According to recent reports from the Washington Post, the U.S. military has quietly stepped up airstrikes in Afghanistan — increasing civilian casualties and harm — while weakening its own requirements for transparency and accountability. This has meant a lot more people have been hurt or killed. A 10-year old boy lost a hand; a family left impoverished by the killing of its principal breadwinner. The U.S. military denies its role in these devastating incidents, despite clear evidence to the contrary. Endless wars are possible when people refuse to reckon with and account for the suffering they’ve inflicted. The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) holds the power to investigate and expose the truths of this endless military occupation. As we come up on the 19th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, it’s beyond time for the committee to do its job and hold hearings on any U.S. military cover up of civilian casualties in Afghanistan.

Trump’s Acting Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Chad Wolf reportedly told intelligence analysts to downplay assessments on Russian election interference because they were making the President "look bad." Wolf’s politicization of the most fundamental and non-operations operations of government is the stuff of authoritarian regimes — twisting basic information used to make life or death security decisions just to appease Trump’s vanity. Incredibly, Trump wants to nominate Wolf as DHS Secretary and put him in this role permanently. But no one who believes this is acceptable behavior for the head of a government agency should have the job.

Because no one should lose their Condominium because the Manager of the Association loses entire year history and hires an attorney when they had no proof to pursue in court and add up excessive fees. The attorney uses his connection with the court to win a judgement and 4 Judges are protecting the 1st Judge. The manager failed to record payments made toward the judgement. The Condominium Board member who is a lawyer uses his law firm and connection with Cook County Sheriff office to remove me from my home of 13 1/2 years. Stating falsely that no payments were made when in fact payments were received and the manager never recorded and denied receiving them. The Sheriffs acted on this false information and showed up and remove me from my home. The association changed my locks and I have been fighting them ever since. They have removed all my earthly belongings I am homeless. November 14, 2019 Judge asked the board members partner only $89.00 is due? He said yes. I paid $90.00 on December 3, 2019 in front of the new judge. Now this judge has stated I can’t get a satisfaction of judgement paid and don’t ask any more. I pay the mortgage, taxes and insurance every month. This association, President the crooked accountant and Board member lawyer with his conflict of interest are determined to take my unit. Illegally renting it out without permit from the village of Glenwood, Illinois. I purchased my property and my mortgage company and I own my unit. No unit homeowner should have to endure homelessness because of unscrupulous attorneys and unethical judges.

The hardships, experienced at the local municipality level, are not being addressed in a timely or efficient manner by the State Govenor and Legislators. There are requests that have been made to the state that have been disapproved even though the requests fit the guidance policies published by the US Treasury. The application, review and funds disbursement would occur more rapidly and in a timely manner if the funds were released to the municipalities for local management and distribution.

The University's inaction in the face of ResStaff’s explicit concerns and action items over the last few weeks has made it clear that public health is not the priority. The University has repeatedly referred to the Wolverine Culture of Care, but has not extended this same care to us. If U of M administrators do not want to live up to the Michigan Difference, we will be the difference ourselves. Health comes first. ResStaff will not stand for anything less than policies and adequate resources that reflect this priority. As of Tuesday 9/8/2020 at 9PM, University of Michigan ResStaff have decided to strike on the basis of these demands: A. Regular access to testing for all of ResStaff (not only symptomatic individuals) B. Providing sufficient, effective PPE to ResStaff and Students C. Enforcement of social distancing and face coverings inside and outside of residence halls and dining halls D. Enforcement of currently unenforceable guest policy by non-student employees that can be seen by future employers or academic institutions E. Hiring and staffing to normal capacity for all facilities and housing teams F. More specific public and ResStaff communication and transparency G. Hazard pay for ResStaff H. A formal statement of no retaliation from Housing Administration should a ResStaff Union be formed A more detailed list with sub-items, as well as other resources, can be found on linktr.ee/umichresstaffreform. Tell University Housing to stop prioritizing its wealth, and start prioritizing the health of its students.

