My name is Tyler Cook, and I write to Senator Jim Davis and our NC state legislature under the gravest of circumstances. As a Maconian, I have agreed and disagreed with different beliefs that you have taken with you to Raleigh. And as a resident of North Carolina, I would have to say the same for our state legislature. Our recent voting laws, our school budget cuts and our state school calendar are just a few things that I disagree with. But the recent news coming out of Raleigh has caused me great alarm, and I must plea with you on behalf of Macon County citizens. Hydro Fracking is a controversial issue that has brought very heated discussions in our country over the years. Fortunately for us though is that while some states were discussing and even using this method of extracting natural resources from the earth, North Carolina remained silent. But as years have passed, and the use of this method has become more frequent, our state leaders have shown support for this, and even proposed bringing it into our state. In case you aren’t fully aware of Hydro Fracking and the process it takes to extract the natural resources, it is a very complicated and dangerous concept. According to the Remediation Technologies Screening Matrix and Reference Guide, it begins with the injection of water into the ground until the pressure creates a fracture. Some wells can be drilled as far as 10,000 feet below the surface. Coarse-grained sand and guar gum gel is then inserted and the fracture grows. The sand grains hold the fracture in place while an enzyme is injected and breaks down fluids. The thinned fluid is broken down, and pumped from the fracture to form a channel to recover any vapor or liquid below. This process can be done several different ways with different methods and materials for extraction. But an extraction of this nature does not come without its consequences. In addition to the fracturing of the ground and the releasing of gas, carcinogens, toxic sludge and other highly toxic substances also are released. Some common ingredients include hydrochloric acid, ammonium, potassium, sodium salt, and many others. And because of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Hydro Fracking was left unregulated by the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. The result of this includes the contamination of your water supply and endangers the lives of humans and pets in the surrounding area. Thanks to WLOS 13, I was alerted of an article, provided by News Observer, announcing the proposal to have residents extract their natural resources under their home and farms and sell them, whether they want to or not. Once I read this I felt anger, sadness and finally disappointment towards our state legislature because a fear that has been tucked in the back of my mind had been realized. Because this recommendation has been approved, it will go to the state legislature in hopes that it will also be approved there. Why is this such an important issue for me, you ask? I have had the privilege of taking environmental classes at Southwestern Community College and Western Carolina University, and I have learned and seen the true horrors that can result from environmental hazards, Hydro Fracking being one of the most threatening and impacting hazards in our country. These classes have opened my eyes to things I would have never thought of in the past, and has lit a fire in me to defend the home that surrounds me. I know I am only one person in Macon County, who is far beyond the ears of Raleigh, but I plead with you to show your opposition to this. Yes, this isn’t an immediate threat to Maconians because this will only be affecting Lee, Moore and Chatham counties right now. But once North Carolina approves of fracking to begin there, it won’t stop. They will continue to spread this process throughout the state until it finally reaches our doorstep. And by then, it will be too late to show remorse or regret for what we have allowed into our home. I encourage you to research on this and to seek counsel. There are many citizens and teachers in the area that are as alert of this as I am. I’m sure they will be happy to express their opinion, as well as the facts on this matter. Be 100% sure of the facts before you approve or disapprove of this policy. As you can tell, I am very passionate about this, and I knew that I had to plead my case to you. Otherwise, I knew I would regret knowing I had the chance to tip the scales and not take it. This is not a debate involving politics. This is a debate of morals and ethics and a challenge to see if we have what it takes to do what is right. Every individual in Macon County may not have a vote on this, but they do have the vote on other things, and I trust that Macon County will put this debate and your decision into consideration when they vote. I urge you to join me and pledge your support not to just Macon County or North Carolina, but for the interest of this great nation.

