one of my family members, he is facing deportation, for his past criminal arrests that had been take care off allready.

The USDA is poised to approve the first GMO apple. If approved, these genetically engineered apples could end up everywhere from school lunches to grocery stores, posing risks to our health, our environment and apple farmers across the United States. Like other GMOs, it won’t be labeled and won’t have undergone independent safety testing -- regulators will rely on the company’s sole assessment that the apple is safe for human consumption. Worse yet, this GMO apple was genetically engineered via a new, virtually untested experimental technique called RNA interference, which many scientists are concerned may have negative, unintended impacts on human health and the environment. We need your help today, right now, to tell the USDA to say no to GMO apples.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a global trade agreement being secretly negotiated between the US and 12 Pacific Rim countries. Primarily written by former US Trade Representative Ron Kirk, 600 multinational corporations and industry trade groups, the TPP will affect nearly every aspect of Americans’ lives. If passed, it will undermine state, local and federal laws, including those governing food safety, environmental protection, internet freedom, worker rights, democratic sovereignty, healthcare and drug prices, and banking and finance regulation. If passed, the TPP will be a disaster for public health and safety, future sustainability of the world’s food supply and basic democratic principles. Although 600 corporate executives have the text of the agreement on their office computers, only one US Congressman Alan Grayson has seen the text. When asked why it was being negotiated in secret, Ron Kirk, the former US trade negotiator said, "Because if the people knew what was in it, it would never be passed." Billed as a "free trade" agreement, only five of the 29 chapters actually relate to trade. It is really a rigged trade agreement, a corporate power grab so massive that if implemented, it would represent a global corporate coup d'etat making corporations more powerful than governments. After viewing some of the text, Congressman Grayson said, "This agreement hands the sovereignty of our country over to corporate interests." It’s bad enough that Congress and the public have been shut out of these negotiations, while corporations are running the show. But even worse, the Obama Administration wants to ram the TPP through Congress using a Nixon-era process called Fast Track. On November 13, three-quarters of House Democrats sent a letter informing the President that they would oppose Fast Track procedures he has requested that would allow the TPP to circumvent ordinary Congressional review, amendment and debate procedures. “We will oppose Fast Track Trade Promotion Authority or any other mechanism delegating Congress’ constitutional authority over trade policy that continues to exclude us from having a meaningful role in the formative stages of trade agreements,” they wrote. On November 25, the day of President Obama's two high dollar fundraisers, a TPP protest rally was held in a Beverly Hills park with six speakers from labor, environmental, health and food safety organizations. Then 250 people marched to the site of the fundraiser. None of the commuters stuck in rush hour traffic who spoke to protesters had heard of the TPP. When it was explained to them, they were eager to take a flyer. While the Los Angeles Times sent a photographer and a single photo was published, not one of the seven reporters who were sent the press release chose to cover this event, including the two who were embedded with Obama. Further, there has been scant news reporting or editorial comment about the Trans-Pacific Partnership in LA's paper of record. Of the four pieces published in all the four years this agreement has been negotiated, there has not been one article that examines this trade deal in detail. Of the four pieces published, one was an Op Ed puff piece by Secretary of State John Kerry, who is bound to push the Obama Adminstration's agenda. The second piece was a letter to the editor in response from representatives from the Sierra Club and the Communications Workers of America. Another article was coverage of Commerce Secretary's recent trip to Mexico where she responded to questions about the TPP, statements which were left unchallenged by the reporter. Again the Secretary is bound to represent the White House view. And finally there was one lone letter to the editor opposing Fast Track. For an agreement that affects 40% of the world's economy and so many spheres of our lives, this lack of reportage is an egregious violation of the public trust. By its paucity of coverage, the LA Times is blatantly and knowingly neglecting its obligation to provide accurate, well researched and balanced news and opinion about vital government practices. This disregard for the responsibilities of journalism translates to corporate control of what the public may know, or more simply, censorship. The LA Times should abide by the implied social contract with its readers which dictates thorough and up to date journalism about significant local and world events. Times must recognize the importance of the TPP story and begin regular news coverage. The Times is also obligated to allow its readers to be heard by publishing editorial comment on the TPP. Background info on the Trans-Pacific Partnership: www.exposetheTPP.org www.flushtheTPP.org http://billmoyers.com/episode/full-show-the-top-secret-trade-deal-you-need-to-know-about/

Evie Hudak is resigning from the Colorado Senate. Not only is Colorado losing a great leader, but the right wing has succeeded in breaking our democratic process by initiating an endless string of recall elections. We must put an end to the partisan political games that made endless recalls attractive to the far right.

