Imagine if, before a trial, one of the jurors said they had already made up their mind about the case, and that nothing could change their decision. They’d immediately be thrown out by the judge -- and rightly so. But that’s exactly what Senator Mitch McConnell just told Fox News -- saying he’ll coordinate with Trump’s lawyers throughout the trial and that “there is no chance the president is going to be removed from office.” Our senators are supposed to serve as fair and impartial jurors during impeachment trials -- carefully weighing the facts, upholding their constitutional duties, and acting in the best interest of the American people. But Mitch McConnell is trying to rig this trial the same way he has tried to rig our democracy. By publicly making up his mind before the trial has even begun, he has shown a flagrant disregard for his duties and for the rule of law. Our system relies on separation of powers between branches of government -- but McConnell is essentially handing Trump a blank check to do as he pleases. Our democracy cannot stand if our representatives refuse to put their country before their party and hold lawless presidents accountable. And any senator who cannot uphold this crucial constitutional duty is not fit to serve the American people. Add your name to condemn Senator Mitch McConnell -- and demand he recuses himself from President Trump’s impeachment trial.

For the leader of the Senate to openly and arrogantly claim that he, as a juror, has no problem collaborating directly with a defendant's counsel is not only an abuse of power in itself, it completely violates his own oath of office to defend the separation of powers as defined in the articles of the Constitution of the United States. Congress has its own independent authority. It does not work for the White House, nor does it belong to any particular political party. Supporting this notion is exactly the reason why three separate branches of government were established by our Founding Fathers and why they must maintain oversight of one another. If the White House can simply refuse oversight and obstruct Congress, while those within Congress openly allow this simply due to party loyalty, then We, as a republic, are doomed to become that from which our nation's founders fought to liberate us. If our congressional leaders refuse to defend the Constitution, then We, the American People, regardless of our political affiliations, must do so ourselves. You can watch Sen. McConnell speak about his planned total coordination with the White House counsel in his own words here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbsLMNLo9Kc

Article 5 of UNDRIP states clearly that indigenous people “have the right to maintain and strengthen their distinct political, legal, economic, social and cultural institutions” which includes their languages and their names. 2019 been the International Year of Indigenous Languages is a United Nations observance in that aims to raise awareness of the consequences of the endangerment of Indigenous languages across the world, with an aim to establish a link between language, development, peace, and reconciliation.

After 9/11, the CIA detained and tortured — including beating, chaining to the ceiling, locking in coffins, and waterboarding detainees to the brink of death — over 100 Muslim men in “black site” prisons around the world. That period is a stain on human history. While Congress authorized a full investigation, the resulting full, unredacted 7,000-page CIA Torture Report has yet to be released to the public. Until we know the truth, there is no way to achieve full justice for survivors and victims of CIA torture and detention. Worse, there is also no way to make sure it will never happen again. Will you urge your members of Congress to release the unredacted CIA Torture Report to the public now?

Bribery. Abuse of power. Obstruction of justice. Corruption. Violation of our Constitution. Time and time again, President Trump has put himself above the law and broken his oath to preserve, protect, and defend our democracy. Now, Congress must take a stand against his repeated and shameless wrongdoing -- by impeaching President Trump and removing him from office. The Founding Fathers put impeachment in the Constitution for a situation like this one: an out-of-control president acting as if they are totally above the law. In the past three years, Trump has solicited a bribe from the Ukraine government… obstructed justice in the Russia investigation... failed to safeguard our elections… profited from his presidency… and broken campaign finance laws. But the decisions made in this moment extend beyond Trump and his presidency. Our members of Congress have a constitutional duty to hold the executive branch accountable -- and if they turn a blind eye to Trump’s lawlessness, it’ll give every president going forward the green light to exploit and abuse our democracy. That’s why we must call on Congress to once and for all prove that nobody -- not even the president -- is above the law by impeaching President Trump and removing him from office. To learn more about Common Cause’s call for the impeachment and removal of President Trump, please visit www.commoncause.org/remove.

Donald Trump Jr. recently went to Mongolia with taxpayer-funded support after purchasing a hunting trip at a charity auction to benefit the National Rifle Association (NRA). While in Mongolia, Trump Jr. shot and killed an argali sheep that is listed and protected as "Threatened" in Mongolia under the Endangered Species Act. Trump Jr. did not reportedly have a permit to kill the imperiled argali sheep at the time of his hunt, and was granted one retroactively after he had left the country. The argali sheep is threatened by agriculture and energy production and is listed as "Decreasing" globally by the IUCN Red List. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service considers whether local, national, and multi-national laws and regulations are followed and whether the killing of animals is beneficial to conservation as a part of the importation process. As Mr. Trump only received permit for his trophy hunting after he had killed the imperiled species and was likely only able to do so because of his father's position, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service should investigate to determine if it should reject any forthcoming import request from Mr. Trump and ascertain whether he has already imported the carcass in violation of U.S. law. SOURCE: https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-inc-podcast-donald-trump-jr-went-to-mongolia-got-special-treatment-from-the-government-and-killed-an-endangered-sheep

a. The NFL enforces rule changes aimed at eliminating potentially risky behavior that could lead to injuries. The common behavior or climate of our Jr High Football teams has been two teams split by geographical boundaries. These two teams do not have a development model that take the foundation established at the youth level and build upon it. There are many instances where kids are playing out of position, defined by their current peer group of competition. The physical, psychological and mental growth of children is primarily based on their age. Quick strategy formulation, analyzing of the situation, coordination among senses and intelligent action are prerequisites of a good football players. Due to low participation over the last couple years, we have pitted smaller players against heavily built young men. Strength isn’t subject to size and these kids are just beginning to develop their muscle mass, but the competing ratio has not been in our favor for years. We have faced teams with over 40 kids or more on their teams. The ratio of total kids to players that are more physically mature greatly outnumber a team that consists of 17. This change needs to happen to ensure our kids are continuing to be developed in the safest environment and we can mitigate any potential risk of losing participants. Many schools in the OCC have multiple Jr High Schools but only 1 team per grade. Our current Jr High Football model does not reflect this town's current climate. We can do better for our kids.

