It’s important that Virgin Gorda has a consistent supply of water. The business stakeholders and residents of Virgin Gorda in an effort to express our desire for a resolution of our water woes present to you the attached signatures which requests an audience to discuss and come up with solutions for the challenges we continue to face on Virgin Gorda. We have collectively opted to present you with a petition in the hopes that this would accurately express the urgency in which we are requesting your attention. We understand that the road to success during these times is a long and difficult journey. However, we believe that government has a responsibility to be honest with its citizens and residents. Access to water and sanitation are recognized by the United Nations as human rights – fundamental to everyone's health, dignity and prosperity. ‘International human rights law obliges States to work towards achieving universal access to water and sanitation for all, without any discrimination, while prioritizing those most in need. In guiding the implementation by States, key elements of the rights to water and sanitation are elaborated by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in its General Comment No. 15 and in the work of the Special Rapporteur on human right to safe drinking water: • Availability: The water supply for each person must be sufficient and continuous to cover personal and domestic uses, which comprise water for drinking, washing clothes, food preparation and personal and household hygiene. There must be a sufficient number of sanitation facilities within or in the immediate vicinity of each household, and all health or educational institutions, workplaces and other public places to ensure that all the needs of each person are met. • Accessibility: Water and sanitation facilities must be physically accessible and within safe reach for all sections of the population, taking into account the needs of particular groups, including persons with disabilities, women, children and older persons. • Affordability: Water services must be affordable to all. No individual or group should be denied access to safe drinking water because they cannot afford to pay. • Quality and safety: Water for personal and domestic use must be safe and free from micro-organisms, chemical substances and radiological hazards that constitute a threat to a person’s health. Sanitation facilities must be hygienically safe to use and prevent human, animal and insect contact with human excreta. • Acceptability: All water and sanitation facilities must be culturally acceptable and appropriate, and sensitive to gender, life-cycle and privacy requirements. (United Nations Human Rights Office of the Commissioner)’ The Spanish Town Community of Virgin Gorda continues to be plagued by water challenges which include but not limited to the following 1. Foul smelling water allegedly caused by sargassum 2. Lack of a reliable supply of government supplied water 3. Eroding water distribution system 4. Water capacity challenges 5. Aging and inefficient pant infrastructure 6. Staff shortages in the Water and Sewerage Department The situation has reached emergency stages in the last two weeks. On a regular basis we are told that the reservoir levels are low hence water supply has to be rationed . Up to a few weeks ago water was rationed with no water pumped in Spanish Town at nights from 9pm to 5am. Of late water is not pumped 12noon to 4pm and then again 9pm to 5am. We are very concerned that September is one of the periods of lowest water demand due off-peak tourism season and yet there appears to be low water levels. The lack of water creates unhygienic situations that concerns our community especially now that schools are back in session. We are seeing an increase in COVID cases worldwide with BVI not being an exception. Some of our businesses depend on water. As a tourism destination this is also not a good posture in the international space where our guests travel from. Any publicity on water challenges can create a negative image that can impact our livelihoods. We are even more concerned in the lack of information and communication from The Ministry of Communication and Works, The District Representative, The Water and Sewerage Department as well as Aqua Designs the operator of the water plant. We the signatories on this petition ask the authorities to 1. Advise the nature of the challenge with water production and distribution 2. Advise a timeline to rectify the challenges 3. Install a backup power generating supply to ensure water production even when BVIEC cannot provide electrical power We look forward to dialogue with all concerned as water is a basic human right as mandated by The United Nations. We are asking that a meeting be chaired with the community where the following parties are present. thaWe are further asking for this meeting to be held no later October 6, 2023. -All members of House of Assembly -Aqua Designs Lead Management Team both for Virgin Gorda and the region -Acting Director Water and Sewerage -Permanent Secretary Ministry of Communications and Works -Permanent Secretary Natural Resources We anticipate a discussion surrounding the petition and the steps you intend to take to partner with us the residents of Virgin Gorda. In this regards, please feel free to contact Sharon Flax Brutus, Chair VGROC, the designated point of contact for our Virgin Gorda Community via email at [email protected] or 2844416717

For many parents, making ends meet each month is already a tremendous challenge. The end of crucial pandemic relief has resulted in a cascade of difficulties, including rising grocery and gas prices, the resumption of student loan payments, and unexpected Medicaid disenrollments. Losing access to affordable and reliable childcare is a burden too heavy to bear. We cannot afford to let our childcare system collapse. It's not just about providing a safe space for our children; it's about ensuring the well-being of families and our economy. Sign the petition to protect our children's future, support working parents, and strengthen our communities. Congress, the time to act is now.

