The practices of Big business and the people they take advantage of, you, me, the everyday hard working customer

The policies and laws from the Republican-controlled N.C. General Assembly and governor’s office have gone too far. The plans to cut unemployment benefits, slash Medicaid assistance, shift taxes toward middle- and lower-income taxpayers, repeal environmental measures, and enact the new voter ID bill are immoral and unacceptable. We stand in solidarity with the thousands who have been protesting on Moral Mondays against the conservatives' takeover in North Carolina. Las políticas y leyes de la Asamblea General de Carolina del norte controlado por republicanos y oficina de Gobernación han ido demasiado lejos. Los planes para cortar subsidios de desempleo, gran cortes a la asistencia de Medicaid, cambio de impuestos hacia los contribuyentes de ingresos medios y bajos, revocar las medidas ambientales y promulgar la nueva ley de identificación de votante son inmoral e inaceptable. Estamos en solidaridad con los miles que han protestado el lunes Morales contra la toma de posesión de los conservadores en Carolina del norte.

As the inequity of personal wealth grows ever wider, more of us are reliant on hourly wages. The current minimum of $7.25/hour, even if one is able to work a 40-hour week, doesn't cover the rent on even a modest apartment in most communities. The minimum wage of the past provided significantly more buying power than it does today. Since 1968, it has suffered a dramatic erosion as Congress failed to adequately correct for inflation over time. Raising the minimum wage to at least $11/hour won't solve everything, but it will bring it in line with inflation and ease a burden that weighs heavily on the shoulders of American families. It's a win-win for both workers and business. It's the least you could do. Really.

Owen Denson needs to be able to come home on Intensive supervision his young son needs him. For the past 4 years Owen has been trying to navigate the system which has punished him for being honest. Now Owen has less than a year left of his sentence. Owen has a job, family and friends waiting. Most importantly his pre-teen son needs him now! Owen has a good support system in place, but the powers that be are still dragging their feet. He is not asking for absolution just to be able to come home on ISP (which for those of you that don't know is an ankle monitor). I want to see how many people we can get to sign before Aug. 17, 2013 and I will present the results to the internal probation officer at the START program where he is currently being held.

Due to the fact that Rick Perry likes to pick and choose what he will "micromanage" and he is trying to push this abortion issue further, maybe it is time we show him who the boss really is.

The utilities companies botched repairs at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. Now the plant is closed, and the utility companies want California customers to pay over $500 million for the ill-fated repairs. We say the utilities companies should pay, not consumers. Las empresas de servicios públicos hicieron reparaciones chapuzas en la Central Nuclear San Onofre. Ahora la planta está cerrada, y las empresas de servicios públicos quieren que los clientes de California paguen más de $500 millones para las reparaciones de la malograda. Decimos que las compañías de servicios públicos deben pagar, no los consumidores.

After more than 16 years, the United States Supreme Court has overturned the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)! Denying committed couples the right to marry is unacceptable -- end of story. So as we celebrate this historic ruling in favor of basic civil rights, I hope you will also join me in calling on the Hawaii state legislature to pass marriage equality.

We request that Steve Bullock appoint a special prosecutor who will impanel a grand jury to investigate the death of Hellgate Senor Chance Geery.

The man credited to have been the first settler of the Chicago region has NO STREET named after him nor any noticeable statue. This is a discredit to both du Sable himself and Chicago's Black population, and is a general disservice to its populace in entirety.

The Supreme Court determined that Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act is seriously outdated. Tell the House of Representatives to fix the problem now.

The development of state-owned properties in our neighborhood has occurred without the concomitant replacement of the lost parking spaces it has caused for residents. Rather than relax the restrictions on or increase the area where the affected residents are permitted to park, some parking agents in the Denver Public Works office have begun to ticket residents, even though those residents hold valid Resident Parking Permits. This practice has to stop. In an area where there is a serious dearth of parking, the permitted zone for resident parking must be enlarged.

Currently, controversial Voter ID Laws are being moved through Texas Legislature that will now require residents of Texas to have a voter ID at hand to vote within the state of Texas. Despite the Justice Department's disagreement and block of this modern day poll tax, Attorney General Greg Abbott is still pushing through to have this law passed and implemented as soon as possible. In my personal opinion, I believe it would only be fair for this Voter ID Law to be passed if the Government, or the state of Texas, would provide Voter IDs' for everyone or make them cheaper. A person shouldn't be limited to vote based on their economic incapability.