This is important for the reconciliation of the genocide, cultural loss, and devastation of the Tuscarora Nation in our anceint homeland by centuries of intrusion, conflict, and manipulation by the State of North Carolina. Although prior historical accounts assume that the Tuscarora migrated by large force to the Northeast in the early 18th century, modern academics and a long trail of records confirm that thousands of Tuscarora remained. Published archaeological research by Dr Larry Tise and Dr David Phelps about Fort Neherooka states that only 20 percent of the Tuscarora Nation was subdued during the campaign of the Tuscarora Wars 1711-15. Another study about the Contentnea Creek Drainage states that the more scholarly estimate on 18th century pre-war Tuscarora was about 8000 people. Earlier accounts by Surveyor General John Lawson noted about 1500 Tuskeruro fighting men. That estimate equated to about 5000 people and is roughly off by as much half of the modern arcaheologically derived estimate. The migration trail navigated by the Tuscarora families leaving the reservation in Bertie County and adjoinging counties were traveling and stopping in Sampson, Cumberland, Harnett, Robeson, and Duplin counties. Archaeological digs at burial mounds, village sites, and other cultural zones estimate that the Tuscarora have been in NC for at least 1200 years. Whenever these mounds were dug up, the Tuscarora Nation of NC was never consulted. Fort Bragg military base, Camp Lejune military base, the Department of Transportation, the CSX Railroad System, UNC Chapel Hill, ECU and many more institutions and agencies have been involved in the removal, housing and display of Tuscarora remains and artifacts for decades. The digs done in the earlier 20th century were sent all over the United States. This is essential to understanding the ongoing relationship between the Tuscarora Nation and the NC Community. Since before the creation of this country, the Tuscarora Nation have been generous to colonists, fought against their kin to save the NC colony, and even sent warriors to aid South Carolina against the Yamassees in 1715. My ancestors fought in the French and Indian War, Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and the Civil War. At every significant moment in American History, the NC Tuscarora have played a major role in the development, security, and freedom of this great nation. The time for reciprocity, balance and reconciliation is now! The Native American Graves and Repatriation Act 1990 is very recent and the State of NC has not upheld the longstanding rights of the Tuscarora. Dozens of burial sites have been desecrated, ancestors removed, and artifacts sold or auctioned without regards to families and communities. The Tuscarora Nation of NC have been treaty indians since 1712, gained Federal Recognition through the Indian Reorganization Act of the 1930s, and the East Carolina Indian Organization (Tuscarora group) had those rights reaffirmed regardless of the Lumbee Act in the Maynor Vs. Morton case of 1975. Repatriating Tuscarora remains and artifacts is the right course of action because NC began silencing my ancestors through active legislation in 1778, but also because thousands of Tuscarora ancestral spirits deserve rest and Tuscarora People need healing. This is an opportunity for the Roanoke River, Neuse River, Tar River, Cape Fear River, and Drowning Creek Tuscarora settlements to take part in this petition to reclaim our lost ancestors. Their return will awaken us. May the Great Spirit Bless you. Nyawe (thank you). Ooneh (One People)

Retired seniors typically have labored in the workforce for fifty years, with the promise of "golden years," to be lived in dignity at the end of their careers. Yet almost 40% of retirees are forced to go back to work to make ends meet. The annual Cost of Living raise was intended to keep up with rising costs and it is not reaching that goal. Legislators have the means to see that the additional dollars in our Social Security checks each year are more reflective of the reality elders experience, by switching the index used annually to the CPI-E and putting the CPI-W to work for only urban clerical workers.

i am a parent of a student in Marion jr.high , we do not need the bed bugs brought to our homes . and the schools have done nothing about it ,as long as they let them just be in the schools they are only going to get worse , where there is one there is more . we was told its our right to keep our kid/kids home from school so they can take care of the problem and when i do i get told that it wil not be excused and i will have a truancy officer now ! this is not how you treat your students if the school is the one with the bed bug problem

Americans living overseas are subject to a separate and substantially more punitive tax code than stateside Americans. This is grossly unfair. Furthermore, the United States government has demonstrated little to no concern about the well-being of its overseas diaspora. As a result, many false narratives from many sources have surfaced that mischaracterize the real situation on the ground. H.R. 4363 should layout what is really going on and set the record straight. It is vitally important Congress act on this legislation to safeguard the lives of millions of Americans abroad from financial ruin.

Since the 1970’s, the science regarding a warming climate has been recorded. The human caused climate catastrophe has been rapidly accelerated due to an increase of fossil fuel emissions around the world. Let it be clear: this is not the fault of the average person. While riding your bike to work and eliminating single-use plastics from your daily routine are admirable, driving your car and drinking your tea with a plastic straw are not the main catalysts of the fast-approaching crisis. For decades, fossil fuel executives have known that an increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has led to a direct correlation in rising global temperatures. As the global populous becomes more aware of this issue, it is becoming increasingly easier to hold those at fault accountable. The broken accountability measures of the past are no longer able to shield the power behind fossil fuel companies. It is not enough to implement bold and tangible change for the sake of our environment and health; we must hold those at the cause of this problem accountable to ensure these grossly unjust actions and cover up never happen again.