Hurricane Helene and the upcoming Hurricane Milton have caused significant damage to our county. Many of our schools have been used as shelters an evacuation zones, leaving us with little time to complete assignments or properly absorb information. An extension would allow us to learn and set us up for success truly.

The office of Heat Ready Phx has started a new initiative called, “Sidewalk Shade Project.” While this initiative is well-meaning in that it intends to solve issues of heat in Phoenix, Arizona, it will not realize this solution since it ignores what is more basic to us. And that is this: The best thing we can do to solve shade and heat issues in Phoenix, Arizona is to plant more native trees. These structures they want to put up will only radiate more heat and become a breeding ground for vandalism, abuse, and overall wear and tear. They will make our beautiful city corners and streets look more barren and more tacky. These structures will not solve the issue of heat and shade, but native trees will. Trees naturally cool the environment, provide shade and improve overall quality of life. Essentially, where there is life, you are sure that there are trees nearby. If we want to fix our problem of heat, air quality, and shade, it is most natural to the majority of us, Phoenicians, that we should promote the planting of more trees. Moreover, if our streets were filled with trees that provide more shade, our streets would be cooler and much prettier. 

For these little ones, it is hard for them to last the whole school day without a snack break. In the meantime, some of the older grades are still getting snack time. Children and adults alike benefit from having more sustenance in the day, and we don’t see a good reason to deprive the youngest ones from such an opportunity.  Removing snack time for young children goes against well-established developmental and nutritional guidelines. Young children have small stomachs and high energy needs, which is why it is recommended that children have regular, healthy snacks throughout the day to support growth, attention, and emotional regulation. Without a snack, many 5- and 6- year olds struggle to focus, experience mood swings, and may even feel physical discomfort. This isn't just about convenience - it's about meeting basic developmental needs to ensure kids are ready to learn. We have heard various reasons from the school about their justification for eliminating snack: that the teachers wish to have more time for classroom instruction;' that there are concerns about allergies; or that they desire to "build stamina and independence." Regarding the time for classroom instruction, teachers could have a short snack time or even a “working snack time” (as they used to do in the 1st grade) where kids do class work while simultaneously having a snack break. If the concern is about allergies, in previous years, children in these grades were given snack time where parents provided a nut-free snack to avoid introducing allergens into the classroom. If the desire is to build independence, teachers could ask students to go and get their snacks themselves if they are hungry. There are workarounds that can address the ostensible reasons given and still meet the children's developmental and nutritional needs.

Did you see that Elon Musk pledged (then walked back) an eye-popping $45 million per month to elect Trump and his allies in 2024? That's a staggering sum – and Musk is far from the only big spender this year. On the right, on the left, and everywhere in between, we have billionaires and special interests buying their way to outsize influence in our elections, simply because they're richer than you or me. But no matter who it is, we ALL pay the price when wealthy megadonors get to buy their way to a bigger say in our democracy – with inaction on healthcare and minimum wage, and tax giveaways to the ultra-rich. That's why Common Cause has fought for years to undo the Citizens United status quo and pass the Freedom to Vote Act and the DISCLOSE Act – which would return power to everyday Americans and limit Big Money’s influence in our democracy. Join us in calling on Congress to END the Citizens United era and pass the Freedom to Vote Act and the DISCLOSE Act!

Well-funded special interests are plotting to throw the U.S. Constitution into chaos – and we need your help to stop them. Secretive, corporate lobby groups like the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) are wielding their influence with state lawmakers, demanding that they vote to call an Article V Constitutional Convention – an unprecedented event with no rules that could lead to a rewrite of the U.S. Constitution. With your help, we already defeated calls for an Article V Convention in Wyoming, Maine, and Idaho this year – but if we don’t keep up the pressure, our extremist opponents could soon successfully secure enough votes to write their extreme far-right priorities into our Constitution. We need your help to stop this attack on our Constitution. Add your name now to tell your lawmakers to REJECT all calls for an Article V Convention.

Election officials from all 50 states – Democrats and Republicans alike – are sounding the alarm about Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s failed leadership, warning that his reckless plans risk disenfranchising hundreds of thousands of voters this year.  That’s because DeJoy’s USPS cuts have caused lost and delayed election mail, hiked prices, and a Postal Service that risks letting voters down this November  – especially when states are passing new laws to reject ballots that were mailed before Election Day, but arrive after. Lawmakers and election officials are raising serious concerns – and so are we – because voters deserve a Postal Service that protects our right to vote by mail. But, so far, DeJoy’s response to these concerns has been silence. It’s simple: when a voter mails in their ballot, they deserve to be 100% confident that it will arrive on time and be counted. And, as Postmaster General, DeJoy has a responsibility to make sure the American people can trust his Postal Service with their votes.  We must make sure DeJoy can't use his power to deny our voices in this year's elections. Add your name to DEMAND answers.