I am starting this petition because 1. It is not fair that we be open all day thanksgiving and Christmas eve and now Christmas day. 2. If were going to be open and be away from are families then help us out and pay time in a half! I am a single mom and I have to to work the holidays now and be away from my 3 year old daughter. I have sacrificed a lot for this company and in return they take away the one important day of the year that I should get to spend with my daughter. Not to mention being a single mother how would you expect me to find a sitter on the holidays when day cares are closed and people spending time with there families. And be able to afford paying someone extra when we dont even get time in half......how do you expect to keep or get new employees when you run your employees to the ground and don't treat them well with at least giving them one special day a to spend with there families. I hate having to tell my staff that they have to work on a day that they should be spending with there families. It's just not right.

Newspapers need to stop publishing letters that deny climate change.

Hector is the father of two young United States citizens and the sole provider for his family, but immigration officials in the Obama administration are planning to deport him on Friday, Nov. 29 -- the day after Thanksgiving. Please join us in telling ICE director, John Sandweg, to stop Hector's deportation. Help us keep this family together. Hector was racially profiled by immigration officials, while driving to a weekly bible study group in a neighbor's home with his family and friends. He was arrested by ICE in front of his family in the yard where the bible study takes place. This is an absolutely outrageous and unconstitutional arrest and Hector's pending deportation violates the Obama Administration's own prosecutorial discretion policies. Immigration officials have gone way too far. Their overaggressive racial profiling raids need to stop. Please join us and help keep this family together this holiday season.

My name is Alexandra "Distance Everheart" Wilson & i've been homeless over 11 years & have suffered poverty, violence, harassment, & sexual abuse while living on the streets for many years throughout California. Me & my husband came seeking solace at your shelter & when I was asked by the staff what was between my legs "so they know where to put me", I felt offended & that it was not their business-- especially since no one is seeing anyone else naked at the shelter anyway! I was told that I would be in a separate area if I haven't had surgery, & this was only days after reading that the same people who funded the highly-divisive "Prop(aganda) 8" initiative are now spearheading a movement to remove transgender people from locker rooms & restrooms-- & apparently in shelters-- across California. As an impoverished person for many years giving my all to help make the world better in my own way, I find it terrifying that people are dumping millions & millions of dollars into segregating transgender people rather than helping an already marginalized group afford surgery-- which I believe they would do if their hearts, minds, & finances were in the right place. What I don't understand is why the shelter wants people to have a "mental health evaluation" & is willing to pay for those costs, but are not INSTEAD using that money to allocate for homeless people to afford their medical needs. I think that creates some mental stress right their when homeless people are seeing large amounts of money "flying over the tops of their heads" without ANY consideration as to how these things are directly adversely affecting our "mental health". Too many shelters are being mismanaged, & this "transgender segregation policy" is a perfect example of too much power in the wrong hands-- so PLEASE prove me wrong & remove that policy. Thank you signers & sharers of this petition for looking out for people in less fortunate circumstances & to all the community members who are helping to provide a space for people in need. --- seeking peace in Grass Valley, CA

A recent news report profiled the story of Issaic, a gay teen who was attacked in Albquerque's Coronado Mall for being gay. Responding police and mall management didn't recognize the signs of gay bullying and anti-gay violence and instead banned the victim from the mall.

Please sign this recall petition. We only need 300 signatures from registered voters to initiate the recall process. See Virginia Election Law code 24.2-233. "Upon petition, a circuit court may remove from office any elected officer or officer who has been appointed to fill an elective office, residing within the jurisdiction of the court: 1. For neglect of duty, misuse of office, or incompetence in the performance of duties when that neglect of duty, misuse of office, or incompetence in the performance of duties has a material adverse effect upon the conduct of the office," The petition must be signed by a number of registered voters who reside within the jurisdiction of the officer equal to ten percent of the total number of votes cast at the last election for the office that the officer holds. We only need 300 signatures to start the process. Your support is appreciated. This has to stop here and now. We need Bob Middaugh back ASAP.

I work hard at Walmart and I shouldn't have to donate plasma just to pay my bills. But as the father of three, I struggle each month just to keep my kids fed. It's gotten so bad that I'm forced to live payday loan to payday loan. This year, I'm on track to make just $12,000 at Walmart. And I'm not the only one. Recently, news broke that Walmart was actually running a food drive asking its own employees to donate to hungry coworkers so they could enjoy Thanksgiving. That isn't right. While the Walton family has more wealth than 42% of our country combined, many Walmart workers like me are forced to turn to government assistance just to pay our bills. It's time for a change. That's why I'm calling on the Walton family to publicly commit to paying us a decent wage. Legal Disclaimer: UFCW and OUR Walmart have the purpose of helping Wal-Mart employees as individuals or groups in their dealings with Wal-Mart over labor rights and standards and their efforts to have Wal-Mart publically commit to adhering to labor rights and standards. UFCW and OUR Walmart have no intent to have Walmart recognize or bargain with UFCW or OUR Walmart as the representative of Walmart employees.

I have friends and family who have never had health insurance and under the Affordable Care Act they will finally be covered for health issues. It is only right that the most influential and richest country on the planet be active in providing the opportunity for their citizens to have health insurance coverage.