We are holding our public servants accountable. This "Right to Know and Protect" bill is common sense and is exactly why the Constitution and Bill of Rights were created. They are elected public officials. If they fail to uphold and serve the people per the Constitution, we will take action ourselves if no one is representing us. We will gladly use the Charter for Recall if needed. Constitution of Hawaii/Article 1/Bill of Rights- POLITICAL POWER: All political power of this State is inherent in the people and the responsibility for the exercise thereof rests with the people. All government is founded on this authority RIGHTS OF CITIZENS- Section 8. No citizen shall be disfranchised, or deprived of any of the rights or privileges secured to other citizens, unless by the law of the land. Constitution/Section 1 Article X1- For the benefit of present and future generations, the State and its political subdivisions shall conserve and protect Hawaii's natural beauty and all natural resources, including land, water, air, minerals and energy sources, and shall promote the development and utilization of these resources in a manner consistent with their conservation and in furtherance of the self-sufficiency of the State. All public natural resources are held in trust by the State for the benefit of the people.

I have watched cars swerve all over the road only to pull up next to them and see they are on their phones! Our death toll is rising and accidents are skyrocketing! It's time we crack down hard on this and make people aware of how bad it is to drive while texting or calling someone! I urge all of you to sign this petition and save our children and families!

The New Deal worked and has now been trashed. The Old Deal is back and is no deal at all. It disproportionately rewards people at the upper income levels.

1. We do not support amending any city ordinances to allow car dealerships to be built in the City of Lakeway. 2. We do not support any zoning amendments to allow commercial property to convert classification that will allow car dealerships to be built in the City of Lakeway.

There are still unanswered questions about chemical weapons in Syria. It is assumed the upper echelon of the Assad government supported these gas attacks. If we don't know, we risk more than we gain in the region and the world's stage. Our abhorrence of the gas attack emotionally clouds a further search for truth before more death and misery is warranted.

Citizen Koch is an extremely revealing documentary by Academy Award-nominated filmmakers regarding corruption in our government. It was originally pulled due to the desire to avoid upsetting major PBS donor David Koch. As a public television station, WKLE (and the other PBS stations), doesn't answer to people like the Koch brothers, but instead to the viewers. The fears of upsetting a rich donor should come second to journalistic integrity. Please help me call for a national broadcast of "Citizen Koch."

The dances thrown by the school are being cut this year due to "low attendance". Attendance at the dances is one of the highest attendance rates of events on campus. As a double major in the College of Fine Arts, there are few events on campus that fit into my schedule that allow me to socialize with students from other colleges. By not funding the dances, students are going to be less likely to attend other events on campus. This "low attendance" of other events is going to cause more and more events to be cut from our extracurricular schedules until we have nothing but fraternity parties to attend.

Over the past 30 years, for-profit prison companies have reaped billions in profits from the mass incarceration and detention of human beings while earning a track record marred with mismanagement, human rights abuses, and indifference for the health and safety of those incarcerated in their facilities. At a time when many states are walking away from outsourced prisons, California Governor Jerry Brown is seeking to expand the use of for-profit prisons to alleviate the state's current prison overcrowding crisis. Join us in urging Governor Brown to invest in sustainable solutions to mass incarceration in California and NOT in private prison companies that profit from pain!

Our children can only benefit from learning and playing chess. Over five hundred students learn and improve their thinking, choices analysis, and socialization at the Purple Sage Elementary School. While there are chess programs scattered throughout the district, there is, currently, no funding and organization on the district level. Consider what a district wide program would accomplish!

"Citizen Koch" was pulled from a national public television broadcast because of fear of upsetting David Koch, who has been a major donor to public television. But public television stations should answer to viewers like me, not to billionaires like the Koch brothers -- and I want to see this important documentary. Will you join the call for a national broadcast of "Citizen Koch" on Independent Lens?

Jose Perez is the father of 4 children; three of which are U.S. citizens. He does not have a criminal record and was arrested when the police mistook him for an alleged suspect. Though cleared of all wrongdoing, he still faces deportation. Jose is a responsible person who pays his taxes and has maintained the same job for the past 7 years. He volunteers at his church and is an active member of the community group Familias Unidas.