The Israeli military has recently dropped bombs on targets across Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen, Syria, and beyond. Hundreds of people have been killed, thousands injured, and over one million were displaced in the past few weeks alone. For over a year now, the Netanyahu government has used U.S. weapons to push an entire region to the brink of a devastating, all-out war while failing to bring home the hostages. Bombs like Boeing’s Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs), Lockheed Martin-made F-35 fighter jets, and General Dynamics’ 2,000-lb “bunker busters”. If the cycle deepens, millions more lives will be at risk. Despite this looming threat and the incomprehensible levels of human suffering we’ve seen so far, the Biden administration is moving forward with new massive sales of offensive weapons, including some of the very weapons the IDF is already using to devastate communities across the region. That’s why what’s happening right now is crucial: Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), have filed multiple joint resolutions of disapproval (JRDs) that together, would BLOCK $20 billion worth of weapons currently bound for the Israeli government. It’s all coming to a head in just a few weeks and it means our work to build the kind of grassroots power to send every senator a signal to support this legislation is already starting — and we need everyone speaking out now.

After losing the 2020 election, former President Donald Trump said “It doesn’t matter if you won or lost the election. You still have to fight like hell.”  Does this sound like an “official” act of the presidency to you? This shocking quote comes from Special Counsel Jack Smith's newly unsealed evidence, which challenges the Supreme Court’s dangerous ruling on presidential immunity and confirms what we know: presidents shouldn’t have a blank check to try and overturn the will of the voters.  But here’s the good news: with Common Cause’s support, Rep. Joe Morelle has introduced a constitutional amendment that will permanently declare that no American is above the law – not even former presidents – and prohibit presidents from pardoning themselves.  This is a chance to right the Supreme Court’s wrong. Add your name if you agree: Attempting to overturn an election is not an “official” act of the president. No one is above the law, including Donald Trump.

Not only do many men and women find it disrespectful and degrading to be separated because of their gender. This also destroys all the work women have put into being seen as an equal. This also causes concern for pictures and appearance. White gowns, or white clothes in general, are extremely hard to keep clean. Add the aspect of makeup to the problem and many girls are going to be struggling with their gowns. Not only this but it’s a common knows fact that girls get periods, imagine bleeding on your gown and not being able to get it out because it’s white. One of the last aspects I want to bring up is the fact that white clothes get flashback. Many pictures could be ruined just for the simple aspect that the gowns are white. This is a huge moment in many peoples lives, and to have it ruined or messed up for the simple fact that this school is separating girls and boys would be devastating. Please help me, and many others, by signing this petition to change it so that everyone can have the freedom to choose white or blue.

This debate is not the only speaking opportunity Trump has bailed on recently. He was supposed to do a 60 Minutes interview with Harris on October 7 but backed out of the hard-hitting interview, complaining about how it would be live fact-checked.  Instead, Harris was able to do a one-on-one interview and share more in-depth about her economic plans, including making the ultrawealthy and corporations pay their fair share, giving tax breaks for first-time home buyers, and expanding the child tax credit. These are the issues Americans want to hear more about. If Trump is too scared to debate Harris, voters still deserve to have their questions asked and answered.  CNN is ready. Harris is ready. Commit to moving forward with an interview of Kamala Harris if Trump refuses to debate on October 23!

The National Women’s Hall of Fame is the oldest nonprofit organization and museum in the country dedicated to honoring the achievements of women in the U.S. Since 1973, more than 300 women have been inducted into the Hall, including political leaders like Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Nancy Pelosi. Kamala Harris deserves to be among these honored women. Even before becoming the Democratic presidential nominee, Harris made history and inspired generations in her election as vice president, the attorney general of California, and San Francisco district attorney.  Through every role that she has served in, she has fought tirelessly for everyday Americans on today's most pressing issues—advocating for women’s rights, voting access, clean air and water, commonsense gun legislation, and more.  Presiding as president of the Senate, Kamala Harris set a record for the most tie-breaking votes cast by a vice president—making her the critical deciding vote to confirm five federal judges, pass the American Rescue Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act, and rein in Big Pharma by capping insulin costs at $35. She has been a strong and consistent advocate for protecting and advancing abortion rights, launching a "Fight for Reproductive Freedoms” tour and making history as the first U.S. vice president to visit an abortion clinic.  Harris has already made history and contributed significantly to our country. She deserves her place in the National Women’s Hall of Fame.  Add your name if you agree! 

The future of our democracy is at stake if the Republican presidential ticket fails to accept the results of the 2024 election.  When Trump refused to validate the 2020 election results, he ignited a dangerous attack on our nation’s Capitol. We’ve already seen firsthand the impacts of spreading this kind of reckless misinformation that upends our democratic process. Refusing to accept verified election results is extraordinarily harmful, irresponsible, and intolerable behavior from any leader. In 2021, Trump told then-Vice President Mike Pence that, if he certified the results of the 2020 election, it would be “a political career killer." That’s why Vance is Trump’s running mate this election cycle—not Pence. We need to demand NOW that Vance uphold the Constitution and honor the will of the people. Election misinformation is unacceptable. Sign the petition to make it loud and clear that we can’t repeat these reactions to the 2020 results and that Republicans like Trump and Vance must commit to accepting the 2024 election results, no matter what.