Postmaster general Louis DeJoy reportedly violated multiple campaign finance laws -- by paying back employees who donated to his favorite political candidates. That’s right: according to an explosive new Washington Post story, DeJoy -- a Trump mega-donor who has been trying to gut the USPS from the inside -- may have also sought to undermine our elections with illegal contributions. “Straw-donor” schemes like DeJoy’s violate the integrity of our political system. The House Oversight Committee has announced that it will investigate DeJoy in the coming weeks -- and if the allegations against him are true, he could face felony charges. But while this investigation unfolds, we must make sure Louis DeJoy can do no further harm to our democracy. Over the past few months, DeJoy has made drastic changes to overburden the USPS ahead of November’s election. We've seen the stories all over the news: public mailboxes being removed by the truckload, sudden personnel shake-ups, new restrictions for postal workers that limit their ability to bring us our mail every day… And now, it turns out his efforts to subvert our democracy may have begun long before he became postmaster general. The USPS Board of Governors has an obligation to defend the Postal Service from DeJoy’s dangerous schemes. If you agree that DeJoy must be immediately suspended, add your name now.

The other night we held our virtual fall product training and became aware of how little has changed in order to protect our Leaders, Scouts and family members during this pandemic. We are still unable to meet in person and must hold all Troop meetings virtually, so many Troop Leaders expected our product sales to be entirely virtual as well. We were dismayed to learn that the only changes made were precautions to ensure the safety of our customers during payment for purchased products, but almost nothing has been done to ensure the safety of the volunteers, scouts and their families while product is distributed. The current model for distribution of goods is discriminatory against scouts who have conditions that make them more susceptible to Covid-19 complications, or who have family members with said conditions. Additionally, the sales goals to be considered a, "participant" in sales and for sales awards are very similar to last year’s. This fact led us to conclude it is likely cookie season expectations will also remain similar to last year’s. In consideration of the state of the economy and unpredictability of having cash transactions, with unemployment at an all time high, and with social distancing concerns, sales will be much more difficult for our girls. No evident consideration of their emotional and mental safety is apparent in the expectations the Product Team set for girls. The sales goals are unrealistic for the times. Upon our attempt to express these concerns, the product team only offered the following options: A. Attempt to run an online only option by calling M20S and delete girl delivered orders when placed. Each parent would be responsible to do this for his or her own Girl Scout. Not only is this bad for business but also this is likely to lose a scout her lifetime customer since as our Product Team Trainer, put it “the fall product program is geared towards friends and family.” This plan also places an undo paperwork burden on families and troop leaders to manage mistakes, when for many families they are already managing the education of their children and their jobs in ways they have never before needed to. B. Assign another adult without additional health concerns to distribution. This fails to take into consideration that there may still be some accidental girl delivery orders placed with families who may have conditions making them more susceptible to Covid complications when they obtain their product during the distribution process as well as are required to deliver said product. In the past, Cookie Chairs had to be trained and back-ground checked. These steps take extra time and we were not warned to consider the need for in-person distribution when choosing our Cookie Chairs. Without training, this choice leaves troops vulnerable to financial losses. C. Not to participate in product sales at all, whatever the repercussions the Troop may have as a result. Given participation requirements in ordered to any other fundraising, this is a form of discrimination as we were reminded that troops that do not participate would no longer be eligible to participate in Special Events and Money Earning or Gold Award. Leaders have been adjusting to our new normal and following the rules set by Girl Scouts in order to adhere to social distancing guidelines. We would hope that the GSGLA’s Staff would make a greater effort to do the same. Some leaders feel their concerns were dismissed and very little empathy was shown to those who have additional reasons to be concerned about the health impacts of this model of distribution. We feel GS Staff could benefit from training about how to include those with special circumstances - even those who may be in a minority group. Given the circumstances of the pandemic we want council to: 1. Allow Scouts to pursue their Gold Awards fundraising regardless of participation in product sales. Forcing a child to choose between the safety of a loved one or themselves in order to participate in a philanthropic project is highly unethical. 2. Reassure leaders and families that sales expectations for participation status and award levels will be lower than usual for the cookie season and considerate of the state of the economy as well as special needs regarding exposure to Covid-19. This is already an incredibly stressful year for our girls, their families and volunteers and having expectations that are mostly congruent with prior sales years is unrealistic and unfair to our girls and their supporters. We understand GSGLA needs an income too, but perhaps we can do some council-wide and service unit level SEMEs and some creative fundraising that does not put that burden on the shoulders of our scouts. 3. Staff must better demonstrate empathy and inclusion. To help them do this we expect them to receive training on dealing with immunocompromised members and family during this pandemic. We have seen very little consideration and compassion in protecting the safety of Girls, Volunteers and all Girl Scout Family members. We think it would be best if council took some time to evaluate and train their staff so they are inclusive instead of simply dismissing those who have diseases or disorders that make them more susceptible to serious or fatal complications from Covid-19. 4. Offer a sales model that has truly online-only options for Troops who have members who desire to be, or must be extra careful about exposure to Covid-19. This does not mean girl delivery must be removed as an option, but troops and families must have a way to limit who has access to girl delivery options once links are shared. 5. If number four is no longer a possible change for fall product, then GSGLA must allow troops to participate in SEME events even if they are not able to participate in product sales.