YOU COULD BE THE NEXT HOMEOWNER TARGETED! The Board of Supervisors are targeting Twin Lakes homeowners to seize our shorefront for more public access even though there six public areas on North Twin . NOTE: In this instance, homeowners have made tens of thousands of dollars of improvements to the shoreline, their property and have contracts with the DNR to have private access to the shoreline. This could cause a devaluation of their property, increased traffic and noise as well as all liability defaulting to the landowner.

So they're not tired working long hours on such short amount of sleep. They'll have open access to the caffeine they need that's not in a can.

In order to distract from twice-impeached, four-times-indicted former President Trump’s criminal charges and their own failing party, Republicans are pushing for impeachment—despite zero evidence or proof of wrongdoing. Impeaching President Biden is part of the GOP’s insidious strategy to distract voters, vilify Biden, and pave the way for Trump to take back the White House in 2024. Trump has even been pushing his close allies to impeach Biden, directing the entire charade from the sidelines. House Republicans have wasted taxpayer dollars combing over 12,000 pages of subpoenaed bank records, reviewing thousands of reports, and conducting witness interviews—without a shred of evidence to back up their false claims. Yet they have continued to mislead, lie, and push for impeachment for their own political gain. MAGA Republicans, including Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Matt Gaetz, are threatening to hold our government hostage, refusing to vote for funding to keep our government running unless the House moves forward with bogus impeachment efforts, among other outrageous demands. And their corrupt and misguided efforts are being endorsed by the Republican party, which continues to cower and cave to its most extreme, right-wing members at the expense of countless Americans. Speaker Kevin McCarthy has even gone so far as to open an impeachment inquiry—without a House vote.

Jaahnavi Kandula is a daughter, a sister, a cousin, a friend and a human being, in addition to being Indian. Unlike what the officer said, Jaahnavi had VALUE, and an UNLIMITED VALUE. Let us stand and raise a voice against such abhorrent thinking, that Brown people have limited value. Despite the professional, social, and financial role played by Indians in the United States, we have not been able to escape racism and inequality many times, and our entire community has still quietly moved on. This event is the final straw and we demand fair treatment and for SPD to be held accountable for Jaahnavi's death. Please join us demanding justice for Jaahnavi Kandula.

Trader Joe's United is gaining significant momentum—workers have successfully won union elections at four locations. But instead of supporting and bargaining in good faith with us, we’ve repeatedly experienced union-busting by Trader Joe’s corporate. This summer Trader Joe’s United released merch to help raise funds for the union. Just a week later, corporate threatened to sue, claiming consumers might be "confused" between the store’s products and our union’s products. Threatening to sue their own union is a new low and could set a dangerous precedent for other companies looking to intimidate and block union funding sources. Sign the petition to be in solidarity with Trader Joe’s workers and all workers across the country!

This is very concerning for many reasons. First and foremost the center serves breakfast and lunch is all day schooling. If a child doesn't eat the first option "breakfast" can be alternated with eating at home. However, the lunch that is provided, although healthy option may not be appealing to some children. So, if that child doesn't eat any of the lunch provided they now go without eating until the child returns home. Some of the concern would be that if the child doesn't eat many issues can arise from behavioral to physical. It also raises concern that children may not have any meals after school (due to the rise in poverty) so, this may just be the only meals they get to have. It is also concerning that a child that is on the spectrum, will have sensory aversions. A lot of these atypical children will resist "new" foods and will not try anything "new", some will have postural issues as well as anxiety and meltdowns because of these "new" foods being presented. For an example my daughter is 4 years old, she attends the Luzerne County Head Start program, they do provide breakfast and lunch. Breakfast usually consists of a grain, fruit and dairy. Lunch consists of protein, starch, vegetable, grain and dairy. Now, my the problem with that is these meals are something that you would see in a nursing home not in a child's school. In explaining what I mean, Breakfast on Sept 13th will consist of mini bagel, pineapple tidbits, grape jelly and 6oz 1% milk. Lunch will consist of Beef Pot Pie (1 cup) carrot slices (1/4 cup) applesauce (1/4 cup) biscuits and 6oz 1% milk. My daughter will not foods that touch. So, beef pot pie is definitely out (I don't believe that any child will eat this) with carrot slices (try to visualize 1/4 cup- I will say maybe if they are lucky it might be 5 slices)my daughter won't even look at them, next up is applesauce (once again visualize 1/4 cup-I will say maybe 3/4 spoonful) my daughter will eat this. Biscuits now this is common with kiddos however someone who has aversion will not touch it if it the wrong texture. Lastly is 6 oz 1% milk. So, in seeing this menu my daughter will have eaten the applesauce also drank milk at breakfast and lunch. Do you see the problem being at school for almost 6 hours? There should be an alternate. This can be done in still following the my plate. A breakfast alternate can be something as simple as blueberry wheat pancake, sugar free syrup, yogurt and milk. An alternate lunch could be a peanut butter (alternate to keep it nut free) and jelly sandwich on wheat bread, carrot/green beans/corn, cheese sticks and milk. There can also be an alternate of potato and cheese pierogi, carrot sticks, yogurt and Milk. Even cauliflower pizza is a good option. They just need to have an alternate option for our younger children so they are not going without eating.

