Right now, Nowata County prisoners are being held in Washington County after a carbon monoxide leak at the jail in February. On Monday, Gibson ordered Sheriff Terry Sue Barnett to bring the prisoners back to Nowata. She refused and resigned, along with the entire sheriff's office. At first, Gibson seemed concerned about the cost of housing prisoners elsewhere. He stated that the prisoners being housed elsewhere could be “putting the financial integrity of Nowata County, perhaps, at risk.” However, he did not list any reasons or provide inspection results that showed the jail was now safe and fixed. He did call some witnesses in law enforcement to testify. However, some of the questions veered away from the jail and focused more about what the former sheriff did or said. “That was one of the most bizarre proceedings; I’m not sure what the judge thinks he was doing," said Paul DeMuro, the attorney representing Barnett. "No orders were issued. It was just his personal vendetta, attack, with no notice of what he was doing.” Throughout the hearing, DeMuro questioned the legitimacy of what was happening, at times appearing both visually and verbally frustrated. DeMuro said he was not told what this hearing would entail and that it seemed more like an “evidentiary hearing.” At one point, he told the judge, “I don’t know what’s going on here.” After the judge finished calling his witnesses, he asked DeMuro if he’d like to call any witnesses. DeMuro declined, saying that the hearing was an “ambush.” He even questioned the judge’s motives during the hearing, saying he was entitled to “cross examine [the judge],” and that he was “concerned about [the judge's] communications” with the witnesses the judge called to testify. DeMuro questioned the judge’s authority to control the budget and the jail, saying it’s the County Commissioner's job to do so. Judge Gibson argued that what he was doing was for the safety of the community. He said, “Anybody who tries to say I don’t have the authority to do it your move sir.” After about an hour and a half, the judge decided to end the hearing. The judge did not make any decision or come to any conclusions. Even Nowata County Commissioner Burke LaRue said he didn’t know what the future of the NCSO may be. “I don’t think we gained anything,” said LaRue. “I just know we destroyed this county.”

The most recent lapse in federal appropriations (2018–2019) shut down certain non-essential government services and forced some federal employees (e.g., airport security screeners) to report to work without pay. According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the partial shutdown also irreparably damaged the US economy, reducing growth by an estimated $8 billion in the first quarter of 2019 (https://www.cbo.gov/publication/54937).

We support the University of California's effort to transform our current academic publishing system to one in which journal subscriptions include fees to fund Open Access for all research.

Because something must be done in the aftermath of the massacres in New Zealand, at the Tree of Life Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, at the Sikh Temple of Oak Creek, Wisconsin and the firebombing of the Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center in Bloomington, Minnesota. These headline-making attacks are just a few of the many on houses of worship in recent years. Muslim Advocates and our partners need the FBI to take this threat seriously and devote sufficient attention and resources to understanding, preventing and investigating the white nationalist threat.

The shooting at multiple mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand by a white supremacist this past Friday, March 15, has left our communities reeling, deeply traumatized, and in mourning. In a society already plagued by white supremacy, Islamophobia, and anti-Blackness, political leaders like Donald Trump have created the necessary political and cultural environment for such horrific, deadly violence—both through rhetoric and through policies. Congress needs to take real, concrete action to dismantle Trump’s white nationalist agenda. One important opportunity to do so is by repealing his Muslim Ban. This tragedy is another important reminder that white nationalism doesn’t always manifest itself in mass shootings—it starts with the everyday dehumanization of our communities. And nearly all of Trump's signature policies are specifically aimed at keeping Black and brown people out of the U.S. Whether it’s the Muslim Ban, the racist border wall, detention camps, or ICE raids, this agenda is straight out of the white nationalist playbook—in fact, many of these policies were written by or in consultation with members of anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant hate groups. Enough is enough. Thoughts and prayers from our representatives aren't enough—we demand real, concrete action. We demand that Congress repeal Trump's Muslim Ban.

We have just a few days to tell the Supreme Court loud and clear that We the People deserve fair maps… The Supreme Court has officially announced that the justices will hear Rucho v. Common Cause -- our potentially landmark lawsuit against gerrymandering in North Carolina -- on Tuesday, March 26th. If we win, we'll set a nationwide precedent to end partisan gerrymandering -- launching a domino effect to strike down rigged maps not just in North Carolina, but in all 50 states. Just imagine: in one fell swoop, we could revolutionize how our government represents us. This would be one of the biggest shifts of power from political insiders to the American people in a generation -- but we need your voice to secure a victory. Let's show the Court that Americans nationwide are ready to take a stand against this undemocratic process. Add your name to demand an end to partisan gerrymandering.

In two of the past five presidential elections, the candidate who won the popular vote lost the election. And in every presidential race, candidates are forced to focus their attention on only a handful of competitive swing states -- ignoring the vast majority of voters nationwide. Our winner-take-all Electoral College system is responsible for these anti-democracy outcomes. But right now, we have the opportunity to make presidential elections more inclusive and competitive with the National Popular Vote Compact. Here’s how it works: states have the right to decide how they award their electoral votes -- so if enough states require their electors to vote for the winner of the nationwide popular vote (rather than the state’s popular vote), it would fix the problems of the Electoral College without needing to amend the Constitution. National Popular Vote won’t take effect until enough states have joined in, but we’re closer to that than you might think -- 12 states and the District of Columbia have signed on already, totaling 181 electoral votes of the needed 270. New Mexico and Delaware are also set to join the compact soon. Every state should follow suit and join the National Popular Vote Compact. We deserve a president who is chosen by the will of the people -- and presidential races that encourage candidates to engage with voters in all 50 states.

This is a gut check moment for every lawmaker who says they care about the rule of law. When President Trump failed to get his border wall built through the democratic process, he decided to undermine the checks and balances that have protected our nation for centuries -- declaring a phony “national emergency” to pay for it. In response to this brazen attack on the rule of law, the House and the Senate passed a resolution with strong bipartisan support to block the president’s declaration. But as expected, Trump once again put his own interests first -- and used his first presidential veto to dismiss Congress’ bipartisan resolution. Now, it’s up to Congress to override the veto. Our elected officials must put the good of the country before the good of the party and check this power grab by President Trump -- with a 2/3 vote in each house. We cannot let our president blatantly ignore our democratic system to fund his anti-immigrant agenda. Add your name and demand our representatives take a stand for the rule of law.

I am a junior at Northside High school and every day I see friends and teachers tired and stressed. Not to mention funds for JROTC store and other clubs are low. My suggestion for four-day school weeks will fix that.

The United States is the only country in the world not to have ratified The Convention of The Rights of The Child. The CRC is the strongest international legal instrument and statement of equanimity between the civil, political, economic, social, health, and cultural rights of children with adults. Neglecting to ratify the Convention has already resulted in serious detriment to the lives of children in the US. It is time the US join the rest of the world, and ratify.

The customers of New York American Water (NYAW) have been paying rates 500% more than other water companies across Long island. NYAW has admitted to falsifying tax filings to receive further rate increases. They bill customers for capital improvements yet they received millions in federal funds for this purpose.

I am sick and tired of being blinded by the lights, and I'm sure many other people are, too! They cause so much glare, and prevent you from seeing the road, or possible pedestrians. I was just out for a walk, and it's hard to see the sidewalk when being blinded by oncoming traffic.