Right now, the Trump administration is in a mad dash to build a border wall before the elections in order to rally an increasingly violent racist base of supporters, seizing public and private lands and tossing aside over 40 federal laws. The flagship piece of the wall runs right through the city of Laredo, TX a densely populated city right on the Rio Grande river. If built, the wall would stoke further anti-immigrant hatred across the country, and impose destruction on border towns and cities for generations. There is no "national emergency" happening in Laredo. That is a manufactured story created by the administration. Laredo is actually safer and more peaceful than most US cities. The wall serves no actual security purpose. In truth, the wall is a symbol meant to stoke racism across the country. It also has lasting, devastating impacts on the communities in which it is built. The border wall in Laredo would carve a path of destruction through Laredo, TX destroying public spaces, historic structures, public parks, private homes, places of worship, even a children's home run by Catholic nuns. The wall is not just a fence, it would be a 30 foot tall prison wall more than twice the height of the Berlin Wall. It is a 200 foot wide security corridor, that would militarize the entire waterfront of Laredo, which is precious to the people of Laredo, and has been theirs for for 265 years. Laredo depends on the Rio Grand for 100% of it's drinking water. If built, the zone would not only cut off all 250,000 residents from accessing their river, the now federally owned zone would void over 25 federal laws protecting water, land and air quality. Stand with the vets who are defending their city. Please sign this petition to have our vets' backs. Also, CLICK HERE TO WATCH an epic video of the actions that vets and the community are taking to stop the wall. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=325605755230333 Thank you! FOLLOW US on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Vets-United-To-Stop-The-Wall-111198500719227 Once you sign the petition, there are 3 other things you can do: 1) Send the vets a PERSONAL LETTER OF SUPPORT https://forms.gle/L2rZdn2e8YJc1EcP7 2) SIGN UP with No Border Wall Coalition for updates on the Vets' actions: www.noborderwallcoalition.com All solidarity is welcomed, Deepest thanks, Vets United to Stop The Border Wall, The No Border Wall Coalition, Laredo, TX

Caregivers stand to lose hundreds if not thousands of dollars if this situation is not resolved. The laws and regulations governing dependent care FSAs normally offer little flexibility to employees whose dependent care expenditures change. Under most circumstances, employees are not given the opportunity to reduce or stop their dependent care FSA contributions midyear. If reduced dependent care expenses cause employees to have contributions remaining in their FSAs at the end of the plan year (or grace period, if applicable), they would stand to forfeit that balance. Employees whose dependent care circumstances have changed due to COVID-19 may be at risk of forfeiting FSA contributions

