This fall, Chicago Park District is offering more than 600 "Wellness" classes all over the city. But, none are currently scheduled for Winter. The grants which funded these classes ended and new grants are insufficient to fund the program. These classes need to be included in the Park District's regular budget so they continue without disruption. They offer Chicagoans of all ages important opportunities for exercise and community at little or no cost. Just a sample of the classes includes Teen Fit Box, Special Education Cardio Conditioning, Senior Chair Exercise, Adult Circuit training, Yoga, Mommy & Me, Nutrition and Pilates. The Wellness program also funds fitness centers in many parks.

Esteemed Members of the Medical Board of California: It is with great concern that we, the collective TeleHealth patients and practitioners of the progressive state of California, address recent reportings that your board has intentions to disband the use of telehealth platforms used for the purposes of medicinal cannabis evaluations. As with any blanketed approach to policy change, this misguided effort will leave thousands of California residents, taxpayers and voters without a convenient method with which to meet a certified doctor. As I’m certain you’re aware, the purposes of medical marijuana are to reduce pain and discomfort caused by a vast array of ailments, including but not limited to: cancer, anxiety, cataracs, and chronic pain caused by injuries. Many of these ailments commonly treated by medical marijuana limit the mobility of a patient and leaves these individuals without an easy, cost-effective way to visit a doctor. TeleHealth, as with much of the ever-more digitally advanced world we live in, applies a modern technological convenience to an age-old practice: meeting with your doctor. We implore you to support and push forth the utilization of conferring with a trusted medical professional whenever anyone has a question or concern about their own health, especially if they are already too ill to easily leave home, and without forcing them to otherwise employ costly means of medical transportation. Sincerely, The TeleHealth Patients of California

The Democrats say they support meaningful government action to stop gun violence, but they're being pushed around by Republicans and the industries which line their pockets. Thoughts and prayers are appreciated, but we need the DNC to reject donations from the gun industry—and some of the other worst offenders like the tobacco and payday loan industries. We lost our daughter in Aurora, and our heart breaks everytime someone with a gun unleashes carnage on innocent Americans. But we will continue to speak up. We will not go away. Please sign the petition and share. Also please call Chairman Tom Perez at 202-863-8000 and tell him you want the DNC to reject contributions from these industries which are responsible for the death and injury of so many Americans from all political parties!

The Republican budget bill in the U.S. Senate would increase the federal deficit by $1.5 trillion over the next decade to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy and big corporations. 80% of the tax cuts in this budget would go to the wealthiest 1% of Americans. This added Republican debt would likely lead to savage cuts to Social Security and other programs. We say: Not one penny in tax cuts for the wealthy and big corporations. Not one penny in cuts to Social Security and programs that people across the U.S. depend on.

The Republican budget bill in the U.S. Senate eliminates housing assistance for more than 1 million families. The budget would cut affordable housing and the Section 8 rental assistance program by $37 billion. 80% of the tax cuts in this budget would go to the wealthiest 1% of Americans.

The Republican budget bill in the U.S. Senate would eliminate Head Start services for 25,000 children by cutting the program by $3 billion over 10 years. These funds would go to massive tax cuts for the wealthy and big corporations. 80% of the tax cuts in this budget would go to the wealthiest 1% of Americans.

The Republican budget bill in the U.S. Senate would eliminate heating assistance (LIHEAP) by cutting $4 billion from the program over the next 10 years. This would end heating assistance for nearly 700,000 people -- seniors on fixed incomes, people with disabilities, and families with children. 80% of the tax cuts in this budget would go to the wealthiest 1% of Americans.

The Republican budget bill in the U.S. Senate would cut the National Institutes of Health by $37 billion over the next decade. This would cut funding for Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, and other critical medical research. 80% of the tax cuts in this budget would go to the wealthiest 1% of Americans.

The Republican budget bill in the U.S. Senate would cut $100 billion from Pell Grants over the next 10 years. This is a 33% cut that will make college less affordable for over 8 million working-class students. 80% of the tax cuts funded would go to the wealthiest 1% of Americans.

The mass shootings killing thousands of American children, women, men country music fans, teachers, law enforcement officers and other innocent civilians have got to end. Congress must lead. They must stand up against the gun lobby which refuses to work toward responsible solutions.

The carnage that semi-automatic and converted automatic weapons have caused in our country has to stop. As a retired teacher, a day does not go by when I don't think of a special needs teacher giving her life protecting a student from a madman with an AR-15 in hand. It is big money in politics that keeps common sense gun laws from happening let's do something about it. Sign my petition

For too long Californians have had to endure with wildfires burning down hundreds of thousands of homes and destroying people's lives, even though we have technologies that can prevent this. This petition calls for California's legislature to pass a bill that would invest in automated firefighting technologies to prevent these disasters from happening.