Right-wing billionaires have invested tens of millions to capture the Supreme Court. They've worked with Donald Trump and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to pack the court with conservative justices. They've funded cases to overturn abortion rights, shatter precedent, and strengthen corporate power. And as has become clear due to recent blockbuster revelations, these billionaires have lavished gifts on conservative justices including Thomas and Alito—who have not disclosed these gifts for years or recused themselves from cases where there would be an apparent conflict of interest. Furthermore, Justice Thomas's wife—conservative superactivist Ginni Thomas—has helped create and advise these networks of conservative donors and advocates. Yet Justice Thomas has never recused himself from cases involving her work—including cases around Donald Trump's efforts to subvert the results of the 2020 election, in which Ginni Thomas was directly implicated. Despite hundreds of thousands in gifts, rampant conflicts of interest, and a historically low level of public trust in the integrity of the court, Chief Justice John Roberts has refused to act. And while Democrats in Congress have held the first hearings about a judicial code of ethics for the Supreme Court, they have not gone far enough, while Chief Justice Roberts, Justice Alito, Crow and others have dismissed congressional efforts to rein in the court. Our senators need to use their power to rein in the corruption of the Supreme Court and take meaningful steps to restoring its balance and integrity. It is Congress's authority and responsibility to act. Democrats hold a majority and need to use the power of their committee chairs to hold sweeping investigations into corruption and finally move forward a comprehensive ethics reform bill for a vote. It will take far more to fix the right-wing capture of the court and deal with the epidemic of the influence of Big Money. We need to expand the court to rebalance it, to pursue impeachment of corrupt justices, and to pass other reforms that restore the integrity of our judicial system. Sweeping investigations and a vote on ethics reforms are steps that are important—and within the power of today's Democratic majority.

The security of this building is compromised due to the garage doors being broken. Since the creation of the Arbors tenant association, (established on 9/04/23) 5 vagabonds/addicts have been dismissed from the building and 1 vagabond ejected for sleeping at the leasing center. Neighbors have collaborated in real time to address major safety concerns. This building is hyper accessible to drug addicts looking to congregate in the stairwell and garage. Reports include an addict charging his phone in the hallway, attempted intrusions into the Latch door locks, an addict following a woman to her door, showering and doing drugs in the boiler room (boiler room now locked), and severe burglary in the garage. Firearms, laptops and many other personal belongings have been stolen from vehicles in the garage.

Reality television is a booming industry due to low production costs and high profit margins. These corporations are making millions of dollars off of the exploitation of cast members, who are often misled regarding the mental health resources and support available to them before, during, and after the show. Entertainment should never come at the expense of the mental health or wellbeing of cast members, but right now it does. Demand that Kinetic Content—which produces popular reality shows like Love is Blind, The Ultimatum, and Married at First Sight—as well as other prominent reality tv show production companies and networks create and enforce policies to have independent mental health experts on set. And join us in demanding comprehensive mental health support before, during, and after shows are produced.

The right-wing Republicans driving the agenda of the House of Representatives are threatening to shut down the government. This means that essential services—from making sure our drinking water is clean to keeping our national parks open to ensuring Social Security checks go out on time—could be in jeopardy. There have been federal shutdowns in the past. They hurt the economy, they punish federal workers, and they take a toll on Americans across the country. Why would the so-called Freedom Caucus and the likes of Marjorie Taylor Greene want this? To push their radical-right agenda with a wish list of demands they know there's no legislative mandate or popular support for. Their demands range from making our immigration system more abusive to stopping the government from holding Trump accountable for his attacks on our democracy to voting on an absurd impeachment of President Biden. Their goal is to prevent President Biden from being able to govern—and to demonstrate that they don't think the federal government should function. We know better. And we know how many services and programs we rely on. That's why we're asking all members of Congress to say no to a politicized, partisan, reckless agenda to shut down the government. Credit: CNS/Reuters