Now is the time to have paid sick leave for all Michigan workers! The COVID crisis has magnified just how vital paid sick leave is, and how unprepared we were when the pandemic hit. Paid sick leave has been proven to be an effective policy to reduce the spread of the virus. Paid sick leave for all workers is critical as we re-open, is the best way for businesses to stay open and would help get the nation working again while supporting public health. While Congress passed emergency paid leave for many, it was temporary and limited, omitting as many as 106 million workers nationally and 1.7 million working Michiganders, many of them essential workers and on the front lines risking their lives and further exposure. Many of these workers are disproportionately people of color, women, and low-wage workers. Michigan Paid Leave for All (MiPaidLeave4All) is a coalition of individuals, businesses, community groups and nonprofit organizations that have committed to organize and fight for the right of EVERY worker in Michigan to have access to paid sick time to take care of themselves and their loved ones when illness strikes. The coalition is composed of civil rights, economic justice, faith-based, and women’s rights organizations. Together, we are united in a long-term fight in Michigan for establishing Paid Leave for All. Combined, these organizations have decades of experience strategizing, organizing, and mobilizing on behalf of racial, economic and gender justice in policy making. We firmly believe that no singular group can bring about this change. Together, however, through a coalition built on trust, we will be able to fight for and amplify policies that enable workers to have the ability to care for the families they work to support and sustain without losing their jobs, incomes, or livelihoods. As a coalition of your collective constituents, we expect our goal of achieving a public health policy that affords paid leave for all Michigan workers to be heard, listened to, and supported by you. We know that working individuals, their families and the state are strongest with time to heal from illness or injury, to welcome a new child, to help a loved one recover, or to ease their passing. We believe that everyone should be able to take time to care for themselves or a loved one without risking their job or paycheck. Being there for family is what matters—no exceptions. Right now the United States is the only industrialized country in the world that doesn’t guarantee paid sick leave for members of its workforce. Current laws have failed to keep up with the needs of our workers, families, or our businesses in the 21st century. Having widespread access to paid leave would also give workers the confidence in their employers to abate their fears and concerns about getting exposed to COVID-19 (and other likely communicable illnesses) while on the job. Despite existing protections from retaliation for workers who are exposed or who may need to take time off to quarantine because they or a close contact has been exposed, many workers are still concerned that without adequate paid leave policies, they will have to choose between risking their physical health and their financial health. It’s a zero-sum situation and lose-lose situation for our workforce and the power to rectify that is at our collective fingertips. This is a workers’ rights issue, an economic justice issue, a racial justice issue, and a gender equity issue. And as a matter of equity, it’s time for paid sick leave for all of Michigan workers, not just those who already are lucky enough to have access to it. Because of dedicated community organizing Michigan has a Paid Sick Leave law; however, the COVID-19 crisis has demonstrated that it is inadequate. We must update and expand it in the very short term in order to cover every working person, to provide paid leave for a longer period of time than the current law provides, and include health pandemics, as SB 961 sponsored by Sen. Erika Geiss does. We urge you to support SB 961 so that Michigan is never caught unprepared again, whether the crisis is national or personal.

We realize that there is a significant health danger involved in such a proposal, but a contested election in which the current President refuses to leave office based on the predicted early In-Person voting habits of his base poses a greater danger. Chaos, violence, subversion of the American Constitution are all real possibilities. A strong In-Person vote to remove the current administration could avert this looming threat.

The Delaware River Basin Commission was established in 1961 by the Governors of your states and President Kennedy to protect this vital river basin that provides drinking water for over 15 million people. Yet right now the DRBC is failing to live up to its mandate with New Fortress Energy’s Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) export terminal project that will set a dangerous national precedent for the transportation of extremely volatile fracked gas by trucks and rail tank cars to export the gas overseas. The company is using the Delaware River as it’s testing grounds for an expedited plan to get around federal safety regulations instead planning to send hundreds of trucks and rail tank cars per day across the river watershed for export overseas from the site of an old DuPont munitions plant in Gibbstown, NJ. Trump signed an Executive Order last year to fastrack LNG by rail and his administration issued a special permit for this project. The DRBC wrongfully approved this project without looking at all the facts or providing the public with adequate input to express concerns and expert testimony over a year ago. This project has been cloaked in secrecy. Recently in July, the DRBC’s Hearing Officer ruled that they had done nothing wrong in handling this permit application or approval after formally hearing the case from a regional organization - Delaware Riverkeeper Network. The DRBC Hearing Officer ignored the potential impacts that this project can have on the water quality of the river including how the proposed site for the export terminal has PCBs and how these and other pollutants at the site could be disturbed by dredging the river. Furthermore, concerns about disturbance of pollution from the old DuPont munitions plant, including contamination with toxic and carcinogenic nitrobenzene, and others such as aniline, and mercury, have not been adequately addressed. The Hearing Officer also refused to accurately consider impacts on the ecosystem of the river including the federally endangered Atlantic sturgeon, rare freshwater mussels and their habitats at this location. Lastly, the DRBC refuses to look at the impact the over 1600 truck trips and up to two 100-car trainloads of LNG per day could have to the river basin as well as public safety. If there is a release of LNG in an accident, the fire burns so hot it can’t be extinguished, the vapor cloud can explode and cause catastrophic damage for miles, and people nearby can die. In fact, 22 rail tank cars have the equivalent force of the Hiroshima bomb. Thousands of people are speaking out. A large group of doctors and health experts and scientists have written about the dangers of the facility to public health. Let’s heed their warning. We ask you to reject the Hearing Officer’s findings, rescind the existing permit and stop this project!