores outside of their community to provide fresh food for their families. In May 2013, it was announced that Mariano's was interested in having a grocery store at 39th and King Drive. In December 2013, local media outlets indicated Mariano's plans to purchase 11 Dominick's stores in the Chicago area along with build five new stores in 2014. We the undersigned would like the Bronzeville Mariano's store to become a priority with plans to serve our community by 2015.

The natural order of things

I am a doctor, and thus professionally and personally sworn to do no harm to other people. Having grown up on a farm, I understand hunting for meat and sport, but the gun lobby has pushed their mercantilistic agenda much too far. We need to limit access for criminals and the mentally unstable, and restrict the distribution of weapons of massacre. Divesting will lessen the unwelcome influence of these companies on our society.

Since the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 was signed into law, Americans have seen a steady assault on and erosion of our constitutionally protected rights. These assaults range from NSA spying and warrant-less searches based on suspicion alone to the rapid militarization of local sheriff and police departments. The USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 is the root of all these assaults. Together, let us uproot this abominable tree! Take action and peaceably petition our government for a redress of grievances and sign this petition demanding that they repeal the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 and end this assault on the constitutionally protected rights of all Americans.

I have watched with sadness and frustration at the power the gun industry has over legislators on the federal level. It seemed that there was finaly momentum last year after the unspeakable tragedy at Newtown. However, even that event could not inspire courage on the part of Washington. It was then that I realized if any reasonable restrictions would be enacted it would be state by state. Unfortunately Vermont has not taken this up. So now, rather than enact changes based on sense or ethics hopefully changes can be made based on financial disinsentives. Please divest any and all state holdings in any companies or corporations affiliated with the gun industry. Don't have our state finance an irresponsible industry.

Everyday between 50-150 youth visit our drop-in center. Inside they receive food, clothing, hygiene, safer sex and harm reduction supplies. They can take a shower and use a bathroom. They can meet with a therapist, psychiatrist and medical provider and get their needs met. They can for a moment breathe, relax, feel safe and be treated without judgment and with the respect and dignity every person deserves. Mary Howe, Executive Director is a formerly homeless youth who has dedicated her career to developing and implementing interventions that empower young people to improve their own lives and those of their peers, and to addressing the structural causes of poverty and homelessness and to move beyond the streets. Howe said Homeless Youth Alliance is committed to helping homeless youth in the Upper Haight past the December 25 closure. The agency is looking for a van so it can provide services on a mobile basis and is hoping to find a new space in the Upper Haight. Services for improving the lives of homeless youth are essential and should be made a priority. Move info can be found at homelessyouthalliance.org

One year ago yesterday 20 children and 6 adults were killed due to gun violence. The gun manufacturing industry has continuously campaigned to profit off of gun violence with lies about the fear of a false national gun registry (The Manchin-Toomey Background Check Bill will sentence anyone to 15 years in prison for an attempt at a national gun registry). With 26 school shootings since Sandy Hook, 33 people dying from gun violence every single day, and 64% of the murders in Texas due gun violence. It's past time that Texans Stand Up and tell our representatives we want to Divest From Guns. #SaveLives #PeopleComeFirst

After the shootings at Sandy Hook, many hedge funds, private equity firms, as well as city & state pension funds divested tens of millions of dollars from the gun industry. A year later, there are still funds and firms profiting from murder. If they divest, it'll weaken the gun industry's political power and clear the way for commonsense gun violence prevention laws.

The BBC, AP, and AFP have reported that the Greek government's forecast of a return to economic growth in 2014 has been disputed by the OECD. But these media outlets have not acknowledged that the Greek government's forecast is supported by the International Monetary Fund. This faulty economic reporting could hurt the Greek economy by discouraging investment. References can be found here: Media: Play Fair With Economic Reporting on Greece http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/media-play-fair-with-econ_b_4451650.html

The recent hangings after judicial trials in Bangla Desh has raised issues of Human Rights Violation. The fairness of these trials may bring closure not necessarily reconciliation but current hangings after these trials seems to perpetuate the cycle of injustice. These trials must be held under the norms of international laws and World should not allow further atrocities to be committed under Judicial cover.

1.3 million Americans stand to lose unemployment checks by year's end. Congress must pass legislation approving an extension before they going on their taxpayer funded vacations.

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) is undertaking an unnecessary and highly controversial data sharing program with a private, non-governmental entity, called inBloom, Inc. They are creating a massive database for the storage and eventual release or sale of information, including confidential and sensitive “personally identifiable information” (PII) of millions of New York State school children. NYSED is capturing and uploading this information without first obtaining consent from parents or legal guardians. In many cases, data is being captured and uploaded without even parental or guardian knowledge. This information consists of more than 400 data points per child and will be stored in a “cloud,” hosted and managed by inBloom, or vendors of inBloom’s choosing. These data points include: the student’s name, address, academic record, test scores, detailed disciplinary record, attendance/ absence record, economic status and income information, special education status (i.e., IEP, 504), parent and family circumstances, medical and health records, and more. NYSED’s actions violate the privacy of New York State’s public and charter school children, as well as those of their parents and legal guardians. Parents and guardians have the right to decide who has access to confidential information about their children. Parents and guardians have the right to review any PII about their child currently on file with their local school district and NY State. They have the right to be notified of any intention by NY State to share and/or sell confidential PII about their children. If they do not wish to have this information stored or disseminated, they should be given the right to have this information withheld or removed from the State's database, and/or any database of any entity engaged by the State. The potential dangers to children by the transfer of their PII to cloud storage are substantial. The data can be hacked, sabotaged or otherwise compromised. Even the “authorized release” of this data by the State and/or inBloom could result in significant harm, including stigma and discrimination against children as they progress through their elementary or secondary education, college, future employment and life. NY State is the only state in the country that is uploading this highly sensitive, confidential PII with inBloom. All other states that originally contracted with inBloom have cancelled their programs due to the privacy and vulnerability concerns stated above. We the undersigned oppose the creation of this database and the collection, storage, and release (potentially to for-profit companies) of any and all confidential and private PII without the express consent of parents or legal guardians. Accordingly, we demand the following: • Immediate cessation of all transfer of PII to inBloom, and/or its partners, and/or affiliates; • Immediate termination of NYSED’s contract with inBloom; • The swift passage of strongly worded legislation that 1) protects the privacy of students and safeguards PII, 2) provides parents/legal guardians with the opportunity to decide who has access to PII about their children and the right to withhold such information from NYSED, 3) requires explicit written consent of parents/legal guardians before NYSED can disclose PII, and 4) imposes civil and criminal penalties on those who violate State privacy laws. • Review and restrict the number and type of data points NYSED is allowed to obtain from school districts; review the financial and emotional costs to the students, parents and taxpayers of New York State related to NYSED’s current contract with inBloom, and the current uploading of PII; and assure the immediate termination and punishment of any government official found to have caused harm. We call on the officials listed above to stop NYSED and inBloom and put an end to the invasion of student and parent privacy. We are resolved to protect the children of New York State.